[2.2 Video Guide] Beginner's Build: Dual Flame Totem, Blood Magic Chieftain [Atziri & HC/SC Viable]

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the_Arkain wrote:

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Dacar92 wrote:

Hi, quick question. I'm a few levels from being able to use duel totems. But I have been using fireball along with the flame totem. It has allowed me to crush normal and so far in Cruel I have only got into trouble a few times. Will losing fireball and gaining the other totem be about an even swap? I'll give it a try but the combination of fireball and flame totem has been fun. I am also using zombies, which, while not doing great damage they are certainly distractions for the monsters. What's it like not doing your own damage and relying on two totems? Will I miss fireball?

and what is the problem to use two fire totems and fireball?

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daisdeluxe wrote:

For a completely new player to Poe, im struggeling with gem choices. Seeing that the Less duration gem is a reward for not witches, how do I obtain it? Do I have to create a new charracter to be able to obtain it?

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Dacar92 wrote:

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the_Arkain wrote:

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Dacar92 wrote:

Hi, quick question. I'm a few levels from being able to use duel totems. But I have been using fireball along with the flame totem. It has allowed me to crush normal and so far in Cruel I have only got into trouble a few times. Will losing fireball and gaining the other totem be about an even swap? I'll give it a try but the combination of fireball and flame totem has been fun. I am also using zombies, which, while not doing great damage they are certainly distractions for the monsters. What's it like not doing your own damage and relying on two totems? Will I miss fireball?

and what is the problem to use two fire totems and fireball?

Because if you take Ancestral Bond you can't use Fireball, right? But you get the extra totem. Am I not seeing another extra totem node?

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the_Arkain wrote:

I don´t understand you question.

You cast the two totems and then cast fireball until the monster are dead.
Than go to the next pack of monster and do the same.

Fireball is a "normal" spell like all other. How do you loose it?

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DarkRogue_3 wrote:

Once you pick up Ancestral Bond, you can summon a second Totem, and you will be unable to deal damage with other skills -- this is correct. You can still cast Fireball, but it will do zero damage.

As to whether or not this is a good tradeoff, it depends on where you are in the game when you make the switch, but generally speaking, it should be worthwhile. Once you switch, you essentially switch your gems to completely support your Totems, since any other damage dealing skills cannot be used. (The exception is with Culling Strike, since Culling Strike only needs a skill to hit the enemy, not necessarily doing any damage to them.)

To support your Totems, the best thing you can do is probably to start casting the Flammability curse to increase their damage output against non-curse-immune enemies. Your playstyle will have to change a bit when you start doing this as well. Once you encounter enemies, cast your two totems, and immediately start moving away, or around your Totems. The biggest advantage to trading your Fireball for a second Totem is that you are no longer locked into the cast animation for Fireball -- meaning you need no longer stay stationary while engaging enemies. Use that mobility to your advantage.

For leveling up, stack the free Searing Bond Totem on top of this. Cast the two Flame Totems, then use your positioning ability to place the Searing Bond totem for more effective damage.

For Less Duration, you will have to source the game from other players, or find them as a drop in the wild. Personally, I had a Marauder/Duelist friend purchase it for me from the Act 3 vendor.

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Dacar92 wrote:

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the_Arkain wrote:

I don´t understand you question.

You cast the two totems and then cast fireball until the monster are dead.
Than go to the next pack of monster and do the same.

Fireball is a "normal" spell like all other. How do you loose it?

From the wiki: Ancestral Bond is a keystone passive skill that raises the active totem limit by one. As a drawback, the character cannot deal damage directly with skills.

Doesn't that mean you can't cast fireball? It deals damage and I assumed that it wouldn't work once you take AB. Must be wrong.