Viability of skills for the end game

[jqpdev]

Are certain skills not viable for the end game meaning that they perform poorly to the point that they are not worth pursuing in an end game build? For example, I can understand that RuneMaster and Runic Invocation builds are popular, but what about a skill such as Volcanic Orb? I’m very new to the game, but I come from D2/LoD and D3. A customizable Frost, Fire, or Lightning Orb sounds awesome. However, I don’t want to put 500 hours into a character and build and the skill isn’t viable. So are there skills that aren’t viable? If yes, then is it listed/documented somewhere? I plan to experiment for sure but I figured it would best to ask before I embark.

Also, this Lich Channeled DoT-Tick build looks amazing ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd02OAjNOgg ). However, the video author lists the build as no longer working in v1.0. This is yet another very fun amazing looking build.

[TacticalBitz]

It's not that it no longer works. It is currently bugged and will most likely get fix. That said it does not take 500 hrs to find out if something is not working. You should be able to tell by level 50-70. Which should only take less then several hours.

[jqpdev]

Thanks TacticalBlitz. However, at 50 to 70 I have no point of reference since I have not experienced the end game yet?

[TacticalBitz]

Originally posted by jqpdev:

Thanks TacticalBlitz. However, at 50 to 70 I have no point of reference since I have not experienced the end game yet?

Your welcome. If your build is having a hard time at 50-70. It will most likely not be able to handle end game. Also you can get to the end game pretty fast if you want to. Best way is to just do the right side of the monolith. Then do the 3 level 90 ones and empower the monolith. While doing this don't waste time trying to full clear each echo. Just complete the goal as fast as you can.

[<color=#CD3210>Lunatic]

Essentially every class has about 2 to 4 skills that have uniques that change the way they work, buffing them and improving the degree at which they can burst dps.

But because of the way skills get tagged and the way gear works, you can just essentially adjust your loot filter to find the specific affix that relates to any skill you want.

Say you have a physical skill, just loot filter recolor tier 6+ physical damage exalts, then when they drop with tier 6+ exalted physical damage, you can seal that affix away, and reforge the rest to your liking.

If your favorite skill was a fire damage skill, then you'd eventually want t6-7 fire damage bonus across 9-10 pieces of gear, at 120% thats between 1080-1200% fire damage.

As the most recent class warlock, uses necrotic resistance to boost the dps of their cthonic fissure, they try to get 60% necrotic resistance on every piece of gear, and reforge to get spell damage, damage over time and necrotic damage.

Ideally aim for one specific skill tagged affix as your exalts, and seal them if their t6+ and then try to fill in the other affixes with the other tags your skill has.

[DeiGratia]

A few. Dark Quiver for instance needs a rework. What a bad skill. Think it's only sorta good w/hail of arrows.