Crit Strike Bow Puncture!

So, I've been thinking about how fast Puncture can kill me, and thought it would be a great skill to use. I'm looking to make a char that's good in PVE, but also in PVP.

Here's what I had in mind:

Using a Harbinger bow, I have a 7.4 crit strike chance, which is bumped up with the 380% increase from the passive tree, bringing me up to roughly 32% chance to crit. This will get higher with gear and gems.

The build has a ton of movement speed, because 1. It's really fun and 2. you can puncture enemeies and run away (this will be especially useful in PVP). If they run after you, they take more bleeding damage. As a ranged user, movement speed helps blank melee attackers, and Ondar's Guile blanks ranged attackers (stupid Lioneye's).

My gem slots would be something like this:



I want to go for mostly Evasion, but with some Armor on the side as well.

Could possibly go for Arctic Armour, if I were to change for more Mana Regen.

Current Gear (crappy):

Crit damage gem.

yeah, good point. I'll include that as a 5-link for the main attack.

For main attack, new Physical Projectile Damage gem should be used. Also, critical damage mutiplier will be mandatory there.
There is also an option to use Lightning Arrow as a secondary attack (maybe, link it to totem), to provide shock (shock is a huge bonus to Puncture). Culling strike isnt needed. Better to get Added fire damage there - burn will add extra degen there :).
Your build tree is croken with new patch. fix it!

Right you are. The tree has been fixed. What if I used Added Lightning Damage on the main attack instead of added fire? It would allow to shock. I'm not sure which would end up doing more damage, though.

Thanks for the input!

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Obermeir wrote:

Right you are. The tree has been fixed. What if I used Added Lightning Damage on the main attack instead of added fire? It would allow to shock. I'm not sure which would end up doing more damage, though.

Thanks for the input!

I have another one input for your build there.

You want to use Puncture as DoT, but it obviously lack proper damage supports if used with ranged weapon (only physical projectile damage and increased critical damage will be useful there). That's why, i think, it will be wise to use Mine and Trap supports, as they provide increase to ALL damage, thus affecting Puncture DoT twice, making ridicilosly high damage numbers.

Puncture is a single-targeted skill, though. You should decide, which skill you'll use for AoE damage.

I got my ideas from this build - http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/683322
It uses traps/mines to deal AoE damage with Poison Arrow and Fire Trap.
You can chose another path, however:
1. GMP/LMP puncture with pierce. Fits your "idea" well, but profit is questionable.
2. Lightning Arrow. Benefits from crit, places shocks, but with AoE support will be unefficient against single targets to shock.
3. Normal physical attacks - Split Arrow or Rain of Arrows.
All of those will require crit physical build, probably.

*Sigh*

Every time I think I'm doing something interesting on PoE, someone shows me something way more complicated that ends up being better. That build does some ridiculous damage, but I'm wondering if I can handle all the mine-laying.

I'm not sure where to go from here.

Edit: I took a quick look at his build. The damage is ridiculous, but I can already tell that it's not a safe build to play, as it's complicated/clunky and packs like no life. I thought my build didn't have enough. Crit striking is simpler and safer, and requires less moving around the tree to get the nodes you need, which means it's more flexible and can grab life nodes.

"

Obermeir wrote:

*Sigh*

Every time I think I'm doing something interesting on PoE, someone shows me something way more complicated that ends up being better. That build does some ridiculous damage, but I'm wondering if I can handle all the mine-laying.

I'm not sure where to go from here.

Edit: I took a quick look at his build. The damage is ridiculous, but I can already tell that it's not a safe build to play, as it's complicated/clunky and packs like no life. I thought my build didn't have enough. Crit striking is simpler and safer, and requires less moving around the tree to get the nodes you need, which means it's more flexible and can grab life nodes.

Indeed, it's NOT safe. However, you're not forced to use traps/mines for ALL abilities (like i already said), only for Puncture. For AoE damage, you can use usual physical bow skill or lightning arrow, then your build will be (in fact) physical crit bow build, i believe there are a few of those posted already.
Sorry, but puncture indeed reaches its full potential only with mines/traps.

I see what you're saying. I think I'm just going to go with Crit strike puncture anyways, though, because I feel like the whole setup for that massive damage is just too clunky for me. I want something smooth.

I do need an AOE attack though. I'll look into other builds for stuff, lightning arrow seems good, so does poison arrow, if I feel like staying in the DoT theme, which would lead me to get the Corruption nodes to the left of Ondar's Guile, or Growth and Decay.

I decided to change my Totem configuration. I think I'm going to go with Shockwave Totem + Faster Casting + Chance to Flee + Area of Effect. That way I get 100% knockback chance, and it also affects a greater area, giving me a safe zone to play in. The totem is casting a spell, right? I'm assuming the faster casting gem will make me cast the totem faster, and the totem will also attack faster. Is this right?

Thanks for all the input!

"

Obermeir wrote:

I see what you're saying. I think I'm just going to go with Crit strike puncture anyways, though, because I feel like the whole setup for that massive damage is just too clunky for me. I want something smooth.

I do need an AOE attack though. I'll look into other builds for stuff, lightning arrow seems good, so does poison arrow, if I feel like staying in the DoT theme, which would lead me to get the Corruption nodes to the left of Ondar's Guile, or Growth and Decay.

I decided to change my Totem configuration. I think I'm going to go with Shockwave Totem + Faster Casting + Chance to Flee + Area of Effect. That way I get 100% knockback chance, and it also affects a greater area, giving me a safe zone to play in. The totem is casting a spell, right? I'm assuming the faster casting gem will make me cast the totem faster, and the totem will also attack faster. Is this right?

Thanks for all the input!

Yes, faster cast is must-have for spell totem. It affects both cast and totem's cast speed.