Is elemental damage viable in end game

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/705757

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danisonxtc wrote:

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/705757

Elemental damage is in an "ok" place atm imho, but the link you provided doesn't show anything. You see the gear he has? A physical build with similar tier gear can prob out dps it taking all variables into consideration.

A physical based version would probably be even stronger.

Linking some build using 6L Shav's + Crown of Eyes + Auxium, etc does not help any argument of viability.

Elemental is viable in the sense that it can do the content
Elemental is NOT viable if you compare it to clear speed/ease/survivability of physical

The problem with elemental isn't the damage, it is that there are rare mobs that take 40%less damage from you even after 2curses+ penetration gem

Apart from discharge which has great damage and multi element damage.

simply stack attack speed， with aura buff， yes，it's viable in end game。

however，it's rather dull to play with, since investing in ele damage is very inefficiency and synergize poorly with every other points，and no， it really doesn't matter what kind of weapon you use。

i would hope GGG build another mechanic for weapon elemental dmg， but that could be a long shot

It all depends on skill, u want to use. For example, if u want to use ice nova, ele dmg will suck a lot. If u use freezing pulse, it's nice.
What ppl says with curses is only half truth. Yes u will do better with curses, but not a must in my opinion, mobs die fast anyway. U need curses on bosses and since they r pretty mutch useless on them ... . What is an absolute must, is penetration gem, it wont show in ur tool tip dps/av dmg, but it will boost ur dmg in endgame a lot.
Before all the phys buffs, ele dmg was the way to go and it wasn't nerfed since, so it's still good, but not as good as phys. For most ppl "not as good" means "bad", that's why so many play phys.

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Nephalim wrote:

A physical based version would probably be even stronger.

you can still 1shot yourself if you go for high phys dmg.... thats why he went ambusher, so the phys dmg isnt that high while the phys dps might be high

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Robert_Paulson wrote:

Linking some build using 6L Shav's + Crown of Eyes + Auxium, etc does not help any argument of viability.

i guess you didnt not even read the guide.

Difference is:

with phys dmg you more or less only need a good phys dmg weapon, rest comes from passives and gems.

with ele dmg you only need a very fast weapon with a bit ele dmg, but insanely good and rare gear (rings, amulets, some uniques).
=> you need more stats on gear besides your weapon because your gear has to give you flat ele dmg AND %increased ele dmg.
Ele dmg passives are just insanely bad, so your gear has to cover this up IN ADDITION to all those defensive stats and crit stats you'll need on your gear...