UPDATED FOR 1.1.8.0
GRIMTOOLS my current setup: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWz6ML2
beginner setup (needs of celerity on either main hand or off hand): https://www.grimtools.com/calc/bVAL5xo2
Highlight/Guide video:
1.1.8 performance videos
dummy kill time ~25-26sec
crucible gladiator 150-170 three tries:
HC run #1 - 7 min 31 sec
HC run #2 - 6 min 48 sec
HC run #3 - 6 min 28 sec
average: 6 min 56 sec
remember: I am bad at crucible and I don’t wanna die on HC
From the 1.1.2.4 post:
Introduction
After checking the several options the updated Albrecht’s Aether Ray (AAR) has (aether with „The Clairvoyant’s Focus“ set, chaos with „Black Scorch Covenant“ set, cold with „Conduit of Arcane Whispers“ and vitality with just the „Mythical Clairvoyant’s Hat“), I decided to go for lightning AAR as I think this has the most potential. We know now full aether Spellbinder with two piece clairvoyant has the most damage thanks to ya_'s AARMAGEDDON.
That said, this is a HC build and thus cares a bit more about other stats other than damage and minimal defense.
GRIMTOOLS https://www.grimtools.com/calc/pZrPr512 ^ingame screen with deadly aim and inspiration up
vs Target Dummy
vs Ultimate Mogdrogen
vs Lokarr
in Crucible 130-150 and 150-170
in Shattered Realm shards 50-51
Ravager/Callagadra: probably a nope unless you can get higher phys res
Crate of Entertainment: skipping that one in HC
Twitch vods for lvling and other ultimate content: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/422014976, https://www.twitch.tv/videos/422980594, https://www.twitch.tv/videos/424266969, https://www.twitch.tv/videos/425199295
Changes with 1.1.2
piercing AAR!!!
Devotions
Tier 1:
- Viper: OA, affinities
- Quill: DA, affinity, aether res
Tier 2:
- Rhowan’s Crown: flat RR on proc, resistances
- Solemn Watcher: still the best defensive devotion imo, DA, armor, resistances
- Widow: -RR on proc
- Bard’s Harp: energy regen, res; OA, DA, cc res and huge energy regen on proc
- Phoenix: Elemental%, res, absorb proc
- Chariot: OA, stun res, DA and armor on proc
- Targo: 4 nodes for HP, res and HP
Tier 3:
- Ultos: OA, lightning%, RR proc
Gear
mandatory
- amulet: Aetherbolt Pendant
- rings: 2x Mythical Glyph of the Storm Witch (try to get 30% conversion rolls)
- offhand: Pulsing Shard (try to get castspeed and phys res)
- weapon slot: Crimson’s Arcane Scepter (try to get castspeed or %lightning damage)
- gloves: Mythical Aetherreach
flexible
- head: Ravager’s Helm (%HP and %crit damage ones are good, I’m currently using the lifesteal one, which is by far the worst due to me only having one ravager kill on HC so far) or Outcast’s Secret (if you use this put at least one point into devastation)
- shoulders: Loghorrean’s (try to get additional phys res; Valdaran’s or Dawnshard Pauldrons are good, too)
- chest: Valaxteria’s Skytorn Robes or Mythical Runeforged Chestguard (try to get max conversion rolls, if you don’t use storm shepard belt), Fateweaver’s Rainment (if you use storm shepard belt)
- belt: Phantom-Thread Girdle, Arcanoweave Girdle, Mythical Storm Shepard
- relic: Iskandra’s Balance (I got lucky and hit +1 disintegration), Ignaffar’s Combustion, Serenity
- pants: Mythical Arcane Harmony Leggings for disruption protection
- boots: Stoneplate Greaves, to mainly fix poison and pierce res. Venomspine Greaves, Stonetreaders or Stormtitan Treads can be used instead.
- medal: Mark of Unlife, Mark of Divinity, Badge of Mastery with +skills to Maiven’s Sphere, … (lots of choices tbh)
Offense
- lightning AAR is your bread and butter cutting laz0r and good at both aoe and single target since patch 1.1.2main
- storm box, aether corruption and ravager’s deathgaze/devastation for supportive damage/debuffs/RR
- 2,7k OA without procs, 3,2k OA with procs not anything crazy, but good enough
- 19% CDR - nothing special for arcanists
- 190+% CS – with ideal setups 200%, as expected for AAR casters
- up to 176% crit damage on AAR, really high crit multipliers
- ~2k% lightning, ~1,5% electrocute multipliers - not amazing but fine imo
- Resist Reduction: -78% (aura of censure+storm box+arcane bomb) + 32 reduced (elemental storm) + 25% reduced (Ultos), not that high, but this is an arcanist so what can you expect…
- highest AAR tick: 342k (~280k in main campaign)
Defense
- 2,87k DA base, going up to 3,2k DA with procs
- 2k base armor, going up to 2k with wayward soul proc - caster armor
- all resistances overcapped by at least 30% except for vitality and lightning (drink potions for those two for better overcap)
- 17% phys res ingame, can be greatly improved with formidable prefixes or fateweaver’s chest
- 17% reduction to enemy’s damage (Aura of Censure) and 33% reduction to enemy’s elemental (Nullification)
- 22% damage absorb (Maiven’s Sphere)
- 250 + 168 flat damage absorb (Inquisitor’s Seal and Phoenix)
- Mirror of Ereoctes
Leveling
- level using Word of Pain and Storm Box
- rush elemental storm and widow devotions
Abbreviations
AAR = Albrecht’s Aether Ray, RR = resist reduction, OA/DA = offensive/defensive ability, CS = casting speed, CDR = cooldown reduction, HC = hardcore, HP = health points
Final Words
AAR feels a lot more amazing now than before imo and it’s a lot of fun even though it’s still not be the best performing type of build. Thank you very much everyone for reading this build and watching the videos! As always, feel free to comment, critize, etc., any feedback is appreciated
Have fun firin your Laz0rs!