*a picture of a famous ex-mage resorting to dual-wield autoattacking out of anguish and despair
Foreword
So all this was written like 6 years ago and I have no energy to redact it. So I will just keep it for nostalgic purposes. It’s not relevant anymore so if you have questions about the build just ask me here.
So someone in Russian Grim Dawn discord asked me if I ever tried making a Panetti’s Replicating Missile build. I never did. In fact, I have never even touched Mage Hunters and PRM used to be below mediocre before last patch. So after quite a bit of testing and a lot of failed or sub-par specs I made a spec that is what I believe an ultimate PRM build - a very fast and consistent Crucible farmer that facetanks everything and utilizes only legendary and epic items, so it’s basically dirt cheap to assemble compared to most builds and has only one drawback: its clear times really rely on your computer power.
The Build
Update 1.2.1.3
New patch gave PRM builds basically a whole new life. From the lower tier of mid builds into prime tier of top20 candidates. Golden era of PRM builds is upon us.
This spec is glorious in every way. I have tried to keep green items as easy as possible (you can use different affixes but you need to achieve similiar amount of hp, so stuff like impervious of … will work too because you will have opportunity to use 4% hp armor augments.
<<<< GRIMTOOLS >>>>
<<<< OLD GRIMTOOLS >>>>
1.1.7.2 Update
That means it’s time to update this old classics! Build is competitive once again.
1.1.5.1 Update
Decided to take a long hard look at the build and to assemble it from another angle. Got rid of Tsunami/Storm Box for Crucible spec for a sturdier devotion map with Solemn Watcher which allowed us to invest into Spirit. Result: spec is stronger than ever. Updated Grimtools links and added videos of Crucible and Shattered Realm (75-76) runs.
1.1.4.0 Update
Build is still extremely strong despite monsters’ buffs across the board and Invoker’s RR nerf. It benefited quite a lot from Arcanists buffs so in my opinion it’s still one of the strongest casters in the game if not the strongest. Changed up Crucible spec a bit and it became even more fun. Bat on Stormbox was not needed for this build to survive, so I decided to spice it up. Now it has Tsunami on Storm Box! Extremely fun and powerful!
1.1.1.2 Forgotten Gods update
New expansion made this build much much stronger. Build now has up to 14% more Physical resist, more PRM damage and more OA as well as better cc-resists to tackle Shattered Realm. And Rune of Displacement takes the build to a whole new level. Updated Grimtools and added a video of an easy Shard 66 run.
Build can complete 75-76 if you can aggro bosses 1 by 1 and play smart (also with some vitality/poison overcap with potions).
Why Lightning PRM?
I have tested Elemental version (Ultos + Seekers) and it was just ok. Clearing times were average, kiting was required sometimes, and sometimes build could die. I have also tested Fire Version which turned out to be pretty miserable (at least in my hands). Stats with fire devotion route were always awful, proccing both Seekers and Meteor was a choir, survivability was shit. So since Invoker set doesn’t allow for a cold version, I have came to my last resort. Suffocation, no breathing but this Lightning mage delivers hell of a beating (ugh, my guides are becoming lazier every time).
How is it compared to other casters?
It’s very flashy and very easy to pilot. This Mage Hunter is pretty relaxing and very forgiving spam-caster kind of build, you don’t need to think about positioning or about skill rotation or about kiting.
But what of the era of melee/ranged builds?
This build is comparable in speed to some of the best ranged builds and some medium top-tier melee builds, like Belgothian BM/Infiltrator or Korba Trickster. It’s definitely much cheaper and more accessible than those mentioned builds tho.
Gear
Getting resists capped without green gear is not easy on a Mage Hunter. OA/DA is also somewhat painful to get to a decent level. Nevertheless, current gear set is optimal, imo. All resists are covered, physical resist is at okay-ish level for a caster with a Seal, belt was a last minute change from Scales of Beronath and it turned out to be pretty huge damage boost for this build (hard cap of important PRM nods + 3k OA on a build with 90% crit damage). New Iskandra relic is pretty great. Cindertouch gloves is what pushed this build into top-tier category (conversion and proc are pretty big deal).
Skills and Devotions
Devotions are pretty self-explanatory - standard lightning route + a little twist in a form of Bat devotion for SR version. You can swap Bat for Fiend for a tiny bit more damage, but I think Bat is what really pushes the build closer to immortality. Skill points distribution is standard, best way to proc Bat in SR spec is Storm Box, hands down.
Gameplay
Stay in seals, cast debuffs and spam, use Nullification generously. Save mirror for the really rainy day. Place more Inquisitor Seals around to move freely - they have very low cooldown and live very long because of the mods on the wand. Only somewhat dangerous Nemesis combo is double Reapers. But just stay in seal and keep your cool, if they already procced your ghoul, don’t use mirror untill Ghoul is up, after that, use mirror and after mirror use Nullification. During that time, you can kill dozen of Reapers.
Stats
With all temporary procs
Panetti’s Replicating Missile damage breakdown (with all damage procs up)
Videos
[1.2.1.3] Ravager 1:12 kill (OA jewellery augments)
[1.2.1.3] Crate kill by RomanN1
1.1.9.7 Lightning PRM MH vs. Crucible 3 cons. runs (4:39, 4:37, 5:00)
1.1.9.7 Lightning PRM Mage Hunter vs. SR 75-76 (7:56 run)
1.1.7.2 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 banana_peel’s 4:40 run
1.1.7.2. Crucible Gladiator 150-170 4:48 run
1.1.6.2 banana_peel’s 5:02 run
1.1.6.2 patch Crucible 150-170 run (5:26 run, Tainted Heart instead of Seal Annihilation)
Crucible Ultra spec vs. Crucible 150-170 (5:17 run)
1.1.5.2 5:18 lucky run (good mutators)
1.1.5.1 5:33 run (good mutators)
1.1.5.1 Shards 75-76 run (SR spec, 11:50 minutes)
1.1.4.0 6:08 Crucible 150-170 faster run by me
1.1.2.5 John Smith’s Crucible 150-170 naked run with extra spawns (8:30)
6:40 Crucible 150-170 run piloted by me (I think it should be considerably faster on a good pc).
John Smith’s 3x runs (older spec but still sub-7 minutes runs. Should be faster with the final spec)
Mad Queen 13 seconds kill (meh single target damage)
Lokkar fight (literally lost a track of him mid-fight)
In Conclusion
In conclusion PRM is life
