Dual Wand Witch/Shadow?

"

Iao wrote:

Dual wand builds really only make sense if you are doing physical damage, in my opinion. Otherwise, with elemental damage, you have so much more potential just using a wand and shield.

The reason why is simply that almost all the dual wielding passives that would make a dual wand build worthwhile cater to physical damage. Plus, Frenzy boosts physical damage with each Frenzy Charge you get.

If you want more information about dual wand viability you can take a look at this build writeup I made for what became my main Closed Beta character.

30% physical as various elemental damage types would intuitively apply after your physical multipliers no?

I'd be Wand/Shield myself

"

Autocthon wrote:

"

Iao wrote:

Dual wand builds really only make sense if you are doing physical damage, in my opinion. Otherwise, with elemental damage, you have so much more potential just using a wand and shield.

The reason why is simply that almost all the dual wielding passives that would make a dual wand build worthwhile cater to physical damage. Plus, Frenzy boosts physical damage with each Frenzy Charge you get.

If you want more information about dual wand viability you can take a look at this build writeup I made for what became my main Closed Beta character.

30% physical as various elemental damage types would intuitively apply after your physical multipliers no?

I'd be Wand/Shield myself

No it applies to base damage,but subject to increased and more physical damage as well as other relative mods. There is gemini passive and dualwield attack speed node in shadow area. Duelist can dualwield wands quite succesfull too. Plus dualwielding gives 10% more attack speed, so if you can afford it there is no reason not to dual wield.

"

bormoth wrote:

No it applies to base damage,but subject to increased and more physical damage as well as other relative mods. There is gemini passive and dualwield attack speed node in shadow area. Duelist can dualwield wands quite succesfull too. Plus dualwielding gives 10% more attack speed, so if you can afford it there is no reason not to dual wield.

In other words what I was getting at. The various "physical damage as elemental" effects being based on your total physical damage output.

"

bormoth wrote:

No it applies to base damage,but subject to increased and more physical damage as well as other relative mods. There is gemini passive and dualwield attack speed node in shadow area. Duelist can dualwield wands quite succesfull too. Plus dualwielding gives 10% more attack speed, so if you can afford it there is no reason not to dual wield.

Sure there is "no reason not to" but there is more reason to use a shield for all its defensive benefits. In most cases the benefit of a shield outweighs the benefits of another wand at endgame, especially in Hardcore leagues.

---

Also, I should've been more clear with my first post. Physical damage should be the main focus, but other damage types shouldn't be disregarded.

Added Fire Damage and Hatred are integral aspects to almost every physical damage build because they scale off the damage you're already focused on. In late levels and with quality on the Added Fire Damage gem, they will add around 75% of your physical damage as fire and cold damage, which is a fantastic boost. These I would definitely go with.

The nodes at the top of the tree, the ones with "10% Wand Physical Damage Added as X Damage", might be useful in some builds. The only ones I can think of them being significantly worthwhile with are Iron Grip Marauder variants if they already stretch for Elder Power. Otherwise if you're going with Witch, Shadow, or Templar you're probably focusing on base elemental damage anyways.

"

Autocthon wrote:

In other words what I was getting at. The various "physical damage as elemental" effects being based on your total physical damage output.

Somehow new you would say that. But but alas it is not.
If it was based on total physical damage then elemental damage as would be:
base phys damage*(damage as)*(1+increased physical+...)*(1+increased elemetal+...)*all revelant more multiliers.

But total elemental damage as is calculated:

base phys damage*(damage as)*(1+increased physical+increased elemental+...)*all revelant more multipliers.

Wand damage doesnt suck if you have insane gear but in early game it can be really hard to level I've actually seen some insane wand things done with power siphon so its kinda possible to make it work.

"

therussianmudkip wrote:

Wand damage doesnt suck if you have insane gear but in early game it can be really hard to level I've actually seen some insane wand things done with power siphon so its kinda possible to make it work.

It is pretty good just with blue additional physical damage wand. Damage wands just harder to craft/get, but once you craft good one it would serve you quite long.

THIS is why I moved here from D3 in closed beta. The community.

Thank you ALL for such amazing ideas and theorycraft/personal experience. I love you all. I'm off to craft a few dual wield wand characters now :D :D :D

"

bormoth wrote:

"

Autocthon wrote:

In other words what I was getting at. The various "physical damage as elemental" effects being based on your total physical damage output.

Somehow new you would say that. But but alas it is not.
If it was based on total physical damage then elemental damage as would be:
base phys damage*(damage as)*(1+increased physical+...)*(1+increased elemetal+...)*all revelant more multiliers.

But total elemental damage as is calculated:

base phys damage*(damage as)*(1+increased physical+increased elemental+...)*all revelant more multipliers.

Yes yes I understand how the mechanics work. I've ben playing long enough ot know the basics :p