Dominion's Hardcore Dual-Spark CI Witch - UPDATED for 1.0.1

@XZlayeD - If you can consistently cast both totems, double curse, and you still have enough time to lay and use the arc mines, it might be worth it. Keep in mind you need to do quite a bit of damage to cause it to shock stack, and the type of mob that wouldn't be dead quickly in the above scenario also tends to be the type that's difficult to shock stack. I haven't tested it with a cold build so I can't speak for the efficacy in such a scenario.

@Ushakami - Nope, I just use Clarity+Purity+Discipline.

@Demonblade - Thanks!

@XZlayeD - Ouch, what happened? I hope the next one works out better.

@onomastikon - Summons, when I use them, are only meatshields and buffers against flicker strike. Minion speed helps me more toward that end.
- I haven't tested skeletons during progression, though I didn't find them necessary. I might try them in the upcoming 1 week race during progression.
- Bear traps bypass the negative modifier of Ancestral Bond. They also have incredibly high single target burst damage.For example, with the damage and shock stacks from the totems I can use bear traps to kill merciless vaal in about 2 seconds.
- They increase the armor from granite flasks on top of giving much needed all resistances.
- As soon as I traded for reduced mana. At the beginning, it was pretty expensive, so I couldn't run it until merciless act 1. With the current state of things, you can probably run it as soon as you acquire purity and get a spare 4-link.
- I'm not quite sure what you mean. If you're asking why I don't take the curse nodes at the top until late in the build, it's because elemental weakness is typically acquire significantly later than spell totem needs to be utilized.
- Sure, I can update that.
- 3L - Spell totem+Spark+Fork
4L - Spell totem+Spark+Fork+Faster Casting
5L - Spell totem+Spark+Fork+Faster Casting+Lightning Penetration
6L - I used culling strike at first, increased critical damage when I got enough ES to switch to crit.

@konstantine40 - Great response, I don't have any arguments with your answers, just a few additions.

@hellg - This is true. If you are starved for gem slots, curses can work without supports.

@Astralshadow - You're welcome. I hope you enjoy it.

@Elerion_ - Also correct. Thanks.

@CyANt1FiC - The next few levels should come pretty quick. The best damage is going to result from a strong mix of base damage multipliers (Spell damage/Elemental damage/Lightning damage), cast speed, and critical chance/multiplier. Initially, base damage multipliers and cast speed are going to add more. You still gain more per point from cast speed and damage multipliers, so stick with them for now. When you get to 75-80, you may want to unspec 15 points or so and get doom cast, arcane potency, and both bloodthirst nodes. If you want to avoid using respec points, you can opt to begin getting the crit now, though you will likely do slightly less damage for a short period.



edit:

@Elerion_ - Wow, thanks for the input. Absolutely right on all counts. In addition to noting the impact of multiplier on shock stacks, it's also worth noting that cast speed also increases survivability by reducing the time you are locked into the cast animation (though I'm confident you're well aware of that.)

I made a dual totem build but now i find my totems die sooo fast
How do u keep your totems alive?

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Camaron wrote:

I made a dual totem build but now i find my totems die sooo fast
How do u keep your totems alive?

Against ranged mobs that kill totems quickly, I either place the totem on top of the mob to shotgun it and kill it quickly - or if it's inside a doorway, I place one totem in front of the other and recast the front totem as it dies. In the case of skeletal mages with a necromancer (one of the biggest offenders), use the corpses to summon a zombie to prevent the necromancer from reviving.

Against melee mobs, I usually just throw the totems inside the pack.

Against reflect elemental, I place the totem near the edge of the targeting radius. Ideally you want the totem to cast as many sparks as possible before it dies. The excess sparks will hit after the totem dies and increase the total damage dealt per totem, minimizing recasts.

There's nothing wrong with the totems dying. If you're having issues recasting, you may be having issues with mana/mana regeneration instead.

My 82 witch got killed by piety in the 71 map temple. I we got to her and tried to figure out a way to place totems near her without getting too close. I had over 200ping at this point, and by the time she had thrown lightning on me on my screen my mate already screamed "nooooo" because he saw me die. :< So future reference, don't go anywhere near that bitch!

"

Fireknight wrote:

@CyANt1FiC - The next few levels should come pretty quick. The best damage is going to result from a strong mix of base damage multipliers (Spell damage/Elemental damage/Lightning damage), cast speed, and critical chance/multiplier. Initially, base damage multipliers and cast speed are going to add more. You still gain more per point from cast speed and damage multipliers, so stick with them for now. When you get to 75-80, you may want to unspec 15 points or so and get doom cast, arcane potency, and both bloodthirst nodes. If you want to avoid using respec points, you can opt to begin getting the crit now, though you will likely do slightly less damage for a short period.

Much appreciated. I'll finish off the witch starting area cast speed nodes then head further into the templar starting area for all the +elemental damage nodes that are there (I assume those are what you mean by base damage multipliers?). What would you unspec at 75-80? (though I guess at that point I'll probably be in a stronger position to just base it off your level 90 passive tree).

"

XZlayeD wrote:

My 82 witch got killed by piety in the 71 map temple. I we got to her and tried to figure out a way to place totems near her without getting too close. I had over 200ping at this point, and by the time she had thrown lightning on me on my screen my mate already screamed "nooooo" because he saw me die. :< So future reference, don't go anywhere near that bitch!

Yeah, she's absolutely brutal. I recently decided to use 2 topaz flasks for that map. I lure away the mobs nearby and kill them, then I chain the topaz flasks and kill her before they run out.

I'll probably be ready to go back in there in a week or so, but i don't think i'll risk going agianst her again. The biggest problem against here there, is the fact she is on those damn stairs, which means she killed me before i could actually pinpoint her location.

Anyway i'm level 45 now, and i've been leveling quite fast. Hoping to be doing maps by the end of the weekend.

I gotta ask in your "leveling" guide. At level 40 you want to go inner force before going body and soul or elemental resistance with shields - how so? i've got quite the mana pool yet i still can't run 3 auras yet so i'm having trouble seeing how it's worth it before sometime early merciless.

what do u think about using remote mine as a support gem on totem
thats 40%++ "more" dmg to ur sparks which is multiplikative, its sick dmg increase

your level 60 and 90 passive links dont work



also here copy and paste the url on your original post to make the links clickable so people dont have to copy paste

hey guys really awesome guide! it taught me alot.
i am really new to this game playing my first char which is a more dps oriented version of this build on softcore (lvl 48)
but i was wondering what you think about the Minion Instability passive in this build?
from the little experience i have with the build and the way your gameplay sounds if you are using your minions as meat shields making them explode would be a nice dps boost for just 1 skillpoint.
also i was wondering if you could tell me how much hp your minions have at endgame?
would 33% of their hp be significant damage?
as i understand the minions dont explode if they are 1 shotted so that could also potentially be a problem.

anyways i would love to hear your takes on this