Build In Progress - Cybil's Paw Block Lightning Ball

Idea behind this build is to combo Ball Lightning with the Cybil's Paw unique to instantly leech back a lot of life. Each ball lightning hits 5 times per second on a single target, which translates to 40 life gain per second from cybils. This gets multiplied by the number of mobs that each ball lightning hits, so this build picks up a lot of aoe in order to maximize number of targets hit.

100 pt build:
http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgUABVuLjJ_fPAXvfIM4FE2dgASzogBgbfAf3fNdxkbXtQTkIhpsGYXz3SSqNunjavrSHRRwfUw1j0aplSjF0NCnCBoy876boc9l2t24k9gkUWBnvVXG6-42xe5vKPp6qh8Cgsea4AQH-ehFnZeVQYdSU7c-PV-Ppv4KLR-I8W0ZNZLB87Xygh6pbtsLeA3RNr6KC2EB3Hlo4urBBGEhXz-E7_MG45_2SF4TdO2gtCcvjM_Dhnrv-6rvDj3855FgS7yfWGOsrwUtQKAhYJ65dPGFMg==

Relevant uniques I will use:
Cybil's Paw
Stone of Lazhwar
Rathpith Globe
Carcass Jack

Since I'll be playing in the next hardcore league I picked up a lot of survivability. I took as much block as I felt that I could get efficiently. Mind over Matter keystone is taken since my life is a bit low after taking all the block nodes so I'll need that extra buffer to not get one shot. This build should be able to achieve 69% block with rathpith and tempest shield, and 75% spell block.

Ball lightning will be supported by Increased AoE, Lightning Pen, Spell Echo, and Added Lightning in a 5link. I skipped a lot of damage nodes on the tree, focusing more on AoE since I want to be as tanky as possible. Also, Ball lightning kind of sucks for single target dps so I am considering using a dedicated single target spell like flameblast + conc effect or something. Suggestions would be much appreciated.

Just posting this here to hear some input from people. Still not too sure of the pathing on my tree, does anyone see improvements that I can make? Would it be worth it to pick up IR since it is so close and run grace? Currently plan to run Discipline, Tempest Shield, and Clarity so I would have to drop Discipline for it, not sure if I will have enough mana regen to cast ball lightning after that.

Haven't gone very far with it, but ball lightning seems to be really fun with a knockback gem. With echo and aoe it could possibly give a good deal of safety and dmg from keeping the monsters in range.
Single target, storm call, faster, echo, light pen in a Rime Gaze?

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Chiliconkarma wrote:

Haven't gone very far with it, but ball lightning seems to be really fun with a knockback gem. With echo and aoe it could possibly give a good deal of safety and dmg from keeping the monsters in range.
Single target, storm call, faster, echo, light pen in a Rime Gaze?

I'm still on the fence about knockback. It's definitely very useful from a defensive standpoint but offensively it is sometimes a loss in dps since you push the mobs away and have to reposition constantly to hit them. Also it's a nuisance for your party members.

Not willing to use Rime Gaze since it lacks life but storm call is a good idea. I don't get any lightning damage from my tree though, that's why I am considering non-lightning spells like flameblast. Will have to do some testing to see which is better.

Any update on this build?

How is it doing in maps etc?

I was able to clear lvl 78 maps with it, but the damage is kinda lackluster. Ball lightning in its current state doesn't deal good damage without a lot of damage passives from the tree. Even with damage passives it struggles against tanky single targets. I felt incredibly tanky myself but the clear speed made me want to pull my hair out.

Don't think its possible to make a fast clearing BL build with max block since the point investment is just too much. If you want to play this skill grab as much damage pasives from the tree as you can and go IR + MoM or something.