Could we please make Somatic Shell actually usable?

so, new wand skill in wand league. recipe for success right? nope.

this skill is absof..lutely overcomplicated. to the point you are punished for getting more damage

To make it usable, reliable skill that cannot be instantly replaced with KB with better results at least some of these has to happen:

- Shell Burst has to be instant. right now it seems to be one frame later. that hinders any cascading effect
- There has to be a grace mechanic. Right now the shell bursts ONLY if broken with non-Somatic hits. It wont break if the monster is:
- killed by Somatic Shell projectile
- killed by any form of DoT
- killed by the initial hit
That means you want to lower your damage to 2-hit level, hit once, use other skill to break the shell to trigger explosion.
It is absurdly clunky - your entire AOE clear comes from explosions and - pretty much unseen - chaining.
- Delays have to go. The skill is so hilariously nonsensical that adding some artificial delays to it is just cruel

Spellslinger setup seems to be the obvious way (Prismatic Burst would work great but.. it doesnt) but even that does not mesh at all. Either the wand damage is too high, killing white mobs on its own, without explosions (bad clear) or the spells are too strong, killing mobs before they can be 'shelled'. It is frustrating AF because one gem swap away there is a setup that just clears the screen.


I know, that few people managed to make it work - mostly impale version - tried it. it works DESPITE using this skill, not thanks to it.

I think this is the only 'major' skill that is so convoluted that i lean on calling it unplayable (despite what I said above - it can 'work' albeit it works on the same principle AutoAttack works in this case). Just do something to this skill

I know nobody cares, but I do - POE for me is making turds work. Anyone can make KF work, there is no challenge in that

I rarely quit, but this skill simply is too much to untangle

Few specific requests:

1) The skill HAS to do something when initial hit kills the mob.
a) either carry the 'shell potential' to next target (if piercing, chaining or whatever) - currently with pierce, the projectile that kills the initial target already 'used up' the shell potential and will not proc it
b) explode with some small effectiveness - full boom is 750% make it 100% 150%? without it, the clear is ABYSMAL

2) Propagation has to work. Right now it is almost impossible to see it in action. There are so many gatekeepers for this mechanic that you can just as well remove it from the game.

3) Delays and limits. Remove them. Re-application delay is already covered by attack speed and 6 shell limit.. kinda doesnt matter? It wont make a dent in POE balance spectrum, but it shall make this skill a 4% more fun


Skill combo: applicator and detonator is fine. Desecrate+VD etc, it is all fine.
But somatic shell has applicator, detonator and saboteur. The skill itself hinders its performance and your entire goal when building for it is to prevent this skill shooting itself in the foot. It is pretty bad design.

If anyone is interested - impale setup is cool, because impale damage can trigger the shells. So you need just ONE skill. It still isnt great, but that one setup works.