A question: has anyone used a green MI helm in an endgame build, or even in a non-endgame build that’s past the faction/quest item stage?
I reckon the answer is most likely no, because many of the skill modifiers are woefully underpowered and cannot compete with better options.
Not just because most high-end sets include a helm, but the current skill modifiers often don’t even stack up against common blue drops with +1 class skills such as Spiritweaver Circlet or Bounty Hunter’s Hat.
These modifiers could really use an overhaul to make them into viable options, things you can actually center a build around, or at least something attractive enough to consider using it.
Some obvious suggestions are:
[li]100% conversion from one damage type to another for a skill.[/li]This is a relatively low-investment option that allows for more different mastery combos focused on a certain skill.
[li]Life steal and/or WD% added to an ability that normally doesn’t have it.[/li]Think Spellgaze, this can be a game-changer and make underpowered skills more attractive.
[li]Resist reduction (stacking or not).[/li]A good amount of RR is always welcome, and if this modifier allows you to skip Manticore for example, it could be worth considering over a set helm.
[li]Other desirable stats.[/li]+Projectiles, CDR, etc. Key is that they need to offer something to persuade you to use the item.
Another factor is the skill bonuses you miss out on when using an MI helm.
Not only do you lose the ability to complete many sets, but often +1 or even +2 to a whole mastery as well.
That’s why I think the MI helms should give +3 to two or three different synergistic skills, at the very least they should give +3 to the skill they modify.
That way, even if you lose out on the +1 mastery, you have a better chance of supermaxing the main skill, which tends to be the most important.
The lv. 90 faction helms already give similar skill bonuses, and some of them have a place in your build before you get the endgame helm, the MI helm could be a better version of those.
The idea is that with some targeted improvements, the MI helms will allow for different class combos with existing skills, or improve skills that are deemed weak.
I agree with all the suggestions. There are couple of interesting MI helmets, one of them converts Devastation damage but doesn’t offer Devastion bonus. There are few sick affixes as well, like “Overseer’s” for example. If Crate buffs those items just a bit (like adding +Devastation to Ascendant hood) those items will make sense as legendary substitutes.
I’m actually farming that particular helmet for my Sorceress, to have a pure elemental devastation, but the main issue with common enemy MI’s is that it’s near impossible to roll a rare affix with them. I farm Valexteria and Teronoxia (can’t remember the name). Luckily they also drop tomes and robes so it’s not a total waste of time.
Adding +3 to devastation would be nice as well.
Personally I think common enemy MI’s when dropped by a purple enemy should have a high chance to roll a rare affix
You know what, they should just add 2 new purple Cronley’s Gang bosses which you can farm Ascendant/Incendiary Casques/shoulders from but also buff up the bonuses of these items + high chance to roll a rare affix.
This would make farming reputation for cronley’s gang easier but also allow you to loot some gear along the way. They don’t have to be Fabius level challenging. Sometimes Halion “the rat” can be pain when you’re lacking decent gear, so something on his level or stronger.
+1 to these ideas, definitely need some +skills to make these unique items more rewarding, instead of creating exciting ideas that lead to disappointment…
Belts do not have skill modifiers. Their specialty is 50% conversions so maybe add some of these to MI belts to make them more appealing.
Shields do have modifiers though, and I agree that some of them like fleshwarped shields arent too appealing. The only MI shield that I had seen being used for high end builds is that colossus shield with Counter Strike bonus, for the BK DK build.
I never used a MI helm, tbh. I just prioritize + skills (in helmets) instead of MI hats. If there’s no +skills, I use a set helm, if both are invalid, I just search for something good, or eventually Ravager’s hat only for skills. If I don’t need skills at all, I prioritize skill modifiers.
As for me, all of these are mediocre. If the MI hat would not give bonus to a mastery, I’d simply ignore that item’s existence for most of my characters. I would, in fact, use an RR helmet, as it is useful for most characters. The CDR would be arguable. Let’s say you play a nightblade that has no casting spells, you only use like two or even one just to proc something, this stat is utterly as fuck useless. I mean, sure, you’ll reduce the cooldown of your healing skill, but that’s all and it still will most likely not matter. I simply think skill conversion and life steal in a helm is just a waste as for a MI hat. If the helm would have a proc that hits all enemies in a radius and then lifesteals that damage, I’d definitely use it. Why do I think conversion in a hat to make it unique is bad? Simply because the hat might have something your character needs, but you don’t use the skill the hat modifies, so it’s kind of pointless and build restricted. Lifesteal is solidly bad because most builds can just go Haunted Steal (or whatever is the name of that component), and it would definitely be a better option.
Also, we can simply look at shoulders and legs armor, rare MI’s have +3 to certain skills, and yet still most of us prioritize them in our builds because they provide one/two useful stats (you can consider skill bonus a stat) that would increase our build’s power drastically. So I’d just exchange conversion in a hat, or lifesteal, for + to a skill. For example, +5 to Devastation (wonder if someone gets this joke :P), or a skill-line buff, +3 to all Cadence tree, +2 to FoI tree etc.
15 flat RR is useless for most Kalastor builds anyway(Cause you want Anderos Amplifier). In fact you will use either 2 anderos for maximum flat dmg or Anderos+offhand for %CDR and +skills.
2 anderos 4 piece runebinder looks promising. If only we had better options for pierce to fire conversion T_T
Cinderplate :eek: Nah, i`d rather go for purple Alamos rings+Haggard gloves+Scales of Beronath. But then, i doubt i need Anderos at all, cause its obvious Runefiltrator
I used anderos+4pc runebinder+Bulwark but that’s hybrid Hagarrad+Kalastor. Bulwark is useful cause it can roll a good amount of useful defensive stats (particularly HP, which runebinder lacks). Also, 25% crit isn’t bad. I never liked double anderos because of the hp thing.
%phyz resist shield with CDR roll on it >>>> Bullwark anyway. And i would use https://www.grimtools.com/calc/gZwP9nbN this setup Just craft %pierce resist on items - you have a lot of craftables. Or even switch offhand for ToAA non-myth https://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2mK7gGZ all you loose is 9% phyz resist, but you gain 19% CDR instead.
And then we’re getting zero stun res stronghold shield is also better. I still feel that 25% crit and the potential rolls are enough to warrant bulwark.
Btw, you can’t have both phys res and cdr in a shield, even in legendaries.
Just craft %pierce resist on items - you have a lot of craftables. Or even switch offhand for ToAA non-myth