We really need more options to increase the survivability of totems

I'm currently playing a ballista build in Standard League.

Doing really well: about 7 million dps, almost 10k life, 75% block, multiple strong recovery sources,... .

So I thought I was ready for simulacrum. BUT after wave 20 with some damage mods, my totems just start dying before they can even do any damage.

On the passive tree I allocated a total of 70% totem life, my totems have overcapped elemental resists and 30% physical damage reduction. But they still die in milliseconds.

Can GGG please add more options to increase totem survivability?

Some suggestions:

1) A support gem with "Supported totems take 50% less damage. Totems do xx% more damage after they have been hit".

=> Obvious drawback as this won't be the best damage support gem because the damage boost is conditional. But it encourages you to build into longer-lasting totems.

2) A Totem Mastery: "Totems are immune to damage for 2 seconds after they have been summoned".

=> Would help a lot to at least get some hits out of them. Totem masteries are already very good, so there is a clear opportunity cost involved.

3) A unique jewel: "All your totems are healed to 100% health when one of your totems dies".

=> Would help a ton, but jewel sockets are costly, so still no no-brainer...


What are your suggestions?

Have you tried 'Determination' and/or 'Grace' and 'Multiple Totems Support'?

And MTS gives you sort of twice the totem life per faster placement. So MTS kind of already is what you are asking for?

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And MTS gives you sort of twice the totem life per faster placement. So MTS kind of already is what you are asking for?

Without MTS => My totem dies in milliseconds in Simulacrum, without even being able to inflict damage.

With MTS => Both my totems die in milliseconds in Simulacrum, without even being able to inflict damage.

Have you ever tried Simulacrum with a totem build? I think we should at least get investment options to be able to do that content with this build archetype...

Lol totems have the same problem that most characters have, if you want them to survive you need extreme dps but fundamentally not all characters get even close to clearing simulacrum.

Do agree that there should be some options for making them really tanky if you desired to focus a piece of content, but realistically these would be floating points you allocate to do simulacrum then respec the rest of the time due to opportunity cost.

Same problem with summons.

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Soepkieken wrote:

Have you ever tried Simulacrum with a totem build?

No, I was basing my comment on your #1 suggestion. If its as bad you imply then your #1 suggestion wouldnt be enough either.

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Soepkieken wrote:

I think we should at least get investment options to be able to do that content with this build archetype...

GGG removed that totem resistance support gem. My guess is that they dont want quasi-immortal taunting & leeching totems...

I agree that (spell) totems are too squishy. I wound up resorting to making (skill/support gem) room for summoning temporary minions to distract enemies and take hits...Said minions wind up protecting the totems as well as the character, which is a nice defensive layer. This strategy is effective. That said, totems are still embarrassingly flimsy in and of themselves, and this is with the effects of powerful determination, purity of ice, purity of fire, purity of lightning auras. They might as well be butter in the sun on a hot day.

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No, I was basing my comment on your #1 suggestion. If its as bad you imply then your #1 suggestion wouldnt be enough either.

I was hoping that along with these suggestions, base totem durability would also be boosted.

GGG has made monsters more and more dangerous over the years, to keep up with the player power creep every league. But the defensive stats of totems didn't keep up with all this.

If base totem defense remains untouched, I guess the support gem could come with 70% less damage taken instead of 50%.

Here's what you can do:

1. Max Vitality aura = VERY powerful
2. Totem mastery: Totem's action speed cannot be modified to below base value
3. If you path to Ancestral Bond, take the life+phys reduction small nodes!
4. Anoint Ironwood

Most minion builds with permanent minions will have to make a similar check list.
Unless you have crazy dps (which is next on the list) totems and minions actually need layers of defense.

Edit: about Simulacrum wave 25+ there's nothing you can do against bad RNG (zone modifiers) and that goes for ALL builds. It is the endgame of endgames.

Gogogo!

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Here's what you can do:

1. Max Vitality aura = VERY powerful
2. Totem mastery: Totem's action speed cannot be modified to below base value
3. If you path to Ancestral Bond, take the life+phys reduction small nodes!
4. Anoint Ironwood

Had all of these (and more!) => My totems still died before even able to fire a shot at wave 22.