Is there ever a reason to not start with arc trap or brand?

Yes there are. The character I leveled the fastest in the past was an ED contagion trickster in abyss :). It's still good, hard to have enough for ubber elder by very viable, i killed shaper with it with only lvl22 contagion gem(gem lvl20 empower lvl3) and it was easy.

Imho ele blade vortex (crit variant plz not hardcore flat dmg) does well too.

For melee and ranged, there are decent cheap uniques. Tectonic slam is insane at clearing screens with bulk unique weapon, provides imho better clearspeed than traps. And on bow stuffs it's open bar starting with 1 alch stormbow that rekts the game.

Traps are strong and stuff and but there is some delay associated with them. Mines are even probably better despite having one more bind :)

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AkuTenshiiZero wrote:

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daezd wrote:

dont worry GGG will look at the stats and see what builds and popular and people enjoy playing. then they will nerf them all into the ground and add more massive RNG mechanics.

Does anyone actually ENJOY playing arc traps? I only play it because it's the only fucking build left that I can do anything with, I would rather be playing literally anything else but this game is balanced around the assumption that everyone is an arc trap/MoM/Acro Saboteur.

Ive never played a trapper or archer or fire and forget (brands) in my life. Face tank/battle mage builds only.

You have to stop worry about what efficient and play fun IMO. I mean thats what we are here for. fun

And plenty of builds are very powerful Sure arc/GC mine is one of only 2ex builds that can beat shaper/UE and everything else. Doesnt mean everything sucks means its OP AF

To beat those boss self cast arc you need like 60ex in gear. Like Fox is decked out.

https://www.pathofexile.com/account/view-profile/FoxTactics

2ex vs 60 is why that shit broke. But really everything is viable.