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

I've been running piety runs since level 57 with this build. I have decided I am going to attempt this in the HC league coming up. A few things I will be taking away from both this build and MatrixFactor's information:

I will not be using a staff until very late game, if at all. Reasons being the damage is not the issue with this build, it's survivability so far for me. I'm only level 63 and have been using SRS since level 13 so I do not have end game map experience yet, but I feel pretty vulnerable without zombies or animated weapons up for monsters to target. Currently my zombies and weapons die pretty quickly but it's because I'm still only 63 doing piety and maps. If I were to level to zone level or slightly over level, I don't think I would have as much trouble as I do now, which isn't a terrible amount to begin with.

MOM will surely only come from the chest, as the passive is too far from reach.

I am going to be taking more health nodes and leaving the far left aura cluster alone until level 85+, I spec'd into it and didn't see much of a difference in clear speed. I feel like those points are better spent on survivability:

https://poebuilder.com/character/AAAAAgMABkkHYwj0DlwQdBGWFSAWbxmFGYYZihpsGo8c3B2-HpQkPCSqJ6ko-ipNL28xiDbpPI4_J0V-RZ1GcUlRSshNuVXGVi1XK1fJWW1abVqRX5hnvWqsa9tsFm0Zb55wu3NTeQN6qn0Yf8aCHoLHgwmD24VgiECPRpAzkyeYrZrgm6GbtZ2uoqOmrKcIp1yofarErD-sR6x_tAy4k8BUwfPDOspKzLzOcc9l0NDT-9kT2wvcV-Nq6rrrLOvu7Irz3fba99f56PsJ_EvWnWKsnaoOSO5v


If I really need mana regen, I may do this instead as it is more efficient than getting a 20% mana node from the bottom near the duration nodes (10 more str and 20 more int, plus the crit chance bump which may help with shock stacks from totem, I do not think your minions gain your crit chance though so it would not help them).

https://poebuilder.com/character/AAAAAgMABkkHYwj0DlwQdBGWFSAWbxmFGYYZihpsGo8c3B2-HpQkPCSqJ6ko-ipNL28xiDbpPI4_J0V-RZ1GcUlRSshNuVXGVi1XK1fJWW1abVqRX5hnvWqsa9tsFm0Zb55wu3NTeQN6qn0Yf8aCHoLHgwmD24VgiECPRpAzkyeYrZrgm6GbtZ2uoqOmrKcIp1yofarErD-sR6x_tAy4k8BUwfPDOspKzLzOcc9l0NDT-9kT2wvcV-Nq6rrrLOvu7Irz3fba99f56PsJ_EsmlVVLjDZQQi1H


Heading for thick skin and getting the MOM passive if I simply cannot get my hands on a cloak may be a route I will have to take but the efficiency isn't great.

I still haven't decided whether or not I want to go with the blind totem or the shock prolif totem. They do such good damage right now that the shocks don't even really matter. I'm currently using GMP ball lightning blind totem and I really like it. Spreads EE quickly, small chance to shock (which is why in that build I currently have the extra 10% shock chance to compensate moving from arc), no prolif but I just currently don't see a need. Maybe I'll switch that up late game if mobs become tougher.

Link wise, I'll probably be going RS > Duration > Minion Dmg > Multistrike > Melee phys. I've been swapping echo and minion dmg in and out between piety runs and while it feels a little less cumbersome with echo, I've been finding it's actually more mobile and manageable with minion damage. The cast speed is slower but I still keep up a good number of skulls and I only cast once per click, where as with echo I constantly catch myself trying to cast something like flesh offering or vaal haste and it not firing because of the second cast due to echo, so I have to spam it, and I feel like it slows me down. It feels clunky that way, and so far it's slightly less clunky with less cast speed but more control. I still have to feel this one out. Damage wise, I can't really see a difference in clear speed, honestly.

On the way up to piety I will sometimes swap melee phys for splash, but I don't feel splash is really necessary at this point. If I'm clearing my way to brutus or some other lower level place, I will swap splash just for convenience since they practically one-shot anything anyway even without melee phys.

current gear:



Clearly nothing amazing and some pieces are absolute garbage (ammy, wand). This is by design, I am trying to get self-found only gear and so far it's working rather well.

I was trying out offensive zombies last night, and omitting spectres all together, but it seems less effective. I was hoping the life leech the zombies get would help keep them alive if they hit harder and more often. Doesn't seem to help much.

"

Madcow1120 wrote:

"

GoatEatingToilet wrote:

"

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.

the paw also says it gives life on hit which in addition to a separate line that gives life on spell hit.
If you have leech on gear (example: Doryani's catalyst 1% fire leech) and cast a spell totem the totem will gain the life not you. It doesn't say that but it happens. So, I was wondering if same went for the spirits gaining the bonus from the gear. 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.

----------------

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. Free prolif for gems there. The leech may apply to minions for this one? If not it'll apply to whatever you shock with whether arc or ball lightning.

I'm almost positive this is false. Cybil's +15 Life gained for each enemy hit by your Attacks means your physical hits with that weapon through the use of a melee ability or auto attack. Your skills do not gain that benefit. Similarly, Doryani's 1% leech will not help your totems, your totems do not gain life leech stats from any of your gear or tree unless it says so explicitly or you have necro aegis.

"

kazyn wrote:

I'm almost positive this is false. Cybil's +15 Life gained for each enemy hit by your Attacks means your physical hits with that weapon through the use of a melee ability or auto attack. Your skills do not gain that benefit. Similarly, Doryani's 1% leech will not help your totems, your totems do not gain life leech stats from any of your gear or tree unless it says so explicitly or you have necro aegis.

Ok, the bolded part is actually false. It does in fact help your totems but you are right it does not help minions. That's where I was getting confused. From wiki :


Totems gain the leech and elemental damage increase
"Skills used by totems are affected by the player's passive skills, equipment, and linked support gems."

Minions do Not
"Neither passive skills nor stats from your other equipment affect minions unless they specifically say "Minions _____"."

I did edit my previous post to avoid misinformation.

In any case I tried the cybil's and will likely test doryani's for my benefit self casting ball lightning to give dual benefit of some life leech and blinding enemies. Both weapons also have cast speed. Doryani's has insane elemental damage increase good for at the least ball lightning.

Hello, I've never played summoner before. Could you add "leveling" part to the first post and tree for 20/40/60lvl? That would help me and some people a lot. I want to start this build in new leagues, so there won't be lvl 3/4 empower ;]

*Edit3 this turned into a wall of text and my intention is not to hijack your thread*

What are your thoughts on the new echo staff for this build? Lets say its 5L (=6L) vs a 5L +3 staff with some cast speed.

You could save all the mana nodes and still come out with higher mana pool (could cover 20% cast speed in tree for instance and i guess more life aswell)

As i see it +3 and cast speed is as good as it gets offensive wise from a rare staff for this build, and echo staff is obviously better than a 6L armor. so just for kicks what do you guys think ;O

I realize it aslo would take some light theory-crafting regarding some moved nodes ;)

Summon Raging Spirits - Minion Damage - Multistrike - Melee Physical Damage - Increased Duration - Faster attacks

I've intentionally stayed away from Empower since staff doesnt give any +skills and in 1month its likely that it wont reach higher than Empower 2 for most.


*edit Following your exact calculations for 6L armor build (as someone said before damage for Minion dmg and emp3 is very close) but adding Faster attacks (44%)in the Link you get extra from echo being free i get these results:

using level 20spirits (and rest of gems lvl20 no quality) : 23,2K dps (dont forget u also have 10% more cast speed since its lvl 30 echo)

using level 26spirits : 24,922 PS. (Untouched value from first post based from your staff for reference)

First off your staff is only 5L, but in one of the Links of your 6L armor there is a increase duration and that does nothing for this calculation.

2nd, The spirits have close to double health at level 26 (good for aoe situations)

3rd, There are possibly available slots on staff after you get +3 and cast speed, but i doubt they will come even close to potentially 15 nodes (including transport nodes) you can drop from mana gain on staff.

4th, Echo staff has 10% higher MORE cast speed being lvl 30, effectivly adding 10% more summons = 10% more damage.

There are most likely typos in here, so be cool ;O

"

Madcow1120 wrote:

"

kazyn wrote:

I'm almost positive this is false. Cybil's +15 Life gained for each enemy hit by your Attacks means your physical hits with that weapon through the use of a melee ability or auto attack. Your skills do not gain that benefit. Similarly, Doryani's 1% leech will not help your totems, your totems do not gain life leech stats from any of your gear or tree unless it says so explicitly or you have necro aegis.

Ok, the bolded part is actually false. It does in fact help your totems but you are right it does not help minions. That's where I was getting confused. From wiki :


Totems gain the leech and elemental damage increase
"Skills used by totems are affected by the player's passive skills, equipment, and linked support gems."

Minions do Not
"Neither passive skills nor stats from your other equipment affect minions unless they specifically say "Minions _____"."

I did edit my previous post to avoid misinformation.

In any case I tried the cybil's and will likely test doryani's for my benefit self casting ball lightning to give dual benefit of some life leech and blinding enemies. Both weapons also have cast speed. Doryani's has insane elemental damage increase good for at the least ball lightning.

You're right:

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/63702

Just curious how necessary the 3 15% duration nodes actually are? I was thinking of a more aura/tanky/tanky minion variation of this build, but I would forgo the duration nodes as a result.

I think the 45% skill duration from the tree is really important to the build, as base duration is really low. Increased duration is pretty much a more multiplier on damage output (although more relevant to sustained damage than burst damage). However, since the build works with the nodes and not the Inc Dur gem, you coud conceivably get good results with the gem and not the nodes. It's worth trying if it saves you 10-12 passive points.

"

PepprmintButler wrote:

I think the 45% skill duration from the tree is really important to the build, as base duration is really low. Increased duration is pretty much a more multiplier on damage output (although more relevant to sustained damage than burst damage). However, since the build works with the nodes and not the Inc Dur gem, you coud conceivably get good results with the gem and not the nodes. It's worth trying if it saves you 10-12 passive points.

Yeah, it would save a bunch of points and I would invest those in making all the minions tankier as well as myself. Going for Cloak of Defiance alongside AA and a tree that lookes something like this at level 84:


Edit: My pathing is a little odd because I think I get a better investment with the stats I am looking for by going down the shadow side as opposed to the templar side. With 1 more point spent this way (as opposed to what I originally had planned) I am getting the same amount of STR and DEX, more life, INT, mana and mana regen.

Forgot to mention that I did not get the static blows passives because I will be running Ball Lightning to try to spread EE even faster/further with the totem setup. The shock stacks would be nice, but the odds of getting them seem slim with what I have in mind anyway.

Those 45% are the best nodes in the tree by far. They give you 45% MORE damage that also multiplies with other MORE damage. It also makes a very spammy build a little bit less spammy but thats just icing. See it as a very few transport nodes for 45% overall more damage.

There is also nice Life nodes + resist node that will be a lifesaver early league on top of good evasion nodes that work well with your cloak of defiance, its a 100% no-brainer and its better to loose 60-70% minion damage instead