I think I'm getting addicted to the mobility and reactiveness of the SR-CwC setup and the absence of mana restrictions.
If there is a DPS loss associated with it, it's not a huge one and it can be compensated for by replacing the Lightning golem with the Ice one. We use Lightning for cast speed bonus and get 0.37 sec cast time for Icestorm with Spell Echo, which is roughly the same as 0.35 sec with CwC. That eliminates the need for Lightning and we can just take 40% inc dmg bonus from Liege by using Ice golem. The only problem there is needing to off-color all 4 sockets in either boots or gloves. But then again, it's just a question of about 1k chroms, nothing like 6L that most builds need. Ice golem is roughly equivalent to a jewel socket. You'll get it eventually. Can use Chaos golem for extra defense until then.
As I mentioned above, CwC is an upgrade over SE (10% MORE instead of 10% LESS dmg). The loss of DPS comes only from replacing CD (45% MORE) with SR (some flat damage with -24% res debuff). But how big is it? Maybe some people with spreadsheets can calculate. I'll run some tests with my actual char in Standard when I have time.
On my Berserker with no ele dmg Ascendancy, SR does 31k DPS at stage 8. But Elementalist has a whole lot of increased fire dmg, so the damage of SR should be more relevant here. -24% res debuff is close enough to 20% MORE dmg in most cases, although it only applies to rares and bosses because everything else dies before it's fully applied.
So the sum of CwC vs SE upgrade, Ice golem bonus and SR's own DPS and debuff should not be that much worse than SE+CD, if it's even worse. But what you get is awesome. Pre-casting 14 Icestorms on a boss without running out of mana is great. Being able to stop casting and move at any time is even better.
I think CwC is the new best thing.
I'm guessing this setup is only an upgrade if you have a 5 or 6 link Whispering ice? (Otherwise SR is at minimum only linked to CwC?)
You only need a 3 link on WI for CWC; Scorching Ray - Faster Cast - CWC. The rest of the gems get applied to Ice storm. Scorching Ray doesn't "hit" so it doesn't benefit from Fire Pen or Life Leech gems.
I'm guessing this setup is only an upgrade if you have a 5 or 6 link Whispering ice? (Otherwise SR is at minimum only linked to CwC?)
CwC is linked to Icestorm, so the main damage still comes from Icestorm. You just need at least a 2L I belive, unless you want to use gems to also boost SR.
You only need a 3 link on WI for CWC; Scorching Ray - Faster Cast - CWC. The rest of the gems get applied to Ice storm. Scorching Ray doesn't "hit" so it doesn't benefit from Fire Pen or Life Leech gems.
FC is not used with SR. CwC casts Icestorm at fixed 0.35 sec intervals and that cannot be changed.
Last edited by Kelvynn on Dec 28, 2016, 1:01:35 PM
SR turning speed is based on cast speed, as is the ramp up speed of it's stages. Makes it a very mobile to use skill and safe for HC.
edit: after a few maps with ele focus > faster cast...... I'm a convert... ele focus feels much better and FC doesn't feel like it's doing that much. thanks for enlightening me (lvl 4)
Last edited by dandan88 on Dec 28, 2016, 1:25:49 PM
SR turning speed is based on cast speed, as is the ramp up speed of it's stages. Makes it a very mobile to use skill and safe for HC.
Turning speed is irrelevant since they made CwC cast the linked spell at the cursor instead of the end of the beam. You can cast Icestorm at the opposite side of the screen from the beam without waiting for the beam to turn.
This is not an SR build, it's an Icestorm build. Just ignore the fancy beam on your screen. Its more distracting than helping anyway.
Last edited by Kelvynn on Dec 28, 2016, 1:22:40 PM
