Chaos Cubed Occultist Poet’s Pen: Essence Drain/Contagion UPDATE for what I did in 3.10 soon

UPDATE: 3.10

I made my own Spellslinger Ed/Contagion version. I will update this over the break between leagues :)


3.6 Update: Poet's Pens changes mean it's dead, Jim. F (Unless I do something crazy with the new gems)

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3.5 Update: Original build with new Ascendancy + Herald of Agony + EB + Pit gloves increased DoT to 260k!

3.5 changes:

PoB: https://pastebin.com/B7Gr7pu4

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3.4 Update:I ended up making the CI Death's Oath version, and it didn't really work :(

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3.3 Update: Coward's Legacy brings our DoT DPS up to 180k!! + Vaal Blight for ST.

3.3 Changes:

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3.2 Version

I didn’t see any guides on this combo with Poet’s Pen, so I decided to try it out! Then I saw the reddit posts saying it was useless, so don’t do it. oops. Regardless, I feel this is an incredibly fun/satisfying build to play, and as shown, you can one-shot trash-- even a screen away-- so it makes an ideal farmer.

I figure if Poet's gives +3 to gem level, make ED 23% quality and it's quite powerful still @23/23, even though only 3L. I use Frenzy, but also Power Charges (even though DoTs don't crit), for the bonus to 9% Spell Power (5% from Forbidden Power/4% from tree node); Power Charges' synergy with Fenumus' for poison boost the DPS. A 5L Blight from Alleopthay gloves speed up the ST.



I am now at level 89 with this toon I can complete yellow T14 comfortably. T15 boss is slow. I did an Elder Guardian, but not deathless. Just did Forge of the Phoenix-- if you have absolutely nothing better to do you can watch the video, but it is looong and I die multiple times.

I require assistance!! This is the first build I've concocted (go easy on me :P).

PROS:
-The sound of a thousand monkeys dying as they try to flee :D
-Satisfying purple explosions, or having things kneel and die at your feet/around the corner! (also purple)
-Cheap-- Impresence is the only pricey item; I got mine for 30c, but now they are 60c. Poet's Pens are expensive early on, but are currently 15c each.
-Can craft Aspect of the Spider on any rare

CONS:
-Slow boss killer; lots of kiting
-Flame Dash :(

Gems


Jewels


Bandits and Ascendancy


Tree


Current Gear

Pastebin
https://pastebin.com/E5ZCpsid

Vids Nervous when I record so extra bad playing :( Sorry.

Crimson Temple w/Blight
https://youtu.be/A1fHPK5FWYs

Forge of the Phoenix (Just realized I've never done this fight ranged :P)
https://youtu.be/lV96BbVRDHQ

Old CWC/DP: Shaped Underground River
Shaped Underground River
https://youtu.be/M0UTrOWepVM

Toon: ToBurnAWitch

kinda like the build, popping trash like that looks fun

i would suggest a weapon swap, a bow or staff with + to socketed chaos gems or something for essence drain

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prospecial wrote:

kinda like the build, popping trash like that looks fun

i would suggest a weapon swap, a bow or staff with + to socketed chaos gems or something for essence drain

Thanks for replying, :D

The point of this build though, is to utilize the one-button benefit of Poet's Pens. They work by having your attack skill set off the two spells in the wands. So unfortunately different weapons would make this a different build, and a lot of people have made great ED/Contagion builds, so my knowledge/lack thereof, is kinda moot.

So if there is anyway to enhance the build keeping the pens, my ST needs some love.

I hope you will update this and add some stuff, it sounds like it could work well in 3.3.

For your efforts in creating a poet's pen based ED build I have to offer my kudos. Please keep at it and update this thread. I skipped the pokemon league because....just because, so I'm pleased to say that I plan to make another ED Witch for Incursion, and taking a league off likely has put me out of the tribal knowledge vault. I don't even know what any of these aspects of the ______ do.

+1 for any ED based creativity :o

I came across your post while also trying a similar concept. I've played POE for years but never did ED/Contagion and hadn't done CI in awhile. Decided to play around a bit in Flashback to see how they felt. I hated the clunkiness of ED/Contagion and almost gave up on it until I tried it with Poet's Pens.

Some differences -- I went CI initially and it was good. The beauty of Pens is you don't need a 6L so bought a Shavs and went lowlife for Pain Attunement and +30% more spell damage. Getting the Fenemus gloves was a big dps increase. I added the Fenumus helm and boots last night to play around with. Overall seems very solid. Synergizes well with ES with the Occultist tree.

I also use Frenzy linked to curse on hit/despair. I like that the curse is applied at range. The Aspect of the Spider range is fairly large too. For Contagion I just increase range/duration. I'm at the point of taking skill duration (for ED) and ES nodes on the tree pretty much.

I'm still too low level to test it out in higher maps and I will probably slow down before Incursion, but it has been fun. I like to stick at range so hoping to avoid Blight entirely on this setup.

Anyway, just thought I would bump your post for creativity and bring up a similar build I have been playing around with for your brainstorming.

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taosk8r wrote:

I hope you will update this and add some stuff, it sounds like it could work well in 3.3.

I hope so, but without Aspect of the Spider and Fenumus' Toxins poison I am a bit worried :P

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ayashi wrote:

For your efforts in creating a poet's pen based ED build I have to offer my kudos. Please keep at it and update this thread. I skipped the pokemon league because....just because, so I'm pleased to say that I plan to make another ED Witch for Incursion, and taking a league off likely has put me out of the tribal knowledge vault. I don't even know what any of these aspects of the ______ do.

+1 for any ED based creativity :o

Thanks! <3 I will make it my league starter and SUFFER

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Praeter wrote:

I came across your post while also trying a similar concept. I've played POE for years but never did ED/Contagion and hadn't done CI in awhile. Decided to play around a bit in Flashback to see how they felt. I hated the clunkiness of ED/Contagion and almost gave up on it until I tried it with Poet's Pens.

Some differences -- I went CI initially and it was good. The beauty of Pens is you don't need a 6L so bought a Shavs and went lowlife for Pain Attunement and +30% more spell damage. Getting the Fenemus gloves was a big dps increase. I added the Fenumus helm and boots last night to play around with. Overall seems very solid. Synergizes well with ES with the Occultist tree.

I also use Frenzy linked to curse on hit/despair. I like that the curse is applied at range. The Aspect of the Spider range is fairly large too. For Contagion I just increase range/duration. I'm at the point of taking skill duration (for ED) and ES nodes on the tree pretty much.

I'm still too low level to test it out in higher maps and I will probably slow down before Incursion, but it has been fun. I like to stick at range so hoping to avoid Blight entirely on this setup.

Anyway, just thought I would bump your post for creativity and bring up a similar build I have been playing around with for your brainstorming.

I also had the gloves at first, but ST has been rough, so I had to swap out. What have you been doing for ST? I like your gems for Contagion, I was at a loss there ;) I will keep at it for Incursion! LMK if you come up with anything.

I do not think you will be able to take this specc much further.

Poet's Pens negate the low inherent damage of their socketed spells (due to only 2 support gems) with a crazy high attackspeed derived from the Attack spell (usually frenzy or barrage) with whom you trigger them.

Neiter ED nor Contagion benefit much from hitten multiple times - both spells most damaging components lie in their DOT Damage - not the initially hit. You might see it already at bosses - but it will only get worse from their on out.

Your damage will not increase a lot more with gear withouts some serious 'more' multipliers. Multipliers which you are imo unable to get.

"

Cyrix1337 wrote:

I do not think you will be able to take this specc much further.

Poet's Pens negate the low inherent damage of their socketed spells (due to only 2 support gems) with a crazy high attackspeed derived from the Attack spell (usually frenzy or barrage) with whom you trigger them.

Neiter ED nor Contagion benefit much from hitten multiple times - both spells most damaging components lie in their DOT Damage - not the initially hit. You might see it already at bosses - but it will only get worse from their on out.

Your damage will not increase a lot more with gear withouts some serious 'more' multipliers. Multipliers which you are imo unable to get.

I think I agree with you. I've been unable to test in t15 and up maps in Flashback, but so far it works t12-14 with some boss kiting. Not using blight at all. It was very fun as a short league build.

Cyrix1337, how did you like the pens/arc build?

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Cyrix1337 wrote:

I do not think you will be able to take this specc much further.

Poet's Pens negate the low inherent damage of their socketed spells (due to only 2 support gems) with a crazy high attackspeed derived from the Attack spell (usually frenzy or barrage) with whom you trigger them.

Neiter ED nor Contagion benefit much from hitten multiple times - both spells most damaging components lie in their DOT Damage - not the initially hit. You might see it already at bosses - but it will only get worse from their on out.

Your damage will not increase a lot more with gear withouts some serious 'more' multipliers. Multipliers which you are imo unable to get.

Ya, I know that I am completely misusing the Pens in regards to their attack speed purpose :P I did the VD build Abyss league. The only reason I am using them here is to make ED/Contagion one-button.

I'm under no illusion that this build will do Shaper/Uber Atzi/Uber Elder-- it just won't. But it can do all red tier maps, reg Atzie, Uber Lab-- farming stuff. I would just really like to be able to take down a Guardian/Elder Guardian in less than 5 minutes :P But if you don't see any way I can make improvements, I will have to just see what the new league brings. I may be DOA, or maybe there'll be some chaos changes along with Vaal Blight.

Thanks for the feedback :)