Fire Strike vs Primal Strike /as of now/

Hi again,

I downloaded and installed all the latest GD patches and hotfixes from GOG.

As of now, what would be a better attack for a 2H rifle / xbow - Fire Strike or Primal Strike?

Since its been a long while since I last played (only 1 toon - nightblade + soldier) - how have masteries been revamped? What would be now best support for 2H rifle / crossbow?

cheers!

Fire Strike > Primal Strike imho

Primal Strike is more defensive, Fire strike has better AoE and DPS.

maybe its just me but my RakaJax Primal Strike druid feels sluggish than my Pyro Fire Strike User. Im thinking PS is weaker because its is a skill derived from primitive men from the northern lands that harness ancient technology :rolleyes:

Definetely recommend firestrike in almost any builds its insanely good.

WTF :D:D

/0char

Thanks guys! Fire strike it is :slight_smile:

A few more qs:

  • what support mastery for my fire striker?
  • how much cunning and other stats?
  • jacks or flashbang?
  • could u pls link a calc with devotions for a rough idea?
  • xbow or rifle? Im hellbent on 2h.
  • Both Commando and Pyromancer work. I prefer Pyromancer due to increased resistance reduction.
    Sorcerer also works, and it works great imho. But again, i prefer Pyro
  • Only what’s required for the weapon, if you have Ulzuin’s Chestguard you get reduction in cunning requirements
    -Flashbang, why jacks?
    -What you looking for? Fire, Lightning, Chaos, Aether?
    -Both work fine, it depends on the build actually.

I was thinking fire / burn / and maybe some physical dmg along with them.

Or I should diversify a little more in case of heavy resistance?

I will also use Flame Touched , I guess :slight_smile:

thanks for quick replies!

-Flame Touched is a good OA source even non-fire builds use it sometimes

-Fire and Burn usually go hand in hand, so you’re good

-Pyro is the way to go

-There are many ways to build rifle Fire Pyro, i use Empowered Will of Fate (i love it), some people prefer Hellborne and if you don’t have either then use the new green rifle that drops off aetherial enemies

-Rush Meteor and attach it to flashbang for best results imo

Thank you!

I am also considering occultis as support as I did not use this mastery yet and I can remeber back to DII days how good res reduction is! ( this paladin aura…conviction?)

But first I will go Demo and see how far it can get me.

I also need to look through my stuff as I did collect some items while laying my Blademaster…I have some blue / purple rifles and xbows.

Btw, noobish but practical…if I happen to have more questions regarding my firestriker - shall i stick to this thread or create new, like when asking about equipment advice?

EDIT - I have 1.0.0.7 ver + crucible if it bears any importance…
cheers!

Both work, i’d prefer bumping this one

The answer to almost any Flashbang vs. [insert skill] question is Flashbang. It’s one of the best skills in the game if you ask me.

It’s also one of those skills that function well as a 1 point wonder or maxed out.

http://grimcalc.com/build/1007-Npz38K

this is what I have in mind to begin with.

First, I will fill in the firestrike branch. Static strike worth taking in my fire build? I will max Flame Touched so maybe after all…

3 points in Searing Might worth it?

Flashbang + Searing Light shall be maxed?

A quick update:

Currently at clvl 19, on Veteran, ver. 1.o.o.7

I was playing with a rifle for a while (1 pint in fire strike and 1 point in Explosive strike) and using flashbang but it was painfully slow.

So I decided to try a slightly different approach:

  • respecced ut of FS and got 2 points in Granado and 2 points in High Impact (RMB)
  • got flincore bolts for Greater fireblast (LMB)
  • 1 point in FlashBang and 1 point in Searing Light (definitely I will get more)
  • rest into mastery
  • only 1 point spent on cunnig; rest unspent (I needed that 1 point for a rifle earlier)
  • I got some -recharge on gear and managet to get Granado cooldown from 3 to 2 sec.
  • no rifle atm. Just some yellow sord with lots of fire bonuses and a nice offhand with cooldown reduction and other useful stuff.

Now this guy is unstoppable! I believe this combo will see me through Normal. And later maybe I will respecc to FireStrike again.

Now some questions:

  • Skyfire Granado and Shattering blast - do they make any significant difference? FlameTouced offers fire / lightning bonus so maybe this conversion physical to lightning could prove useful?

  • Will / when Fire Strike outperform Granado? With GreaterFireblast I 1- or 2-shot all mobs; Granado just obliterates mobs. When will FireStrikestart to shine :wink: I have read so many god things about it…and how do u develop FireStrike line? I think 1 point n fire strike is enough.

  • What is so great about BWC? is it really that useful? what are the advanteges of it and how do I use it?

  • I also read some people advocate StunJacks for dmg…but atm nothing can compare to Granado, both for packs and single target

  • with some cooldown reduction, this build can last long? So maybe I can forget for a while about FireStrike?

Basically, I will see how far I can go with it, I can always respec later :slight_smile:

Cheers!

Greater fireblast stops doing any decent damage around level 30-32, start of act 3. At around the same time you should be able to get to 50 mastery points in demolitionist and take brimstone so your ranged fire strike would shine. Grenado is a toy for normal difficulty. I tried using grenado and canister at ultimate ranks on level 85 respecced build just recently and it felt like they still need some tweaking to get serious. My percentile damage was particularly bad on that character though, like 800% fire 600% lightning. I’m sure it would feel better at 1500% :).

You can put more points into flashbang and searing light until you get +skills items, this should be your main control and debuff but its not good yet at 1-1, should be 7-7 at least. These points are refundable.

BWC if you’re not using it for damage can debuff resistances and/or monster physical damage (with transmuter). You shouldn’t feel the need for that until late elite or early ultimate. But once you get there, an option to reduce physical damage on melee bosses you can’t kite is invaluable. There are others way to do it though, war cry skill and Oleron’s blood component. Also one of the Kymon’s augments for rings, though it was nerfed and has low value now.

Good to know as now it looks like Fire Strike is seriously underowered :frowning:

Basiclly, I will put one point in each FS skill, aside from Brimstone which I will max first, later the rest of the tree.

Umm, if you’re going by DPS values then Fire Strike’s modifier Explosive Strike doesn’t factor into DPS calculations.

It does not factor in BUT it does damage, doesn’t it? or is it bugged?

Fire strike first skill shall be maxed? and other skills in the line?

All of my toons using Fire Strike never had any problems with damage throughout normal. Rush maxed Explosive Strike and watch everything die. If you’re going Occultist I’d follow up with maxing Solael’s Witchfire for more flat damage and attack speed.

Seeing as you’re level 19, this is how I’d set up my build: http://grimcalc.com/build/1007-29I4mW

Work yourself up the Demo skill tree, grabbing Blast Shield on your way to Brimstone. Start putting points into Flashbang when mobs actually start to pose a threat (Blast Field and your insane DPS should keep you safe from most packs). If you’re feeling sluggish, put more points into Vindictive Flame for the % total speed.

Thanks :slight_smile:

Throughout normal you say but what happens later? In epic for example? Will it be ok or is it justgood for normal…i can remember such builds back from tqit days…?

U fortunately i cannot respec points from demo mastery and i have pumped it up significantly now :frowning: well tough luck. But for the time being granado is fun and will see me through for several levels while im pumping explosive strike.