Build options based around traps in Nemesis

Things to keep in mind... With traps you can't leech life. With traps you don't have to worry about reflect. This is Nemesis league, so not a lot of uniques to lean on. (i.e. no Shavs for a low life build, etc)

So I've been working on a trap build(lvl 24 atm) and I'm stuck between going something that is Evasion/Life based vs going CI/Zealot's. Is there another option?

An example of Evasion/Life:



That build could possibly add in Acrobatics/Spell dodge. Maybe dig down to Ondar's. An alternative would be to swing around Ondar's and grab life that way on the way to IR.

An example of CI/Zealot's:



Alternatives to the above...

I had thought about trying to incorporate Ghost Reaver into the CI build. That would require getting a non-trap spell(and life leech) to rely on that isn't a trap. Maybe Power Syphon/LMP or whatnot.

Is there some other mechanic that would be better suited to this. Is there a build design that I should consider instead? I know that generally you don't mix ES and Life(you go one or the other). But Shadow doesn't have a lot of life node options and not much Str nodes for the base HP that the Marauder/templar/duelist area has.

Im pretty new to the game, but wondering the same thing. I am struggling to find a final play style. I tried bows, but found the best part of them redundant for traps. Im using claw now and trying to figure out my defense, as it stands now, its a hodge podge and Im guessing will not be very good later.

You seem to be getting very few trap nodes and just working on defense. Is that because traps are really ok without the added nodes?

In both builds I'm getting almost all the trap nodes in the tree except for the ones in the bottom right by Ondar's Guile. I do mention heading down to Ondar's in the EV/Life build.

Elemental Equilibrium will also help with damage. The idea is to shock them with either lightning trap or something like shock nova linked to a "trap" support and then follow up with Fire trap.

The common thing that works across Bear trap, Fire trap, and lightning trap is Crit passives. Bear trap can't benefit from spell/elem damage, Fire trap only benefits on the blast (need burn nodes to buff the burn). Lightning trap does benefit from everything. So you can see a decent amount of crit taken. Doom Cast should probably be grabbed too.

All that said, since Nemesis is a HC league so the emphasis will be on survival/defenses.

So far the damage is pretty solid. Still heading to get the Munitions wheel.

Im going to give acrobatics a try. Im curious, so might as well go for it.

Got second claw and wow, really fast killing. Is the Blood Magic keystone the only way to really make "Last Resort" work?

Here are two more fleshed out(20 points left) options for EV/Life...


Both have EB and Ondar's. Both have Static blows. The first is heavier life, the second trades some life % for evasion and the Acrobatics keystone.

Option A- no acro:


Option B- Acro:


Option A has about 84% more life and full EB mana from ES.
Option B has >100% more evasion, Acro and PA.

With the remaining points...
Option A can add in more dps from Intense Zeal or even pick up Acro.
Option B can add in more hp from the big Scion wheel and hit up the munitions node.
Both could dig to Master Sapper or grab aura boosts.

A compromise between the two would take the 7 points out of getting Holy strength(far left) and put them into getting Acro/PA. A loss of only 32% life from Option A.

Reading through this was helpful as I am currently working on a ES/EV CI trap build, and I don't have much experience making builds. I seem to be going about it differently, focusing on the fire trap with fire damage nodes. Keep in mind this is a dominion build, not nemesis, and also keep in mind that I am making this up! No idea how well it will work. In the process of building it.



You have got me thinking about Zealots.... and perhaps taking the focus off of just fire and going tri-ele with elemental equilibrium... I don't know... now I have a whole lot of questions swirling around my head.