[1.0.4] Marauding Pyromancer

I wanted to create a build that is potent with only a 4-linked skill, and is very powerful with a 5-link or more. Links:

Flameblast - Iron Will - Added Chaos - Faster Casting

5th link: Concentrated Effect/Fire Penetration/Increased Area of Effect

The build is strength-heavy, so Iron Will will give at least 80% increased spell damage with poor items. Added Chaos cannot be reflected, and is multiplied by almost 10 times from the Flameblast stages (then halved by the damage effectiveness). Faster casting is mostly useful for high hp mobs which can't be removed with just a stage 2-4 blast.

As I haven't yet had the chance to test this build, I don't know which 5th link is most beneficial. My guess is Fire Penetration, as it will be coupled with Elemental Equilibrium and Elemental Weakness, which will be discussed later in the post.

As has been well documented on the forums, the reason Flameblast just isn't hardcore viable is Elemental Reflect. You can stop reading this section if you're playing a Yolo standard/domination character :-) You can just run around blowing everything up with a smile on your face.

How do we deal with Ele Reflect in hardcore. Well, this:

We couple the shield, as is common in RF builds, with Elemental Adaptation and Purity of Fire. With the increased aura/buff effects from the passive tree, we can get to 90% fire resistance permanently. So now we only take 10% of the reflected fire damage. But if you have 5k hp (typical) and are doing 5k's worth of fire damage from Flameblast (moderate), you only have to hit 10 enemies to kill yourself (highly likely!). Bugger.

But wait, there's more! We can use a Ruby Flask to get to 100% fire resistance. Oh my! Yes, I know what you're thinking. Provided you're paying enough attention, and flask before you decimate an ele reflect pack, you will take 0 reflected fire damage.

Elemental Reflect. It has the same potency as Flammability, we will be using other elemental damage, and we don't need the ignite.

As we are a pyromancer, we should use more fire! So we will.
We link a Molten Shell to Cast on Damage Taken, Fire Penetration, and anything else of your choice. For pure damage I would probably go Added Chaos damage or Concentrated Effect. For more defence I would go life leech. It's a shame life on hit doesn't work with spells. The CoDT can be levelled to a value of your choice. It might be worth maxing it so it doesn't interfere with EE as often.

How do we utilise Elemental Equilibrium?
We use Ice Nova, also linked to a CoDT, Cold Penetration, and again another support of your choice. The CoDT should be kept low level, at a guess below level 8.

What about auras?
The only necessary aura is Purity of Fire. If you feel like you need more defence, I would go Grace or Determination, depending on your gear situation. If your gear is very lacking, you may need Purity of Elements.

What about single target?
As I've yet to test the damage potential of this build, I don't know whether a maximum charge Flameblast is sufficient to take out tanky rares in 2/3 casts. I was considering Incinerate, to continue with the Pyromancer theme, but it doesn't synergise well with EE. Up for testing, watch this space.

For ease of play, it would be preferable to get cast speed on gear. Otherwise, on relevant gear, you should aim for fire damage and/or spell damage.

Remember to prioritise health and any resists you are lacking in. If you feel like the skillgrimmage to Iron Reflexes is good for you, you can go for armour, ar/eva, or evasion gear.

Run around to group up white mobs and low risk mobs, curse the pack, wait for Ice Nova to proc, and then kill it with fire. Against tougher mobs, kill of the adds, then repeat the same process but charge it up to full.