Barrage Wonder Wanderer – how to DEMOLISH maps (1.3.X)

nvm

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Gegemo wrote:

Hi, I'm just messing around with this build. I have the EK version like this:

Barrage + coc + chain + EK + arc + Pcoc
the damage is enought to clear quite fast level <70 maps (actually playing those).

I'm thinking to change the the set up like this:

Barrage + coc + empower + EK + arc + Pcoc
on paper this should do more damage.

gems levels atm (no quality):

Barrage 10
CoC 18
Chain 17
Empower 2
EK 18
Arc 18
PCoc 18

What're your thoughts on chain/empower?

Chain lowers the damage of Arc and EK by 50%, but triples the number of hits Barrage can make and triples the damage output of EK. It also makes Arc chain one more time than Empower.

Empower would remove the 50% damage reduction and give a roughly 10% increase in damage, but allow only four Barrage hits per attack.

Let's compare the two against a link of Barrage - CoC - EK - Arc - PCoC. We'll declare the damage output by this link as X DPS.

Using Empower, you simply have ~1.1 * X.

Using Chain, you have 0.5 * 3 * 3 * X = 4.5 * X.

This entirely ignores the (very beneficial!) behavior changes that Chain imparts on EK.

The downside is that when you are fighting only one enemy, Chain results in just 0.5 * X. I have personally resolved this shortcoming by running a separate CoC link set up for single-target encounters. You may feel differently about how to handle it, or feel that effectiveness versus single targets is something you want from your primary link.

I find that keeping Chain is worth it, because I can circumvent single-target shortcomings otherwise. For example, I can swap Faster Attacks for Chain if I know I'm entering an extended boss fight. Otherwise, I can just run a separate link. I've found Barrage + CoC + Arc + Life Leech works well for general use (read: so you don't kill yourself via damage reflection), and if I want to turn any single-target encounter into an especially brief affair, I run Barrage + CoC + GMP + Flame Surge.

Thank you very much. Really appreciated your help and in depth reply.

A quick question about your last suggest, GMP + Flame surge works? Flame surge isn't a projectile, I'm missing something here.

Edit: oh ok, I think I get it. GMP doesn't work with surge but with barrage. It will cast 5 surge if close to target. Is it correct?

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Gegemo wrote:

Thank you very much. Really appreciated your help and in depth reply.

A quick question about your last suggest, GMP + Flame surge works? Flame surge isn't a projectile, I'm missing something here.

Edit: oh ok, I think I get it. GMP doesn't work with surge but with barrage. It will cast 5 surge if close to target. Is it correct?

It will cast eight - Barrage fires four projectiles naturally and GMP adds four.

Keep in mind that Fireball and Arctic Breath both offer higher theoretical damage than Flame Surge in this case, but that assumes all projectiles hit the same target. Even when standing immediately in front of a target, I find that GMP Fireball and Arctic Breath frequently fire the outermost projectiles wide of the intended target, nullifying the advantage. Also of note is that Flame Surge has only a tiny fraction of the graphical performance hit that GMP FB/AB have (particularly AB).

Wonderful analisis. Thanks again.

I'm levelling Flame Surge to swap when needed on 6L or to replace my second barrage configuration (Barrage + CoC + Summon Skeletons/GMP + Enfeeble/Flame Surge)

I have also played the FB+AB setup but it's too much confusing for me :)

May i ask if there is a shadow CI version for this build? too lazy to read all pages :)

Guys any idea if this build will be somehow effected ( nerfed ) with the upcoming patch ?

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VergilSama wrote:

Guys any idea if this build will be somehow effected ( nerfed ) with the upcoming patch ?

Rory has said that they've reduced the number of general crit nodes in the tree and somehow increased or improved the availability of weapon-specific and spell-specific crit nodes. This is a nerf to CoC, as CoC builds don't wish to score critical strikes solely with their weapons.

It's possible that the availability of spell crit nodes and wand crit nodes will make up for this, but GGG has had some need to rein in CoC builds for a while now - this might be how they do it.

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SilkTopHat wrote:

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VergilSama wrote:

Guys any idea if this build will be somehow effected ( nerfed ) with the upcoming patch ?

Rory has said that they've reduced the number of general crit nodes in the tree and somehow increased or improved the availability of weapon-specific and spell-specific crit nodes. This is a nerf to CoC, as CoC builds don't wish to score critical strikes solely with their weapons.

It's possible that the availability of spell crit nodes and wand crit nodes will make up for this, but GGG has had some need to rein in CoC builds for a while now - this might be how they do it.

Just hope they don't break CoC builds for good , the game is not easy no matter what build you're using , you will still have to eventually seek better equipment which takes ton of time to farm currency for , i wish they would stop nerfing stuff for a while..

Someone provide a critique please? I'm level 79 and made a couple of missteps with my tree (mind drinker, etc) but I'm pretty much straight down-the-line with this build.

I find that while I'm really efficient at clearing most content, I just get my ass handed to me by hard-hitting bosses (if I use my purity auras) or any elemental content (if I use my grace aura)

So my question...if I have maybe 20 ex to spend, what should I upgrade? The biggest concern I see immediately is my boots, but I'm having trouble hitting the 188int limit for wands if I remove those for a tri-res.

Also, am I 20 ex away from really having a nice build here, or am I far enough out that I'm better to roll into a new toon and save that 20 for the next patch? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

(Side note, going EK here, but am open to a move to elemental...not sure just how much the EK side was nerfed last patch through)

EQ