[1.2.1][v5.0] Dual Shockwave Totem - LowLife/DPS/IQ/IR/3 Auras with a Witch

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Badfish_07 wrote:

Spoiler

I did some serious theory crafting on this build.

A totem build should focus more toward DPS>survive ability because it already has innate survive ability because you are able to stay out of combat most of the time if played correctly. This is why we can wear andies / salmas / duel redbeak no shield ect and not have high resist / ES.

I noticed you spend several inefficient points in getting very low increase to auras in one of the builds, such as the right part of the three where you spent 8 points (starting from Harrier going right) to get a measly 8% increase in auras. That being said, it also came with some aura radius and mana reservation, which you will not need. (explained later) That's 8% of 36% if hatred is level 20 = 2.88% dps for EIGHT skill points. You also spent 4 points at the very southwest of tree to get another 8% increase in aura and some mana reservation. Lets take those 12 points and see what we can do with them.


Let's look at the gems you are using to increase totem damage and bear trap damage

*Added fire damage

Simply take those 12 points back, and you can turn that into +76% fire damage by taking the fire nodes at SW and north of witch... BAM. Now, let's take out the other various mana reservation / aura radius nodes and now you can spec down the firewalker tree for another 30% fire damage and 15 fire resist.

That's 106% increased fire damage, Effectively doubling your added fire gems on totem and bear trap, HUGE improvement and will greatly increase the weakest part of this build, single dps for bosses.

This got me thinking, since you are using an aura that adds cold damage as well, should we try to stack cold damage instead of fire? I think not, at least for most of the nodes. Granted, the cold aura and the fire damage gems will both hit these same skills (totem and bear trap) so taking a 6% cold damage node should be = to taking a 6% fire damage node. But then i noticed, that a 20/20 fire gem is actually 54% fire damage where as quality on Hatred only adds to radius and it stays at 36% at level 20, making the fire damage passives better than the cold damage passives. I also considered this, if i remove 3x 6% fire damage passives that are around the sides of the immolation and arsonist nodes (while keeping these main nodes) would have the following decrease in dps (6%x3 = 18% of 54% = a 9.72% damage decrease and put them (3 points) into Heart of ice above the witch tree which is a total of 30% cold damage (30% of 36% = 10.8% dps increase) Making these three cold nodes better to take because of the Heart of Ice node compared to 3x 6% fire nodes. Heart of ice also gives you a 5% bonus to max life and ES.

Now the influence and inner-force aura nodes are great, low points spent, big return, both in dps, ES, and resistances. Now an 8% aura node adds (8% of 36% = 2.88% more cold damage with hatred) where as a 6% elemental fire node adds (6% of 54% = 3.24% fire damage) making a 6% fire node better dps than an 8% aura node and adding a 6% cold node (6% of 36% = 2.16% cold dps, making a cold passive node less dps than an aura node, So in terms of DPS fire node > Aura node > cold node, but the only cold nodes we took led to Heart of ice, making it worth it, and the only aura nodes we took also lead to main nodes. This being said, taking fire / cold over aura nodes also means less ES / Resists / Mana regen from auras, it will have to be played with to find the right balance for the right character level and what you plan to do with that character.

As for sacrificing aura radius, mobs will come to totem, and you can replace totem anytime you want. A little more clicking work, but with a lot more DPS you wont have to replace very often because the mobs will die a lot faster. However, if DPS is GREAT, take some off fire nodes and get some aura radius for faster clear speed, it is still to be tested.

As for sacrificing some cast speed, as long as it's enough to keep knocking mobs back away from totem, it's all you need.. rest can be DPS to drop them quicker and be able to down bosses in a decent amount of time with bear trap.

As for reduced mana reservation nodes, you only need hatred / clarity / then a choice between haste / purity / discipline. If you want to run more than this, you must give up a redbeak and run the prism guardian shield, which will allow 5-6 auras if you want to sacrifice dps / cast speed to take mana reservation nodes. I will try to find the right balance. I'm thinking for maps, you will want to spec out of some of those fire nodes to be able to run the auras for survive-ability, so i would spec into the efficient mana reserve nodes only (top left and a few are within 1-2 points away on current tree for 5%)

I am starting a character now and will try this out in practice and post results. Templar seems to be the best to start from because you don't take nodes you might not want, but i think i will roll a scion just because she may be best class for another build in future and will start the left path with 8% increase mana nodes.. which will help my powerlevling with quill rain:) On a side note, the AoE passives for this build, also help quill rain EE, so this build even has good synergy with the power leveling part.

I have done a Templar skill tree, all points used. So you will need to decide if you need more ES / fire damage / cast speed / ect depending on what level you are, i do not plan on reaching 100 so i will probably spec out of the nodes i find the least helpful by experimenting with regrets. (most likely some aura and fire damage, i will probably stop at 80 or 90)

After i try this build, i will use the same character to do a sporker now that i have shavs and the req gear, and i will compare the two to see which is really the best MF'er that can still do maps. I've turned my old sporker witch into a phys wander that can hit over 150k dps for clearing maps with a friend to cull, but i miss using duel totems and it's more relaxing, so i will make a duel totem culler as well for solo and culling maps :) I was going to use the same witch to test all three builds but i decided i should roll at least 1 extra character, and i want a scion in-case she's better for new builds to come.

Edit: I've decided to roll a templar for shockwave totem build and a scion for the spork build, so i have three leveled characters giving me more room in future to make best builds with regrets and passive resets. The phys wander and sporker can even share the same shavs, but not the shockwave, he needs to many reds so Tabula Rasa for him until i get a 2nd shavs.
Also, if you dont run vitality you can take off zealots oath and put one more into 4% blast radius / 8% aura effect / 3% faster casting / 8% more mana

Now that i spent hours on this, it's all ASSUMING fire / cold passives add to the dps.... I read before that they did, so let's see!

Here is the link to Templar Shockwave Totem DPS DPS DPS build: Comments and criticism wanted.

Badfish_07's High DPS Templar Duel Shockwave Totem Theorycraft Build

I threw this scion sporker build together, still needs lots of planning, this is just off top of my head:

Badfish_07's Scion Sporker Theory Craft Build

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KikitheKing wrote:

I'm currently running the farming version passive tree 2 with a witch (http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/492467) and i plan to wear 2 auras 60% on my life.
I will have 5 auras, lots of mana available, good cast speed/DPS and good survivability with purity and 8% ES regen.

Give us the result of your test ;)

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Cromii wrote:

I would like to know how to level up earlier levels before we can use totems too.

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akaflux wrote:

BTW the way to go is Sion, that the best class for this build.

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Badfish_07 wrote:

I am a bit confused on the DPS version vs the farming version.. the DPS version does not take the totem damage nodes? Can you please explain the differences in these two trees and why one is DPS and other is Farming?