Non-CoC, Crit Bow Theory Crafting

Wow...that is a way good deal. Nice!

Could I ask for some advice on what links to take for utility skills?

I'm currently debating between running a 4-link with Enfeeble-Faster Casting-Spell Totem-Summon Skeletons or two 2-links (Enfeeble-Faster Casting and Spell Totem-Summon Skeletons).

The four link lets me be lazy about casting curses but I can't have both skeletons and curses. Alternatively, I can have my skeleies but I have to cast each curse.

I'm also trying to figure out what gems to link to Leap Slam. I'm pretty sure Faster Attacks is a no brainer but I'm not sure what to use for the third link.

Lastly, I'm trying to decide my CwDT setup. I'm sure I'll be running CwDT-Enduring-Immortal, but I'm not sure what to run for the last slot. Any kind of totem might interfere with my other totem.

Thanks!

Are you wanting the Skeletons as an all the time thing or for emergency cannon fodder?

If the latter, it can be your last CwDT link, and then you could add Increased Area of Effect to your Curse totem. Can totems cast Curses? If not, you could do Curse on Hit with an off attack?

I could have sworn Leap Slam requires a melee weapon. Do you mean Lightning Warp? I usually do Faster Casting + Reduced Duration or Blind, depending on how stubborn my item colors are being.

Edit: Just tested. Enfeeble on a Spell Totem aggros like crazy, so you don't need Increased Area of Effect or even Faster Casting, really. Maybe Reduced Mana?

Another good defensive option: Flame Totem + Blind + Knockback.

I should have clarified that I intend to switch to my secondary weapon set to use Leap Slam. I had to break up with Lightning Warp because it was being snotty about my (lack of) intelligence. Having Leap Slam on my secondary gives me more slots on my primary setup. I'll be using a 1-Handed weapon with high attack speed so Leap Slam will be in a 3-link.

Leap Slam looks good because it's speed is the same regardless of level so I can keep it at level 1. In addition, I'm getting a fairy bit of global attack speed bonus from Frenzy Charges, Onslaught, and my passive tree so I can Leap Slam away from something in a jiffy. I was thinking either Reduced Mana or Blood Magic for the third link since both will allow me to cast Leap Slam more reliably.

I plan to use "skeleton totem" as a distraction and as cannon fodder. It's worked really well for me in the past and I'd like to use it again. It's great because it only requires a 2-link to be effective.

I had no idea mobs got angry at curse totems(!). I figured mobs wouldn't care since the curses doesn't do damage. I'm not sure I want to babysit a totem to keep it alive. I'll think I'm going to go with two 2-links. If the skeleton totem continues pumping out skeletons then I have time to cast curses.

For the last link of CwDT I'm thinking Increased Duration would be nice since it'll increase the time that I'm "immortal".

Thank you for taking the time to test stuff for me! I really appreciate it.

Another fun one I've seen is Animate Weapon on a totem. It eats all the nearby white weapons and turns them into summons.

That sounds hilarious and awesome at the same time. Unfortunately, it's contingent on there being weapons around and therefore not as consistent. Maybe I'll hook it up to my CwDT for some luls.

Hi bud. I was looking at your post and I cannot help but wonder why in certain passive tree's you take extra power charges?

How are you generating these charges if I may ask?

Thanks.

5 Power Charges = +250% chance to crit.

My main attack is actually CoC with Power Charge on Crit and I use Split Arrow as my off attack, depending on the map.

If you use Split Arrow as your main attack, you could use a Frenzy + PCoC off attack for generating charges or just not worry about using charges and spend the points elsewhere.

So I put together a tree where I tried to get as much "% of Life Regenerated per Second" as possible. The tree let me regenerate almost 6% of my life per second which more than counteracts the degen from Blood Rage and means a ton of regen outside of Blood Rage. It looks something like this:



Regenerating a ton of health is nice but the damage is kinda lackluster. I'm basically stacking a ton of attack speed via passives, Frenzy Charges, Onslaught, etc. etc.. Meanwhile, I'm ignoring crit and the free 150% (or more!)damage multiplier. So... time for a different tree.



Based on what I've seen of other builds I think is pretty cookie-cutter stuff. I did spend 4 points to get Conduit since I'll be making a cornucopia of charges.

So. I've got a few questions for you:

Which do you think is more effective for generating Power Charges?
Frenzy + PCoC + Inc. Crit Strikes + ??
or
Split + Chain + PCoC + Inc. Crit Strikes

I'm trying to decided by 5th link for Puncture. So far I've got:
Puncture + Phys Proj + Inc. Crit Dam + Added Fire + ???

At the moment I'm trying to decided between Culling, Inc. Crit Chance, or Weapon Ele Dam.

Edit: Forgot to ask you about Vaal Pact. Do you think it's worth the points to get it?

Thanks!

I think Puncture does fine as a 4-link*. That way you could do Split as your 5-link with PCoC and another support, maybe Physical Damage?

If your max per hit damage * your crit multiplier * 0.0018 is well below what it would take to 1-shot yourself, Vaal Pact makes you reflect immune but requires a Life Leech gem in your attack setup. If you do this, the PCoC would go on Frenzy with Increased Crit Chance and LMP.

I would make that decision based on how you do against off-screen reflects. I prefer the 11 points and just flasking through stuff.

*Increased Crit Chance isn't needed for Puncture because you only need one good hit to bleed something to death. Culling doesn't work on DoT so stops being useful when it takes less than 2 hits to kill a boss. Weapon Elemental Damage is great if you have party auras, as it adds to your Fire and Hatred damage and keeps your DPS high against bosses who don't run around enough to bleed themselves.