[2.5] Queen of the Swamp (KotF inspired). Insanely fast up to T15. *Not being updated*

Hello, and thanks for checking out my Raider version of the King of the Forest build - The Queen of the Swamp. Heavily inspired, somewhat tweeked and many variations available. This is a Lightning Arrow/Barrage build using Chaos primarily. Point blank is used but as a gem link, not taking the passive node. Please don't harass me saying this is basically the same as KotF with a few tweeks, I know it is, hense the title (:

Feedback is super welcome! I'd like to know where I've gone wrong in your guys' opinions, what you'd change, and possibly how to make this version more endgame viable and not just a chain map leveling farmer.

Also my apologies if I missed anything, or worded things poorly, but I think I covered it all!

Swapped to Phasing nodes. Liking it a lot more.

Intro
This may not be optimized for you. This build is optimized for me and my playstyle. I've completed everything but Uber Atziri/Chayula (Where are my shards GGG?) on my witch, and now I want to level a Raider faster than most melee builds can while chaining desirable maps.

The convenience for me is that I bought the gear for https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1740806 and leveled an Assassin to 92, so the swap was immediate at 70 with only 1 gem swap. This is not a cheap start up build. By the way, check his build out for a better version that is more endgame viable, crit based, and keeps the DPS up with 6K hp, instead of 4K hp. Only flaw is clearspeed isn't as fast as my version (in my experience).

Do not expect to faceroll Shaper and other bosses if you have no experience with a bow build, or the ability to move from one shot mechanics. This build is extremely squishy in it's current form and is NOT an endgame farmer unless you change a lot of the nodes for Life.


Videos
T15 Overgrown Ruin with Boss HP/Dmg/ias/cast/AoE facetanked with 4kHP and forgot to swap Barrage into my 6L (aka no Point Blank used).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0V1dlMwAfw

Atziri being facetanked and instantly melted. No flameblasts were cast this day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnd8IXQgtpQ


Screenshots
Are the screenshots broken for anyone else? >_>

http://imgur.com/IQwhVYu

http://imgur.com/6rXS7RF

http://imgur.com/tVlhTZ1

http://imgur.com/k4A9WAt

http://imgur.com/GHnZqlN

http://imgur.com/NJ0phAe

http://imgur.com/F8Lnl8c

http://imgur.com/oEtO7ri


Mechanics
First, don't ignore Point Blank Support gem link, and do not grab the passive node.

Reach of the Council adds arrows, this is good.
Queen of the Forest gives us massive move speed bonuses from evasion, this is good.
With this in mind, we now have a free GMP and tons of move speed, increased by our 8 Frenzies and bonuses from said Frenzies.
Snakebite allows us to poison on max Frenzies, this is where we gain our massive dps.

How to win: Enter map. Blood Rage. Frenzy a few times into a pack. Flask up, and Vaal Haste asap. Run. Shoot with LA. Run. Shoot with LA. Keep Vaal Haste/Flasks up. Barrage tougher Rares/Breach Rares if required. Stand beside boss. Shoot with Barrage. Scratch head wondering if that was really a boss.

Is this why you chose Raider? Yes. I wanted a faster leveling version than the Shadow build, and I am going to swap to a melee Raider at 90++.


Pros/Cons
Pros:
Onslaught Ascendancy grants us faster cast speed among the other bonuses, this means almost instant Vaal Haste cast, and no horribly slow cast time for Decoy Totem/resummoning Golem.
You will clear the next screen over if the layout is even slightly in your favour.
Insanely fast move speed/mobility, utilized with blink arrow/flasks. Leaves whirling blade in the dust.
100%+ move speed with Grace active. Potential 300% move speed with flasks/Vaal Haste (I've hit 303%).
8 Frenzy charges which massively boosts ias, move speed, evasion and attack damage.
Clear speed is ridiculously fast, Breaches are a mess after clearing them.
Vaal Pact keeps us alive to face tank many bosses. Breaches don't scare us.
Can face tank Tul, Xoph, Uul-Netol, potentially Esh with the right Flasks/Ascendancy Swap.
Regular Atziri instantly drops to 1hp each phase.
High evasion (Evasion sucks though).
13 second up-time on Frenzy Charges even with 8 of them and Snakebite.

Cons:
Pretty much a yolo build, solely purposed for fast leveling.
Need intellect/strength attributes on rings/ammy/potentially jewels.
4K hp pool. Very squishy in current form.
Evasion/player skill reliant. Movement is our defense 69% of the time.
Unless you drop Onslaught Ascendancy nodes, and grab Phase Acrobatics, we are very weak to the elements.
If choosing Phase Acrobatics and dropping Onslaught Ascendancy, we can stack Atziri Step - but they suck because no reses, and dodge/spell dodge is worse RNG than evasion.
Have to (opinion based) grab an Onslaught Flask if dropping Onslaught Ascendancy, this means bye bye Quicksilver or Jade.




Gear


Bow/Armour/Quiver are required.


Gems
6L Bow = Barrage, Added Chaos Support, Pierce Support, Slower Projectiles Support, Void Manipulation Support, Point Blank Support

6L Armour = Lightning Arrow, Added Chaos Support, Pierce Support, Slower Projectiles Support, Void Manipulation Support, Point Blank Support

5L Armour = Lightning Arrow, Added Chaos Support, Pierce Support, Slower Projectiles Support, Void Manipulation Support
(If you run a 5L like me, just swap barrage into the 6L on boss fights. Generally, we can even leave Barrage in the 6L and LA in the 5L with no real consequence).

Gloves = Vaal Haste, Grace, Arctic Armour, Enlighten Support

Boots = Frenzy, Blink Arrow, Faster Attacks Support, Decoy Totem

Helmet = Cast When Damage Taken Support, Immortal Call, Blood Rage, Increased Duration Support
(My increased duration should match CWDT/IC, I've been lazy though).


Bandits
Life/Ias/Frenzy


Flasks


Remember that Evasion = Move speed with this build.

This setup can be changed, I don't have gloves with temp chains on hit enchanted so I run Witchfire. Since we utilize Queen of the Forest Body Armour, the extra evasion/smoke cloud adds to our survivability.
Dying Sun is a no brainer, more projectiles = more dps.
Evasion flask because it's our defense and gives us move speed.
A good HP flask is necessary, this one is not perfect.
And a quicksilver because you shouldn't need a Basalt or Granite for map chaining Shaped Strand or whatever.


Jewels
I don't know, you choose. I go for a mix of Chaos Damage, Damage, Projectile Damage, Maximum Life, Attack speed with Bows. Unless you go the 5-6K hp route, we only use 3 Jewels. If you're going for Life, then definitely grab Maximum Life with some damage booster as a primary option.


Leveling
Grab a Stormcloud at level 9 and Lightning Arrow at level 12. Roth's Reach at level 18. Swap for a Death's Harp at 32, and a Death's Opus at 44. This will carry you to Council.


AlternativeBuild
I'll link other variations I've thought of for this build later on. One is to drop some dps/ias type nodes, and follow the KotF build to grab 2 more major Life+/Max Life % node pools. If for whatever reason you don't like running fast, you can always choose Iron Reflexes and stack a ton of Life and hope that compensates for the dps loss - but I wouldn't.
Last edited by Womancraft on Mar 8, 2017, 10:02:09 PM
Last bumped on Mar 10, 2017, 2:48:06 PM
Reserved.
you recommend Victario's Acuity? 8x5= 40% projectile speed + free power charges (3x5= 15% more projectile damage) + dex/int + some ress and why point blank+lightning arrow(6L)? you should use faster projectiles or empower lvl4
Last edited by ZooeyFest on Jan 18, 2017, 1:45:54 AM
I've been doing some experimenting with a similar build, but mine has been based more on the life regeneration aspect. I may switch to a Vaal Pact type setup but goddamn VP is a pain in the ass for running lab due to traps. Getting 5.6 - 7.5% life regen is actually amazing.

I am doing some testing for endgame viability, but I need a 6L and 20/20 gems to really see how it works. The main thing is to utilize the synergies with perma full frenzies. Right now I'm cruising with an effective 7L off of 5L qotf / reach with 5.6k hp - details to follow if I get it working, but you can speculate if you wish!
IGNs:
(PSC)KlarnTheButtDemon
(PSC)ElectricWoogaloo
(SC)DontScissorWithTheRuns
Also, your screenshots are in fact broken. I'd be interested in seeing up to date ones.
IGNs:
(PSC)KlarnTheButtDemon
(PSC)ElectricWoogaloo
(SC)DontScissorWithTheRuns
Hello!
Have any plan for CI?
Legacy reach+skyforth
You said there, armour is reqired, how so?
If you could elaborate, what are the benefits of QotF versus something like this?
Just for the movement speed or am I missing something?

Spoiler

Last edited by Songweaver on Feb 19, 2017, 2:38:31 AM
What are the Pros and Cons of Assassin versus Raider?

I see this build on ladder is about 50/50 between the two.
livejamie
Hi! I know i will have much fun with this build, i started play yesterday. What do you prefer if i dont have so much gemslots, what should i use at start. And with the items, i see it will be a bit expensive? i already have only about 1/2 exiled
"
you recommend Victario's Acuity? 8x5= 40% projectile speed + free power charges (3x5= 15% more projectile damage) + dex/int + some ress and why point blank+lightning arrow(6L)? you should use faster projectiles or empower lvl4

You wouldn't use Vic's because you need the stats for items.

Slower projectiles deal "more Projectile Damage", while faster projectiles "increases Projectile Damage". There is a significant difference between the too. Increase is additive. More is multiplicative. More is better (:

Because I didn't have time to level my Empower that high, otherwise of course level 4 > 3.

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