Berserker vs Slayer now

Hi there,

Haven't played for some months and I'm just returning to the game. I'm fairly experienced in the game played it a ton but now I can't decide. So I'd like to play a 2-handed Axe with Lacerate or Sunder or something like that.

I found out that the Mara Berserker and Duelist Slayer would be the best for me. I've set up the tree for 101 points ~ lvl 80. The two builds basically walk in the same path just from different start area.

Berserker: Build

Pros:
- built-in life and mana leech so the BM gem is not required
- 25% attack speed if I get hit
- 40% more damage constantly

Cons:
- I feel this ascendancy more offensive than the other one. The life leech does not help against high hp loss

Slayer: Build

Pros:
- Onslaught for 20 sec after killing a rare/unique enemy (which happens really often in end-game maps)
- Culling strike (helps against bosses)
- 50% reduced reflected damage is huge imho
- 20% more damage after kill
- 15% increased aoe after kill
- Overkill damage life leech
- Life leech does not stop (helps against dot and bigger hits)

Cons:
- Have to use BM gem or
- Have to get mana leech from tree (4 points near duelist start) or gear
- Lesser life leech

So I feel the Slayer is more defensive than the Berserker but it's harder to solve the mana problem. I lose 4 points if I have to get it from the tree and I lose 1 gem socket if I have to use BM gem (which could be replaced by any offensive alternative). I could rely on Warlod's Mark, but I find Hexproof enemies a lot and I would just run out of mana and couldn't do anything.

Any thoughts?

Have you tried to run it on Slayer? You don't need a ton of mana leech to make most builds work. I have 0.23% on a ring right now and it allows me to spam on packs while clearing. Sometimes on bosses I have to slow down a bit and can't go all out but if I got better rings it would likely solve the issue. And this is 25% unreserved mana (running Hatred + HoA) and no mana regen anywhere.

I'm liking the Slayer a lot honestly. Huge AoE + ton of leech + leech doesn't stop makes you really tanky. And being able to go bawls out on phys reflect monsters is also pretty handy.

IMO I think slayer is better for clearing trash mobs because it has better aoe and speed. But many of the effects require you to kill something recently. In tough boss fight sometimes there are just not that many mobs to kill. Beserker is better for boss fight especially if you have instant leech. Bosses usually have harder hits that can proc your 100% dmg leech. And with instant leech you can always remain at full life as long as you don't get one shot. Plus the big 40% more dmg node does not require you to kill any mobs recently.

Instead of spending 4 points for the mana leech nodes, consider spending 2 points for the +2 mana on hit node, or just rolling +2 mana on hit on one of your jewels. With Lacerate + multistrike that would be 12 mana regained per skill use even against a single target.

If you go with Berserker, then I'd recommend getting Vaal Pact or Atziri's Acuity, since that 100% leech on savage hit is just wasted otherwise.

Dont forget you can roll leach on jewels also I prefer 1 jewel stat for mana leech vs some tree or gear investment.

As for Slayer Vs Beserker, In high maps life builds can get hit really hard and even having a kaoms with 8khp isnt enough for some volatile hits. For that reason I dont like the beserker because they take a lot of extra damage which makes them more prone to 1 shots. The slayer is a much safer build overall.

Lesser life leech? Only if you use vaal pact. If you don't, the the 100% increased amount of life leeched per second is MASSIVE (only scales the amount you get per second, does NOT modify the leech duration).

Thanks for your replies! :)

All in all,if berserker,go for vaal pact,otherwise slayer. Vaal pact makes berserker extremely powerful,especially against bosses,if you don't get oneshoted,you won't die. Played EQ zerk prev league,got tired because it honestly was OP.

Now im EQ slayer,which i believe is somehow in the middle,it's still has its pros and cons compared to berserker but are somehow more "balanced".

Berserker=massive damage and risky gameplay that will keep you on the edge,but once geared,you probably wont die.

Slayer=great damage,feels safer,and AOE trash clear is way better+ the culling on bosses is also very fun to play with,but i'd say berserker just does it better on bosses,while slayer clears faster.

Both can clear everything,so pick your playstile and go with it,can't go wrong either way.

Well, slayer does have a constant 20% more dps if the boss has adds, and bosses also only 80% effective health.

Mana cost is ridiculously easy to sustain with attack-based builds. A little mana leech on one item (gloves, ring or amulet), a little mana gain on hit or leech on a jewel and you're good to go.