Proposed Solution to Elementalist Nerfs in 3.26

Hello dear developers at GGG!

While I understand and support the notion of the changing meta, I was crestfallen and completely devastated to see the severe nerfs to Elementalist Golemancers in the upcoming 3.26 patchnotes, and the implication that Necromancer is now the only playable minion class.

The removal of the Elemancer node and the Chaos golem change from phys dmg reduction to chaos resistance are the final nails in the coffin for what was once a popular and enjoyable build. Now, there is absolutely 0 reason to choose an Elementalist over a Necromancer, as Necromancers can easily obtain the one, single golem point (Liege of the Primordial) in the Elementalist tree. Additionally, with the loss of the physical damage reduction from chaos golems, the only possible defensive layer for a golem minion build is the Necromancer's Bone Barrier node.

A class thematically at least partially based on golems, the Elementalist, is now in all ways inferior to the Necromancer for a golem-focused build. Already in 3.25, Elementalists represented only about 1% of the leaderboard, and Golemancers perhaps 3% of that. In 3.26, Elementalist will be substantially worse for minions.


May I humbly suggest the following solution: Add back Elemancer (with a new name?), still with Liege of the Primordial as a prerequisite, but now granting:

+3% additional Physical Damage Reduction per Summoned Golem, up to 30%
Summoned Golems deal 15% of Physical Damage as Extra Damage of each Element
15% increased Effect of Buffs granted by your Golems per Summoned Golems, up to 150%

This would provide a (thematically appropriate) viable alternative to the Necromancer's many advantages (Bone Barrier only provides 10% rather than 30%, but also leeches life to player, while other Necromancer nodes add that much damage at least). It would also give people a reason to consider Elementalist over Necromancer for a golem-focused build.

I do hope whoever reads this understands my good intentions making this suggestion. Thank you for your consideration.

Edit: 2 typos

Edit #2 & #3: The discussions below prompted an idea for an alternative solution. If one adjusted the new Shaper of Flames node from:

"Enemies Ignited by you convert 40% of their Physical Damage to Fire"
to:
"Enemies Ignited by you or your minions convert 40% of their Physical Damage to Fire"

and the new Shaper of Winter from:

"Enemies Chilled by your Hits lessen their Damage dealt by half of Chill Effect, and Enemies Chilled by your Hits have Damage taken increased by Chill Effect."
to:
"Enemies Chilled by your Hits or your minions' hits lessen their Damage dealt by half of Chill Effect, and Enemies Chilled by your Hits or your minions' hits have Damage taken increased by Chill Effect."

And the new Liege of the Primordial from:

"Summoned Golems are Immune to Elemental Damage"
to:
"Summoned Golems have a +50% chance to chill, shock, & ignite
Summoned Golems deal 5% of Physical Damage as Extra Damage of each Element"

(Elemental immune minions kills the Infernal Legion Support, as have been pointed out elsewhere in feedback, so this could kill 2 birds with 1 stone.)

It would result in a sharp golemancer nerf, but it would at least save the build at little cost. For precedent, I cite the Occultist Profane Bloom which also triggers from minion damage.

why regulations? I am missing good spells for ruthless in this game... 50 % of them suc...

I don't understand how in your opinion ELEMENTALIST should be a minion class.

Im so happy with the changes to elementalist, she is now playable in many ways, not just ignite.

You are blinded by anger bro. You are mad about phys dmg reduction, but the thing you missing is Cloak of Flame and Chill in the ascdenancy, that gives you even more.

unreliable conversion isn't even close to PDR but I don't personally think its a nerf regardless, its different and its a sidegrade but there are builds I can think of that are stronger now 100% just like I can think of some that are definitely worse.

If OP's problem is actually that golemancer sucks I think that needs addressing separately

"

I don't understand how in your opinion ELEMENTALIST should be a minion class.

Because since 2017 Elementalists have had multiple ascendancy nodes specifically buffing golems, which are minions. And if not elementalist, then who? Necromancer? Just Necromancer and that is it? Out of 19 Ascendancies and almost 200 ascendancy nodes? Seems a bit scant.

"

You are blinded by anger bro.

I don't know, maybe you're right, maybe not. I daresay if you created a build (not followed some guide online, but actually created a functioning build from scratch) and it was completely destroyed, you'd be mildly irked, too.

But I'd also argue that I'm not blinded by anger. It isn't realisitic for a minion class, which also needs to worry about signal prey, to self-cast ignite/chill every enemy on screen every 3-4 seconds at all times. Necromancers don't need to do that for their defensive layer. Tricksters don't. Gladiators don't. Hierophants don't. In fact, I can't think of any other ascendancy which requires a seperate offensive action every couple of seconds to enable their defences.

For a straight up caster, with prolif & ailment duration already baked in, sure, it is huge, and will be up 90+% of the time. But minion characters are a different beast, and that was always my point.

"

but the thing you missing is Cloak of Flame and Chill in the ascdenancy, that gives you even more.

I'm losing 43% phys dmg reduction & about 400 life regen per second vs. 3.25. I would be gaining an extremely tedious and otherwise useless self cast obligation every 3-4 seconds to gain 40% of phys taken as fire and 2.5% reduced enemy dmg (we're talking a minion build and they removed min chill effect, so self cast spells barely hit 5% chill). That is generously a situational 39% less damage taken iff you hit every enemies first, and then repeatedly every 3-4 seconds.

Edit: Was 2017, not 2015, my mistake.

"

unreliable conversion isn't even close to PDR but I don't personally think its a nerf regardless, its different and its a sidegrade but there are builds I can think of that are stronger now 100% just like I can think of some that are definitely worse.

If OP's problem is actually that golemancer sucks I think that needs addressing separately

Very true.

And yes, that is essentially my point. Specifically that golemancers now stink (but didn't until 3.26) and that build diversity is decreasing with these changes.

You can always....not make a golemancer from necro OR elementalist. There are plenty of other good ascendancy options. You just need to be more creative than "Where is the line that buffs GOLEMS?!?!?!"

"

cowmoo275#3095 wrote:

You can always....not make a golemancer from necro OR elementalist. There are plenty of other good ascendancy options. You just need to be more creative than "Where is the line that buffs GOLEMS?!?!?!"

Haha! Also true, though a bit uncharitable.

Just because I'm arguing against the removal of a build, doesn't mean it is the only thing I'd ever play. I readily admit golemancer was always my favourite, but I have every class & have tried almost every ascendancy (still never found a good Beserker build).

But the loss of build diversity is not inherantly a good thing.

"

Draíocht#0144 wrote:

Just because I'm arguing against the removal of a build, doesn't mean it is the only thing I'd ever play. I readily admit golemancer was always my favourite, but I have every class & have tried almost every ascendancy (still never found a good Beserker build).

You misread my post.....I'm saying take your favorite Golemancer build, and use a different ascendancy and tech. There are options out there beyond literal "this is a golem buff" node.

I didn't check your profile to know whether you are new to the game or not....but deleting builds off the face of Wraeclast is GGG's specialty: always was, always will be.

Hell, its not even the first time for Elementalist Golemancers lol. Look at the "edit history" of Elemancer and Liege of the Primordials. And don't forget this is in tandem with changes (nerfs) to the entire jewelset for golems. Not only that, but they have changed skill usage on the golems themselves too.

"

Draíocht#0144 wrote:

"

cowmoo275#3095 wrote:

You can always....not make a golemancer from necro OR elementalist. There are plenty of other good ascendancy options. You just need to be more creative than "Where is the line that buffs GOLEMS?!?!?!"

Haha! Also true, though a bit uncharitable.

Just because I'm arguing against the removal of a build, doesn't mean it is the only thing I'd ever play. I readily admit golemancer was always my favourite, but I have every class & have tried almost every ascendancy (still never found a good Beserker build).

But the loss of build diversity is not inherantly a good thing.

Blasphemy. You lost your chance with the adrenaline filled berserker gameplay. They are trying to slowly put us onto poe2 gameplay and remove a ton of attack speed and move speed from berserker the last 2 patches.