Eldritch crafting for phys Seismic Trap build

Good morning. I am looking at Searing Exarch implicits I can add to my helm for a phys seismic trap/exsanguinate build. My main issue is dropping the lifetap from the seismic trap setup to be able to throw more than one or two at a time (because with the mana reservation from all the auras and such, my use of this spell seems very limited), so I was thinking of going for reduced mana cost of attacks. Does traps count as an attack, and would this benefit me?

Alternatively, I know that seismic trap is a spell per the gem, but does it really benefit from some of the other implicits such as "adds physical damage to spells" or "increased critical strike chance for spells"? Are there other implicits that would benefit this build more? I had read that AOE was nerfed, so assuming not that one?

Thanks much in advance.

Your traps are spells, not attacks.

You generally don't want to drop the lifetap from your build unless you are switching over to an Eldritch Battery build. What are you trying to accomplish by dropping lifetap?

I use increased mana reservation and increased area of effect on my helms. I f you use brutality, any of the "Added XXX to spell" won't do anything unless you get physical. And considering the base damage of your seismic trap skill gem at 21/20 is 954-1431, the damage added from a helm is pretty much useless. I like the AoE for quality of life. It no longer buffs your damage by adding crazy overlaps like it used to. But it's still a nice QoL to be able to hit a much larger area and not have to be so precise with your traps with how much bosses move around.

Go for crit chance for spells if you have a crit build. Aoe is big enough for seismic theres barely any difference to me. If you're not a crit build then yeah go for AOE.

I personally use the eldritch battery helmet though so no implicits for me (I run my exsanguinate in a deerstalker boots setup which is a 5 link).

Thanks for the advice. To answer some of the questions, my main issue is that I just seem to not have enough dps to do the higher level content (or at least high for me). I fought the Searing Exarch, and I was barely damaging him, so eventually I succumbed to the various effects without making a significant dent. After that fight, I gave in and bought a 6-link Tinkerskin (was using a 5) with the few exalts I had. Running with lifetap on a 5-link basically made this a 4-link damage spell. To further boost my damage, I wanted to shift from lifetap to brutality as per the guide I am following. The change in damage is massive, but I just can't handle the mana issues. I invested in a different yellow helm so I could get another mana reservation efficiency mod, and just added a ring with reduction to mana cost of non-channeling skills. However, I am still struggling to throw out even two charges of seismic trap at a time. Typically, I can only toss one. Dashing, trying to lay out my other buffs, etc. make throwing additional traps difficult.

I was using the Crown of the Inward Eye as per the guide, and I had switched over to a Devouring Diadem to help with mana issues before all of this (see above) occurred, but I felt so much squishier. Maybe it was just coincidence on the maps I ran subsequently, but I was dying a lot more frequently. So I went back to the Crown. More recently, in order to add more toughness, fit in all the changes I mentioned above, and get more mana reservation, I swapped to a yellow helm. But I am still struggling with mana issues.

My pob is here:

https://pastebin.com/ZbDZwqcx

And here is the guide I am following (Big Duck's version, and yes, I am doing a crit version with one large cluster jewel):

https://pastebin.com/k8eyAkKt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDqHszYvGfg

So without having to drop brutality and lose a ton of dps, what other options do I have? Do I just go back to devouring diadem? Do I path to eldritch battery on my tree, or was that why I was squishy (meaning not just the stats on the Diadem but the way the spell works - losing my energy shield for health)? I don't have too much currency left after the recent changes, so big purchases are not an option right now.

Thanks much!

Going to preface this with I don't play Seismic Trap. From what I know, the metric to look at is "Average Hit."

The cheapest upgrade you can make is to get a +1 phys skills amulet. These are dirt cheap (like 5c or less). In pob, just this mod alone is 4.2% better than the amulet you are wearing. I think you can get it with some other mods that help (like crit multi or the like). PoB also says Arcane Potency is a better annoint than Annihilation.

I would also look to slowly replace your other rare gear pieces with ones that have more life. You have very little life on these pieces and equivalent pieces with more life won't be expensive as you are just looking for life/res.

Finally, your Determination is at L7. I would turn it off for now (it's not helping you much till you get it to much higher level). This would be a huge boon to your mana issues for now.

I don't know much about the bigduck version. I played the Path of Matth phys version and I was doing all content on a Tabula, 2x Cold Iron points, a +1 ammy and a 21/20 seismic trap. All your skill gems arent level 20 yet. You also aren't running pride it seems. Unless I missed it. While mapping I use grace, determination, defiance banner and skitter bots. When I get to a boss, I shut off determination and switch to pride to kill faster. Not sure if you remember you took the "40% increased damage with skills that spend life" and so by getting rid of lifetap from Seismic trap, you're losing out on quite a bit. I would get rid of Critial strike chance and replace it with brutality and leave Lifetap in. With the 120% enchant on your boots, your crit chance should be pretty good already.

Seismic trap, skill levels are king. You're missing out on a pretty easy 3-6 skill levels. +1 from a 21/20. +1 or +2 from amulet. +1,2 or 3 from your armor. Also most of your gems aren't even 20% quality and so you're missing out on easy damage there.

Thanks for all the input. I have been raising 20% quality gems in my backup weapons, so I am working there. Soon enough, I will swap those out. That's a good point about the passive for life skills. Totally forgot about that. I had been running with lifetap and brutality instead of crit chance since the last feedback, and it does seem a lot more fluid. I am working towards a better ammy, but I have some restrictions on main stats, resist, etc. which make it a little harder to find. Still need to balance a little more with the other gear. I can be patient now that things are a lot better. I appreciate everyone's feedback!