Now… I wonder, why I rarely see this killer Orb in vitality/Chaos builds anywhere…
If there are builds using it, can you point at the link or name the build? Would be appreciated.
Second question: if this thing isn’t used almost always… what is the better choice? Me no get it…
Just give your 2 cents, guys, thanx in advance.
i’d imagine it’s used less often because in essence it’s just a generic + skill and dmg offhand with conversion
+skills and dmg you can often get on other offhands that will also include build/skill modifiers on top of potential more awesome granted procs
keep in mind that at endgame a +140% dmg boost isn’t necessarily that big, so “all” there is on the granted skill is then the conversion, conversion you might also potentially get elsewhere while still being more useful
Yes, I get that, but… it allows for builds, that let you use almost ALL devotions (except pierce/physical, partly bleeding) for example, and converts it to only two damage types. This SHOULD make for several amazing killer builds afaik…
And I forgot, it’s not even a proc, it’s a toggle.
that’s not really a benefit?
usually regular chaos/vitality paths are better than meme devos
but more so; it’s conversion you could probably still get elsewhere while boosting a build better using a better offhand with actual modifiers, since modifiers are strong, or just a better proc even
acid to vitality conversion isn’t exactly rare
granted elemental to chaos is a bit tougher to get full 100% global, but if you do so, it still enables you to use a better offhand, with either modifiers or better granted skill, like 20 chaos RR proc
doesn’t really matter, it takes up the “granted skill” slot on the item
granted skill that could potentially be better/more worthwhile on other offhands
but it’s “all in one!?”
please elaborate on that, I seem to not fully understand it. Examples?
fiendgaze, black flame, Tome of the Arcane Wastes
just 3 that quick come to mind has better "granted skill"s on them, assuming your build solves conversion on other slots
here are some you can look at Grim Dawn Item Database
welll… I know the Grimtools database (and love it) and I checked your proposals. I still don’t see in what way they are better. Let me know your thoughts for the three examples, so I can try and follow them.
etc etc etc etc etc
again blood orb is a generic +dmg booster and conversion, something most builds can get elsewhere, better, while still getting awesome +skills or modifiers
hence why the generic stats of blood orb is either only useable in generic meme’ing, or specific conversion build unable to obtain the conversion elsewhere and where offhand build modifiers doesn’t make up for the conversion loss
or as filler on a build until you get better
direct skill modifiers/build modifiers just usually trumps generic conversion or mild %dmg, even on memes, and for non memes there are just often better/an MI/skill mod that dmg boosts your core skill more than blood orb probably do
that’s my guess why you possibly rarely/more rare see it in regular builds or memes than other offhands, it’s just too generic a stat booster to be worthwhile for most of them - stats you can get elsewhere, while then gaining a further useful “granted skill” like displayed above
Ok, the Black Flame Orb is powerful, for the rest I don’t know, but I get your point.
Issue with devotions is that, in order to get to the Proc I have to waste Dev.-Points on damage-bonusses, which then are not even taken into account, because the conversion ignores this and the converted damage only benefits from increases to that converted damage type… so, vit/chaos Yugol Blobs e.g. do not make too much sense…
Btw, this is something I’d like to see changed (and balanced around…) in any given GD2 iteration. Would mean a LOT of additional build options afaik. But that is another topic.
But WHAT the Orb does, is e.g. make Witchhunter or Conjurer builds more viable reg. damage type. Or e.g. I can have Abo, DG together with Rattosh, as I do only need their damage bonusses for chaos/vit but skip the skill- and a few other points… (up to 5 in my scenario, as I do not want Hungering Void or Abominable might anyway…)
But I need to get an overview on this an test it first, te explain more here…
Anyway, much appreciated!
again, no, not without sacrificing other parts of that build
witch hunter: why would you use an offhand, there is few scenarios where that would benefit your class, or in a way that couldn’t be memed better while not using an offhand - or there is better offhands
same for conjurer, if you want a chaos conjurer you can probably still make it better using a diff offhand: ex being chaos pets often use Fiendgaze
as for devos, your problem, is that, “good devos” are already easily converted on other items, fire->chaos conversion is 0 problem on most builds wanting it, so they don’t need that offhand to use meme fire devos
cold devos too, tho they often divert so much affinity wise they aren’t worth it
lightning conversion can be tricky, but, imo, there is also just 1 lightnign devo that potentially is worth to meme and that’s Tempest; which is so expensive it messes up with your chaos devo map that you could do better dmg not taking it (which is often important on a meme since you’re already sacrificing dmg doing silly things)
so what it allows you is to take “all” the elemental devos in some mega chaos meme; where you’re totally sacrificing a lot of good stuff on subpar devos (again the good fire devos can easily be converted anyway)
For the vitality part you have the same issue: either a regular vitality path is just better, or you already have easy acid conversion
as for dual dmg build doing both vitality and chaos dmg, you have the same problem as original, there are just better offhands either boosting your meme build, or vitality/chaos in general, or have better “granted skill”, like RR
and thus it’s probably seen/used less in memes or regular builds, because there are just better ways to go about that has more impact or better/direct focus in the build or meme
Blood Orb is exceptionally good and the conversions can open up doors, but it’s not something you can throw onto every Chaos or Vitality character and expect to be the best option. Like lots of items out there, it shines best when used in the right scenario/build that makes the most of it, and when there is no other alternative that would be stronger/more efficient.
I don’t really know how you guys do it. I read dozens of lines of fx of the Items, and I lose grip all the time, so never know what is really better, just FEEL it… ah well.
I need to jump back deeply into the game next week.
But thanx for the inputs, as always.
I forgot: I have not yet really used melee skills or channel skills, as I mostly kite. I usually infect and run. Infect and run. I get through the game easy doing this, speedleveling included. So the orb maybe just fits my playstyle exceptionally well…
‘diving back into the devotion map now’
it’s often the modifiers (bottom stats in blue text) on an item that makes it valuable to a build, often more so than generic %dmg or conversion (since you can get those elsewhere)
say i wanted to do a “srs” build, and wanted to do chaos blackwater cocktail, cool there is medal that converts fire to chaos so now my other slots are free
then you say, “cool there is this here offhand that lets you global convert dmg too so you can add meme fire devos - while it boosts your chaos dmg a lot”
then i say, true, but, i could also use this offhand 
massively direct dmg boost my cocktails
and then use belt and ring to convert fire devos, at 0 build loss
other srs build could be Doom Bolt, it has a dedicated chaos offhand that adds irreplaceable Doom Bolt bonuses Blood Orb just can’t compete with
ok, “then what about a meme”?
chaos stun jacks, lightnign conversion is har… - has a conduit and can thus use a better offhand that boosts stun jacks directly or applies RR
chaos blade spirits? - we can do that with Rah’zin while still benefitting from melee dmg
chaos trozan sky shards (before conduit existed), see now you’re talking - buuut if we’re really meming we probably wanna use a roldaris offhand still, since +points for TSS is hard enough to get on chaos items and Blood Orb doesn’t boost Arcanist
there is probably just so few instances where even as a meme you’re not better off with a modifier specific item to directly dmg boost or bonus modify the skill itself you’re meming
Chaos Wind Devils and Chaos Storm Totems could possibly be one of the better uses/stuff with elemental dmg that doesn’t have a conduit/direct conversion modifiers
the offhand/shield/weapon it replaces just needs to not have so valuable a skill mod that it makes it worthwhile to use Blood Orb
