[3.17] Beginner Friendly Arc Mines Guide | All Content on 5L | Lvling Guide

That's my current setup. Killed SHaper and yellow Elder, so far no problems. Can somebody give me some advise on what i can upgrade next? Got about 4ex to spare.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, if anything - this build feels very sluggish to level with.

I'm currently just about to hit my first Lab in A3 and it just feels like I'm taking an hour to kill a simple pack of mobs, having to first put down mines then detonate - not to mention anything tougher (red beasts, immortals, uniques, especially tough rares) can require me to use multiple full sets of mines, even if I put down all 8 at once; usually I put just 6 since it's 3 at a time.

This with Lifesprig, a basic rare wand, and Tabula with Arc, Mine+Minefield, and Added Cold Damage in it. I could add Added Light Damage or something else but the cost of the skill is already so high I'm finding it difficult to use a lot without having a mana pot constantly running. I've got Clarity as well, of course.

Adding Heralds to further the damage seems to just hurt more, as then I need to rely even more on mana regen to put down more mines. (Side note about the leveling guide section: it could be a bit more clear about which skills to pick up for later use, and which to use right away :D)

It could be that my gear is a little behind but I'm not sure if I should bother with crafting something or what - I've not found anything that would be better for either damage or general speed either. Mostly upgrades to defenses in the form of resistances.

I haven't felt like this with other builds I've played before.

Perhaps it's just the fact that mines require an extra step, and this early on without much increases to the speed of using them. Should I try using traps for a bit longer?

Here's my current gear, besides 2 life 1 mana flasks and weapon set 2 with gem leveling setup (I'm using some extra skills/supports occasionally for fun)

To all the newer players here: it is a lot of fun to watch some recent racing/speedrunning to see just how insanely good arc mines is for leveling. E.g., recent Dead and Doom speed run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6svFVZ1lewc


@DawnBlue: 1. Get Lightning Spire Trap for single target (act 3, see guide)
2. get mana uniques like Praxis or Atziri's Foible, also using just one aura is completely fine if your mana is the issue. (spamming mana pots is completely fine though)
3. if you want you can prioritize pathing to volatile mines earlier (see act 4 in the guide) to make mines feel much smoother.
4. added lightning > added cold at this point in the game (see guide for 4L, 5L setups while leveling)
5. Why not explosive trap instead of flame totem, is that on purpose? explosive trap is great early single target.

The guide says to pick demolition specialist as the last ascendancy - why's that?

The 20% chance at an additional mine is on average only a 5% damage gain if you have the extra mine helm, and the other two effects seem pointless, while explosives expert at least provides 10% pen and 20% inc damage on lightning spire.

"

chochom wrote:

@DawnBlue: 1. Get Lightning Spire Trap for single target (act 3, see guide)
2. get mana uniques like Praxis or Atziri's Foible, also using just one aura is completely fine if your mana is the issue. (spamming mana pots is completely fine though)
3. if you want you can prioritize pathing to volatile mines earlier (see act 4 in the guide) to make mines feel much smoother.
4. added lightning > added cold at this point in the game (see guide for 4L, 5L setups while leveling)
5. Why not explosive trap instead of flame totem, is that on purpose? explosive trap is great early single target.

Thank you!

I'm just 1 level short of being able to use Lighning Spire Trap, so I haven't been able to try it out yet.

Didn't consider mana uniques as that important, as I haven't really looked to any while leveling other builds - I'll see what I can get.

I'm currently going into the various Trap/Mine improving passives on the right edge of the tree, I'll make sure to go to Volatile Mines next (I don't feel like I need more defenses right now, especially if I can get my killing to work a bit faster - shouldn't be too hard at this level, if I follow your advice)

Tbh, I didn't think the Added Damage gem would make much of a difference, I'll use Lightning from now on though.

The flame totem is mostly for flavour, honestly, I like dropping it to clear off minor enemies / leftovers. Perhaps Explosive Trap w/ Multiple Traps would be more effective and be useful in other situations given the trap/mine damage passives, although I've just always liked having a totem buddy :D

I've never really used mines, and pretty much just early leveling with Fire / Explosive Traps and later support with Siphoning Trap, so I'm not used to this kind of gameplay that much. So, thanks again for the tips!

"

Tomgathericon wrote:

The guide says to pick demolition specialist as the last ascendancy - why's that?

The 20% chance at an additional mine is on average only a 5% damage gain if you have the extra mine helm, and the other two effects seem pointless, while explosives expert at least provides 10% pen and 20% inc damage on lightning spire.

so what about 100% mine arming (arc cast) speed?

Thanks a lot Actual Horn, your guide is awesome!


However, after having read almost the whole replies, I feel much confused.


First, I would like to highlight the text description of the REMOTE MINE support. It says : ''Support spell or attacks that uses bows or wands support.'' Then, Why does people use scepters, maces, and even daggers, if we can't do it given that the remote mine support does'nt allow for it (only allow for bows and wands)?


Second, I see a lot of people in these replies using the helm with that mod : ''Socketed gems are supported by level 18 remote mine.'' , but they keep also the set up ligtning spire trap in that helm. What is the the intent to use a trap set up in the helmet that offer a socketed mine buff ? Trap can't be supported by socketedMines, or is it me who is all confused ?

Can you please help me to understand ?

Thanks

Here is another issue I noted...I’m only level 29 and this is my first miner build, but I think you miss the point of the Wondersprig. The idea is to add a level to Arc and all the other gen socketed in it, if you put the gems in the Tabula you gain very little from it. An Axion would be far better in that circumstance or even just a decent rare. I just started act 3 and I have my arc in a 3L +1 lightning wand with decent added damage and the off hand also a decent added damage wand. Rarely does any mob need more than one casting. The level of Arc is extremely important, mine was a level 4 and it did plenty of damage for the level with the +1 I found a Vaal Arc so now it’s back to level 2+1 temporarily and I definitely noted the damage drop. It will catch up fast.

My advice is to slot the core gems in the Wondersprig and upgrade you off hand and leave the other gems in your tabula to level them while not using them. Once you are high enough level that your mana isn’t awful then sswap back to the Tabula.

"

''Support spell or attacks that uses bows or wands support.'

That first or is very important. It supports spells OR attacks that uses bow or wands, we don’t care a thing about the later half.

The second question is valid though, the reason to use those shaped helms is to get a pseudo 6L (or 5L). If you don’t use the pseudo gem in the description it is worthless.

"

astrolab2000 wrote:

Thanks a lot Actual Horn, your guide is awesome!


However, after having read almost the whole replies, I feel much confused.


First, I would like to highlight the text description of the REMOTE MINE support. It says : ''Support spell or attacks that uses bows or wands support.'' Then, Why does people use scepters, maces, and even daggers, if we can't do it given that the remote mine support does'nt allow for it (only allow for bows and wands)?


Second, I see a lot of people in these replies using the helm with that mod : ''Socketed gems are supported by level 18 remote mine.'' , but they keep also the set up ligtning spire trap in that helm. What is the the intent to use a trap set up in the helmet that offer a socketed mine buff ? Trap can't be supported by socketedMines, or is it me who is all confused ?

Can you please help me to understand ?

Thanks

Hello,

1. Remote Mine is a support gem that modifies the supported skill so that instead of casting it directly, the player lays a mine. A detonation skill then becomes available, which can be used to detonate the mine. Detonating the mine causes the mine to cast the skill it is linked to, destroying itself afterwards.

It doesn't say specifically you need to use wands/bows. You can use wand/sceptre/dagger and they all work fine scaling arc.

2. We use that helm purely for the "place an additional mine" enchant. This gives us 33% more damage every time we place down our mines.

Hope this helps