The Headbang Gang 2.0 - Raging Spirits madness - now with cheap version + leveling guide

The only thing that makes me a little leery of this build is how squishy it seems from your stream. I'm used to being pretty tanky from a variation of matt's spectral Gods build and am not too sure how well I can take with constant potting and running around at the hint of more than one hit/source of damage.
Then again, I am watching your video of a lvl 78 map after all... so maybe my concerns are smaller than I think they are.

Made a large update to the guide with details on a version that does not use a +3 staff or empower. It still is pretty damn good, if I may say so myself. I am uploading a video of me doing a nasty corrupted Courtyard with it. It should be up and added to the main post shortly.

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yeah but I don't have a 5 or 6link staff with + to any levels let alone 3. Too expensive on xyz to buy.

Discipline for me adds enough mana (almost 5K total) I get 300 mana regen without clarity.

If I ever get one or currency to get one i'll give it a try. So, working with what I got right now. figured I'd mention it. Overall, it's different to play which makes it fun.

This is the main point I am getting to now with this guide, you don't actually need the +6 levels. Have a look at the second part of the guide and the upcoming video.

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The only thing that makes me a little leery of this build is how squishy it seems from your stream. I'm used to being pretty tanky from a variation of matt's spectral Gods build and am not too sure how well I can take with constant potting and running around at the hint of more than one hit/source of damage.
Then again, I am watching your video of a lvl 78 map after all... so maybe my concerns are smaller than I think they are.

It's certainly not the tankiest thing I have ever played, but it does hold pretty well I think. I leveled 85->89 in a few days of relatively light playing, so I'm not dying that much, and when I do it's mostly to stupidity. I do have to spam pots quite a bit and get out of serious harm's way, but it's not that often considering how good the spirits are at neutralizing threats fast. Please take a look at the video I'm making now when it's up, it's a corrupted Courtyard with -max, added damage, half regen (=not running AA), etc and while I had a clumsy close call with the bosses, I didn't die once.

So I was dubious about whether empower was optimal even if it's in a +1 gems item. I did the calculations using the program from my SRS optimization thread.

The results surpirsed me. With SE - MPD - MS - Min Dam I was getting a single spirit's damage is 4466.67 with 6.31 APS = 28.18k DPS.

With Empower and SE - MPD - MS it's 4456 with 6.31 APS = 28.12k DPS.

The difference is tiny. Since Empower is a 125% mana mult but Min Dam is 150%, this alone should make Empower superior. The added life from Empower puts it over the edge. OTOH using Minion Damage is way cheaper than a level 3 Empower.

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So I was dubious about whether empower was optimal even if it's in a +1 gems item. I did the calculations using the program from my SRS optimization thread.

Oh wow, I somehow missed that thread. Great job there ! I will use that.


Just finished uploading the latest video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFZU6jt_55o
It showcases the build without using a +3 staff (it actually still uses lvl3 empower, but only as a replacement for minion damage (which has pretty much the same effect) because I can't be bothered to color my chest correctly). The map is pretty brutal.

Edit : also uploaded a fast clear of an easy plateau to give a sense of clear speed on not-so-hard content
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_OfHtB5cOY

video are pretty. I look forward to getting the gems higher.

I bit it to 2 rogues in a level 75 necropolis map (standard so no worries). Took 2 deaths to kill them. They both were waiting as the first enemies in the map. Torr kept leap slamming and the other was the trapper.

My life was way too low. So, I looked at the setup. The spell totem with ball lightning gmp and blind is sick. It blinds everything but ultimately is overkill. So, I decided it will be self cast as well. BUT.

I'm testing using Cybil's Paw as my weapon. It gives life on hit for spells.
Self cast gmp ball lightning blind will give me life.

I'll get more base life once I swap some gear around. Shield and rings for example could have life.

This thread and these videos show how strong the little buggers can be.


Also, have you tried added fire gem? I think it could be pretty strong since it works like hatred.

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PepprmintButler wrote:

(it actually still uses lvl3 empower, but only as a replacement for minion damage (which has pretty much the same effect)

Actually Empower level 3 and below is significantly weaker than minion damage in terms of DPS. It was that close to min dam because it was effectively a L4 empower in that staff.

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GoatEatingToilet wrote:

The only thing that makes me a little leery of this build is how squishy it seems from your stream. I'm used to being pretty tanky from a variation of matt's spectral Gods build and am not too sure how well I can take with constant potting and running around at the hint of more than one hit/source of damage.
Then again, I am watching your video of a lvl 78 map after all... so maybe my concerns are smaller than I think they are.

Cloak + AA is what I have been using and it works really well for the end game. The way I see it Raging Spirit use on its own is just safer. You can literally hide behind terrain/off-screen and fire off that homing spell.

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Madcow1120 wrote:

I'm testing using Cybil's Paw as my weapon. It gives life on hit for spells.
I do believe this means raging spirits and zombies (may switch that to a skellie totem) will get life from hit.

Unless a mod states that it works for a minion, it will not (the only exception being shield stats when you have Necromantic Aegis). Even if it did, Zombies and Spirits attack and do not cast spells, the only spell part involved in them is when you first summon them.

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mattc3303 wrote:

Cloak + AA is what I have been using and it works really well for the end game. The way I see it Raging Spirit use on its own is just safer. You can literally hide behind terrain/off-screen and fire off that homing spell.

Yeah, I think it is cloak + AA that makes me feel so tanky. After watching his video, I realized he does not have the MoM passive or even the Cloak equipped, so that is probably why I was cringing, heh. Plus it was a lvl 78 map... not exactly cakewalk. It was just my luck to 5-link my cloak days before Ambush ended... now it will just gather dust as the 1-month and new 4-month leagues approach (unless I have no interest in the 4-month league. Happened with Domination).
Raging spirits are awesome because they like to roam about a little and they have descent aggro range. I will probably have a pretty easy time staying out of trouble with a build like this. It is even more appealing now that I have seen how good it is even without a +3 staff and just a 5-link chest piece.

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GoatEatingToilet wrote:

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Madcow1120 wrote:

I'm testing using Cybil's Paw as my weapon. It gives life on hit for spells.
I do believe this means raging spirits and zombies (may switch that to a skellie totem) will get life from hit.

Unless a mod states that it works for a minion, it will not (the only exception being shield stats when you have Necromantic Aegis). Even if it did, Zombies and Spirits attack and do not cast spells, the only spell part involved in them is when you first summon them.

good call on the spell part. Totally wiffed on that.

But I guess not. Bummer.

Either way the use was more for me. Ball lightning gmp gets so many hits and casts fast. Life on hit + blind is pretty awesome. I'll likely add culling strike too to maximize its use.

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Oh and Doryani's Catalyst is another weapon I may test out. Problem is I'd probably not add it to a build as a must have but as a luxury item to aspire to get. Although it is more accessible by mid leagues (or on standard). And cheaper.

Use that catalyst with an added fire damage in place of melee physical and that should be pretty slick if the minions get the elemental damage bonus. Free prolif for gems there. TDoes the leech apply to minions for this one? If not it'll apply to whatever you shock with whether arc or ball lightning which was the original intention.