ggg nerf hammered

wanted to update this but the build is dead now.
ggg nerfed everything that made this build viable

lightning strike is useless with peirce nerf,
all crit staff/two handed nodes got nerfed/removed,
life leech got hit hard and
vaal pact is between ranger and shadow now...

LMHTB's Physical Crit Staff Build! 1.2.0
Stun, Shock, Burn, Freeze and Knockback your enemies! :O

Wonders will never cease. :)
HUGE BUFF FOR CRIT STAFF BUILDS IN 1.2^^

With the introduction of Masters, new crafting options make this build possible for everyone now!


Bandit Rewards:
Spoiler
Normal: Kill them all

Cruel: Help Oak for 18% Phys Dmg

Merciless: Help Alira for +1 Max Power Charges


Keystones:
Spoiler
1. Unwavering Stance

2. Iron Reflexes (When playing in HC a must take)

3. Iron Grip (When playing with Lightning Strike/Spectral Throw)

4. Vaal Pact (When having high Chaos Res to combinate with Blood Rage)


Skill Tree:
Spoiler


Core Skill Tree (LvL 68, 86 points):


Marauder Skill Tree (LvL 86, 104 points):


You could play this Build as a Templar! (Brings the most damage of Classes)
Templar Skill Tree (LvL 86, 104 points):


And also as a Duelist! (The most flexible Class)
Duelist Skill Tree (LvL 86, 104 points):


Important: When playing in Hardcore you should use more Life nodes! At least 30% more Life in all posted trees. Drop some Damage nodes for that. Example:

Hardcore Marauder/Duelist Skill Tree (LvL 86, 104 points):


Stat differences between duelist, templar, marauder and hardcore marauder:
Spoiler


Remember, these are only example skill trees, which show you the idea of this build. You still decide what nodes you take more or what nodes you need the most. For example the posted hardcore marauder build can certainly be improved by taking more block nodes and less life/dmg nodes. ;)




Gems/Skills:
Spoiler
1st 5L(6L) for Multi Target:
1. Lightning Strike
2. Multistrike
3. Power Charge on Crit
4. Crit Multi
5. Crit Chance/Added Fire Dmg
(6.) Red Slot: Life Leech/Added Fire Dmg | Green Slot: Phys Projectile Dmg/Faster Attacks/LMP | Blue Slot: Crit Chance

When you have a really good Staff, LMP will increase your clear speed. If you have an average Staff it will decrease it. I do not recommend using Weapon Ele Dmg. Accuracy/Mana Leech/Blood Magic are ok options when you dont have good gear.

Spoiler
You could use Spectral Throw:
(which will only work well when your staff has around 1.5 APS)
1. Spectral Throw
2. LMP/GMP
3. Faster Attacks
4. Crit Multi
5. Added Fire Dmg/Life Leech
(6.) Red Slot: Weapon Ele Dmg/Life Leech/Added Fire Dmg | Green Slot: Phys Projectile Dmg | Blue Slot: Crit Chance/Power Charge on Crit

You probably want to use Ground Slam against Elemental Reflect because you don't have to recolor your Chest/Weapon to switch the Skill with Lightning Strike:
1. Lightning Strike -> Ground Slam
2. Multistrike stays
3. Power Charge on Crit stays
4. Crit Multi stays
5. Added Fire Dmg -> Melee Phys Dmg / Crit Chance stays
(6.) Red Slot: Life Leech/Melee Phys Dmg | Green Slot: Faster Attacks | Blue Slot: Crit Chance

I also recommend to exchange Hatred with Haste to be very safe in that case.

About Quality Gems:
Spoiler
The first must have high quality gem will be Lightning Strike! For each quality point you gain 3% chance to pierce, that's 60% pierce chance on a 20% quality gem! The second must have high quality gem is Power Charge on Crit, per 1% Quality you get +1% Chance to Gain a Power Charge on Crit, this makes a huge difference of 20% on a 20% quality gem! Quality on the crit multi and crit chance gems is also great.


2nd 5L(6L) for Single Target:
1. Heavy Strike
2. Melee Phys Dmg
3. Crit Chance
4. Crit Multi
5. Added Fire Dmg/Life Leech
(6.) Red Slot: Life Leech/Added Fire Dmg | Green Slot: Faster Attacks | Blue Slot: Power Charge on Crit

Temporarily you can switch the 5th support gem with Multistrike against bosses to kill them way faster. I do not recommend using Stun. Accuracy/Mana Leech/Blood Magic are ok options when you dont have good gear.
__________________________________________________________________


1st 4L for Support:
CWDT LvL 1
Enduring Cry(LvL 5 Max)
Enfeeble/Crit Weakness(LvL 5 Max) or other curses
Inc. AOE/Devouring Totem(LvL 1 Max)/Shockwave Totem(LvL 7 Max)/Decoy Totem(LvL 8 Max)/Summon Skeletons(LvL 7 Max)
Spoiler
Summon Skeletons with this item :)


You switch the curses depending on the difficulty of the map you play. When you have the possibility to apply 2 curses replace Devouring Totem/...

2nd 4L for Support:
CWDT LvL *
Immortal Call
Molten Shell
Life Leech

* Level it up so that it triggers when you lose 1/3 of your Life

3rd 4L for Auras/Buffs:
Reduced Mana
Hatred
Vitality/Grace/Herald of Ash(/Determination/Haste)
Blood Rage (you should get a high quality gem, a 20% gem gives 4% Life Leech!)

Hatred is a must take, Vitality is a good option when you don't have good gear for Vaal Pact... Grace is the Iron Reflexes must use, Determination can be an option for Group Play, Haste is an interesting end game option.

Alternative 4L's for Support:
I dont like:
1st: CWDT LvL 1 + Ice Spear(LvL 8 Max) + Power Charge on Crit + GMP/...
2nd: CWDT LvL * + Enduring Cry + Molten Shell + Life Leech/Devouring Totem/...

__________________________________________________________________


Secondary Weapon Set:

BrightBeak (2R 1G):
Leap Slam
Faster Attacks
Blood Magic
Spoiler


Brightbeak in 2nd Weapon Set?!
Spoiler
It is the 50% Attack Speed Mod that makes the Leap Slam very fast:

"Attack Speed: Leap Slam has its own duration (1.4 Seconds), which is modified by, but not equal to, the player's attack speed."

That means you want weapons with high %Attack Speed for faster jumping/moving and I think there is no other weapon out there with a higher %AttackSpeed Mod and besides that it is just a 1 Hand Weapon which means you can get another Weapon with High % Attack Speed like Brightbeak, but

"Dual Wielding: Leap Slam will use only the main hand weapon."

And that means you dont profit 100% from another Brightbeak. A really fast Option is the Prismatic Eclipse Unique with 3 green Sockets which will increase the Global! Attack Speed by 36%.

Wiki: http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Leap_Slam


The "Be Safe" Option:
Saffell's Frame:
Warlord's Mark
Vulnerabilty
3rd Curse/Leveling Gem

Other Options for Curses would be Temporal Chains and Projectile Weakness.
You can remove the current curse from your CWDT Link when you need Warlord's Mark for extra life leech in reflect maps or when you need Vulnerability to stun a boss etc...


The "Be Mobile" Option:
Prismatic Eclipse(3G):
Whirling Blades(LvL 3 Max to keep Mana Costs as low as possible)
Flicker Strike(LvL 5 Max to keep Mana Costs as low as possible)
Faster Attacks
Spoiler


You could also take a 2nd Brightbeak for the same speed but you would not be able to use Whirling Blades then.


How To Gear? / FAQ:
Spoiler

How to manage Mana Costs?
Spoiler

Get at least 2% Mana Leech from your Gear.



Do I need Accuracy Gear?
Spoiler

Yes, it is very important because this is the total opposite of a Resolute Technique Build! Try to get Accuracy on your Helmet/Gloves/Rings/Amulet and Staff.



The Amulet:
Spoiler

Core should be a High Crit Chance and High Accuracy. Great if you can get Phys Dmg, Crit Multi, Life or Resistances as well.



The Rings:
Spoiler

I recommend Phys Dmg, Accuracy, Life, Resistances and maybe some Attack Speed. Elemental Damage and any kind of Leech is also great. A Diamond Ring as Base is a really strong Option. It is very hard to find good Rings with all these mods or just some.



The Belt:
Spoiler

I recommend a Rustic Sash:

You should try to get reduced Enemy Stun Threshold, which will make it possible to stun monsters with Lightning Strike. Also great if you can get that Mod on your Staff.



The Staff:
Spoiler

It can be hard to get a good Physical Crit Staff and it is very hard to craft one yourself. I recommend searching for High Phys Damage Staves (300+ pdps) with "%increased Critical Strike Chance" or look for a 8% Crit Chance Base.

Depending on the new possibilities of the Master Crafting: You could get a Staff without Attack Speed or without Crit Chance, and craft the one Mod you need the most.



Leveling?
Spoiler

Just use all the unique 2 Handers up to level 50-55. Before that you dont have to think about buying a Staff.

You can use Spectral Throw linked with LMP, Faster Attacks, Added Fire Dmg/Life Gain on Hit.
/
You can also level with Ground Slam linked with Melee Phys Dmg, Faster Attacks/Multistrike, Added Fire Dmg/Life Leech.



Uniques?
Spoiler

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Meginord's_Girdle
is a pretty good Belt until Level 55, after that it's bad compared to a good rare belt.

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/The_Bringer_of_Rain
can be very strong with the Staff Block nodes, Stone of Lazhwar +
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Rumi%27s_Concoction

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Rat's_Nest
= huge DPS increase!

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Maligaro's_Virtuosity
= huge DPS increase!

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Alpha's_Howl
= perfect for easier Aura Management.

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Romira's_Banquet
the strongest when your staff has a bad Base Crit Chance and also in general very strong!

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Abyssus
ready for some standard action?! :D

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Atziri%27s_Acuity
= GG and no need for Vaal Pact!

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Alberon%27s_Warpath
these bring some DPS and are really cheap!


Strong unique(s) that are limited/legacy:

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Gifts_from_Above
= Highest possible Crit Chance on a ring!




Have Feedback for me? Post it!

___________________________________________________________________________________


Stats/Gear:


Short gameplay video of my Physical Crit Staff Build [1.1.5]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOJOY8l-3Zc&feature=youtu.be

___________________________________________________________________________________


Old Stats/Gear/etc.:
Spoiler


December 2013 [1.0.2]
Spoiler

Stats of my LvL 79-80 Marauder:
Spoiler

DPS with my 5L Heavy Strike (LvL 18, Q20):


DPS with my 5L Lightning Strike (LvL 15):


DPS with my 5L Ground Slam (LvL 18):


Ground Slam is pretty good when playing solo (Stun^^), but in party play I recommend using Lightning Strike, because the Shock applies for several seconds, the DPS is greater and it is very easy to play in phys reflect maps.


~4800 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges:


~6000 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges + LvL 14 Molten Shell:


~17700 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges + LvL 14 Molten Shell + a Granite Flask with 100% increased Armour


Nothing Special, because no OP Iron Reflexes in this build^^


Gear:
Spoiler



December 2013 [1.0.3]
Spoiler

Stats of my LvL 84 Marauder:
Spoiler

DPS:
DPS with my 5L Heavy Strike (LvL 19, Q20):


DPS with my 5L Lightning Strike (LvL 18):



Armour:
~4500 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges:


~5700 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges + LvL 14 Molten Shell:


~15300 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges + my Granite Flask:


~17200 Armour with 4 Endurance Charges + LvL 14 Molten Shell + my Granite Flask:



Gear:
Spoiler



January 2014 [1.0.5]
Spoiler

Gear of my LvL 86 Marauder:
Spoiler



Last edited by LMHTB on Sep 15, 2015, 10:48:20 AM
Added Screenshots for more Info!
And you don't die to phys reflect?
Staff builds were always viable, problem is that staffs roll too much variancy in pre and suffixes. To get a staff like yours is more unlikely then looting an shavs at piety.
http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1158669

Cyclone MARA Beginners and Advanced Guide.
"
Novalisk wrote:
And you don't die to phys reflect?

I don't, Multistrike helps a lot and I use the Granite Flask which refills after every monster group.
I've recently played a rare lvl 68 map with blood magic, no life/mana regen and phys reflect + some other mods = no problem.

Maybe when my gems level up and when I get a better amulet/staff, it could be a problem.
Last edited by LMHTB on Nov 28, 2013, 7:55:46 PM
to the top!
updated for 1.0.2
bump^^
Changed from Ground Slam to Lightning Strike!
Could you try specing into Avatar of Fire, and using.

-Heavy Strike
-Melee Phys
-Crit Damage
-Increased Burning Damage
-Ele Prolif

...Want to know if it's viable with Crit staff...if it is, i'll make one.
Last edited by Epsilon2012 on Dec 7, 2013, 2:42:06 AM

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