Fun and stable 3.18 league starter builds?

Hello PoE enjoyers.

Just to give some background, I have played Path of Exile around 5 total leagues (iirc) of its lifetime. This isn't much. Most of my gameplay was from 3.16 and before.

Back before 3.15, I very much enjoyed playing a few different builds to start the league: Frost Blades, Magma Orb, Necromancer (have played multiple different types of necro), and Storm Brand. Through these starters, I came to learn while trying others out that I really did enjoy quick-paced characters; Frost Blades attacks very fast, Magma Orb shoots out tons of orbs with high attack speed, Necromancer's minions are on crack whenever they are buffed, Storm Brand moves around insanely fast.

Ever since 3.15 (I could be misremembering the exact patch, but around this time), I have found less options that can really go up against mid-range maps without issue. Whenever I go to play a new league, I do go take a look at poebuilds to see what people may have had success with. There were still some nice builds I could work with, which is what brought me to Storm Brand at the time for an endgame build.

It worked great and was very fun to play for me.

In addition, I always liked the Cast on Critical Strike Frostbolt/Ice Nova builds based on Cyclone, which could be started for roughly 1 Ex or so before 3.15 with a Cospri sword.

Looking at poebuilds this league (3.18), I have found myself not being able to find this style of build I've loved in the past without investment of many exalted orbs worth of currency (other than a Necromancer). There must be some, however, that I am not finding; this game is so expansive and there are so many options available to build a character, there have to have been a few successful combinations in the world.

I'm at my last straw here. I'm not really sure how to continue on, and because of that, I find myself with no real passion to play the game. I really want to play, but it just feels like every time I try one of these builds on a budget scale, I end up absolutely blocked from progressing at all. After leveling up past the acts and experiencing this particular feeling, I feel that I have regrettably spent that time going through the acts for no reason. To try something else, I must do the same thing over and over again. Each time I hit something that does not work out, that is an entire character I have spent time on which ends up useless on my account.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the butt-load of detail here. My question, for anybody who cares or has experience in the current league, is:

Are there any league starters that can progress into the endgame you would recommend for somebody like me? My main criteria is:

1. Melee or caster
2. Fast (not as in damage-wise, but animation-wise)
3. Able to at least clear content without constant fear of death

Thank you all very much for your time reading this and any replies you may give. I really appreciate your help and thought.

Can't promise you it won't get nerfed for 3.19 but it sounds like Lightning Strike Raider is what you are looking for. Most of the builds you see use a mega-expensive amulet (Omni) but if you just want to go up against "mid-range maps" you don't need anything expensive at all. Just slap some elemental essences on an imperial claw base and you are good.

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kevr91 wrote:

Back before 3.15, I very much enjoyed playing a few different builds to start the league: Frost Blades, Magma Orb, Necromancer (have played multiple different types of necro), and Storm Brand. Through these starters, I came to learn while trying others out that I really did enjoy quick-paced characters; Frost Blades attacks very fast, Magma Orb shoots out tons of orbs with high attack speed, Necromancer's minions are on crack whenever they are buffed, Storm Brand moves around insanely fast.

IMO those builds are very different so I dont understand what you are looking for.

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kevr91 wrote:

Looking at poebuilds this league (3.18), I have found myself not being able to find this style of build I've loved in the past without investment of many exalted orbs worth of currency (other than a Necromancer). There must be some, however, that I am not finding; this game is so expansive and there are so many options available to build a character, there have to have been a few successful combinations in the world.

I'm at my last straw here. I'm not really sure how to continue on, and because of that, I find myself with no real passion to play the game. I really want to play, but it just feels like every time I try one of these builds on a budget scale, I end up absolutely blocked from progressing at all. After leveling up past the acts and experiencing this particular feeling, I feel that I have regrettably spent that time going through the acts for no reason. To try something else, I must do the same thing over and over again. Each time I hit something that does not work out, that is an entire character I have spent time on which ends up useless on my account.

Sounds like a lack of knowledge/understanding of how to make a working build. I think it would be more beneficial to fix "the problem" instead of trying out new builds.

If you only want a build for "mid-range maps" then from a technical POV this shouldnt be a problem at all as player side power creep has outclassed "mid-range maps". Unfortunately that power creep comes with attempts by GGG to counter it. Those attemps result in a more complicated game which makes it harder (knowledge/understanding required) to make functional builds.

Posting your failed builds (and what problems you have with them) here and asking for advice may be a good start. There are usually some helpful posters around. Not sure this will be true for leaguestart though as they may be busy playing then.

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kevr91 wrote:

1. Melee or caster

Real melee is hard mode. It escalates all problems.

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kevr91 wrote:

2. Fast (not as in damage-wise, but animation-wise)

Fast/Mobility is kind of necessary in PoE nowadays anyway. Builds that have to stand still to do damage have much higher defenses requirements which translates to more cost.

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kevr91 wrote:

3. Able to at least clear content without constant fear of death

If you really are just looking for "mid-range maps" this should be a non-issue.

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TemjinGold wrote:

Can't promise you it won't get nerfed for 3.19 but it sounds like Lightning Strike Raider is what you are looking for. Most of the builds you see use a mega-expensive amulet (Omni) but if you just want to go up against "mid-range maps" you don't need anything expensive at all. Just slap some elemental essences on an imperial claw base and you are good.

Thanks, TemjinGold. I'll give it a shot.

A simple reply to Zrevnur:

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Zrevnur wrote:

Sounds like a lack of knowledge/understanding of how to make a working build. I think it would be more beneficial to fix "the problem" instead of trying out new builds.

Absolutely. This is why I was looking for builds on poebuilds to get me started, not crafting my own. Frankly, the issue is that I really could see no option other than starting with a Necromancer, that's why I'm here asking for suggestions because I clearly could not find anything. I must have been looking incorrectly.