Why use Vaal gems?

Why do players consider Vaal gems useful or come to like them? Every Vaal gem is either downright useless or performs a lesser function of a skill we already have available to us.

vaal skeletons
vaal cyclone

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jebroni wrote:

vaal skeletons
vaal cyclone

It's funny you mention this. I now use both of them at once. I used to alternate before but have decided both are too good to give up.



@OP Some vaal gems definitely need buffing while others are extremely strong(molten shell, siphon, skellies, cyclone,spark,burning arrow). I'm finding them quite strong in 8 mod 78 maps so I'm sure you can figure out a use for them.

Vaal spark has served me well



I get to use it 4-5 times in a typical 77-78 map, and it clears the screen with ease. It also absolutely decimates most map bosses if I'm right on top of them.

I've actually one-shot double shrine piety with it before.

The only one I could find an excuse to put into any of my sockets is Power Siphon but only for trash mobs. You'd be able to spam it from room to room just about.

Besides that, I can't find a reason to ever exchange any regular skill gem for a Vaal gem. Not once.

you dont exchange lol

you can have your normal gem, and somewhere else in your gear have the vaal version

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Besides that, I can't find a reason to ever exchange any regular skill gem for a Vaal gem. Not once.

Vaal skellies immobilizes endgame bosses such as academy/precinct and makes them ridiculously easy.

Cyclone will double clearing speed pretty much. Cyclone also makes some exiles/bosses extremely easy.They can't escape you and in some cases can't hit you while immobilized in the cyclone

It of course depends on the build.

vaal cyclone clears a huge area in 1 go, loads of people use it, i recommend you use it too if youre a melee or RF build.

Vaal Molten shell + Life Leech is really good for killing bosses/rares and clearing strong boxes(on ambush) it also works with just about any build as the base damage is so high it doesn't need any passive damage increases.

Vaal Storm Call is awesome if you're a caster and pairs well with Vaal Caress gloves as it only requires 16 charges(on merc) to trigger.

Vaal Skeletons is well it's Vaal Skeletons it speaks for itself.

Vaal Frost Nova/Cold snap are great for leveling they do a lot of damage and provide some CC without a lot of spell damage investment.

Vaal Glacial Hammer + Inc Duration would be useful against runners as a melee focused char.

Not every Vaal Gem is OMGWTFBBQ amazing, but most of them fit in with some build type or another. Most of the ppl I've seen complaining that the Vaal skills "aren't any good" have just grabbed a level 1 Vaal Gem for the first time, and thrown it on whatever character and been confused because the whole world didn't explode when they triggered it for the first time.

My favorite Vaal skill combinations to date:

1. Vaal Molten Shell - Conc. Effect - Life Leech - Cast when Stunned

Great for catching damage spikes from charging Rhoas, or just for any situation where you might get surrounded or attacked by numerous fast moving melee mobs. 10 seconds of face tanking (with Vaal Pact) tons of mobs and hearing the explosions go off like crazy is ridiculously fun, especially against Voidbearers, flame spitters, and of course, our favorite tentacle monsters.

2. Vaal Burning Arrow - GMP - Pierce - WED (and if you have sockets, Conc. Effect and Physical Projectile Attack Damage)

Building a character with 100% pierce chance allows you to do Explosive Arrow style explosions instantly, with every single explosion hitting a monster in a pack, and hitting everything around it, resulting in a massive damage spike that ends up drawing a black line through the pack it just tore through. Combine with Three Dragons to stack shock stacks and you'll do a good hunk of damage, if not kill the pack (and the pack behind it). Very satisfying to use.

3. Vaal Ice Nova - Fire Penetration - Increased AoE - Cold to Fire

Paired with The Three Dragons, this just cleared the entire screen in Map groups due to massive shock stacking and the overlapping nova waves (I also had something like 113% Increased AoE size). Yes, certainly lagtastic when used against large packs, but clearing an entire screen with one skill is enormously satisfying and fun.

4. Vaal Spark - GMP - Lightning Penetration - Fork

I mean, its Vaal Spark. Enough said, right?

5. Vaal Power Siphon - WED - Crit Damage - Physical Projectile Attack Damage

Used this on my Aura Power Siphon witch. Regular Power Siphons work and all, but target EVERYTHING on the screen? Yes, please. Using this with a Diamond Flask (to ensure it crits) normally one-shots screens in maps (against mobs without Increased life/lightning resistance). Yes, I could be doing the same thing with regular Power Siphon, but truth be told, I like a little variety. Screen Clearing is fun. Not to mention seeing 30+ Power Siphon animation swirlies go off all at once always makes me grin.

6. Vaal Storm Call - Elemental Proliferation - Increased AoE - Lightning Penetration

Need screen wide shock stacks fast? Use Vaal Storm Call. Need screen wide Freeze? Use Vaal Storm call with The Three Dragons. Alternatively:

7. Vaal Storm Call - Conc. Effect - Lightning Penetration - Stun

Works in staggering more dangerous rooms, or buying some breathing time if there are super fast mobs (like Croaking Chimerals). True, you could try and just dps everything down if you're tanky enough, but catching those buggers with skill can be annoying (unless you're using Arc).


So in short, yes, they're not terribly necessary, but I find that they do add a fun factor to the game that wasn't possible before their release. Yes, I could just dps and hold my bread and butter skill button down and just spray across the screen, but I'd much rather push one button and have all the killing be done for me in an agreeably flashy manner. Give it a try, you might enjoy it too.


(It should be noted that I'm only using Vaal Skills if they fit in my build. You won't see me using Vaal Burning Arrow as a caster, obviously, and the same is true for the Vaal caster skills as well...in case it wasn't obvious.)