A few questions about aether/elemental Mage Hunter

Grim Dawn Classes, Skills and Builds
1

Hi,

Just finished ultimate with cold infiltrator and now want to play a devastation focused caster. Finally! I’ve searched a lot in the “build compendium” and “reasonably powerful builds” too, but didn’t find anything quite similar I want to. So I’ve decided to create one by myself. Sadly I’m not so well experienced in the game mechanincs. Could someone please help me with itemization.

I aim to use aether as primary and elemental (mainly electricity) as secondary dmg.

Here is grimtools : grimtools.com/calc/p255jvx2

There are some questions too :slight_smile:

  • Why almost any arcanist build uses Elemental Balance? What’s the benefits? I plan to kite most of the time. As soon as I’m aware it’s the melee only techinique and melee isn’t the primary source of caster DPS.
  • What would be the the best choice for main hand skill (in terms of DPS of course)? Maybe I can go without CT and save some points…
  • Is Hand of Ultos good elemental RR? I didn’t see any mage hunter build that uses it. Maybe for a reason…

PS. All of this is only about the main campaign (up to ultimate) if it matters.

2

Hey man. Welcome to the forums. :slight_smile:

Uh. It’s hard to assess a GT link without the equipment/devotions done up because those 2 things are very fundamental to general gameplay.

I say general because PCX is attempting to clear AoM using 0 items.

But I digress. To answer your questions:

  1. I’m going to guess that you’re a newer player, and therefore advice you to stick to one damage type. Without going into the complexities, using a single damage type lends your build focus. It’s easier to stack %bonus damage, flat damage, and RESIST REDUCTION. Don’t forget about RR.

  2. Elemental balance = crit damage. Most arcanists are played as casters, and most spells tend to have much lower %weapon damage (%WD) stats on them. As such, crit damage is absolutely essential to DPS.

  3. A mistake I made a lot when first starting out, I (like you) would try to theorycraft my toons without any gear. This is difficult because you may be deadset on using say callidor’s tempest and find no gear supporting the skill you’ve decided on. This often made me feel very demotivated, and I would end up abandoning my toon. What I suggest you do instead is to look at the available sets and submissions in the compendium to find a build which makes you go, ‘Shit. That should instill the fear of God in these pagan heathens.’

This will give you direction in leveling your toon. You’ll know which items to look out for, how to level it efficiently, and better yet - you can always comment on the build thread to ask for advice.

  1. Refer to this for more information on RR (creds to DaShiv IIRC): https://www.reddit.com/r/Grimdawn/comments/4b49qh/resistance_reduction_cheat_sheet/

Lastly, because I’m narcissistic and can’t ignore an opportunity to advertise my builds, here’s an example of a very effective magehunter I crafted: http://www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75720

EDIT: Just saw that you’re looking for a devastation based build. I would recommend playing a binder using the wrath of agrivix set, and outcast’s secret as the helm.

2ND EDIT: Here’s a link to 'stoya’s callidor’s binder. It’s pretty damn good. You can use it as a template to beef up devastation - http://www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74317&highlight=beefy

3

Is Iskandras for energy regen?

Why not max Maviens?

Lightning thether is pretty useless here since it remains lightning damage.

6 points Callidor will do nothing.

Have you considered Spellbinder and Drain Essense as “spam skill”?

4

Hey man. Welcome to the forums.

Thank you, sir. It’s the most useful source of info about GD that already hepled me a lot many times.

Without going into the complexities, using a single damage type lends your build focus.

Agree but there are mobs that are resistant (in fact, on ultimate they can be nearly immune) to certain damage type. If your char don’t do PHYS damage then it should have a backup damage source. Or really strong costant RR.

Elemental balance = crit damage.

Yes, but does it affect spell damage or just melee? If second then it not so good for pure caster.

I (like you) would try to theorycraft my toons without any gear.

I don’t try, I’ve already started a game. But you know, you can always complete veteran with any build if you’re drunk :slight_smile: Just thought someone can advise me certain set or weapon. There many items (or even components) that does not complement but DEFINE a build, and you can never find any of it if you don’t know what exactly you looking for.

5

Is Iskandras for energy regen?

Yes. Still I doubt it needed on veteran or even elite.

Why not max Maviens?

I expect it will be maxed by gear.

Lightning thether is pretty useless here since it remains lightning damage.

Hmm, but why it useless? Lightning damage bonus as high as aether.

6 points Callidor will do nothing.

I expect it will be increased by gear. As soon as I can see how much it can be increased I can spare more points into it.

Have you considered Spellbinder and Drain Essense as “spam skill”?

Sure. BWC sorcerer too. It’s just a matter of role-playing. :slight_smile: I want to play some type of arcane mage, not necro.

6

  1. I get that enemies can stack high res against your damage type, but it’s far far far far far far far more efficient to stack RR than it is to split your damage type up.

  2. The crit bonus is global. It affects everything

  3. Sorry for my assumption. :rolleyes:

My recommendations are still the same - agrivix + outcast’s secret.