[1.0.6] 2H Mace Spectral Throw Build - Best of all worlds

ST = Spectral Throw
DS = Double Strike
FA = Faster Attacks
FC = Faster Casting
CoDT = Cast on Damage Taken
IR = Iron Reflexes
BM = Bad manners/bad mannered - no just kidding - Blood Magic
US = Unwavering Stance
RT = Resolute Technique
LL = Life Leech
MS = Movement speed
LGoH = Life gain on hit
GMP = Greater Multiple Projectiles
LMP = Lesser Multiple Projectiles

Swords and Maces have the same maximum DPS potential, implicit mods aside, one is faster but has lower base damage, other is slower but has higher base damage. The DPS result is the same, but the tradeoff is speed and the implicit mod.

However, this build runs Resolute Technique (can't miss), so the accuracy on swords is wasted. In addition, the stun on maces is great for party synergy (cause stun=mobs don't move or attack, breaks spell cast too).

It is true however that axes have the highest DPS potential of 2H weps, but when you're buying weapons, it's not like you're going to get a discount from the seller just because it's an axe (or at least, not a substantial one). The price is based on the DPS (which axes can get to easier).

Still not convinced.
Aight, so 2h nodes share dmg/speed and some share dmg/life and also dmg/acc. Swords have tree strings with crit mutli (waste), maces have tree strings with stun duration/reduced threshold (synergy in parties, yay), and axes have raw damage (admittedly better than maces, but no party synergy or solo survivability).

But dude, finding a good 2H mace is so annoying!
Mate, finding accuracy on your gear sucks harder, lol. Plus, why get higher accuracy just to hit, when you can hit AND stun?

Wait wait wait, Etup runs a GG Nemesis ranger, so your build something something.
Yeah, I'm too pussy for HC so he definitely has more credibility than me. Here's roughly the tradeoffs between the specs. His build is forced to get inefficient Life/EVA nodes (4/6) to "get going" but it passes a convenient 8% speed node. This build gets -30% crit damage taken (absolutely substantial) and passes by 12% all res (Diamond Skin) which is great for levelling, plus you get +2% to MAX resistances (effectiveness increases substantially as resist nears 100%).

Accuracy on his spec is not used for comparison because Reso Tech > Acc anyway, and crit for a non-crit specialised build is not reliable DPS anyway.

However, there's two upsides to his build. First, it's close Wrecking Ball which many players probably won't get for this build (you can, and trade off the Leather and Steel region [which is the 24% armor/eva + no MS loss]), second, his build has about 50% extra in life nodes (at the cost of damage of course) and he has 20% Proj Speed from Ballistic Mastery (the ranger node).

Bullshit, as if you do more damage.
Bro, this buid has like 322 STR just from 71 points (skeleton), 5 pts = 1% dmg from Iron Grip. And because this build has lots of armor nodes through mace points/node specific, it makes up the defence that the other build has.

Pros:
- Great damage because ST is pretty OP atm (hits like 3 times per proj at optimal location, 2 times easily, once if you're bad).
- Cheap to gear, don't need 5L+ (obviously it helps). This isn't a build where I pull out a Tabula or legacy kaoms and call it cheap.
- Very easy to level because all skill gems come from quest rewards (or are otherwise easily attainable).
- Extremely tanky due to Iron Reflexes, numerous armor/eva nodes and -30% crit damage taken.
- Very versatile because you can choose if you want more damage, more stuns, more life, more attack speed etc.
- Easy to level because you pass by two main resist nodes, lots of life nodes, Resolute Tech and also Blood Magic (which you can sustain due to regen on life gain on hit/life leech.
- Great damage, and great party synergy due to stuns.
- Insanely fast attack speed and can be faster due to build flexibility (admitedly slower than Frenzy archer but those builds have like 4+ frenzy charges...). And as a result, gameplay will be faster paced than other builds, like EK (soooo slooowwwwww)
- Spectral Throw (ST) pierces, and shoots literally screen wide with a normal Faster Projectiles gem. LA/EK do not pierce (but they can shoot screen wide).
- Has IR, so many options on gear (AR or AR/EVA) which means easier socket color rolling.
- Has RT, so you'll never miss.
- Has US, so you'll never get stunned, but Blind also won't work (no biggy).
- Has Leather and Steel, no movement speed penalty from armor.


- If you can afford some gear (like 6 chaos on Domination at point of writing), your levelling will be insanely fast and fun. The chaos is spent on levelling 2h like Geofris etc.

Cons:
- Thorns will eff you up because you attack too fast (and LL won't leech in time) to realise there are thorns mobs. Otherwise you can attack slower and you'll be fine. Phys reflect has same issue (or no issue really). Or you can just use CoDT/Cry/Call gem links below.
- Requires an int/dex necklace at start for gems (Hatred) and/or curses (Enfeeble, Vulnerability). However, you'll cross by 40 int at about level 23ish (after quests of course).
- Requires maces. But then again, finding accuracy on gear would be more annoying. Plus, instead of using points on dmg/ACC nodes, it goes to dmg/ARM or dmg/STUN (or dmg/LIFE).
- There are recommended uniques that do make a difference, but the build is extremely strong without them.

This build is extremely versatile. If you want damage, get damage, you want life, get life, you want resists, get resist, it's so close to all the best nodes you can even respec out of them on the fly.

Note: Melee Physical Damage nodes do not affect ST, only physical damage nodes do. Melee Phys affects Double Strike/Heavy Throw however.





lol, 117/120, OP you're stupid, no one that's going to reach 100 is going to need a guide.
Yeah probably, the complete build is to demonstrate the versatility of nearby nodes that players can pick up.

Roughly in order of importance. Obviously if you can only get 4L then use the first four, or whatever fits your playstyle. If there are two options, bolded is my recommendation. 6L is absolutely NOT required to be strong. You only need 2% phys mana leech to sustain ST spam.

AoE (6L, GGGRGR) - Spectral Throw, LMP/GMP, Faster Attacks, Life Leech/Life Gain on Hit, Faster Projectiles, Added Fire Damage



Single Target (6L, GGRRR?) - Double Strike, Faster Attacks, Life Leech/Life Gain on Hit, Mulistrike, Melee Physical Damage, Added Fire Damage.


Movement (4L, RGRR) - Leap Slam, Faster Attacks, Blood Magic, Endurance Charge on Stun (Optional)


Aura (4L, RGB) - Reduced Mana, Grace/Hatred, 40% Aura such as Vitality/Purity (Optional)


CoDT (4L, RRRB) - Cast on Damage Taken (1), Enduring Cry (5), Immortal Call (3), Increased Duration(3)/Curse of your choice (Enfeeble [5]).


Other - CoDT/Cry, CoDT/Curse, Curse/Faster Casting or Increased Duration
All up to you.

Normal: Oak - Life is GG
Cruel: Phys Damage - 18% is pretty GG again.
Merciless: Oak or Passive, the passive tree goes right past an Endurance Charge so you have the option of either - or both! I recommend passive though.

All res/res/life is best on all gear, followed by special stats available in certain slots.

Wep: High Physical DPS Mace
Armor: All res/life depending on if you got all res passives.
Neck: Recommended Life Leech, you can use Carnage Heart until you find a 6% rare neck with decent stats.
Gloves/Ring: Attack speed
Boots: Movement speed.

Pretty simple really.