[outdated] Caustic Arrow Solo Map MFer (20/300+)

Hope everyone is having a great holiday! I know I'm going to sneak in a few maps in between munching fantastic food and running the herd of carpet commandos! :)
Current league IGN: Teldra_Anc_LAD
Feel free to message me in game if I'm on.
You could CWDT the Wither Totem, but it won't be reliable for when you need it. So that's a "no," there.

You could drop Clarity or Grace for a Blasphemy curse setup, but again, you're likely going to be out of range 90% of the time when you actually need it. And without Grace, it'll be a lot tougher to be in range. Without Clarity, you're going to run out of mana a lot and eat up a flask slot for a mana flask to compensate, which will either reduce your clear speed (swapping Quicksilver) or survivability (swapping a life flask).

Wither Totem's going to have to be manual but if you wanna try the auto-curse thing and see how it feels for you, replace the Catalyzed life flask with a mana flask and drop Clarity for Blasphemy + curse.
Jul 27, 2011 - Sept 30, 2018.
"
DankRafft wrote:
Thank you, I'll try that. Manually summoning the totem is ok. I just really don't like the Frenzy cursing. But what about Frenzy charges? Aren't they necessary?


So, Blood Rage generates charges for you while doing regular mapping.

But for boss fights, your charges will run the clock and disappear. Hence, we have a Frenzy gem.

Further, you don't really need Vulnerability for anything other than tanky mobs or bosses. So it's kind of unnecessary to run it as an aura when you get more utility out of Grace/Clarity.

Hence, Frenzy linked to curse on hit.

For the few times per map you'll need to curse and/or reset the clock on your charges, the Frenzy CoH setup does both with one skill.

My advice, just get used to doing it.

I'd also guess that if you don't like cursing with Frenzy, it's probably because you're cursing a lot more than you have to. You should really only need to be cursing tanky or high-priority mobs, like golems with extra life, rogue exiles, or bosses. Like I said, there should only be a couple situations per map where you actually need to fire the Frenzy CoH setup. And not having Frenzy available for boss fights means those fights will take longer, so realistically it's just a smoother experience on the whole to run with the setup as I've outlined. You're still going to want to be using Frenzy to reset the clock on your charges for boss fights anyway, so it kind of doesn't make sense to drop it.
Jul 27, 2011 - Sept 30, 2018.
Last edited by Serleth#4392 on Dec 26, 2016, 4:37:43 AM
Yea... with the build, the lazy setup is getting to the point (12-15k toottip dps?) where you don't feel the need to use curses and totems and traps on every pack to clear fast... then you can just do it on the type of stuff Serleth mentioned...

I probably Frenzy way too often because I got into the habit of right click, right click, middle click before the build was complete and continue to do it even tho I don't need to...
Winter for Noxic:
Spoiler

This is another Noxic tale - that is, a fanciful story loosely based on my experiences with Noxic, my Scion, CA toon - this time with several poems. I hope you like this tale. It's one of my favorites in the series.
=============
Assassin's Brew - Anon

Poison. Poison.
Green the hue.
Foul the smell.
And deadly too.

Sicken foe if batch be quick.
But steal life if batch be thick.

Gods above, I beseach you.
Thrice curse this.
Assassin's Brew.
=================================
Vorici was most displeased.

In fact, Vorici was never so upset in all his life.

Some upstart Scion had dared interfere with his business - counterfeiting in Wraeclast - counterfeiting without his permission.

The upstart must be put down. Otherwise, the very authority of the Master Assassin was in question.

And this simply could not be.
==================================
"Over here, exiles!"

The band of roughians stopped and turned towards the lone figure.

"Over here! I've a mission for you."

Intrigued, the band moved closer.

"An exile has displeased me. Greatly so. Thus, I command you to dispose of the malcontent."

The band, on seeing who the shadowy figure was - the Grand Assassin Vorici - was trapped. Little did they desire to pursue the death of a fellow exile - but what choice? Refusal would mean certain death.

And so...

"Great master," began the leader of the band, "This exile of whom you speak. Is most powerful. How do you expect such a humble assembly to cope with one such?"

Vorici smiled at this reply. "Green," said Vorici. "Green."
===========
And thus it came to be that the reluctant band came into possession of Vorici's most potent weapon - poison, poison most green, poison most vile, poison lethal to all mortal beings.
===========
Green - Anon

Green is Poison.
Green is Death,
Malevolent Green,
Seeks out your Breath.

Green is Evil.
Green is Mean.

But most of all, Green does Keen.
For the Life, the Life, the Life of You.

And, Green especially,
Is Death's Brew.
==============
The roughians, five all told, set out towards the exile's home; little pleasure did they take in their task - yet what choice? Kill the upstart exile or face Vorici's wrath.
At least they had Vorici's brew in their arsenal. With the green substance, the exile should quickly succumb.
===============
And so the roughians surrounded the exile's abode... and waited patiently for her return. Shortly they were rewarded. For Noxic, unaware, approached her home.
================
Earlier that day, Noxic, uncharacteristically, sought a prophecy; what did her future hold? What great deeds lie before her? How could she shape the future of Wraeclast?
In short... Noxic was interested in her future. And for this reason... Noxic sought the insight of a Seer.
=================
"Oh great Seer, began Noxic."

"Spare me, said the Seer," I'm well ware of your lead stones.

"Oh!," said Noxic. "I see."

"But," continued Noxic, "I was mistaken... I did not... believe in your ability. Your ability to foretell - your ability to see into the future. And for that reason, I wished to trick you with my lead stones."
"I no longer wish to do so. I offer now, two true silver coins. Will you not foretell my future?"

The seer looked dubiously at Noxic. And yet, the proferred coins pressed into her hands by the apologizing Noxic, did seem true... and so... the Seer began...

"I cannot decline the plea of the faithful, and you, at last, do seem true. So I accept your silver and now foretell. Attend my child and behold your future."

With that the Seer went into a long trance - and began to tremble - after which, the seer said this.... "Oh my child... my child... I foresee dark times ahead of you. A band of roughians will beset you...
and will employ green most vile... beyond this I am unsure. You may die of this encounter.... yes... it is likely so."

"Green, you say?" said Noxic.
================
Noxic was troubled by the Seer's vision. Very much so.

And thus, began to seek out a certain herb. A silverish herb. Noxic began to chew rapidly on the stems of a silver plant she had earlier plucked from the ground. Over and over she chewed on the stems; until the point of choking on the bitter taste.
====================
The roughians lay in wait just outside Noxic's abode. Shortly they would fulfill their pledge.

And just so.... a short while later, Noxic appeared, walking tiredly towards her home.

Out sprang the roughians. It was over quickly. Out-numbered, Noxic was unable to fend off all the attackers. And, quickly blood was drawn... her blood. A knife flashed across her breast drawing blood - and yet the wound wwas not deep.
But, the knife was coated with something... something... verdant... no, not verdant, not verdant at all.... something filled with the promise of death... something green.

Immediately, a great lethargy set in. Noxic became sluggish - unable to move rapidly. And then fell to the ground, gasping for air. A victim of the Green.

"Forgive me, Exile," said the leader of the roughians - "I had no choice."

And thus it was that Noxic met her end.
====================
Rogue's Refrain - Anon

Green is Poison.
Green is Death.
But Green be Countered by Winter's Breath.
======================
The roughians departed.

And yet... life continued to stir.

Noxic yet breaths - a wintry breath.
Last edited by hankinsohl#1231 on Dec 26, 2016, 11:45:31 AM
I feel like this build isn't viable anymore =/
Breaches only make it worse.
The loot also got worse considerably since I stopped playing (Perandus).
The whoile point of this build for me was to generate currency and getting some GG unique drops, but it seems with the new map system magic find is dead.
"
DarkKaine wrote:
The loot also got worse considerably since I stopped playing (Perandus).

The whoile point of this build for me was to generate currency and getting some GG unique drops,


I don't know what you mean by the first line, but re: MF being dead and GG unique drops:

a) MF hasn't been about GG unique drops for a very long time. It's been about consistent, reliable currency generation, which the build still does.
b) MF isn't dead, but it's definitely more niche. If you're constantly pushing T13+ maps (I'd personally say T14+), and thus are able to sell your T16s and T15s if you want, in conjunction with having reasonable clear speed, there's definitely an argument to be made about MF being less worthwhile. But you will also need to be doing gated content in order to keep pace.

This is my first league since Ambush (three years) not MFing at the start. I typically make anywhere between 75-100ex in the first four weeks.

We're five days out from the end of the first four weeks now.

I have spent about 20ex on two builds, and have spent easily an additional 10ex rolling maps or other misc expenses, and have approximately 30-ish exalt in the bank if I convert jewelers, fuses and chaos over. Putting me at 60ex or so made in 3.5 weeks.

But I've also been pushing T15 maps. I haven't done much in the way of gated content other than normal Atziri, but 5ex or so of that bank has come strictly from selling T16 maps, and 1.5ex was from selling a Catalyst.

I also was incredibly lucky, dropping a 4ex Thicket bow and 1ex Two-Stone Ring.

Without those, I'm closer to 48ex, which is 20ex (or more) behind my normal MFing pace.

In short, the lesson here is that MF still beats regular playing UNLESS you're doing gated content and/or constantly in high red-tier maps (13-15).
Jul 27, 2011 - Sept 30, 2018.
Last edited by Serleth#4392 on Dec 26, 2016, 5:15:55 PM
I'm going to agree with Serleth here as well. This is my first league in quite a while not pushing MF out of the gate, and 4 weeks in I'm clearly lagging behind what I would be making normally. OTOH, I find a pure DPS build does have a lot less trouble clearing higher end content! Tough bosses in small arenas were always a challenge for me running caustic arrow.
Current league IGN: Teldra_Anc_LAD
Feel free to message me in game if I'm on.
I guess.
Been doing up to like t4 maps.
Tried a bunch of t12 maps but got my ass handed to me coz jumping goats = 1shot.
I'm at 3.9k HP and lvl84, only got a few jewel sockets left to pick up.
Lake and low level maps have been getting me absolutely nothing, chaos recipe aside.
I think the loot that actually makes you good currency drops way more often in t13 maps, which I cannot do because im poor af.
Stuck in this vicious cycle again where the stuff i need is gated behind shit I cannot run =/
"
DarkKaine wrote:
...absolutely nothing, chaos recipe aside.


That's the whole point. Read the guide carefully. Even with a ton of rarity gear Serl had barely 10% of his total earnings coming from GG uniques. It's all about chroms, jews, alcs, alts and chaos recipes, the stuff t1 maps are good enough for. Getting to MF higher tiers is just an exp bonus you get as your gear and skill improve.

Problem is you have to treat it like a job; be fast and agressive, and with some practice you'll become more efficient. If you can find entertainment in focusing on speed and efficiency, the fact you're doing something repetitive won't bother you. All endgame here is repetitive anyway, but maybe MF isn't for everyone. I actually hated it at first, then the money made me love it as I got better.

Unrelated, I didn't actually MF this league and went straight into a sellout bandwagon meta build so I've been wondering: any of you did Uul-Netol or Chayula yet as a Caustic? I actually failed my first Uul-Netol's DPS check and timed out, then still had some close calls after updating my gear, and I'd say this EA is now probably a better killer than my Caustic in Standard, which has ~perfect gear.

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