[2.5] CI Witch Scorching Ray CWC Whispering Ice - Version 2.0 Released - Now with more damage!

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DirtyDot wrote:

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Mathoddie wrote:

Regarding the shock, yes the duration on every hit is really small, but my duration on icestorm is currently 4.78 seconds, which means that I can cast icestorm 13.7 times in that durations.
Which means we have 12.7 full duration icestorms running simultaneously, everyone hitting one shard per 0.1 seconds. which is 127 shards per second. If we have shocking conflux on, even if the window is low, we just need a window on 0.008 seconds before the next shard hit.
I have not yet been on shaper etc. but after my testing I will get back with more concrete facts.

Except that shock doesn't get applied at all if its duration is less than 0.3 seconds. The shaper of desolation is borderline useless for this build - you get burn from the ray, chill from the icestorm ground effect, and shock only works on trash mobs.

"borderline useless" is very wrong.
If shaper of desolations disregards the 0.3 sec duration for application, it will definitly shock. BUT even if it doesn't shock, ignites will definitly apply on bosses, which gives us 25 % increased damage on the target (a seperate 25% more modifier), which in itself is more than 25 % pen added to an already existing more modifier. Unless we are fighting a 75 % res capped boss, then 25 % fire pen is a bit more that 25% (close to 30 % more I believe), since we already have well over 60 without flammability.
And far from most bosses afaik have 75 % resistances, even targets with the display "resistance towards X" is not 75 %:

So no matter what we 25 % more from celestial punishment, and we then can shock most things (maybe not shaper/guardians), and we can burn + chill.

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dsimek11 wrote:

Just to make a little update since I decided to lvl it. Lvl 69, 8200 ES, 2 curses, buffed damage Ice storm close to 4000 and SR close to 3000. Merciless malachai and izaro were a joke, this is amazing.
I took one more endurance charge rather than skill point on merciless bandits, so I can use damage golems without any guilt.

I'm just a few points away from vaal pact and then I'm gonna go elemental damage nodes.. It can only get better.

I took the advice and removed doedre ring and went for the curse on the tree, bought a rare ring with +int and a chest piece with + int and got a huge dps boost as well as ES. Resists are capped without any trouble. awesome build, can't wait to get some higher lvl maps.

I went shaper of desolation, but can respec if it's general consensus that something else is better.

What gems to upgrade first? Being saving some gemcutters so I'm wondering, any advice?

EDIT: atziri down on lvl 73, hands down the best build I've played so far, at least for me.

Glad that you like the build, and nice that you got down atziri so early!
Regarding the gems, I believe I have answered this before, but here is a short version:
Upgrade gems that give increased damage (conc, controlled destru, fire pen etc.)
And the cwdt curse, especially if using enfeeble or temp chains.

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zaboleqqq wrote:

I just want to point that this build can't be considered as cheap. Actually right now is pretty expensive in breach. Try to find any good gloves/boots/belt with +int and you will see that prices are really really high. They price start from 20c to 1ex and more. Of course I'm saying about linked items with right colors. It is really difficult to get 1k Intelligence without spending few exalts...

Of course this build is still good but there is really big difference between 700 Int and 1k Intelligence. It can be difficult to get some colors in ES gloves/boots and while we can use vorici to solve some of colors issue it does not solve all problems with expensive gear. Anyway changing color/links/number of sockets still cost(with bad RNG it cost you a lot :)).

Another question is how we can is AA/Discipline and Assasin's Mark at the same time without enlighten? It is not possible.

My current gear:

This build is "cheap" because the mandatory uniques to get this build running is worth a penny.
To reach perfection this build will be really expensive (just like any other build). But we just 1 ex in your pocket you can easily down atziri and clear maps that many other builds wouldn't even touch without spending 5 ex in their build if not more.
I got a pair of armour/es gloves with 100 es and 49 int for 1-2 chaos, which made red socket easy.
The same with my other level 72 gear pierces, was usually only 4c or less. Except maybe the chest.
For colouring the other pieces, it shouldn't be any problem getting 2 off colours, only the gloves are tricky (look gems and links).
The gear I am talking about is ofc my level 72 gear, since I have grinded more currency now and been able to effort better gear.

Just got to 50 befor I move on gas anyone clear t13-16 maps yet and shapper with this build I've done it on cwc fireball but idk if this build will. As for clearing speed in t13 -t15 how is it is it farmable. For someone looking to run a build to 97 or higher

Hi there,

I wanted to thank you for posting this build. It is definitely one of the strongest builds I've seen and it uses Whispering Ice, a staff that I've wanted to use for a long time but didn't really like some of the mechanics on a normal WI build.

Your build solves two issues for me: (1) mana - with just the cost of casting scorching ray (3 link), I can get the benefit of both SR and WI (on a 5 link). No more mana issues - YAY!. And since we're converting cold damage to fire damage, they both synergize well; (2) cast speed - I can get almost 3 casts of WI for every one cast on a normal WI build.

Also, the SR is nice because you can kill the mobs that get past the location where you initially cast WI. So I'm no longer afraid of mobs getting past the target location, which is another plus for me.

So I started a new toon from scratch. Instead of leveling with wither or flame totem, I used SRS which made clearing trash much quicker. Once I got WI at 33, I had to endure the mana issues and cast speed problems, but upon getting CWC at 38, it was such a big difference! All my problems were gone! (Initially, when I socketed CWC, the WI cast button got greyed out. And for a few seconds I was scratching my head...then I realized that I'm supposed to cast SR and target WI with the cursor lol).

Bosses and mobs were just melting so fast and my health/ES never really fluctuated much even while facetanking some bosses. They were literally dying so fast that it didn't matter.

I am having a lot of fun with this build. Thank you again!

(PS I think I was meant to play your build because when I dusted off the WI staff from my stash, it was already 6S (RRBBBB) with only 3 blue sockets linked!)

@Mathoddie

How about a LL version for this build?

A version that incorporates the upgraded (breach) version of Eye of Chayula...

Can you mockup one?

Thanks.

Finally came to the point where I can share some of my expirience.
First things first - thanks @Mathoddie for this build.
I've originally started with Kelvynn's 3curse pure WI on BHC and lvled it till mid 70. That was really amazing, like a fresh breeze :) Always wanted to try some WI action, and this one also my first ever ES based character.
But then I realized that I don't feel myself comfortable enough as it was too squishy from my point of view (especially cos of missing %inc es on the tree). At some point I was sitting on Raiz stream, when he decided to try some CwC WI. So did I and after a little research I've found this topic.

Right now I'm pretty happy how it goes, yet have some things to decide. Like Mastermind vs. Shaper vs. Liege, Ele Focus vs. CE and such stuff. Also still working on my gear and gems.
Anyway, my current tree looks like this.
Was running Practical Application, but... Okay, after I've got like 3 interrupts in a row I decided to pick up Unwavering Stance just for safety. Rest tree almost same. Need to test few more things and make a final decision on Shaper Desolation and Celestial Punishment.
Atm making progression through atlas (t10-11), preparing myself for red maps, Atziri and breachlords.

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Haaxxx wrote:

@Mathoddie

How about a LL version for this build?

A version that incorporates the upgraded (breach) version of Eye of Chayula...

Can you mockup one?

Thanks.

i liked the idea of the build and i had this laying around:

so i put together a tree and started lvling

passive tree:


Made quite a few changes as i disliked the suggested ascension choices...

works well so far lvl 65 and pushing just changed into ll and the clearspeed/dps is picking up.
gear so far:

Hello,

Seem to be a very nice build and i'm on my thought to decide which char/build i will play this league...^^ ( As usual it's always hard for me to find something that i will like playing till the end).


But, btw i'm here to ask you something....

Adding another skill for triggering cwc like Firestorm or any other cold/fire spell, it work and good? Do you already tested?


Thx.

Minotaur is down...but I died 3 times in the attempt. I've only fought him once before and I'm very much a noob at taking him on.

Funny thing...it seemed like face tanking worked better than running...especially when I hit a stupid electrical field and got perma stunned, lol. :)

Regardless, it was a great fight...so much better than my other build (Lv 94) which barely scratched him and died horribly in shame...

Btw, been trying Frost Wall with this build in my CWDT chest setup...helpful...but harmful at times too. It trapped me against a wall earlier when Storm Herald bolts where zapping me...not good, but Flame Dash got me out of there. Also, the SR beam goes right through FW and it is kind of nice to sit back and destroy things that can't hit you. Perhaps a manual cast would be better?

I'm looking forward to someone taking out the Shaper with this build...I know it can be done! :)