[1.2] Sidra's Guide: Acrobatics Based Physical Crit Split Arrow Ranger (Atziri Kill Video Inside)

Been wanting to build a bower for a while now, think this one looks the most balanced. For the new 4 month coming up i think I'll go for it. If I forgo crits till late game, 70+, what kinda offensive numbers would I be looking at do you think for clearing low lvl maps?

Just my opinion, but Blood Magic gems for attacks and mana for auras works best for me. I tried a failed Lightning Arrow Duelist build trying to run on mana. That was a disaster! Low life, constant mana problems and low damage. Because so many points and gear had to be used for mana. So I got a Kaom's Heart to fix the life problems. But still too many problems because of resources spent on mana. So I abandoned the Duelist for a new Split Arrow and Frenzy Ranger.

I really believe Blood Magic gems for attacks and mana only for auras is best. Only 6 or 7 points needed to get the reduced mana reserve, Reduced Mana gem, and Alpha Howl will allow for 3 60% auras. Yes, Alpha Howl isn't best helm but has "Cannot be frozen" and can run lvl 23 auras with lvl 21 corrupt gems. (6 more pts if you don't want to use Alpha, but that's too much). I use Blood Magic gems and so long as you can leech for attack, all points and gear that would have gone into mana can be spent on leech and life. I think more survivable to focus on life instead of mana.

The way this build gets really powerful: Use a high crit Harbinger bow. Run 3 lvl 23 offensive auras. Pick up armor or evasion from gear and passives so don't have to use Determination or Grace. Switch LGoH and LL gems to leech on gear (may require use of LL ammy), so can have 5 offensive gems with 1 Blood Magic gem in each attack. And figure out how to mitigate reflect (this is the biggest issue with this build), if you don't go evasion. Even with Determination, these kinds of builds never have enough armor. I only have 14% damage reduction at level 81 but don't have end game gear.

I think split arrow Ranger is fun to play, but the reflect issue is it's fatal flaw. Granted I'm using Lion's Eye Glare, but my toon can one shot itself to reflect. I messed around trying to lose some phys damage for elemental but was never going to work. Too much damage relative to hp 5.1k so far, no evasion, LL nerf... I'm starting to think the only way to go is with a Voltaxic build? I don't like the idea that one misfire against reflect and my toon is Ded Kitty.

LA you need blood magic gem for sure because your damage is only half physical. How ever split arrow is dirt cheap on mana and 100% physical. Also harbinger APS is plenty slow enough to keep up on mana leech.

I could see BM when leveling if you want to use chain instead of Pierce earlier - but planning it for end game would be a huge mistake when the build can be run just fine on mana.

So - I have decided to reap the fruits of my Atziri farming and bought:



to see what all the fuss is about. The loss of Maligaros was a huge DPS loss, but I was able to make up for it using 5 nodes in the upper left that had been used for mana independence and a few HP. So I took a Power Charge, 3 crit multi, and the 8% speed I have been missing up front. I also swapped in



and decided to use Blood Rage to keep up perma charges easily. I also had to swap amulets to keep my resists up to a lesser one offensively. This makes LGOH unnecessary on my Split Arrow, and able to sub in PCOC

I now have
5113 HP
Frenzy: 67k
SA/Chain: 14.7k

Those DO NOT include Atziri Flask. So much stronger offensively by a good amount and more leech, instant, at the cost of about 500 HP. I am gonna play it a bit, nab level 94 and see if I prefer it. If not, I can always sell the gloves back. I am going to leave the guide as is, though. I will update for 1.2 but probably keep the older gear and links in it so it's less daunting for newer players.

Cheatercheaterface!

"

feyith wrote:

Cheatercheaterface!

I had to urban dictionary that...lol.

A man who cheats on his perfect, beautiful, do good wife for no real apparent reason at all.
I just found out that my husband is a cheater face.

I think Feyith (and Sam) are stating that the build already had Atziri on farm status and pretty much walked through anything not named Uber Atziri - and did so being relatively inexpensive...there was no need to mess with a good thing. To some extent, they are probably right.

Mr reply: what can say...I am an endless tinkerer and optimizer. And the build kind of became an Atziri whore - I wasn't really excited about doing anything else with it. This at least gives me the juice to grab another level and see how it plays. Aside from the Acuitys - the Ming's allowing for Blood Rage to be run is pretty cool - it's very nice not having to waste Frenzy shots to keep charges up - feels like it makes the leveling even nicer. And 10% instant (70% of the time) life leech is kinda funny.