Normally, I wouldn’t be posting a build without vigorously testing it against my usual MC Nemesis targets (I don’t use Crucible performance as a measure of viability, and I know people like having builds that don’t have the Crucible hammer waving over their heads), but between my fervor in getting all my Grimarillion builds posted and the loom of FG, I wanted to have this build as part Warlock showcase / part feedback thread.
NOTE: I discussed this briefly with thejaxbrione, and I agree with his sentiment that at its current state, it will be seen as lacking in “the meta,” but with my buildcrafting experience through both Vanilla and Grimarillion, it should be completely fine for those who - like me - much prefer to play MC content and only dabble occasionally in the Crucible, if at all.
Grimtools -
Spark of Reality Chaos Warlock
Sometimes, what really helps developers fine-tune game balance for classes and content is not only knowing what works at the top level, but what nearly works and could work if just a few things were adjusted.
Here are what I see as highlights and lowlights:
- Highlight: Fleshwarped Strikes as an auto-attack as fully converted Chaos damage. 31K Auto-attack damage with Arcane Will and Hungering Void, 84.6K crits with just passive RR, more if you use the more active RR abilities (Manticore + Ravager Helm + Symbol of Solael)
- Lowlight: No WPS abilities outside of Seal of the Void means that this build suffers compared to Nightblade or Necro DW builds that have the advantage of WPS for further damage. You have Flame Torrent and Eye of the Guardian for some AoE damage, but otherwise just having Fleshwarped Strikes won’t put you that much ahead.
- Highlight: Huge amount of flat damage potential for Warlocks thanks to Solael’s Witchblade, Possession, BoD (with Darkblaze amulet) and Fabric of Reality. Combine that with Elemental Balance, Dying God, and substantial OA boosts from Spark of Reality + 23/16 BoD and you have great damage potential.
- Lowlight: You only have around 70% passive RR (35 from Eldritch Fire bound to auto-attack, 15 from Theodin Mace, 10 from Ignaffar Relic, and 10 from Voidheart rings). Manticore applied to DEE adds 13 flat RR, but Ravager Helm and Symbol of Solael require too many inputs to enjoy as an Auto-Attacker.
- Highlight: Damage absorption from Maiven’s + Possession, BoD healing, Ghoul to supplement your 13% ACDTH, and good attack speed for leeching. Good secondary resists, including 72% Slow resistance and 100% Skill Disruption Protection thanks to Possession, DEE for Reduced Physical damage and Nullification for reduced Elemental damage.
- Lowlight: Though you have 36% Physical resistance, low armor might be painful. Low resist overcaps due to need for skill overcaps, low health - as expected from Warlocks - and Hungering Void’s Health drain doesn’t help a naturally squishy class.
It would be great to use Clairvoyant set to get the 3-pc bonus to Fabric of Reality (but I don’t understand the bonus to Second Rite, what would people want that bonus for?), but you would lose Fleshwarped Strikes if you took the weapon, and the Chest slot converts Chaos to Aether, which destroys the ability to use it for Chaos damage.
I also find it odd that Warlocks have Chaos potential due to Fabric of Reality, but with one-two exceptions, all the items that give Fabric of Reality bonuses are designed for Aether, not Chaos. It’s even stranger that Fallen Gods has a melee set for Chaos Nightblade, meaning Arcanist will likely be the weakest class for Chaos in the game, despite having skills that give bonuses to Chaos while other classes have none. Same with Arcane Will - despite very much wanting to overcap it as much as possible due to the weapon skill modifier, the only equipment that gives +Chaos damage and Arcane Will bonuses is the Timewarped Walkers I’m currently using.
While not applicable to this build, I’m also miffed at the Inferno Skill. Due to Spellscourge set, converting 100% Elemental to Physical damage is certainly feasible, and overcapping Inferno would be great for Internal Trauma + flat Physical RR. Except one thing: there’s not a single item in the game that gives Physical damage + bonus to Inferno. What are you going to do with this random Physical RR on this skill?
Hope someone takes up on the build and plays through the MC with it. Hopefully it’s enough to handle even the AoM Nemeses, as Warlocks are certainly rare in the Compendium and it’s nice to add something that should be fully serviceable that can’t be easily obsoleted by another class combo (specifically for Chaos Fleshwarped Strikes, I know there are Aether, Vitality, and even Acid Fleshwarped Strike builds out there)
