Pure Summoner Build

Was just playing around on my Witch and replaced the Firestorm gem on my Totem links with Spark and I like it better.

Right now, I have a helm with Spark linked with Totem, Add Chaos Damage and Faster Cast. I have a replacement helm with the color combo I want to link Totem + Spark + Lesser Multi Proj + Faster Cast but I can't get the links to connect and I'm out of currency to keep trying for now.

I will use Spark on my totem in Open Beta rather than Firestorm and try to link it with lesser multiple and faster projectiles for a spark-fest on screen.

I think the spark's shock debuff will be better for minion damage and minion jihad damage overall.

If you're looking for the shock debuff, can't you work with a Spark Nova (or Shock Nova, forgot the name) to touch more monsters, since they tend to pack themselves? Plus, if i'm not mistaken, the elemental debuffs apply when the spell crit, so wouldn't it be better to put an "added critical chance" in place of the faster cast? I didn't really dig into this kind of build, so maybe it's a dumb question...

This thread has me pretty excited to play. I fell in love with Necromancers in DII and I was terribly disappointed that DIII didn't incorporate them as a class.

I will most certainly be giving these summoner strategies a go if/when I get a beta key.

Also pierce may be very important for spark..

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Nobuyoki wrote:

If you're looking for the shock debuff, can't you work with a Spark Nova (or Shock Nova, forgot the name) to touch more monsters, since they tend to pack themselves? Plus, if i'm not mistaken, the elemental debuffs apply when the spell crit, so wouldn't it be better to put an "added critical chance" in place of the faster cast? I didn't really dig into this kind of build, so maybe it's a dumb question...

Nothing can possibly be dumb for almost any variation of this build. Minor tweaks and personal flavor and tastes make the character you play yours.

So many things to try and so many paths to go, as long as you stick to the core minion passives and can survive random hits you may take, anything will work, some will excel more than others, most will be fun to play.

That's why I love pure summoners, skellymancer, fishymancer and now this one.

It's the most fun to me.

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Ows wrote:

Also pierce may be very important for spark..

I agree. It's a matter of having the gem.

Everything I have I found or crafted. I do not like the trading system in the game and refuse to use it until we go Live.

So I must find my skills and my gem socket numbers, colors and links on the right type of gear with the right stats preferably with some item find and health.

I use what I have and play around with what may be interesting or just cool to look at spell wise.

But yeah that's a great idea to use it. I love the spark spell in general, it just looks cool, especially in hallways and small rooms.

I got a low level witch similar to this one (lvl 30), but I have some different plans. No Leadership as quality auras always just give extra radius and I am sure to pick up some of those. I also plan to stack as many auras as possible, like Anger, Wrath, Discipline, Grace and Clarity and link some of them to reduced mana cost support. At high levels it would seem Clarity is not even needed with huge base regeneration you get from huge mana pool so maybe I can exchange that one with Haste or Hatred.

Then for Spectres I got lesser multiple projectiles ready and will put something else on there as well like increased damage.

I will use totem+skeleton+extra damage+increased life, and for zombies all minion supports. This way I can toss a totem at start of each combat and don't need to think about recasting them.

My main curse will be vulnerability as it will increase DPS of all zombies and skeletons. If I decide to go for the other curse keystone I will probably use Chains as well.

For support damage spell Firestorm +increased duration + concentrated effect will do fine. I can also try Ethereal Knifes for fun if I get to use Hatred Aura. Mana should not be an issue :D

By lvl 30 I got Eldritch Battery and I am currently going towards HeX Master and will get Minion Instability next.

BTW to fit all auras I need will need to use slots in secondary weapon+shield.

Is my Increased item quality/quantity applied to minions too?

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Wizzy09 wrote:

Is my Increased item quality/quantity applied to minions too?

I'm not sure if the IIQ/IIR can be linked with the summons to get the extra effect when they kill or not.

If not, then it means this build would not be ideal for magic find, since the minions do most of the killing.

But again, I am not sure if this is the case or not.

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Sickman wrote:

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Wizzy09 wrote:

Is my Increased item quality/quantity applied to minions too?

I'm not sure if the IIQ/IIR can be linked with the summons to get the extra effect when they kill or not.

If not, then it means this build would not be ideal for magic find, since the minions do most of the killing.

But again, I am not sure if this is the case or not.

Supposedly it works as it should. The increases does show up in the skill (zombie/skelly/spectre) misc tab, and the results are noticeable (especially quantity).

I am running with 11 zombies linked with speed, quantity and rarity (105 quant, 65 or so rarity), since my zombie really are the only thing killing. Which, for the most part happens very fast except in tight quarters (the bugged AI - so looking forward to the minion patch).

I took a different approach with the summoner build than what most posts are about in this thread. I _do_ have minion instability, however i want my zombies to live long aka tanking (which will be awesome when the pathing AI is fixed), and my skellies to die fast (bombing).

Here's the build i'm using:



As you can see i'm working my way towards the 18% ES increase. I don't really need it, but it helps keep things secure (f ex in near unavoidable damage like act 2 endboss ceiling damage and similar from weird map mod combos).

So far it's working great, and even though i don't own a 5L or 6L yet for my zombies, having taken _all_ (as far as i can see) the minion nodes has been well worth it. All the minions do great damage even without added support gems, and farming seems faster with them killing stuff and staying alive rather than bomb-summoning.

In occasional nasty spots, they will ofcourse still detonate, and boom goes the room ;)

I'm using 3 auras: Wrath, Anger and Discipline (which i keep at lvl 3 currently). All 3 are linked with Increased AoE Radius and further boosted by Leadership and related passives.

The build also uses Necromantic Aegis which i found great when i first used it in conjunction with spirit shield seemed awesome (ES on my zombie tanks - excellent). Since i've replaced the spirit shields with the Daresso's Courage unique while getting ES on them through Discipline.



Not really sure how much that shield is doing for them (which is also i'm not working on the gems and linking for it). But my zombies take a lot of pounding before they die, and my skellies don't which is how i want it.

Drawback for the build? Minion pathing. I feel this is the only thing holding it back at the moment.