The Scorpion (full Viper Strike build/ 7 auras/ low life/ dual redbeak)
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WARNING: NOT YET UPDATED TO 1.2
I always wanted to make a viable build using viper strike as main attack. And now with all the chaos and DOT nodes and being inspired by some corruption possibilities I came up with this idea and I made it work. And I have to tell you it’s a beauty. Even if I never got my hands on a Shavronne's Wrappings and I’m not even close to buying it. So I made it work with the cheap alternative: Solaris Lorica. Don't let the low ES scare you, the tactics of retreating or passing through with Quartz Flask and with block, Arctic armour and over-capped ele. resists - all these really make it work. And when in need use VAAL DISCIPLINE. THE SKILL TREE OF THE BUILD CHARACTER STATS
Spoiler
Forgot to activate my Arctic Armour, it's a 17 quality gem and it gives +5% move speed.
 DAMAGE CALCULATIONS
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Note that the damage over time is a fix number unlike with a Physical Weapon or Spell (ranging 100-400) and is in fact more effective (because it's constant) than the same number as DPS of a weapon. Level 20 gem: = 289.5 + 257.6 (89% dot dmg) + 211.3 (73% chaos dmg) + 579 (200% 2 Redbeaks) = 1337.4 (PER CHARGE) => 5349.6 (with 4 charges) Additionally, with a Vulnerability curse (+40% standard), it will be + 115.8 additive = 5821.8 With Melee Splash (16% less=multiplicator)is 931.4. And 31% (al lvl 20) is 1804.7 = 4881.4 (to main target) = 4071.1 (to other targets) Level 24 gem: (in the case of Vertex + lvl 2 empower gem) = 455 [approximately, since this info is not in POE gamepedia] + 404.9 (89% dot dmg) + 332.1 (73% chaos dmg) + 910 (200% 2 Redbeaks) = 2102 (PER CHARGE) => 8408 (with 4 charges) With a Vulnerability curse (+40% standard), it will be + 182 additive = 9136 And with a Level 25 gem: (with a Voideye unique ring) the damage will be a bit higher. GEMS AND LINKS
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In addition to VS I have Multistrike + Splash + Faster Attacks + Increased AOE
Quality on gems is important on Splash the rest is luxury. Yes, arguments can be made for a different choice of gems, but getting a Solaris Lorica[str] to the right socket colours is a pain, I tried. With a 6L there will be, of course, many interesting possibilities, but I just wanted to show that it was possible to do it the with a limited budget. I also run with Arctic Armour (+movement speed if with quality)and it is great damage mitigation with my low ES. Block also helps. Searing bond with Increased burning damage in enough for those chaos resist mobs. THE 7 AURAS are: Discipline, Grace, Determination >>> all three on LIFE. Purity of Ice, Fire, Lightning, Clarity >>> all 4 on mana. More detalis about my gems and arrangement see in MY GEAR section. MY GEAR
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The most expensive for me was the jewelry. The belt was mine. And I 5-linked the Solaris Lorica.
Because of the high enough resists from the tree and the auras you can really focus the stats you have on the gear on something else. You can take only 1 elemental resistance and go for: CHAOS resistance, mana regen, high ES and other things you think you lack. Also, keep an eye for extra STR on gear, for Determination aura and Splash. The corrupted Redbeaks costed me 2 and 3 chaos only. A great improvement (+11) for my block chance. IDEAL GEAR
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Shavronne's Wrappings The obvious upgrade to Solaris Lorica. With this the total amount of ES should jump by about 1500.
The Vertex This beauty is the best option to remove the Void’s eye ring (+5 gem level) and get a ring with real stat or Dream Fragments unique ring. Dream Fragments Because of the freezing mechanics especially affecting a low life build. This is great when dealing with the FREEZE issue + it gives just nice extra improvements for the build. Another good upgrade can be a pair of corrupted Gloves with Vulnerability on hit. This should save you a lot of trouble. SWITCHING TO VIPER STRIKE
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I switched on it at around 60, when it reached level 16 (I think) or 17. Anyway, that is when it becomes ready to be used full time. And then I got to Piety and kept on leveling till 74 or 75. I could have done some maps but it was fast enough there, because of no chaos resistance on mobs.
Now, at lvl 80 and lvl 18 (VS gem) I did farm up to lvl 74 maps. MAP MODS
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The following mods are impossible or hard to do for this build:
Chaos damage per second - I confess I did not have the guts to try it, I always wondered if I could be quick enough to charge my Vaal Discipline in time to recover. But I think it's just not possible, if you take a few hits you will die faster. Blood Magic - very bad, no low life, no auras, no 200% damage from redbeaks Temporal Chains - Possible but even if you are just slowed it feel worse than the no regen mod or slow recovery mod. Just avoid it. No mana regeneration - very hard but doable with 2 or 3 mana flasks, will have to drop an elemental aura or two (if you have enough resists from gear), and no Arctic armour (AA), easier with Shavronne's. Life,mana and ES slow recovery - Doable with all auras on, but dangerous because will have to drop AA and slow ES recovery Cursed with Vulnerability - Very dangerous and annoying to wait for ES recovery. Possible but annoying. At least you get to keep your AA. Cursed with Elemental Weakness - It requires very expensive gear to have those resists on max. If not maxed just as dangerous as Minus Max resists. Minus Max resists - Just hard and dangerous. Doable but I avoid it. Curse Immunity - You loose 40% damage. Judge for yourself based on map difficulty and level. Area inhabited by Demons - Just slower, because most of them have chaos resists. DEALING WITH HIGH CHAOS RESISTANCE
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This is only an issue with certain mobs. NOT ALL mobs with CHAOS RES have sufficient high resistance to be an issue. So, here comes in the SEARING BOND. You will want to put the totem behind you and go at them to hit them viper strike. For some rares you can also drop the totem for faster degen. But usually I don’t need it.
Last edited by Exalionn#3142 on Aug 20, 2014, 2:39:00 AM
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2500 es, rip
fix ur tree go get as much es as possible, looks very bad atm, 140%es @_inQontrol lvl 100 Ambush gear, tree: http://poebuilder.com/#builds/inqontrol-inq001 or http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/797034 Last edited by ex_vitek#5561 on May 23, 2014, 5:27:56 AM
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I know this is how it looks, and yet it is doable with Arctic armour, block and high elemental res. And the VAAL DISCIPLINE helps a lot. I keep it on reduced mana, don't know if it helps, did't stop to count souls, but it shows the reduced effect in the gem icon.
This is what you get without Shavronne's. But even so it is ok up to lvl 74 maps (the highest I tried, but who knows), because of the retreat tactics and with the reduced time of ES regeneration. Last edited by Exalionn#3142 on May 23, 2014, 5:51:47 AM
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Bump, more detailed info.
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What is the death count on this char?
I'm asking because i too am sceptical whether this is a build that's viable when trying to progress into the 80s levels. It looks like you live off vaal discipline to be loaded in tight situations otherwise you die. It's the reason why i'm hesitant linking it to the scion builds list at the moment. Don't get me wrong: anyone can use the builds he wants to, but when writing a guide, it is important to know what the limits of the build are: Is it restricted to a certain lvl or content? Anybody that tries to follow that build sure wants to know if there is wall one is going to hit. So bear with me if i'm waiting for you to play into 80s level so you can make a founded statement on how this plays in higher levels/endgame content. BTW Reduced mana doesn't affect the number of souls needed on a vaal gem. |
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I will write more info regarding the map modes restrictions (don't think it's a big mistery). But for now, I have no problem farming up to lvl 74 maps. I did not die for the last 2 or 3 levels (not that I died a lot before, just the ocasional mistake), at which point I assimilated the mechanics of this build and my behaviour with mobs. And I made the right adjustments to the build tree, as presented on this page.
Now, to understand the true limitations of this build I need to be rich enough to buy Shavronnes. That will add a lot of ES and solve the greatest apparent issue of this build. For someone with that piece of armour this build will be a lot of fun and save to play. Just to be clear, I don't get 1 hit KO with anyone (up to the level I tried), just sucker-punched in agglomerated situations. But the level goes higher and I plan to invest some more in shield reg. delay. So, the wall (I set to myself) is lvl 74 maps. But the potential of the build is much higher. I did what I could with my resources and I am happy about it (with the limited amount of currency I invested and the fun result). I believe the build is solid and with the right resources - Sky is the limit. PS. I am glad you consider putting this build in your List of builds, at least there will be one viable Viper Strike build there. Last edited by Exalionn#3142 on May 30, 2014, 1:54:19 PM
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Please check this tree;
http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgABvryC5JARiq9KyD8nKk0VIEtJ6yws6cAZrEfdDQ0CGYZbr_zFykpOKhjbVvpvnsM6rUp0QYMJieCbtVYtUq_dX0Zx5lhTNRmKrH_NJrtNtAzhiJMfbWz7CWf8kyfquh2qSRO1SPbaHNw8jhqPf8bxdqKjwcURlsHz7Bhwu4fbXIptGbTRw23ZE-tjO-F2gi9vmZri98gMtvenKxEvKaWP-tvnRwZfasLstMUrCsEA2xoQe_VLvjruDhrb18u30z3iSO4brbGz7UGmfx6BS43_HIt6 or http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgABKk0VIOssLOmsR90NGYZbr_zFykpOKhjbVvpvnsM6rUp0QYMJieCbtVYtUq_dX0Zx5lhTNRmKrH_NJrtNtAzhiJMfbWz7CWf8kyfquh2qSRO1SPbaHNw8jhqPf8bxdqKjwcURlsHz7Bhwu4fbXIptGbTRw23ZE-tjO-F2gi9vmZri98gMtvenKxEvKaWP-tvnRwZfasLstMUrCsEA2xoQe_VLvjq30z3iSO4brbGz7UGmfx6BS43_HIt6IuruDhrb18sIZ5M6vScYPPnogsco-lfJ As you stated it's a hit and run, grab a hybrid shield for more ES and Def and you still have more chance to block on the shield. Also you forgot the Ghost Reaver which is the most important in ES build. IGN: JuanTamod / Epic_Hero Last edited by JuanTamod#5008 on May 29, 2014, 3:23:17 AM
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Nice trees, of course, but you seem to forget how Life leech works, and therefore - how useless Ghost reaver is.
Viper Strike deals no damage, my dps is 300. The actual damage comes from the degeneration charges (4), which is DOT damage (damage over time)and I just sit and watch. But I deal no damage that I could use to life leech. You think I did not dream of this to work with my skill, but even if you could Life leech with the degeneration skills and effects, that 8% of (degeneration) damage could be too low (but better than nothing I suppose). Last edited by Exalionn#3142 on May 29, 2014, 4:30:16 PM
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You have searing bond and put LL in there. You can't just rely on vaal discipline.
Just my 2 cents. IGN: JuanTamod / Epic_Hero
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Not sure what you mean by -LL- (hope it's not life leech, I just covered that subject).
And I don't rely just on vaal discipline, there is also block and, of course running :). But seriously now, usually I use Vaal discipline when I'm too lazy to run and I just face-tank the mobs. Last edited by Exalionn#3142 on May 29, 2014, 10:05:06 AM
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