Heavy Summoner Arc Witch Guide [ Video Included ]

this is a HC Build isnt it?

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_redruM wrote:

this is a HC Build isnt it?

nope

I've just a small question.
I didn't exactly use your build entirely. I went for the DEX and STR on the way to Minion Instablilty and then went for casting speed and mana regen. Because of my DEX and STR I could use skills which were effective against Brutus and Merveil.

Fire trap was like a god skill.

E:
Forgot the question.
Did you have a hard time when you were a low level?
Because anyone using your build would have a relatively hard time when they're low leveled.

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fiddesoder99 wrote:

Hehe yeah Snowhammer, what can i say? I the beginning i really liked the idea behind EB and running 5 Auras, the one you arent using that i have is Discipline, and with reduced mana and the 3 nodes that increase buff effects on me i actually gain mana, as you said :) The goal is i guess to run as many auras as possible, but its only 2 points(I think :p) to get to EB and its a easy respecc ;) I really liked the idéa behind having but loads of auras and minions :) A "Disco Witch" i believe it was called back in beta :)

I like the concept of EB too! I use it on my Templar. It's just a fun way to get more mana :) I think that with really really good gear you could make a powerfully EB build. You could eventually (I've read) get all the ES you need from 1 item - your helm - to run 6 auras. That would free you up to use Armor or Evasion gear to beef up your survivability. And as you say - you can easility respec.

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fiddesoder99 wrote:

Right now EB has allowed me to use 5 Auras, Anger, Wrath, Clarity, Purity and Discipline while still spammin a Faster casted and proliferated Arc :) Atleast for now i like it :) Maybe i will feel the survivability hit later on, but then i can respecc out of EB and addapt by build accordingly. My goal and idea behind taking the increased buff effect nodes is that i want to be able to spam my Arc as it is + Light Pen on it :) I dont know, i might be out in the cold here, but it sounds good in my head :p

Are you saying you want to get a 4L Arc? Proliferation+Penetration+FasterCasting+Arc?
I thought about that, if my regen ever gets strong enough, but it would mean putting Arc in your boots or gloves. That means you can't get a +2 Lighting Skill Gems mod on Arc. I feel the base damage increase from that is probably the biggest damage increase you can get to Arc - if you still care about Arcs damage that is.

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fiddesoder99 wrote:

And another thought about ES is that it might not be that important since from the information i´ve gathered across the forum is that for a summoner Chaos damage is "the bitch" and ES wont help in that regard at all. "Normal" damage might not be that threatening to a guarded summoner but chaos damage is, and ES wont help you there. I think that was one of my motivators to actually pick up EB and go for more auras to help me and my summons. I might actually go for Vitality too when my gear allows it and run with 6 auras. That regen wont hinder skeletons from blowing up giving me the benefits of MI but it will help my zombies stay alive :)

Your right about Chaos for sure. I've died once in a map so fat and it was to one of those sewer bombers. I'd cleared half the map with out seeing one of them, so he caught me off gaurd. Boom dead. That said - other stuff has threatened me and givem me close calls a few times. My favorite mod to get on a map is "fleet" because it gives a huge quantity bonus. But, it can make trivial swarmer mobs like the monkees, or those tall blue guys really deadly even if they hit you for 1 or 2 seconds. Those particular monsters seem to have a habbit of ignoring your minions sometimes too.

All of that to say - your right! Chaos is the #1 threat for sure.

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fiddesoder99 wrote:

Edit 3: I´m runing increased area of effect on wrath / anger too, how would that translate to BM? With increased mana cost(=life cost).

Yeah, if you want Area of effect attached to your Auras, I'd say BM is out. Too much health reserve. I use high quality Anger/Wrath gems which gives more Raidus of Effect - but of course, having an even larger radius with the support gem would be nice if you can do it (An EB would let you I'm sure).

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fiddesoder99 wrote:

Edit 4: I HAVE to stop editing this post >.< But a thought regarding the extra shock chance, would that make it possible to equip "Queens Decree" 2-handed sword? Loosing alot of dmaage for Arc but getting minions instead :p SO in that aspect maybe the extra 10% node is worth it :)

I just can't see using Queen's Decree for this. You loose sooo much damage on Arc.. I can't see shocks staying active for any time at all (No Spell power from your Wand or a Shield?

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Smicebot wrote:

E:
Forgot the question.
Did you have a hard time when you were a low level?
Because anyone using your build would have a relatively hard time when they're low leveled.

Absolutely - its horrible untill level 31-35ish

Got a question, since the idea is using arc to shock/debuff enemies to boost minion damage, what about elemental equilibrium? its near the minion instability node anyway

I think that you've convinced me to try increasing my Arc damage Snowhammer. I've been a little skeptical since arc generally has a fairly low damage to begin with so have instead chose to go an all our aura build combined with the the build posted in this thread. However, I like the idea of having my own damage for times when minion AI just isn't cutting it, and I completely agree with your aura analysis. Basically, I will be using the same auras as now but I'll also have energy shield and higher damage, eventually.

Off topic question: If you had a 6 link armor and had to choose between spectre of raise skeleton which would you pick? I'm currently using LMP, Minion Life, Minion damage with my spectre, and totem, faster casting, and minion life with my skeletons. I'm not sure of two more support gems that would be super beneficial to have for either skill. (I haven't seen much discussion on this topic so thought I'd ask)

Thanks again for the amazing contribution Snowhammer!

6 link spectres will provide by far the biggest benefit, as long as you make sure to raise good mobs as spectres.

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suprfli6 wrote:

6 link spectres will provide by far the biggest benefit, as long as you make sure to raise good mobs as spectres.

6 linked is indeed OP.

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suprfli6 wrote:

6 link spectres will provide by far the biggest benefit, as long as you make sure to raise good mobs as spectres.

This is what I figured. I guess I'll put a faster projectile and fcr or something with my current lmp, minion life+ damage. Unless there's a better option anyone can think of.

So I was a moron and learned the hard way... don't chrom your armor on a whim if you don't have a backup >.< So I lost faster projectiles from my specters for nothing. Ah well. I've literally had what has to be the worst crafting luck in this game.

Question for snowhammer or anyone who is using this build with proliferation and focusing on keeping arc as a dps dealer:

What do you think about sweeping down (about 3 int nodes) to pick up templar's bonus to lightning damage too? I decided to try this and all those bonuses have really started to help boost my dos, but uncertain as to whether or not I should really be grabbing those before the last summoner node.