This is a build made by @mad_lee, I am posting it on his behalf.
Foreword
Ritualist was always a mastery combo I wanted to make something great out of. Sadly all of my previous attempts never really reached the mark. Class is ridden with problems typical for a mastery combo catered heavily towards pets: severe lack of stats, complete lack of cc-resists and mediocre survivability. The potential for exceptional Vitality damage output was always there however: highest total resist reduction and strongest Vitality spells make Ritualist really special compared to other Vitality classes. All that was left was to figure out the roadmap to powerful and tanky powerhouse that excels in all kinds of endgame challenges and is fun to play.
The Build
<<<< GRIMTOOLS (CURRENT SPEC) >>>>
GRIMTOOLS (patch 1.1.9.5)
GRIMTOOLS (patch 1.1.9.3)
GRIMTOOLS (patch 1.1.9.1)
*Craft for slow resistance
**For deep shards and Celestial fights overcap Mark of Torment at the expense of Bone Harvest line. For Ravager fight soft cap Wendigo totem as well
***It is important to get Ravenous Earth to level 23 for extra projectile, either through the craft bonus on a relic or from the affix on a medal or a dagger
Frequently Asked Vampiric Questions
Isn’t a Pandemic dagger better? What about the Basilisk Crest medal for shorter Ravenous Earth’s cooldown?
Green dagger proved to be better in testing, same as the Lagoth’ak medal. Both options are viable however.
Rolls on the Bonespike seem too specific, is it possible to play with other rolls?
Yes.
Will Crate nerf this? Damage seems too high for a Vitality build.
Not sure about potential nerfs but the build has a lot of moving parts that make its damage this high: two powerful main damage dealers Totems and RE and two support damage dealers Siphon Souls and Devouring Swarm all supported with mods from gear. And on top of that build has insane resist reduction. If Crate starts nerfing just some parts of it, this build will survive but other Vitality builds will probably suffer.
Gear/Skills and Devotions/Leveling
Classic Vitality powerhouse devotion map and standard skill distribution. Bone Harvest is more of a filler that also applies %resist reduction from Essence of Ch’thon augment.
For leveling check beginner guides, this is an endgame build
Gameplay
In Crucible build facetanks everything (in buffless Crucible most of the things), but use Mark of Torment often during big waves. Watch your rotation and refresh RE and Totems as soon as they are off cooldown.
In Shattered Realm It is pretty straightforward.
Just watch the videos to learn how to play the build.
Stats
Videos
1.1.9.6 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 “naked” extra spawn 5:29 run
1.1.9.6 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 four consecutive runs
1.1.9.5 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 “naked” extra spawn 5:35 run
1.1.9.5 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 4:29 run
1.1.9.3 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 4:37 run
1.1.9.1 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 4:25 run
1.1.9.1 Crate of Entertainment 59
1.1.9.1 Shard 100 boss room with quite a few deaths to Gargaban
1.1.9.1 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 “naked” extra spawn 6:15 run or “a tanky 6 min build”
1.1.9.1 Ravager facetank kill 2:11
1.1.9.1 Naked Crucible 5:53 run
In Conclusion
Valguur set could really something useful instead of “thematic” 100% life leech resistance set bonus that doesn’t really do anything. %Petrify resistance would be much more relevant and still “thematic”, Defensive ability is always welcome on a Ritualist.
Next guide will have another chapter of my fantasy saga, so stay tuned!