Spellbinder Guidance

[Neothane]

I recently completed my first play through on Normal as a Vindicator and didn't feel the build had enough umph to make it through Elite. So, I switched to a new Spellbinder character.

Until now, I have been going down the path of Aether and Fire as my primary focus, but a lot of what I read from others with Spellbinder is that Aether + Vitality is the way most people choose.

I am currently doing Normal on Veteran mode, but will I be able to do the Elite and Ultimate with this kind of build, or do I need to switch to Aether + Vitality to make this a complete play through build? (and take on the hardest bosses...perhaps even take on Avatar of Mogdrogen).

Here is my current build:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/1NXoo3kZ

If Aether + Fire is a good build, any tips/suggestions on my build and constellations to choose?

I am also debating on Skellies or not. Right now they are just OK, the don't do a lot of damage, but they are handy at times to distract multiple bosses when I get inundated. If I go down the skellies route, what constellation should I assign them for most effectiveness.

Thanks!

[RhodosGuard]

1. Vindicator is a great class. My current main going through Ultimate quite easily. Try to get back into it if you feel like it.

2. You should really try to find things out on your own. You can use Grimtools to troubleshoot your build lategame, doing it too early might discourage you, rather than encourage.

3. Aether and Fire is definitelly a viable combination, but I dunno if there is a lot of support that gears towards necro with it.
You could try to gear towards the build by splitting it up instead of going for a build that combines both damage types everywhere. Aka using +Aether Necro items and +Fire Arcanist items

best would be if there are items converting Vit to Fire.

[RhodosGuard]

Bumping just in case

Just double checked grimtools
There are only limited vit to fire items. And most of them are geared towards Demo.

As I said, gear might be sparce but it could be possible

[KG]

The stereotypical Spellbinder is aether + more aether. Fire, vitality, chaos, etc. are good... because you can often easily convert them to even more aether.

Splitting between two damage types is usually a mistake - in your case, fire and aether are not well-supported together by devotions, kind of supported by some gear, and Necro doesn't really support fire at all. Vitality+aether is much the same going the other way - Arcanist doesn't really support it. Both masteries support aether very well though so you tend to do better by reinforcing what they both do well.

So I disagree with a lot of what RhodosGuard said... except for the Vindicator thing. Vindicators are pretty good. Lots of tools to use between the two and lots of synergy.

Edit: as for devotions you'll want to go for Widow's Arcane Bomb and maybe Manticore for resist reduction. If you're swinging a weapon, using skills that deal a decent % of weapon damage, etc. very often I highly recommend getting Ghoul and some other Attack Damage Converted to Health for survivability.

[RhodosGuard]

Originally posted by KG:

The stereotypical Spellbinder is aether + more aether. Fire, vitality, chaos, etc. are good... because you can often easily convert them to even more aether.

Splitting between two damage types is usually a mistake - in your case, fire and aether are not well-supported together by devotions, kind of supported by some gear, and Necro doesn't really support fire at all. Vitality+aether is much the same going the other way - Arcanist doesn't really support it. Both masteries support aether very well though so you tend to do better by reinforcing what they both do well.

So I disagree with a lot of what RhodosGuard said... except for the Vindicator thing. Vindicators are pretty good. Lots of tools to use between the two and lots of synergy.

Edit: as for devotions you'll want to go for Widow's Arcane Bomb and maybe Manticore for resist reduction. If you're swinging a weapon, using skills that deal a decent % of weapon damage, etc. very often I highly recommend getting Ghoul and some other Attack Damage Converted to Health for survivability.

Converting all of Damage x into Damage y, without a set to do so, requires almost pinpointing specific items, and for people who play their first character also kinda unrealistic.
Splitting damage is more reasonable and less niche especially for none tryhard people.

[KG]

Until you can convert it you're usually better off kind of ignoring the unwanted part of your damage. You don't have enough gear slots, skill points, devotion points, etc. to give good support for two damage types in most cases.

[Neothane]

Thanks @RhodosGuard and @KG. My plan was to convert things in the lategame to all Aether, but until then, I needed something I could use in the early game. However, I still have yet to learn how that conversion is done. Is that through a constellation, equipment, skill or build level?

Actually, I am trying to do this mostly myself and avoiding looking things up. However, with constellations, that is something that concerns me. When I did the Vindicator, I didn't really know (and still don't LOL) how to leverage the Constellations to create an end game build, this is why I am asking for a bit of guidance.

I can, and am willing to, work around equipment, augments, components, skills and pay the price to try something and then reverse it, but if I mess up on the constellations, then I am screwed and have to start all over. That is all I am truly trying to avoid.

It is very disheartening when you get to where I got with Vindicator and then realized I went down the wrong path. A little guidance on this would be helpful and then I can stumble on the rest on my own.


Edit: KC, I am going to look at your suggestions, but from what you are both saying, I may struggle with Aether + Fire. Right now at my level I can't even find much equipment that does Aether damage, and when I do, it is usually pretty minimal. That is why I chose Fire as a secondary. It seemed to be pretty good, but I am (as you pointed out) struggling to find equipment that boosts both. There seems to be a lot of Aether + Cold, even Aether + Lightning, but Fire has been pretty tricky.

[RhodosGuard]

Originally posted by Neothane:

Thanks @RhodosGuard and @KG. My plan was to convert things in the lategame to all Aether, but until then, I needed something I could use in the early game. However, I still have yet to learn how that conversion is done. Is that through a constellation, equipment, skill or build level?

Actually, I am trying to do this mostly myself and avoiding looking things up. However, with constellations, that is something that concerns me. When I did the Vindicator, I didn't really know (and still don't LOL) how to leverage the Constellations to create an end game build, this is why I am asking for a bit of guidance.

I can, and am willing to, work around equipment, augments, components, skills and pay the price to try something and then reverse it, but if I mess up on the constellations, then I am screwed and have to start all over. That is all I am truly trying to avoid.

It is very disheartening when you get to where I got with Vindicator and then realized I went down the wrong path. A little guidance on this would be helpful and then I can stumble on the rest on my own.

You can reset Devotions.
Either, if you enter the AOM areas with a potion or at the cost of Iron and Aether Crystals at the Spirit Guide (northernmost corner of Devils crossing, or in the north of the Coven of Ugdenbod)

[ZarahNeander]

I wouldn't worry about splitting damage channels now, first priority is getting your current build in shape....

-I wonder where your skill point went, your skills look awfully empty. A bit callidors, useless skellies, apart from that? nothing. Every 5 sec you can cast callidors, siphon soul is pretty useless at 2 points, skellies might serve as a distraction in normal, but are not worth the casting time later on

-same with devotions. Again, too lazy to count, bur that's pretty much nothing for a lvl 63 char. Look up shrines in an online guide and grab the missing points Okay, I lied and counted, seems you have spend 14 pts, there're 33 in normal...get them

Dont wanna sound too harsh, but your char is in pretty bad shape, Fix it!

[Neothane]

Oh, I thought I read that you could do skills but not devotions. That is helpful. I might go back and re-visit my Vindicator some day and see what I can do to revive him.

That takes a bit of worry out then. I think I will back off fire and work towards vitality until conversion.

[Neothane]

@ZarahNeander, Yes! I am indeed working on doing that. I am only at level 44 right now, but I am going through and trying to get the rest of the points. I started off trying to clear again, but I think I am going to avoid that this time and make it a bit more streamlined.

Thanks ZaraNeander and KC. That has helped me think about things better.