[2.0]Rathik's NEWBIE FRIENDLY FUN&CHEAP FARMER, DPS Summoner. High AOE DMG, SURVIVAL."The Matriarch"

I've been following this build, more or less, as my first character in POE. I started playing a couple weeks ago and am currently level 72. For anyone considering this build, it is very viable as a new player / new character without resources. A few of my observations:

I've played the entire game solo so far so can't speak for how it works in groups. I'm in Domination so there is no IIQ gem, but you can get it on armor.

Early on, the minions are fairly useless for anything other than cannon fodder. Ethereal Knives did most of the actual killing. I'd say the Zombies started to pull their weight somewhere in the mid 40s. I made liberal use of Regeneration Totem to help keep them up.

I did not put very many points into Life while leveling, maybe half a dozen or so. I did die a fair amount in some areas but usually due to my own mistakes, charging into areas ahead of my minions and getting walloped. Normal was pretty easy, Cruel was actually easier as my gear level was improving, Merciless was really nothing to worry about except that I was under-leveled for some encounters. When I got to Act 3 and had to face Piety in the Crematorium, I was level 55. I spent some time grinding in Act 2 Wetlands and Thicket to get up to 60 and a couple more gem levels before going in to face her. With a level 16 Purity of Lightning gem and two 30% resist rings I was fine, she annihilated my zombies but barely touched my ES & health while I spammed Zombies to grind her down.

My biggest challenge so far has been getting a 5L or 6L chest piece with decent ES, without it I was sitting at about 2600 ES and did not feel confident enough to enable CI. Today I got lucky and crafted a 5L Vaal Regalia with 700+ base ES and nearly 200% increase, I also crafted a higher ES shield and some gloves and am now sitting at 4800 ES with Discipline on. My next four level points will go into CI and the ES nodes behind it.

Thanks Rathik for the great build & guide, as a new player it has been fun to follow!

"

jmabbutt wrote:

I'm in Domination so there is no IIQ gem, but you can get it on armor.

I have seen post before asking if there was different gear for different leagues and I have always seen people say "all items exist in every league, the difference is the rules" So am i missing something here?

Well I have started my summoner build, one thing I am really having an problem on (with the guide*) is since I am a noob, all of the abbreviations, I have no idea what half of this stuff means.

Also it would really really helpful if all the gems needed for the builds listed in one list. I know you may have a reason for the way you did it which i'm sure is important, but a master list of all the gems would be so extremely helpful to ppl like me who don't know what gems are which. For example you have a tank specter and a range specter are these two different actual skills or is this two different ways to use the same skill? Do you have two different specter gems each set up a for a diff purpose.

I saw summon skeleton on the shield, now do you use zombies, skellies and specters all at the same time? Like the necro summoner from D2? Or is it more like depending on what your doing you use different minions?

Last question, boss fights seem to be a real pain cuz most of the boss fights I have been in there are no corpses around, and most of them have there separate instance where they are zero mobs at all like Hillock or the first phase of Merveil. So when they kill my zombies i am left running. Did you use summon spells at all while leveling or just ignore them till higher lvls? I know they will be weak, but i figured you still used them. Just having a hard time when they die in 2 seconds them i'm left running and kiting.

For a first character, you really just need to follow a build guide and do the best you can. By the time you get that first character to say a3m (act 3 merciless) you will have a stash full of skill gems and currency (do not spend/waste any currency drops at this point, heard everything, vendor rares u dont need for alt shards) and a better idea of whats going on.


Generally from level 1-40 you should just build up the passive tree as directed, but use spectral throw+lmp for all your leveling. All that really matters on gear is some resists and life.

About to try this! Brother recommended it since I've just started back post beta and have no more items.

I'm up to level 69 on her, sittin pretty and havin a blast in 68 rare maps with a buddy of mine. Evangelists are gods, I survive so much better now cuz of the shields. Damage is lower than titty bitches and flame sentinels but the evangelists just dont die if you pay attn.

Spec so far @69

As for gear, just spent 24co on that 5l chest in white form today. I will play around with crafting it later, this is what the initial alch got me and its fine for now. Sitting at 4500es with disc.



The rings suck and the shield is from my wander, but it will do for now.

The zombie gem level is killing me though :(

I follow this guide as my main build, and love it. Now I'm at level 78.
Here are my current gear (Domination, CI):



After I level up my Zombie Gem to level 20, I will buy (or craft) a good 5L chest and put spectres at circlet (+2 minios).

Thanks for the excelent guide.

"

Nands wrote:

I follow this guide as my main build, and love it. Now I'm at level 78.
Here are my current gear (Domination, CI):

After I level up my Zombie Gem to level 20, I will buy (or craft) a good 5L chest and put spectres at circlet (+2 minios).

Thanks for the excelent guide.

Your welcome bud :)

Rathik, what weapon you used now in this build??

Hi, I just started this build not too long ago, and I have to say that I am enjoying it as a new player. I managed to buy all the uniques that you recommended in the early going, and my witch is currently at level 29. It was going great, but I feel now that my zombies die pretty quickly in act 3 than they did before. Any tips? I have my zombies linked to minion damage and melee splash (looking to get multistrike soon), but it's hard to find any 4 links at my current level and limited currency. I also use storm call as my damage spell while my zombies and spectres attack. How did you guys manage to grind until you got your 4 links?