Marauder Hardcore/Nemisis Lightning Arrow Tank (1.0.1 build) - Looking for Feedback

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I've been running a build almost identical to this since closed beta (Obviously various forms due to changes to the tree) except I get the mana reserve nodes at the bottom left of the tree as well (With Alpha Howl, it allows for the use of three auras) I love this build. I must explain the problem with it though.

As you've stated it's gear dependent, but some people may take that lightly. This build is EXTREMELY gear dependent, especially at later levels. The reason being is the shock stacks. First I must explain how shock stacks work.


The base duration of shock is proportional to the damage dealt by the initial hit of lightning damage relative to the target's maximum life. The calculation is

If your damage that creates the shock stack is lower than x% of the monsters hp, and the shock stack would have resulted in LESS than a .300 millisecond stack then the shock effect is completely negated. Theoretically, the build is insane, especially in larger packs because the Lightning Arrow hits a ton of times on each target (Which is also why Life on hit is amazing with it) In actuality though, you hit so many times for such little damage, that on most rare monsters and uniques, you will not get shock stacks rolling. When you can do enough damage to do more than a .300 MS stack, then the stacks will snowball on eachother because of how many hits the target will take. Like I stated above though, you need insane gear in order to do this past Act3 Merc and into maps.

Let me reiterate: I have a very high roll triple resist itemlevel 6x thicket bow, with a ton of flat added elemental damage, with a 30% ele damage quiver, neck, and two 15% rings, and I still have trouble shock stacking even certain types of blue packs. Especially if there's only a few of them in the pack.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I'm also running Anger and Wrath as well.

Thanks for your input! I was thinking that with a level 20 reduced mana and an alpha howl the 3 aura's would be achievable so thanks for clearing that up. If you free up 2 points and put them into the 4% and 4% reduced mana reserved, with alpha howl and a level 19/20 reduced mana your aura's would each reserve 33% of your mana pool, making it completely possible.

Adding Wrath might require another piece of gear with Int on it to maintain the gem level though, or you could swap points around and pick up a +30 int passive. (I know on my marauder I was using a light quiver so the +30 dex node near iron grip wasn't needed).

Build able to run 3 aura's

4L Alpha Howl: Anger, Wrath, Grace, Reduced Mana (No lower then level 19 or this won't work)

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEBAecCcQSzFCAUTRUgFm8XLxkuGYUaOB0UJKoksCftKaUqTSzpMZ4yCTJ-Mok1kjboNuk6UjrhPydFlkZpSn1KyE3jTipQR1BQVElVxlXWVvpXDVfiWGNYr1nzW69fP1-qY6dk52aeZ6BnvWxGbqpybHKpc-F35XgNfNl9W4CkhtGHdojxjM-PRpBVks2boZ7Nn8uiAKZXpzCnhKlurEesWayqtfK53cAaxtjPZdDQ0iHUj9lh3Q3dRuNq51LnY-ss7Djub-8O8B_yL_JF8932SPeI-tL8TvzF_gr-jw==

Also ta for the shock stacking formula, handy one to have :)

I'm kinda new here, so sorry if any stupid questions.

I like idea of the build, but i have few questions about it.

First of all, with this dex do you manage to use end-game bows? Because for my low 19 level I have a lot of problems with dex even for skills.

I wanted to ask about blood magic, but I got idea. Active skills in blood and auras in mana.

Is it felxible for weapon type? I mean, I like idea of lightning multiple damage, but if i want to stick with meelee is build possible with few changes (ignore iron grip etc.)?

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tampered wrote:

I'm kinda new here, so sorry if any stupid questions.

I like idea of the build, but i have few questions about it.

First of all, with this dex do you manage to use end-game bows? Because for my low 19 level I have a lot of problems with dex even for skills.

I wanted to ask about blood magic, but I got idea. Active skills in blood and auras in mana.

Is it felxible for weapon type? I mean, I like idea of lightning multiple damage, but if i want to stick with meelee is build possible with few changes (ignore iron grip etc.)?

Yeah Dex requirement is pretty easy, while leveling you have to grab an extra +30 dex node here and there, but if you use a light quiver like I was the dex req. is easy. In the end I didn't need any dex passives cause I had enough on my gear.

As for Blood Magic you can't take the blood magic passive as it removes all of your mana and your aura's would then reserve life. As it is in this build you're using all of your mana for your 2/3 aura's and blood magic gem for all of your skills.

Don't know how this spec would work for any other build...the only one that might be ok would be lightning strike

Sounds like a fun build and you can use 2h melee in the beginning to level up because you basically level a melee STR marauder.

Can you tell me - a bit more - how you progress for the passive skills? Would you say it is a good beginners build for Hardcore? Is it expensive?

I have seen a similar build like that in a youtube video - I liked it a lot. Packs of Monster usually only take 1-2 shots, right?

Level 30~

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEBAnEEsxRNGS4aOCftKS4yiT0PPfxQUFRJV-JYY1nzXz9yqXflfLh82X31jM-QVaIAp4SsqrndwBrE9sbY1I_nUuw47w7wH_Iv8932SA==

Level 50~

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEBAecCcQSzFCAUTRkuGjgn7SkuMZ4yCTKJNZI26D38SshN41BHUFBUSVcNV-JYY1ivWfNfP2xGbqpybHKpd-V4DXy4fNmHKYjxjM-QVZ7NogCmV6cwp4SpbqxZrKq18rndwBrG2NIh1I_ZYedS7DjvDvAf8i_z3fZI_o8=

Level 70~

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEBAecCcQSzFCAUTRUgFy8ZLho4HRQksCftKaUqTSzpMZ4yCTKJNZI26DbpPydKfUrITeNOKlBHUFBUSVXGVw1X4lhjWK9Z81uvXz9mnmegZ71sRm6qcmxyqXfleA182YCkhtGHdojxjM-PRpBVks2boZ7Nn8uiAKZXpzCnhKlurEesWayqtfK53cAaxtjPZdDQ0iHUj9lh3Q3jaudS6yzsOO5v7w7wH_Iv8932SPrS_MX-jw==

Use a light quiver and you should be alright for dex. If not then you may have to grab dex on another piece of gear (amulet would be easiest), or go for a passive somewhere.

It is quite fun and yes you could level early on as a 2h melee like with most things you can. As for a beginners build I'd say it definitely used to be and while it's easy to play if you don't have the currency to afford half decent gear while leveling and really decent gear by maps it won't be to great. I'd probably recommend this as your 2nd or 3rd character after you've already established yourself. In the right gear, you'll wreck packs.

Hi Criticism, i'm using a build similar to yours. I have just a few couple of questions.
What do you think about Amplify, Celestial Walker and Inner Force? Are they not worth the effort?
Also, i thought chain was more important than weapon elemental damage.
When i use blood magic + life leech/on hit it seems to me that it is a waste to use two socket just to "use the skill", what do you think about that? Is it possible to spamm the single and aoe skills with mana and a high mana regen?
Last one: at the moment (lev 67) i'm doing more dmg with ice shot than with elemental hit/frenzy, i guess because i have iron grip and so physical damage + elemental damage are better than only elemental.
Will this be true with better gear also? Thanks.

Hi Ciurlo,

Firstly I believe amplify only adds to the range at which the lightning arrow can bounce, and not the aoe damage (from what I've read). The extra bounce range might be handy but I really don't see it justifying the 2 points it would require to spend. Furthermore if you then went on to get Celestial walker that'd be 8 points in total spent for not to great of a gain, so in my opinion it just wouldn't be worth it, there's better dps gains out there then those 2 for less points. Inner force would be a good addition if you were looking to boost your DPS + some survivability, but for 5 points I feel it'd only be worth it if you were running the 3 aura's (grace, wrath and anger). I intended to pick it up at some point in this build. Since the change to aura's the blood magic keystone is just undoable with this build.

For me I prefer the harder hits with weapon elemental damage over chain and since our need for the blood magic gem, you will have trouble doing enough damage to keep up shock stacks needed for this builds DPS in endgame. With just chain and LMP you will be doing smaller hits to more targets but you will have trouble shock stacking especially in maps. That's why I recommend using it as the 6th link, but hey test it out for yourself and tell me how you do. Also on a side note the reason I've said you could also use Added Lightning Damage in the 6th link instead of chain is basically gear dependant. If you can't keep up shock stacks and you're blessed to have a 6L the Added Lightning Damage with quality will make that a lot easier, of course at the cost of more AOE damage, but again the choice is based on your character really.

Previously you didn't have to run the blood magic gem with this build. However since the change to aura's it's pretty mandatory as this build would be pretty poor without them and at 60% each you can no longer sacrifice a tad bit of life to use them. Life on Hit and Life Leech are mandatory, without them expect to die a lot :P You also couldn't try and use mana for your skills because lightning arrow in a 4Link and beyond has a pretty insane mana cost and after aura's you simply wouldnt have the mana nor regen to sustain it without speccing into it heavily. You'd pretty much have to run no Aura's and gear for mana and mana regen which would be a waste.

Spells like burning arrow and ice shot scale well while leveling. Though in the endgame with gear Elemental Hit will be on par/a little better then them and Frenzy will always outperform all of them at the higher gear levels. Once you get a frenzy make sure it's a quality one and I'd grab a Frenzy charge or 2 from the skill tree/merciless quest reward for a bump in DPS. Not only will it improve your single target dps but your LA dps as well. For example if you had a Q20 and Level 20 Frenzy you'd be getting 18% increased attack speed per charge from the frenzy skill. If you pick up the Frenzy charge near IR and take the bandit reward that'd give you a 90% boost to you attack speed which is just insane for both your single and AOE.

Thanks man, very exhaustive. Do you recommend Sovereignty (and x3 aura effect) without the unique helm also? Just to improve auras? I guess the mana you gain from the reduction is useless since we have to use blood magic for our skills.
And what about armor? I guess full evasion armor is better for us thanks to the evasion nodes.