[1.1.x] Party-Friendly, Multi-Purpose, Bow Crit (Physical CoC/Puncture/Lightning Arrow) Guide

i said it before, but thanks for being so active and taking the time helping everyone :) we all appreciate it

you mentioned that you ended up ditching the aura nodes in your build because most people have the auras that you need, is this reflected in the first page? im guessing for soloing id still want to take those aura nodes because most of the time i wont be in a party.

Just picked up a Windripper. So far I'm finding the AS incredibly hard to support with my previous mana setup (~80 unreserved, level 11 clarity) with any setup other than Barrage/Chain/CoC/Arc/EK/PCoC. Previously, I was running split arrow, which felt much nicer for pack clearing. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to sort out the mana that setup would require with Windripper's APS though.

I'm working on 5linking it which will allow me to have a single target COC setup again.

Mixed feelings about it so far, but it's definitely an incredible bow for the build once we can work out how to fit it in.

Gear:


Build:
Passive Tree

Edit: I moved 3 points from an 8/8/8 life cluster to grab 2/3 of the Mana Geyser cluster (rather than Primal Spirit in feyith's build) and I can barrage forever now as well as do a pretty decent amount of split arrowing. I'd probably be comfortable running split again at this point but I'll probably keep barrage until I 5l the bow and then use split for group support arc/ek and barrage for a single target setup in the 5l.

Yeah, I mostly use Primal Spirit for the stat points. (Thaylogue too dumb. Gear fall off.)

Mana Geyser and/or Soul Siphon should keep you full. The other option is to drop Chain for a third spell. You wouldn't clear white packs as fast but would hit blues and rares twice as hard.

"

feyith wrote:

Yeah, I mostly use Primal Spirit for the stat points. (Thaylogue too dumb. Gear fall off.)

Mana Geyser and/or Soul Siphon should keep you full. The other option is to drop Chain for a third spell. You wouldn't clear white packs as fast but would hit blues and rares twice as hard.

I thought about using a third skill in there but I wasn't sure what to use. The standard proj spells (fb/ab/is) are pretty lackluster without LMP/GMP and cold snap seems pretty redundant with hatred EKs. I'm sort of at a loss for good targetted spells here.

I'm feeling pretty good about Barrage-Chain-Arc-EK-PCoC for now, although the single target sucks unless I pull chain out for bosses. I'll definitely look into various spell combos again once I get this damn 5link.

"

demonguard wrote:

"

feyith wrote:

Yeah, I mostly use Primal Spirit for the stat points. (Thaylogue too dumb. Gear fall off.)

Mana Geyser and/or Soul Siphon should keep you full. The other option is to drop Chain for a third spell. You wouldn't clear white packs as fast but would hit blues and rares twice as hard.

I thought about using a third skill in there but I wasn't sure what to use. The standard proj spells (fb/ab/is) are pretty lackluster without LMP/GMP and cold snap seems pretty redundant with hatred EKs. I'm sort of at a loss for good targetted spells here.

I'm feeling pretty good about Barrage-Chain-Arc-EK-PCoC for now, although the single target sucks unless I pull chain out for bosses. I'll definitely look into various spell combos again once I get this damn 5link.

Hey, had to make the same choice as you.

Runnin 5l Singletarget/Boss Barrage / CoC / EK / Skellies / Leech (can change Skellies for arc but I like the safety because I feel very squishy without it)

6l Volls Split / CoC / EK / Arc / Coldsnap / Leech

Don't underestimated coldsnap: you hit multiple monsters at the same time, actually I found that this helped my clearspeed enourmously, could not sustain chain either, but I feel I don't need it.

Have Soul Siphon and some manareg...

I second Cold Snap and/or Summon Skeletons.

I just accidentally did this in 5 fusings while trying to 4link it. I had given up temporarily on a 6S after 250 jewellers so I was just gonna 5s/4l it for a while.



So now I'm trying to work out my multi vs single links again. I really like [Barrage/Split]+Chain+CoC+Arc+EK+PCoC for my multi target link. I can barrage forever or split about 8 times with my regen but they seem to be pretty much equivalent so I'm running barrage at the moment. I've experimented with Cold Snap here but the damage isn't as good as EK obviously and Arc gets me the bonus rarity from windripper as well as boosting my party's damage.

I still haven't found a single target link that I'm happy with though. My previous fireball shotgun setup did okay damage but it can be pretty hard to get that close to a lot of bosses. I'm thinking about an EK based setup but I'm not sure how to support it in a 5L. I've looked at both EK/PCoC/Inc.CritDam and EK/PCoC/AddFire (both barrage-coc). I could also throw in another spell or two here like Arc to keep the boss shocked I guess. I've looked at just trying to leverage the damage of the bow itself but without a group of good ele auras that isn't really viable and I do occasionally solo (although my groups are all full of alphas howl wrath/anger!).

For the moment I'm thinking Barrage/CoC/EK/Arc/AddFire.

So many CoC options, so little testing time!

"

demonguard wrote:

I just accidentally did this in 5 fusings while trying to 4link it. I had given up temporarily on a 6S after 250 jewellers so I was just gonna 5s/4l it for a while.

I think the game can detect intentions somehow. I have several 6-sockets I've been trying to 5-link for forever, but I swear every time I try to 4-link a 5-socket, I get a 5-link. It's goofy.

"

I've experimented with Cold Snap here but the damage isn't as good as EK obviously and Arc gets me the bonus rarity from windripper as well as boosting my party's damage.

If you switch the Cold Snap in where Chain is, you still have EK and Arc with it. Then you don't run out of mana.

"

I still haven't found a single target link that I'm happy with though.

...

For the moment I'm thinking Barrage/CoC/EK/Arc/AddFire.

Have you tried various Minion options instead of the Added Fire? It would allow you to get closer to the bosses.

Totally off topic: Anyone else run into lots of idiots in pubs?
"What do you have on your spell totem?"
"What spell totem?" (There are no totems in the party.)
"The one casting Fireball and Ice Spear."
"That's me. It's a cast on critical strike build."
"I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the guy casting Fireball and Ice Spear."
Okay...

"

feyith wrote:

If you switch the Cold Snap in where Chain is, you still have EK and Arc with it. Then you don't run out of mana.

Oooh... I like that. It freezes everything and the damage on EK is way better without chain. The only thing I'm not liking about it is that it doesn't get to the back of a pack at all and my crit chance isn't as reliable with it eating my charges since I don't have all of the tree crit. I could run some pierce chance I guess but I can't really afford the skill points it would take and I'd rather run a double crit (implicit+explicit) quiver than an implicit pierce quiver.

"

Have you tried various Minion options instead of the Added Fire? It would allow you to get closer to the bosses.

I may try that at some point. I just tend to prefer pure damage over minions since I group quite a bit. When I'm solo I usually just pop a jade and pray that evasion and acrobatics save me.

i'm really struggling with the defensive side of things since changing to this spec. were those stats you posted on page 1 when you were in a group because i'd love those armor and evade values.