Pure Casting Warlock DC Eld Blast Build

[Octarino]

The new set is much better than the ravenloft sets, except, well, the fact that it requires medium armor. My build is feat starved as it is though...

The new set is not max DC either, Thunderholme armor + slavers set is superior in that regard, but well, not everyone has time for that grind.

I will likely be switching in the new necklace and belt (I only use burnscar for bosses, as I focus on DC casting), which means ditching the Elyd Charm, the Softsole boots and the Spinneret. Which means more slavers grinding, sigh. The orb doesn't really gain me anything DC wise as I use LGS pos/pos/pos with exceptional cha.

[slarden]

The new set is much better than the ravenloft sets, except, well, the fact that it requires medium armor. My build is feat starved as it is though...

The new set is not max DC either, Thunderholme armor + slavers set is superior in that regard, but well, not everyone has time for that grind.

I will likely be switching in the new necklace and belt (I only use burnscar for bosses, as I focus on DC casting), which means ditching the Elyd Charm, the Softsole boots and the Spinneret. Which means more slavers grinding, sigh. The orb doesn't really gain me anything DC wise as I use LGS pos/pos/pos with exceptional cha.

You are right - max dc probably still includes tf armor + slaver set and for that matter the orb + the trip pos stick
+ profane bonus from somewhere since all the stats from nightmother sceptre can be gained elsewhere. It just seems there will be a lot of other subpar or dead slots to do that.

I guess until we know more about the new quests and raids we won't know for sure how much squeezing those last few DC are worth.

The way I look at it the 3 piece flamecleansed fury set gets me the same artifact dc bonus as slavers 5 piece set. All the stats on the 3 piece set are useful and up to date. On balance you can do better with new gear but that might not mean max dc.

[DrawingGuy]

The increase to stats makes up for the loss. There may be ways to eek out a single DC gain with a puzzle of new stat gear + old slavers and thunderholme gear, but I don't think the tradeoffs are worth it.

Tiefling/Scoundrel also solved much of the Pact disadvantages. Sonic had inferior sources of spell power, but now scoundrel let's them use fire (though note you still can't use LGS multiplier gear and still have to use sonic lore). Tiefling has a Fire vuln that allows you to use your pact damage on almost any target. It also let's you use fire spell power for acid opening up gearing options for goo.

Ultimately I think Fiend Tiefling is the way to go, especially with racial past lives to let you go T4 tiefling without sacrifice to your main trees. Hurl is useful in end game, and is particularly strong in many raids. Add in you can now use your blast damage on more targets than even Fey/Goo, and the others almost become flavor choices.

[slarden]

The increase to stats makes up for the loss. There may be ways to eek out a single DC gain with a puzzle of new stat gear + old slavers and thunderholme gear, but I don't think the tradeoffs are worth it.

Tiefling/Scoundrel also solved much of the Pact disadvantages. Sonic had inferior sources of spell power, but now scoundrel let's them use fire (though note you still can't use LGS multiplier gear and still have to use sonic lore). Tiefling has a Fire vuln that allows you to use your pact damage on almost any target. It also let's you use fire spell power for acid opening up gearing options for goo.

Ultimately I think Fiend Tiefling is the way to go, especially with racial past lives to let you go T4 tiefling without sacrifice to your main trees. Hurl is useful in end game, and is particularly strong in many raids. Add in you can now use your blast damage on more targets than even Fey/Goo, and the others almost become flavor choices.

Completely agree - I am also trending towards wanting to play tiefling fiend. In addition to the reasons you list- the 4% crit chance with everything and additional 4% crit chance with fire is too good to pass up.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

I used this for a while, a few levels at least. The Long CD on this ability makes it *garbage* versus mobs that are healed by fire. You get a few ticks of Fire damage from your blasts after using but the CD is so long you end up healing the mob of most of the extra damage you just did.

For non-fire healed mobs it is OK and I would use if I had more Racial AP. I am doing Arcane EPLs now and am in Draconic with Energy Burst Acid, Black Dragon Breath. Improved Scorch would pair nicely with Energy Burst Fire and Red Dragon breath with the Racial AP to spend on it but I was so irritated by the lack of synergy with Fire Pact damage on Eldritch Blasts that I reset and spent the points on Taint the Aura.

I usually run with 41 ES, 9 SE (Consume, Feeding Frenzy, Taint the Aura), 23 TS (Piercing Blast and DW) with the 7 other points spread around w/e. I have 6 RAP so with extra 7 I took the Scorch SLA for a cheap source of damage to add into my rotation.

Improved Scorch would be amazing with any other Caster that uses Fire damage spells.

[DrawingGuy]

Improved Scorch gives you a 5 second debuff that allows you to apply the damage to any target. With just the 10 second SLA, that is indeed only 50% uptime. Sorc/Wiz can just spam their scorch spell (or Sorc SLA is on a 5 sec timer, so you can spam that on cooldown for a cheap full meta maintenance). As a Warlock, you have the choice of either being patient, or using scrolls (you can buy them in the marketplace). Doesn't matter if scroll DCs suck - as long as they're not against an evasion target, you'll still vuln them with a plip, and most fire-heal type targets don't have evasion.

In heroics the scrolls are worth it. In epics you have your holds and instakills and your main purpose isn't really DPS anyways. Improved Scorch still lets you pop in a full meta unmitigated Eldritch Wave, and a 5% increase too all non-immune targets. Add in the extra crit chance, the auto-knockdown proc, up to 75 spell power (though the 30 from Obscuring I don't really consider viable as obscuring is too niche usage to spend the AP on), and I see Tiefling as one the strongest options for any DPS focused caster.

I will say, IMO, ES is great for leveling, but not the best for end game. SE comes with two instakills (Devour which works on living and undead targets and is a Will save making it extra effective, and a Finger SLA), and critically Consumed and Strickened. These are not only sources of damage almost nothing is immune against, but they debuff targets. Taint the Aura is applying 10 PRR/MRR penalty that you can easily maintain, and Devour is a 20 penalty for 6 seconds on a 15s cooldown. This essentially translates to an 18% buff to the DPS of the entire party, and why pretty much every Warlock should 41 Soul Eater (though playing how you want to play takes precedence). Tainted Scholar comes with extra spells, auto confuse, alternate blast types and strong blast damage. Add in spell penetration, passive spell power gains, crit damage, attack rate increase (if you go 31), and it becomes a critical part of your personal DPS as well as landing your CC/instakills.

Personally I plan on 41 SE (I don't take Feed on Magic like Slarden does as I haven't needed the temp SP procs), 32 TS, 7 Tiefling (have 12 RAP from PLs/Tomes, and this lets me net Imp Scorch, 4/2% crit chance, and the last point of Scroll Mastery while leveling and Traditionalist in epics). If I had the missing 2 RAP, I'd put it into TS for more confuse chance. If you're missing RAP, you can pull from TS.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Yeah, that looks tight and I see how it works. The build I use suits my needs soloing all non-raid quests on R1 with few issues in whatever ED I happen to be in. My DCs are good and I have meaningfully contributed in a few R3-R6 Epic non-raid groups. I don't level fast but working full time, with a family I can get 1-20 in 2weeks and 21-30 in 7-10 days which is fine

I have all relevant caster HPLs and 9 EPLs left for 3xEpic Completionist but only have 40 RAP, 3pcs Slavers, +5 Cha Tome, No Completionist/R.Completionist and most my other gear is set up around enchantment DCs. I could gear up for Necro, spend a tank of gas on a +8 Tome and run with Instakills but it is such a pain and doesn't suit my playstyle at all despite how good it works in game.

[DrawingGuy]

The ability to insta-kill is extremely powerful, though you can certainly be effective without it. Mass hold, tentacles, and web are all powerful CC, and have a lower bar of entry for useful DCs. Do note that the debuff of Devour works no matter if they save or not, so you can have junk Necro and still get a lot of use out of that ability.

If you're not raiding and running high reapers, the importance of SE/TS does fall. While I personally find it easier to solo on a DC caster that can effectively range, on lower reapers, ES does allow you to face tank and plink away. You don't have to meta-game to have fun, and hopefully you are enjoying your build.

[slarden]

Personally I plan on 41 SE (I don't take Feed on Magic like Slarden does as I haven't needed the temp SP procs), 32 TS, 7 Tiefling (have 12 RAP from PLs/Tomes, and this lets me net Imp Scorch, 4/2% crit chance, and the last point of Scroll Mastery while leveling and Traditionalist in epics). If I had the missing 2 RAP, I'd put it into TS for more confuse chance. If you're missing RAP, you can pull from TS.

This is really close to what I am playing now - tiefling/fiend Warlock 20. I plan to continue to keep feed on magic because it allows me to keep the healing up nearly for free during boss fights (epic levels only). I will be going utterdark but want to keep penetrating blast for golems - so will still need a reasonable force spellpower somehow. I will be playing 42 SE, 31 TS, 4 points in Falconry with the rest in tiefling (14 racial ap + 1 universal tree ap from pl/tomes). Also I think the fire shield cold that comes with fiend will be huge with the new raid where fire absorb is a must even on normal difficulty.

First thoughts on gear upgrades with U42 (spoiler alert if you want to wait to see the new gear until release date)

Armor: Adherent's Bulwark (Fort 214, Phys Sheltering 54, Comp Bonus Healing Amp 85, False Life 81)
Goggles: Dusk Lenses (Equipment Bonus to Potency 154, Insightful Potency 77)
Helmet: Legendary Unbreakable Stormreach Guardian's Helm (19 con, vitality 67, will save 16, reaper stat bonus +2- basically for the reaper stat bonus and a con item )
Necklace: Cracked Core (Ins Con 10, Quality Con 5, Soundproof, Alchemical Conservation)
Trinket: Epic Littany of the Dead (Swap cannith crafted trinket with fire absorb, spell saves and ins fire resist for the raid)
Cloak: Shroud of the Flames (Light Spell Power 214, Light Spell Lore 31, Evoc DC 9, Quality Spell Pen 3)
Belt: Legendary Burnscar Sash (enhance Combustion/Corrosion 202, Acid/Fire Lore 29)
Ring 1: Legendary Spinneret (Spell Lore 15, Quality Potency 32, Quality Spell Focus Mastery 2)
Gloves: Legendary Hands of House Jorasco (Heal 22, Healing Lore 29, Insightful Heal 11, Equipped Healing Amp 40)
Boots: Slavers ( Dex 17 / Resistance 14 / Spellcraft 22 / Quality Cha 4) - Swap item ( Dex 17 / Force Lore 27 / Spellcraft 22 / Quality Cha 4)
Ring 2: Stolen Signet of Ir'Wyarn (Cha 22, Exceptional Alluring Skills 11, Quality Potency 41, Elec Absorb 53)
Bracers: Tattered Scrolls of the Broken One (Magical Sheltering 54, Insightful Sheltering 28 - Physical and Magical)

Weapon 1: Nightmother Sceptre (7 spell focus mastery, 4 insightful spell focus mastery, 8 spell pen, 4 ins spell pen)
Weapon 2: Resplendent Fury (Ins Char 10, Insightful Light Spell Lore 14, Ins Light Spell Power 106, Fire/light sp proc)

Quiver: Quiver of Alacrity or Epic Quiver of Alacrity

Flamecleansed Fury Set Bonus

50 Fire/Force/Light/Positive Spellpower
10% Fire/Force/Light/Positive Spell Crit (presumably exc or artifact chance?)
4 artifact bonus to wisdom/cha
3 artifact bonus to spell focus mastery

[DrawingGuy]

Not a bad setup at all. Waiting for official lists before I start optimizing my gear plan, but for yours I'd suggest changing the Resistance 14 to Force Lore 27. Arcane Pulse and Ruins will still benefit greatly from the extra crit chance along with Penetrating when you swap to it, and generally favor DPS over defensive stats. Though it is indeed a question of 6 Fort/Reflex (as you can augment 8 to all saves) or 12 more force crit chance.

As for Feed on Magic, it is indeed effective at stretching out your SP. In playing, I've found a line: Spamming Ruins drains my SP quickly with or without the ability. However saving Ruin for situations where I can't Insta-kill or CC > Blast (and not bothering on bosses unless SP doesn't matter) means SP is a non-issue. Even longer raids like Strahd I can get by on clickies. Was thinking how you can get 42 effectively to get feed, then looked at your spread and saw you have some important things different: You are not taking Soul Eater debuffs.

- Taint the Blood: The ability to -1 Fort save up to 4 times for 0 SP is pretty nice... especially when you can apply that debuff to entire groups. Add in it only costs 1 AP and that it is much stronger than 2 spell power, and this becomes a must.

- Taint the Aura: With negative PRR/MRR, this is HUGE. You should immediately reset SE and take this.

- Feeding Frenzy: 20% movement speed at the click of a button is very nice. Makes kiting much easier and can save your tush at times.

This is the point spread I use:

Soul Eater (41)
Cores
- Inhuman Understanding
- Inhuman Nature
- No Worse Fate
- Inhuman Nature 2
- Eldritch Seeker
- Devour the Soul
Tier 1
- Consume
- Taint the Blood
- Hungry for Destruction x1
Tier 2
- Stricken x 3
- Feeding Frenzy
- Taint the Aura
Tier 3
- Burning Blood
- Eldritch Blast Shape: Cone
- Charisma
- Strickened Soul
Tier 4
- Greater Hunger
- Strickened Form
- Immortal Will
- Charisma
Tier 5
- Eldritch Wave
- Supreme Hunger
- Spell Tearing
- SLA Finger of Death


I would either need to spend 43 points in SE to get Feed on Magic, or give up either Spell Tearing or Burning Blood. to get Feed for less than a 43 point spread. Though technically you can afford it, particularly when you have full racial PL AP... would just eat into your Heal Amp from Falconry.

I will note that I'm also a fan of Confusion. Like Charm, you can cast it on a mob in the middle of a group to cause them to kill each other. It neuters the target to auto-attack only, so even if they still target party members instead of monsters, they are typically less dangerous. It works on undead as well as living targets. And people can still target them rather than getting annoyed when they can't. Getting it on command as a 0 SP depravity cost as well as an auto-proc is very nice, and I want to max it out if at all possible. This makes 34 TS my favorite spend, and another reason I don't take Feed on Magic as a 41/34 split leaves only 5 points for Racial trees.

[mr420247]

Hiyo just glimpsed through the stuff

From what i saw sharns no replacement for slavers yet so useless

1 item fil set is it and bank it till later been playing poe whole new game

[slarden]

Hiyo just glimpsed through the stuff

From what i saw sharns no replacement for slavers yet so useless

1 item fil set is it and bank it till later been playing poe whole new game

Just curious why you think that. Is it TF armor? Unless I am missing something the artifact bonus on sharn 3 piece equals 5 piece slaver set, but with more up to date stats.

[mr420247]

Ah very nice then read through it too quik 3 peice for the same def gona be op

Only changed i'd go with then would be the 3 fil gogs looks great might have to come back for that then

[Peter_Stauffenberg]

Nice update on the Sharn gear for this build. Will you update the original post with changes based on having heroic and legendary Sharn gear available when U42 is released next week? Good to find all info in one place at the start of the thread.

[slarden]

I pulled a legendary shattered onyx with a profane spell focus mastery +2 on it that differed from Lam but definitely fits into the gear set. Here is the preliminary gear set which I will finalize next weekend and update the OP with stats, etc.

Armor: Adherent's Bulwark (Fort 214, Phys Sheltering 54, Comp Bonus Healing Amp 85, False Life 81)
Goggles: Collective Sight (Wis 21, Ins Con 10, Qual Res 4)
Helmet: Legendary Pansophic Circlet (Potency 131, Insightful Potency 65, Quality Potency 15, Magical Efficiency 10%, reaper stats +2)
Necklace: Sigil of Regalport (Cha 22, Qual Spell Focus 2, Wizardry 481, Cold Abs 53%) with Hell and Back/Embraced by Light Char +2, Hell and Back Cha +1 and Embraced by Light Cha +1 filigree
Trinket: Slavers (Sheltering / Force Lore 27 / Concen 22/ Quality Con 4) swap Slavers (Sheltering / Force Lore 27 / Concen 22/ Quality Wis 4) for mass frog
Cloak: Shroud of the Flames (Light Spell Power 214, Light Spell Lore 31, Evoc DC 9, Quality Spell Pen 3)
Belt: Legendary Burnscar Sash (enhance Combustion/Corrosion 202, Acid/Fire Lore 29) Swap Item for 7-10 skull: Legendary Black Satin Waist (Spell Pen 9, Quality Cha 5, Spell Focus Mastery 2)
Ring 1: Legendary Shattered Onyx (Profane Spell Focus II, Ins Res 8, Ins Dodge 10, Ins Cha 10)
Gloves: Legendary Hands of House Jorasco (Heal 22, Healing Lore 29, Insightful Heal 11, Equipped Healing Amp 40)
Boots: Slavers ( Dex 17 / Resistance 14 / Spellcraft 22 / Quality Cha 4)
Ring 2: Legendary Celestial Sapphire Ring (Con 21, Dodge 21, Profane Attributes +2)
Bracers: Legendary Hallowed Castigators (Devotion 214, Healing Lore 31, Insightful Sheltering 27)

Weapon 1: Nightmother Sceptre (7 spell focus mastery, 4 insightful spell focus mastery, 8 spell pen, 4 ins spell pen - Combustion slotted for implement bonus)
Weapon 2: Resplendent Fury (Ins Wis 10, Insightful Light Spell Lore 14, Ins Light Spell Power 106, Fire/light sp proc) Swap Item Triple Positive LGS ( Devotion Tier 1, Healing Amp 50 Tier 2, Exc Cha Tier 3)

Quiver: Quiver of Alacrity or Epic Quiver of Alacrity

Flamecleansed Fury Set Bonus

50 Artifact Bonus Fire/Force/Light/Positive Spellpower
10% Artifact Bonus Fire/Force/Light/Positive Spell Crit
4 artifact bonus to wisdom/cha
3 artifact bonus to spell focus mastery

Quiver: Quiver of Alacrity or Epic Quiver of Alacrity

Compared to previous gear set the build gains:

Charisma:
+3 by upgrading 19 charisma item to 22 charisma item
+1 by upgrading 9 insightful charisma item to 10 insightful charisma item
+4 by new filigree in minor artifact
+2 artifact bonus to charisma from set bonus vs 2 artifact bonus from slavers set

DC
+2 profane spell focus mastery
-1 +3 artifact bonus from set bonus vs 4 artifact bonus from slavers set (offset by charisma bonus)

Spell Penetration
+3 Quality Spell Penetration from Cloak

+6 DC and +3 Spell Penetration excluding the belt swap.

This DC/Spell Pen and light spellpower boost comes at the cost of losing alot of healing amp. The easiest fix for healing amp for high skulls is swapping to LGS stick instead of orb, and collective sight with +10 ins char instead of the potency goggles. For soloing mid skulls I need dps, defenses, dc and healing amp so I am not sure how to solve this problem yet.

Healing Amp as Tiefling:

85: Armor
15: Falconry Tree
30: Paladin Past Lifes
20: Exalted Angel (will have to figure out how to work this in without losing charisma/dc/spell pen)
40: Healing Hands of House Jorasco
5: Embraced by Light 2 piece set

Total 195. This is workable and if I go aasimar or human instead I am at 255 healing amp, but I am fairly set on tiefling for race and fiend for pact. For tough fights I will use my LGS stick (+50 hamp) giving up some DPS and switch to orb for more dps. Since healing hands of house J doesn't stack with tier 1 LGS I will swap out tier 1 for devotion which stacks with my bracers for higher positive spellpower.

Gear set for 10 skull runs:

Armor: Adherent's Bulwark (Fort 214, Phys Sheltering 54, Comp Bonus Healing Amp 85, False Life 81)
Goggles: Collective Sight (Con 21, Ins Con 10, Qual Res 4)
Helmet: Legendary Arcsteel Brim (Magical Sheltering 54, Insightful Magical Sheltering 26, Spell Focus Mastery 7, Will Save 17, Reaper Stat Bonus 2)
Necklace: Sigil of Regalport (Cha 22, Qual Spell Focus 2, Wizardry 481, Cold Abs 53%) with Hell and Back/Embraced by Light Char +2, Hell and Back Cha +1 and Embraced by Light Cha +1 filigree
Trinket: Slavers (Wis 17 / Force Lore 27 / Concen 22/ Quality Wis 4)
Cloak: Shroud of the Flames (Light Spell Power 214, Light Spell Lore 31, Evoc DC 9, Quality Spell Pen 3)
Belt: Legendary Black Satin Waist (Spell Pen 9, Quality Cha 5, Spell Focus Mastery 2)
Ring 1: Legendary Shattered Onyx (Profane Spell Focus II, Ins Res 8, Ins Dodge 10, Ins Cha 10)
Gloves: Legendary Hands of House Jorasco (Heal 22, Healing Lore 29, Insightful Heal 11, Equipped Healing Amp 40) (Can swap to gauntlets of arcane solider if 2 spell pen will help)
Boots: Slavers Slavers ( Dex 17 / Resistance 14 / Spellcraft 22 / Quality Cha 4)
Ring 2: Legendary Celestial Sapphire Ring (Con 21, Dodge 21, Profane Attributes +2)
Bracers: Legendary Hallowed Castigators (Devotion 214, Healing Lore 31, Insightful Sheltering 27)

Weapon 1: Nightmother Sceptre (7 spell focus mastery, 4 insightful spell focus mastery, 8 spell pen, 4 ins spell pen)
Weapon 2: Triple Positive LGS ( Devotion Tier 1, Healing Amp 50 Tier 2, Exc Cha Tier 3) swap for mass frog: Resplendent Fury (Ins Wis 10, Insightful Light Spell Lore 14, Ins Light Spell Power 106, Fire/light sp proc)

Quiver: Quiver of Alacrity or Epic Quiver of Alacrity

[mr420247]

Heal amp i usually just quik swap for emergencies or tough boss fights

Where you don't need max dcs for trash either trinket which is out for you since litany or the new bracers probably

Your right ha options for casters suck since they need that and everything else

Shining through also can give a stacking 25 if i rem right i no u don't use it though

Looks great what are your max stats dcs at now 120+ cha, 70 + con, n wail mh dcs at

[slarden]

Heal amp i usually just quik swap for emergencies or tough boss fights

Where you don't need max dcs for trash either trinket which is out for you since litany or the new bracers probably

Your right ha options for casters suck since they need that and everything else

Shining through also can give a stacking 25 if i rem right i no u don't use it though

Looks great what are your max stats dcs at now 120+ cha, 70 + con, n wail mh dcs at

I will have to take a look once I have everything upgraded - am holding out for better mythic reaper/bonuses before upgrading. I have one mistake in my list - the shattered onyx can't be upgraded to 21 con as I thought so I'll need to revisit that and figure out where the con goes. It can always go on the boots but I like my high reflex save also. Onyx will take Ins Cha +10 so another option is putting ins char on the onyx and swapping between lgs and orb which is a dps/hamp trade off. I just got to figure out where my con goes now and hopefully that won't cause a complete reworking of gear.

[mikarddo]

Are you able to comfortably solo the Shard main quests on Reaper on this build - and if so at what difficulty?
Based on my limited experience that would seem a good deal harder than Ravenloft etc.

[slarden]

Are you able to comfortably solo the Shard main quests on Reaper on this build - and if so at what difficulty?
Based on my limited experience that would seem a good deal harder than Ravenloft etc.

I haven't switched to Sharn gear yet due to prr loss mostly from my accumulated reaper and mythic bonuses. My guildy Kronovere and I 2-manned all the quests on 5 skull with only a few deaths. My other guildy Siarrah joined us for many quests also on 5 skull and we breezed through those with 3. I only solo'd once on 4 skull vs. my normal 5 skull on ravenloft. As you said I found it more difficult on 4 skull vs. Ravenloft on 5 skull, but I also used to find invitation to dinner very hard at first and now it's a 20 min quest on R5. I had several deaths in just business which was mostly what I consider learning curve. I had a few deaths in best laid plans and there are 2 cogs quests I didn't even try to solo (the one closest to center and in NE). Other than that they went fairly smooth. I will probably go for a smooth 4 skull run all the way through before upping to 5 skull even though some like welcome to sharn I am fairly sure I can solo on 5 skull already. Overall I feel I am about where I was with ravenloft 1 week after release, but still working through learning curve a bit.

Kronovere is an ES high DC warlock focused on enchant and Siarrah is a ranger 20 (archer) with a focus on a CC.

The new gear looks OP at first, but I have good mythic/reaper bonuses on every gear slot as there have been very few changes in 18 months and I ran alot of ravenloft. I want to make the switchover to the new gear set this weekend, but it depends a little on what drops for me in the next few days.

[mr420247]

Thats y i haven't 3 piece sets w bad armors n u need a litany for the same then u gota play gear tetris

Poe ftw till i can do some tiefling lives

3-7 ravenloft gear is pretty op ah