Arc/Tempest Shield Lightning Witch

Hi, I've played this build through merciless and a few maps now, soloing in softcore Ambush league, thought I'd post it and discuss it. Named it the Blue Witch, for the number of blue graphical effects.

Skills

Arc/Lightning Penetration/Faster Casting/Lifeleech/Added Lightning Damage/Empower

Tempest Shield/Lightning Penetration/Power Charge on Crit/Reduced Mana

Spell Totem/Arc/Lightning Penetration/Faster Casting

Cast When Damage Taken/Enduring Cry/Immortal Call/Increased Duration

Clarity/Discipline/Reduced Mana

Lightning Warp/Reduced Duration

Enfeeble

Passives

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgMB37CCEAelAuNJslcrB2NzU8BUeQMI9DGILJzBtOTsdhF-rx8C5nyFxX7iKw02xdgkpwgVULiT6-56qprgRZ0o-oLH-eiPRtDQz2VVxhZvm6FnvR0UTDUoxfO--tIXL2TnVdaApHB9qZUaMlFgNukkquNqGYUabPPdVa5Eq4-mLR-NGeAS3YxtGcHzoqN_xiepWm0kPKdcSVEc3PF2kyfcVx6UrD-fe3i6EZZwu9kTL2_sGMNtj_pJOzZ7tKPb50cGwuwegUuN_xw=

Parse of passives

The Progression alternates getting life and damage, and then life and block, while getting steady mana regen.

I also plan to go out another 8 points to get 8% more block, as will be needed for the full 75% block chance. As this will be levels 83-90 though, I didn't place it in the core build. Thus the build continues so.

The Bandits are Oak/Alira/Skill Point.

Current Gear



Of this, only the two uniques I already possess do I consider essential for their spellblock.

So far, it hasn't given me any real problems. You have 3 sources of offense, Arc, Tempest Shield, and the Arc Totem. Enfeeble and Block make for good damage mitigators. Reflected Damage has not been a problem, nor has mana consumption. However I still die a bit more than I'd like. Some of it is carelessness, and I still need to acquire a few things, but I'm curious to hear what advice anyone could offer me.

Bump.
No love for Tempest Shield?

It looks solid, although some things do worry me. Your only damage mitigation is your block chance and HP. How is your mana regen? Can you support a higher level Arctic Armor? I would also invest in Rathpith, you'll lose 1% block change, but gain a decent boost to DPS. I'd look at dropping that wand (it doesnt do anything for you really) and getting a Cybils Paw, with all that block chance, your DPS will skyrocket. You might even be able to drop Life Leech - I'm not sure if the extra LGoH from Cybils works with Arc though (if someone can confirm if so or not so.)

How often does Tempest Shield crit for you? I recently built a similar build, using several different defensive techniques. Although my block chance was only 50% (both spells and phys dmg), I used Tempest Shield as more of an addition to my other defense measures, it really is an unreliable source of damage at all - but equipped as an additional support, it can help out. Im curious as to whether or not Tempest Shield is able to continually supply you with Power Charges - how is it going? If its not really effective, I'd consider swapping it out for something else - also just take care around the mana multiplier on the supports you use for Tempest Shield.

Are you using the additional ES for much? From a glance, it doesnt look like you have a whole lot, it might be better to spec into Eldritch Battery, using that extra ES to boost your Mana and in turn give you a huge boost to Mana regen. Then you should be able to run Arctic Armor at a highish level. Try getting at least lvl 16+ on your AA if you can.

TL;DR - Use Cybils Paw for good DPS boost, Rathpith for extra DPS & Mana regen, spec into EB for mana and mana regen, use AA for damage mitigation.

Thanks for your feedback!

I have enfeeble for mitigation as well. As for arctic armor, it would be impossible to sustain as is. It wouldn't be that hard to change the build to incorporate the EB/AA setup, possibly further with the next step of MoM, but lifeleech + block has made few mobs a danger to me. Its really big hits that pose a danger. I mentioned dying from carelessness, and some of that is failure to maintain enfeeble on a boss.

Yeah, Cybil's Paw is a good item for the build, and I went and got one. As for Rathpith, its better than my current shield, but I need one with 35% block or more to hit 75% block chance. I'll probably end up having to craft one, but it's worth it for cap block.

The power charges I got from Tempest Shield were unreliable, but fairly common against mobs. When I thought more about what to put into Tempest shield, I came up with 4 options:

1. Lightning Penetration + Iron Will = Pure Damage setup, 150% cost
2. Increased Crit Chance + PCoC = Power Charge setup, 126% cost
3. Mana Leech or Life Leech + Iron Will = Leech setup, 130% cost. Both leeches would be 169%.
4. Elemental Proliferation + Iron Will = Shock setup, 140% cost

I'm currently using #2. Getting at least one charge is pretty common now, and both the gems and my block chance have growing to do. Its also the cheapest on the mana pool. I don't like #3 because its unreliable, #4 my main arc shocks fine. #1 is a bit expensive, I might trying doing the path to see if it gives more or less total damage than #2.

The one passive point in ES is more for its cooldown decrease than raw amount increase. My intelligence gives a solid boost as is.

I wish to avoid speccing into EB if at all possible, really. ES is very useful when running around bosses, and it's just a part of playing a Witch to me. Since using AA and a mana intensive spell together virtually requires it, I looked for other sources of mitigation. Which brought me back around to block and enfeeble.

I want to see A TEMPEST SHIELD BUILD!! :D <3