[Nemesis] HP EK Scion - Arctic Armor + EB + MoM - 5+ Auras

Loving this build. Wanted to do Aux's ranger when I started playing again just before release, and decided to do a build based on it with my latest character.

What I usually do with these forum builds, is look at it and break it down to understand it, and then recreate it myself with preference based improvements. I was honestly kind-of shocked that the differences are very minimal, and could easily be done with maybe half the respec points given throughout the game, which I like (in case I want to mess around wtih combinations of the two).

My current build (level 66):


My final build:


Just a quick tip as well - the 4 8% hp circle on the way to IR that everyone ignores (I may end up ignoring it as well) is AMAZING for respecs. When you see the next set of notable boosts are more than 4 nodes away, pick up the circle of 4 hp nodes, then start working on it. Once you have a level up point respec all 4 and use 5 points getting to the next bit of passives.


I have to say, I did a bunch of calculations around the mana regen aspect of this character archetype. I thought even after my calculations that it was going to be very difficult to get it done. Turns out, mana regen and +mana are not that uncommon on wands and caster shields, so it's far easier than I thought.

I really love the utility of the auras. Running Clarity on BM gem, Grace, Hatred, Purity of Elements. I can drop Purity once I upgrade my amulet, which I've been too lazy to do.

I'm honestly shocked how faceroll content is. I've been working off of 4L gear the whole time and have only ever had trouble with Lightning damage since merciless.

Shocking as it may or may not be, I've been underleveling the whole time. I only had to stop to level in Merciless Act 3, and only did so because I knew I was done with progression. Paid for a quick piety win for the skill points at level 55, and have been farming docks since.

I'm just amazed at how tanky AA + Grace makes you.

Still unsure on Mind over Matter. It feels like it would be useful but I don't like the idea of taking unmitigated damage to my mana causing AA to turn off (I've had AA turn off a few times duo to -10% mana HP flask and that was scary). Has anyone picked it up? Interested to see what people have to think about it.

Good to hear such positive feedback! Sounds like you make your builds the same way that I do. I'm in the same boat as you with MoM. I love the concept of it and I think it would be great, especially since its so close...but I feel like having my AA turn off from taking too much damage, therefore causing me to take more damage, is really counter-intuitive.

"

Dmillz wrote:

Good to hear such positive feedback! Sounds like you make your builds the same way that I do. I'm in the same boat as you with MoM. I love the concept of it and I think it would be great, especially since its so close...but I feel like having my AA turn off from taking too much damage, therefore causing me to take more damage, is really counter-intuitive.

ZiggyD uses Mom and AA, but he only runs 2 auras (+ clarity), and I think one of them is Discipline.

I think that's the difference in the theorycrafting. If you use MoM you have to forgo a lot of aura reservations and work on building up a larger max mana pool + regen. I've seen videos of his character where he has 800-1000 mana left over as the MoM buffer. Without MoM you can fit in 5 Auras, with just enough Mana left over + regen for casting/buffing/etc.

Updated the OP with new Purity/aura math information!

A new option with this spec in 1.0.1 might be to drop Purity once your base gear has sufficient resits and then do one of the following:

a) Replace Purity with Vitality. No change in mana reservation and now you've picked up some nicely buffed HP regen. This could maybe also cause a replacement of any Life Leech support gems with something more DPS or utility oriented.

b) Go for MoM now that you have 20% less mana reserved.

actually nvm.

However, how much mana regen and mana unused should i have to sustain arctic armor? cannot run it at level 61.

"

katjezz wrote:

HP seems really low

250% is low? Especially with all the insane defence you should have?

"

xythian wrote:

A new option with this spec in 1.0.1 might be to drop Purity once your base gear has sufficient resits and then do one of the following:

a) Replace Purity with Vitality. No change in mana reservation and now you've picked up some nicely buffed HP regen. This could maybe also cause a replacement of any Life Leech support gems with something more DPS or utility oriented.

b) Go for MoM now that you have 20% less mana reserved.

Amendment to A) You can also run Determination. This build is capable of running it even though it has a higher reserved mana cost than Purity. This is situational though. I just don't really like Vitality that much, even with the increased aura effects you are only getting 2.54% of you max HP in regen from it. This just feels really weak to me.

I kind of like the thought of running MoM, the biggest problem I have with it is just that if my mana hits 0 my Arctic Armor will turn off, but it is something I will definitely play with!

hi im lvl 77 in nemesis now
finally yesterday i could buy my alphas howl and i can run 5auras
i went like this


i respecced ballistic mastery cause with my new wand its not so significant


and i respecced evasion nodes
so i decieded to run in alphas howl: discipline+grace+haste+redmana
and in my shield lvl14clarity+hatred+redmana

so i can run 5 auras from my mana(its very important to me to not lose life cause of clarity) and i have about 150 mana left but thats enough
the simple reason cause i choose haste over purity auras or determination its my arctic armour
my resists are about 70 and my armour is 6K, the lmp dogs, fire bosses, titty bitches dont hurt me at all, the only problems are the phys bosses but i will buy a 1000+evasion chest(my chest is 400 now)+jade flasks and will be ok.
the other more important thing is the fun factor:) the only downside of the EK is the cast speed and it really kreeps me out, but lvl 14 haste with aura passives gives me more than 20%cast speed and more than 10ms
Feels much more fun to play and farm, and leech life faster feels more tankier

Actually if you can run all the Auras off of your mana I think it's even better. I only suggest running Clarity off HP if you don't have enough mana to do it off of mana!

How much did you pay for your Alphas if you don't mind?

"

hokieneer wrote:

ZiggyD uses Mom and AA, but he only runs 2 auras (+ clarity), and I think one of them is Discipline.

I think that's the difference in the theorycrafting. If you use MoM you have to forgo a lot of aura reservations and work on building up a larger max mana pool + regen. I've seen videos of his character where he has 800-1000 mana left over as the MoM buffer. Without MoM you can fit in 5 Auras, with just enough Mana left over + regen for casting/buffing/etc.

Interesting points. I'm not sure myself on dropping Aura's with this build to use MoM - the Aura passives give increasing returns the more you invest in them, and with EB (I'm at around 3K MP @ lv72, currently respec'd out of 6life/8mana passives). The more ES you get on gear, the more you rely on Grace. Discipline and Clarity are basically both manditory the more you level up AA (I did without Discipline until lv17 AA). Hatred is basically manditory for EK. With my current passive tree and skill gems each 60% aura reserves 32% mana.

Perhaps once I finish the Aura passives and re-obtain the life passives I will consider MoM, but I think when you're using Aura boosting passives and EK as your main DPS, you cannot afford to run with just Clarity Discipline +1.

Perhaps Alpha's Howl changes all this - I've not been able to acquire mine as of yet, so it could be the case.

I do think you're correct, that using MoM means dropping an aura. For me, because of the purity nerf, if I have enough after Discipline Clarity Hatred Grace Determination I will definitely consider MoM.

I think perhaps Prism Guardian would allow for MoM.

"

katjezz wrote:

actually nvm.

However, how much mana regen and mana unused should i have to sustain arctic armor? cannot run it at level 61.

The key to running AA is the EB Keystone coupled with a few key nodes. I think this build is what I needed to finally keep AA up full time:



Once you get EB, you start running Discipline and Clarity at the same time to get enough mana regen. You should just need maybe 1 piece of gear with mana regen, and if you can't manage that then there is a small circle of mana regen on the Scion's path to IR. Things like this small circle and the small circle of life nodes going to IR are very useful as you can easily respec out of them when you don't need them.

Once you have EB and IR, you should try to use exclusively hybrid ES gear or a mix. Your wand and shield can both have spell damage and mana regen, so it's important to get both stats on each.