AOE Build

[Jester5093]

Given all of the changes to pets, I'm looking for an alternative to pets that requires a little more involvement. I hate clicking on every mob to kill it. Not my thing. I have a 20 bloody pox char, and while good, it is way too easy to get it to tick too high and not spread, turning it into a nuke instead of an AOE. I'm sure that's only a low level issue, but it's turning me off.

Any other really good AOE builds out there?

[Sethsquatch]

I'm fairly new to the game(~10 hours), but demolitionists are the badasses of the game. I pair them up with a shield and a one handed gun. I can one-shot things that are my level and the AoE murders anything that stands near with a nasty fire DoT.

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/434944978323798228/EE1A00314C47951A96092400B439C9919BBD12C6/

This ability can do some serious carnage.

You can see in the picture i have that line of skills all at 12. that means a TON of damage. I mean... 1.50x more damage plus 50 fire damage... And the other skill adds AoE. What i did was upgrade them at the same time, 2 in the first skill 1 in the other. the first is better overall.

Also the flashbang skill allows you to punch right through armour and keep the mobs from touching you. The skill slows them, confuses them, lowers their armour, and a little more.

(When i find a better gun, i'll upload a video showing how the build works... ATM it's not as good as it should. I'm using a gun from level 14-ish, i'm level 21.)

Hope i help!

[MelvinFtw]

ye i run melee soldier/nb and i dont have aoe its a bit flustrating

[PXR5]

Take a look at the cannister/grenade builds doing the rounds. Explosions all over the screen.

Bare bones of the build.
http://grimcalc.com/build/7HpXOZ

[Jester5093]

Grenado is...well awful. Arc'ing over enemies, fairly small radius, cooldown time, and while strong, just feels...bad. AOE in general just feels...bad. I'm starting to worry I won't be finding a suitable build that doesn't get nerfed into being...bad rofl.

[Sethsquatch]

Originally posted by Jester5093:

Grenado is...well awful. Arc'ing over enemies, fairly small radius, cooldown time, and while strong, just feels...bad. AOE in general just feels...bad. I'm starting to worry I won't be finding a suitable build that doesn't get nerfed into being...bad rofl.

Mine is good... I'm killing level ~30 guys at level 25 with a level 15 weapon no problem.

[Jester5093]

It isn't that it isn't powerful. It's just poor. not saying you can't kill with it, it just feels...weak compared to aoe like we are used to in an ARPG.

[Sethsquatch]

Originally posted by Jester5093:

It isn't that it isn't powerful. It's just poor. not saying you can't kill with it, it just feels...weak compared to aoe like we are used to in an ARPG.

Such as? I've played PoE... that game has some really badass builds in it(I have a character who takes less damage, the more damage it takes...) , but my build is not poor... it kills with little fail.

[Sethsquatch]

Though i do agree, this game lacks in the obsurd AoE mechanics, not much room clearing skills. But the game is based off titan quest. Titan quest had very, VERY little AoE. You're lucky they added a good amount. Even if it's not like the typical room clearing AoE ARPG's have. And i know my ARPG's, ~500 hours in PoE, a ton of time in Dungeon siege, Diablo 1 and 2, ~50 in TL2, and a little BG2. This game does pretty good in AoE. I mean, BG2 has little to none.

[Fendelphi]

You could also take some of the points back out of the Bloody pox so that it keep the host alive for 2 seconds. Then it will spread and work as you want it to.
The excess points could be invested in other utility effects or an additional AoE ability(maybe from a secondary mastery).

As for a completely different build, Blackwater cocktail from the Demolitionist can be fairly effective with the right gear, especially when combined with the Flashbang. Grenado can then be used on tougher enemies.
Grenado is designed as a "precision strike" kind of grenade with huge damage. It takes some skill and preparation to use it well.
For AoE coverage, you want Canister bomb, Stun Jacks or the Blackwater cocktail.

[Boink]

Originally posted by Jester5093:

Grenado is...well awful. Arc'ing over enemies, fairly small radius, cooldown time, and while strong, just feels...bad. AOE in general just feels...bad. I'm starting to worry I won't be finding a suitable build that doesn't get nerfed into being...bad rofl.

Level up. Max canister & Ulzein's chosen.

Don't waste points in skyfire grenado because this splits your damage types.

Blackwater cocktail (reduces resists) - canister - grenado.


Entire screen is wiped with your centre target (boss mob) taking >25k damage.


Demo is currently stupidly good at AoE.

My current build looks something like this http://grimcalc.com/build/9ouRmQ (note: yes, it's telling you level 54, but that's because I've shown the bonuses from gear etc without bothering to do it properly. There's also 17 points into soldier).

[PXR5]

Originally posted by Jester5093:

Grenado is...well awful. Arc'ing over enemies, fairly small radius, cooldown time, and while strong, just feels...bad. AOE in general just feels...bad. I'm starting to worry I won't be finding a suitable build that doesn't get nerfed into being...bad rofl.

Try this one.
http://grimcalc.com/build/q6Buvt

[PXR5]

Originally posted by Boink:

Originally posted by Jester5093:

Grenado is...well awful. Arc'ing over enemies, fairly small radius, cooldown time, and while strong, just feels...bad. AOE in general just feels...bad. I'm starting to worry I won't be finding a suitable build that doesn't get nerfed into being...bad rofl.

Level up. Max canister & Ulzein's chosen.

Don't waste points in skyfire grenado because this splits your damage types.

Blackwater cocktail (reduces resists) - canister - grenado.


Entire screen is wiped with your centre target (boss mob) taking >25k damage.


Demo is currently stupidly good at AoE.

My current build looks something like this http://grimcalc.com/build/9ouRmQ (note: yes, it's telling you level 54, but that's because I've shown the bonuses from gear etc without bothering to do it properly. There's also 17 points into soldier).

I've a build with Ulzuin's Chosen, it just isn't worth it. It procks not enough for the investment of points you have to do.

[Boink]

Originally posted by nechaef:

I've a build with Ulzuin's Chosen, it just isn't worth it. It procks not enough for the investment of points you have to do.

You get +53% fire / physical damage - the instant regen is 25% which is just gravy.


And yes, it is worth it. 15k+ hits from a single grenado.


If we're doing critiques, your build has four damage types - elec / frost / fire / piercing which is incredibly dumb - it's hard (if not impossible) to max each +% damage.

MEDIOCRE.

[PXR5]

Originally posted by Boink:

Originally posted by nechaef:

I've a build with Ulzuin's Chosen, it just isn't worth it. It procks not enough for the investment of points you have to do.

You get +53% fire / physical damage - the instant regen is 25% which is just gravy.


And yes, it is worth it. 15k+ hits from a single grenado.


If we're doing critiques, your build has four damage types - elec / frost / fire / piercing which is incredibly dumb - it's hard (if not impossible) to max each +% damage.

MEDIOCRE.

Feeling feisty today ? I know the damage types are all over the place, a partial solution is to go for + elemental damage. I'm giving possible partial builds what OP does with them is up to them. And this http://grimcalc.com/build/fZHyaC is the build I'm using. I know the benefits from uzing the skill, and when it procs it's fantastic. Only it doesn't proc as often as you think. There is a Cannister build on youtube look at it and observe the numbers the skill procs.

[Zanzibar]

For a different style of AOE you can also try the Fire Strike line with range weapons, and DEE. These skills when they have their AOE modifiers maxxed are deceptively powerful against packs... they lack slightly in single target damage but not too badly.