[2.6] EK NOVA Pathfinder/Occultist Millions of DPS. UPDATED w/ Leveling Guide!

I must say, Your guide confused me a little bit. Most things i understand but i have some questions.

1 - Im currently running a 4L, What are the best Gems for a 4L - 5L?.

2 - is it worth picking up Victarios acuity turqoise amulet?

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Sanc7ifica7ion wrote:

Hey, quick question on charge generation. I'm lazy as hell and keeping up blade vortex is annoying, what do you think about either using Victario's Acuity, or using Assassin's Mark blasphemy + blood rage CWDT for less micromanagement of charges? Right now I'm using Acuity and have Warlords Mark on blasphemy, works great for all three charges, but it feels like my damage is too low for bosses because once Vinktar's runs out, even with Warlords, I'm going bone dry on mana and having to kite t13-t14 bosses around while I wait for mana regen.

This isn't a permanently solution but I got .6% life + mana leech on damage when you do when you kill recently enchantment on my boots which really helps with the regen. Not entirely reliable for bosses maybe but completely resolved any mana problem I might have.

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naphzter wrote:

1 - Im currently running a 4L, What are the best Gems for a 4L - 5L?.

For EK + echo + pierce is core I think. Then depending on other factors like gear, starting position and ascendancy probably controlled destruction imo.

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I'm going bone dry on mana and having to kite t13-t14 bosses around while I wait for mana regen.

You really want to use Vaal Clarity if you're having mana issues against bosses. You could use blood rage if you are comfortable racing against the degen. You sacrifice some effective HP to use it, of course.

I have honestly found that just putting 1 blade up, and flame dashing into the middle of a pack, often gains me 3-4 charges. (Obviously don't do this without Valyrium as you might get stunlocked)

You can find a flow where you really cast a minimal amount of blade vortices every once in a while and just keep speeding through the map, making an effort to flame dash into the middle of some packs. As well, charge up some any time you are stopping anyway, ie before strongboxes and while standing on Stream of monsters strongboxes, Elreon, reading loot on the ground.

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naphzter wrote:

I must say, Your guide confused me a little bit. Most things i understand but i have some questions.

1 - Im currently running a 4L, What are the best Gems for a 4L - 5L?.

2 - is it worth picking up Victarios acuity turqoise amulet?

1:
EK Pierce Spell Echo is the core, correct. It really depends which gem you use 4th on a 4 link because they will all be different depending on how much crit you have on the tree, how much chaos damage scaling you have, or what flasks you have. In a 3link on Reverb Rod we use Added Fire. From there, you can use Controlled Destruction in a 4 link. Replace Added Fire with Pierce as soon as you can start using Pierce. You can also use Faster Projectiles, Increased Critical Strikes, Increased Critical Damage, and still be melting everything on your way to maps.

It's better to run Controlled Destruction and a Silver Flask only in the early levels, and after you get more crit on the tree, replace it with Increased Critical Damage and use a Diamond Flask + start generating power charges.

After level 68 with Atziri flask, use Void Manipulation as a fifth link and start using Added Chaos Damage instead of Increased Critical Damage.

Finally as a 6L add Controlled Destruction back. I know it's confusing, and really any combination of these gems will work, the gems in the guide are simply the most optimal DPS choices.


2:
Victario's Acuity is great for this build, especially because of the Projectile Speed that it adds per frenzy charge. But you have to sacrifice something, and in the case of the guys playing EK (one in top 10 ladder) with Victario's and trying to max projectile speed for bigger AOE, they sacrifice block + spell block. Generally, you sacrifice the Rumi's for another flask and just forgo spell block altogether. You also pick up frenzy charges on the tree for the projectile speed bonus on Victario's.

You can still use Victario's with a Rathpith Globe, however, in this case you sacrifice ES. because with a Rathpith Globe we rely on our amulet slot to make up for the low ES of the shield.

Or, you can simply generate frenzy charges in another way. I have experimented with The Green Dream, but using it in the Witch area still costs 4 pts on the tree - the same as Overcharged. I am currently trying Overcharged, since I currently lack the cold damage to use Ice Bite. I see a great idea

It's really all your choice. The amulet/shield slots in this build are reserved for achieving high spell block and ES. Sacrifice something to gain something else, if you wish. I choose block over the AOE.

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larsahh_ wrote:

I bought a legacy Rumi's. With Reckless Defence now im at max block/spellblock (75/75) and (75/65) without Reckless Defence jewel. This is without Rainbowstride, when I'm using Skyforths.

right on! I also got one, am currently using Brinerot Whalers instead of Rainbowstride. Would love to see how shaper/guardians go.

I really like the Intuitive Leap in your tree. I think I would still play with PCOC+Ice Bite+Enduring Cry at least until I get Skyforth and drop PCOC. With the Overcharged 8% chance do you generally stay at max frenzy/endurance charges in a map?

Energy from Within is rather expensive right now, it looks like a great alternative.

Hi, thanks for the build!

Can you help me im a new player and im dieying too much in act 4 (cruel) what should i buy for my character?

Thanks!

whats the pros/cons of this build vs thejoshie's level100 physical pathfinder build?

Is pierce absolutely necesary? whats the advantage of oit? wouldnt trash mobs die in 1 hit anyway?

Also how is shadow vs pathfinder? any cons/pros?

Ty

Just wanted to confirm something. You said optimally we have an essence of X rare gear for various slots. When you use essence of X on an item there is no way to confirm what mods they get except for the guranteed mod from the essence itself right?

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Manlir wrote:

Just wanted to confirm something. You said optimally we have an essence of X rare gear for various slots. When you use essence of X on an item there is no way to confirm what mods they get except for the guranteed mod from the essence itself right?

Yeah, its all about rng, you get the guaranteed Essence mod but everything else is just randoms rolls of anything!

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Yeah, its all about rng, you get the guaranteed Essence mod but everything else is just randoms rolls of anything!

Hi, can you kill guardians whit your gear?

super nooby question here, but why are you picking up the Damage over time nodes? I thought the chaos damage from force shaper was instant, so I can a little confused about that part. The DoT nodes near Will of Blades, why wouldn't you just continue that line and get the chaos damage nodes? Currently going occultist for this build. Pretty fun so far!