elementalist seems kinda trash

ive played witch in pretty much every league ive ever participated in
but ever since i returned to the game which was during affliction
ive been struggling hard to find any worthwhile build on elementalist
aside from explosive arrow i dont really see what elementalist is supposed to even do
there is no survivability in the ascension since bastion of elements might as well be the worst ascendancy node in the game
the golem branch is completely pointless it seems like bc i havent seen anyone use a golem since ive been playing the game again except for maybe an ice golem on early tornado shot deadeyes
shaper of flames pigeonholds people into ignite builds
shaper of storms is ... fine, just kind of boring and weak
shaper of winter is one of the nodes of all time
mastermind of discord is awesome no real complaints
but heart of destruction is atrocious, inc aoe might as well not exist as a stat in this game bc of how inconsequential it is
and the more damage part of that node is such a whatever
over a longer fight against a boss it will average to 15% more ele damage
which trickster gets for simply allocating 5 different masteries

in general elementalist just feels like a 4/10 all around in terms of power level, but i think the worst part is that almost every other ascendancy has an obvious, potent way to scale damage and or survivability

inquisitor has crits
hierophant has mana
chieftain has fire dot + valako
slayer has frenzy charges
champion has bleed and block
warden has freeze, scorch, avatar, tinctures
deadeye has tailwind and + proj
trickster has ES, evasion, charges and polymath

and thats only the ascendancies ive played, idk if the others have stuff just bc i havent played them
but for elementalist it just feels like a hodgepodge of random ideas thrown into a bucket with almost no synergy
bc if youre not going ignite with elementalist it just feels like such a nothing burger

like, how is it more efficient to play occultist for a lightning damage build just bc it has a single power charge and at least a form of survivability
i miss old ele