Siege Cannon Build Project: Optimized Shotgunning Crit Grenadier (WIP)

*** Original Concept by CharanJaydemyr and MonopolyLegend. ***

Please check out Charan's thread and Monopoly's gameplay video for a summary of all the awesome ways this plays much, much differently from any other currently popular trapper build. As is my modus operandi, I like to take fun, novel builds like this and see how far I can push the DPS boundaries, while still maintaining map viability using mid-tier items. (Refer to Charan's thread for the self-found/budget version.)

Base items/concept: Using uniques like Deerstalker and Rime Gaze to effectively 5-link support powerful, hand-thrown, targeted Nukes (seriously, just watch the video and/or try it out for yourself) that are immune to traditional damage checks like Reflect, Lightning Thorns, Proximity Shields, Corrupting Blood, etc.


If you want to risk it, the Boots and Mind Cage can be further optimized by Corrupting for +1-2 to Gem Levels. Some other modifications I'm tentatively making:


Since the "Grenade" and "Super Bomb" benefit from the same supports, we can double dip Infernal Mantle's bonuses, while also freeing up an extra item slot for utility skills and/or another trap.


Power Charges! Can also be Corrupted for all kinds of neat stuff, including: Spell Block, Mini-MoM or Damage taken Gained as Mana.


Traps that miss their target will still automagically trigger after 6 seconds. Stacks with Reduced Duration. Can be Corrupted for +1 Additional Traps.

Gem Links:

* Single Target: GMP Fireball and/or Arctic Breath with corresponding Elemental Penetration and Concentrated Effect or Increased Critical Damage. (Ideally, you want both of these setups due to the per skill cooldown. That way your shotgun doesn't take long to reload.)
* Trash Clearing: Ice Nova and/or Fire Trap with Multi-Trap, Elemental Penetration, Concentrated Effect and/or Increased Area of Effect. (Again, both is better.)
* Crowd Control: Cold Snap + Multi-Trap + Blind + Increased Area of Effect.
* Oh-Crap/I-Win! Button: GMP Vaal Fireball with same supports as Fireball. (I chose Concentrated Effect since you only get one of these.)
* Cast when Stunned: Decoy Totem.

Modified Passive Skill Tree:


I'm attempting to address this build's primary weakness, which is lack of Leech or Regeneration. ES would solve that issue but creates a different one without Eldritch Battery, so I'm taking all available Mana Regeneration nodes and running Clarity. CI would address degen issues but I'm not sure if that outweighs the benefits of a hybrid build. The pathing is set up to potentially switch to Pain Attunement if I ever get my hands on a Shavronne's Wrappings. (A girl can dream, can't I?)

Bandits:

* Normal: You can't really go wrong here. I killed all for the Skill Point (because more damages!!111), but +40 Base Mana or +8 Resists are equally good choices.
* Cruel: Kill all unless you're a big fan of the Ethereal Knives/Bear Trap + Hatred aura combo.
* Merciless: Alira for the +1 Power Charge.

Flasks: 1 Remove Bleeding for Puncture mobs; the rest Movement Speed, Dispel Frozen, etc. Possibly a Quartz Flask if you can't fit instant Lightning Warp into your setup. Since we don't benefit from Surgeon's; Increased Charge Recovery or Extra Charges are the preferred mods.

This may or may not end well. Comments/questions/feedback? Come along on the journey. Build/modify/learn with me... Or point and laugh. It's all in good fun anyway. Thanks for stopping by. Happy gaming, all!

~Emma

Arcane vision is for low-life builds only. CI never has light radius issues as the 1 life is always considered full life (-> no penalty on light radius unless you are dead).
You might want to reconsider not wearing an eye of chayulah. Out of my experience with decoy totem i can tell you that (for example) voidbearers once they are locked in on you with their incinerate hardly change targets even when a decoy totem pops up. Same goes for everything that jumps: A group of goatmen doesn't change directions midair just because the first one triggered your totem. The cast when stunned - decoy totem line of defense might therefore not work out that great. I'ld rather go with stun immunity and use a leveled CWDT + decoy totem/enduring cry/immortal call. Or just use spell totem-summon skels as diversion.

I haven't done CI before, so that's good to know. I'm concerned about the Eye locking in too many unique item slots to cover resists. I may have to reconsider doing a hybrid build of some sort if it does. Thanks for the info! :)

Imo the biggest issue with this build is a lack of dps. Mainly in the send that you're ignoring one of the biggest force multipliers available: shock.

I'm assuming that ice nova was selected for CC reasons, but cold snap does that better. For damage though, shock stacks are invaluable. Instead of frost nova I would recommend running shock nova in the boots: shock nova+prolif+light pen+multi trap/inc aoe. If you use sunblast swap the pen gem for reduced duration and use multi trap instead of aoe (this covers the dead zone from 1 trap).

I would also not recommend ES with this build as it's a bit spammy on the traps and will have real mana issues. You're also a lot more squishy and have to run eye of chayula or unwavering stance.

Here is a tree I would recommend (witch start):

Thanks for the suggestions.

I keep switching back and forth between Ice Nova + Concentrated Effect or Cold Snap + Increased Area of Effect. No verdict yet. They have situational advantages. Ice Nova hits more things. Cold Snap lasts longer. I'm also leveling up Blind to see if that works better than Cold Penetration.

Shock is a little bit trickier. There isn't a good "Lightning Bomb" skill that shotguns single targets the way GMP Fireball and Arctic Breath do. For groups, I've been playing around with Shock Nova, Lightning Trap or Chain Arc Multi-Traps, but the results are variable and not as consistent/safe as CC.

The skill tree is definitely the part that is likely to change a lot. Will update as I get back up to map levels.

Just soloed the lake and monkey island at level 62. No mana issues yet. :D

Tree so far:


Gear so far:


My biggest concern is stun-lock. There is not a good way to stack massive amounts of life on this build. Does that make MoM/AA a requirement? I was really hoping to put my one and only 6-link to good use instead of having to sit on trade chat all day for a Cloak of Defiance. :\