[3.0] Theorycrafted Self-Cast Dark Pact Berserker ~3.0mil DPS Shaper

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Morael wrote:

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Nostrademous wrote:

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Morael wrote:

Your arcane surge level is unrealistic. Trying to proc it with orb of storms, even with the increased mana cost on gloves, you won't be able to use level 20.

It's theorycrafted... sure, let's lower the level of Arcane Surge. Do you feel level 10 is realistic?

Looking on PoEDB, Arcane surge level 10 requires 64 mana spent... the orb of storms costs 62, so you'd have to use level 9.

I know it's theorycrafted. I just try to make theorycrafting as realistic as possible.
Honestly, I'd also drop the frenzy charges.
I'm pretty sure wasting 3 globals to try and get frenzies up (possibly more, crappy accuracy since you're a caster) will actually be a net dps loss. I haven't taken the time to fully math that out, so I could be wrong. That's my initial reaction though.


Edit: Belt of the Deceiver (for intimidation) would probably be a dps gain.

Great, thanks. I updated OP pastebin URL to reflect changes.

Also switched to Lightning Golem (better DPS at this point) over Flame Golem.

Debating if possibly Arcane Surge could be the 4th link on a Lightning Warp - Faster Casting - Less Duration (traveling gem setup)... although the "Less Duration" would be a detriment, but the mana cost for it would allow higher levels.

As someone pointed out to me - you could also run this build (more naturally) as an Occultist Witch. I say more naturally as Dark Pact is a "witch" gem (acquired in Act 3 - Sever the Right Hand).

The trade-offs are:

* Pain Reaver (Berserk Ascendancy) provides us with the life/mana leech. To compensate for that, you would need to pick up Malediction (Occultist Ascendancy) to have dual-curse (or get 2nd curse from corrupted amulet, unique ring, etc.) for Warlord's Mark to get our life/mana leech back. However, that means we are reserving 70% of our mana pool for 2 curses via Blasphemy, leaving a smaller pool for MoM; however, our mana leech is large enough to re-fill it with 1-2 hits.

* PoB doesn't seem to correctly calculate (or at all) the damage from killing mobs that are cursed (per Occultist Ascendancy). So it could actually be a net gain in damage.

* We no longer take 10% more damage from Aspect of Carnage.

The net result is something like:
5,624 Life | 1,649 ES | 7,273 total EHP
17% Evade
Dark Pact (6L) - 2.21m DPS
6.60 Use/sec | 74.95% Crit | 485% Multi

Anyone played this to tell how it actually works?

Level 43 only (server instabilities put me behind where I was hoping to be).

I will do s much better write up once I hit maps.

So far Dark Pact seems excellent for large pack clear and mediocre for boss kills (mainly because I currently don't outheal the self cast damage).

Running this as Occultist for now (posted pastebin previously).

So far it seems like the build will really come together at higher level. Rushing to get Vaal Pact now so I don't have to live off of health pots

Giving your Build a try - would appreciate more insights/feedback or even a headsup if you decide to stop it :D

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Transom wrote:

Giving your Build a try - would appreciate more insights/feedback or even a headsup if you decide to stop it :D

You going Berserker or Occultist? I feel like Berserker will have an easier time earlier on thanks to Pain Reaver ascendancy after Normal labs whereas Occultist will have slightly better dmg at end-game.

Important: as soon you switch to DP you better have spell dmg gear (ele dmg is useless).

Not sure if my profile is public but I am wearing super trash gear and killing packs of white mobs 10-20 in size with a single DP cast (thanks to Spell Echo) which heals me back to full (although not instantly as I don't have Vaal Pact yet).

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Nostrademous wrote:

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Transom wrote:

Giving your Build a try - would appreciate more insights/feedback or even a headsup if you decide to stop it :D

You going Berserker or Occultist? I feel like Berserker will have an easier time earlier on thanks to Pain Reaver ascendancy after Normal labs whereas Occultist will have slightly better dmg at end-game.

Important: as soon you switch to DP you better have spell dmg gear (ele dmg is useless).

Not sure if my profile is public but I am wearing super trash gear and killing packs of white mobs 10-20 in size with a single DP cast (thanks to Spell Echo) which heals me back to full (although not instantly as I don't have Vaal Pact yet).

I am trying occultist :)

How far down to Berserker would you go while going Occult? All the way for the life?
I feel like rushing VP after grabbing some Witch nodes idk.

The damage calculation is much too hugh, this is just paper DPS. All your items have perfect offensive rolls (the 5 jewels lol), also you have like a shitload of buffs that are so situational (4 flasks, vaal haste, full wither stacks). You are level 100.

I guess having half of that dps is somewhat realistic, but still only in very few situations. Mainly because you wont reach level 100 due to occasinal stun deaths with that low hp.

Try to be more realistic, get your hp up (will also help with your damage) and use less buffs to get realistic numbers. And most importantly: Dont use perfectly rolled T1 offensive mod items only.

Running this as a Berserker, but going for a bit of a different tree at level 90:



Dual Apep's would be best for DPS (the high mana leech and no need for big mana reservation make it possible), but I'm probably going for Divinarius/Breath of the Council + Shield for Whirling Blades or Shield Charge with Fortify.

I don't think I'll need Warlord's Mark beyond leveling, the leech from Berserker + Vaal Pact should be good enough for upkeep + healing once you hit level 70 or so.

This build seems very flexible, because it doesn't really need anything special to get great damage, so it can be done as SSF, but can also scale well with some OP stuff like a 1G5B 6L Cherrubim's and Voidbringer, etc.

I feel like it could really be one of the top (SC) builds this season. Let's hope they won't nerf it prematurely.