Ultimate Hardcore 2-Handed Ranged Sorceress: Dreadscorched Marksman

[JY_626]

Build Intro:

Aether-Flavored Fire Strike? A caster moonlighting as a gunner? Just the sort of intriguing details which puts me in the mood for a bit of theorycrafting.

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Pros & Cons

PROS

1. Above average crowd clear speed
2. Respectable default weapon attack damage
3. Maxed out / close to maxed out attack speed & casting speed
4. Fast rate of attacks ensure great sustainability in the form of life steal
5. High Mobility

CONS

1. Not as damaging when compared to masteries that are more dedicated to ranged weapons
2. Requires a fair bit of kiting and piloting to shine
3. Has a rather aggressive playstyle for a build with suboptimal defensive stats

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Leveling

From levels 1 - 94, I used this pre-existing guide as a point of reference (And to clarify, I did indeed play on hardcore): DW Firestrike Purifier: A build diary from Normal to 170 Glad

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Before proceeding, note that I distribute my skill points at each level up using the following ratios:

1. Level 2 to 50- 1 Arcanist / 2 Demo
2. Level 51 to 90- 1 Arcanist / 1 Demo

Here is a sample of my skill tree at level 80 - 90 ish: Sorcerer, Level 100 (GD 1.1.9.7) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator

• Prioritize investing points into the Fire Strike line before anything else. DO NOT start to put a single point into the Arcanist tree until you are done

• Max out Flame Touch and begin placing points into the Arcanist Tree from now on. Aim for Level 15 Arcanist Mastery and make sure to follow the ratios above for point distribution

• Focus on Blast Shield & Thermite Mine, while leveling up the Arcanist Tree. For the Arcanist, you want to get Mirror of Ereoctos first, move on to Maiven’s Sphere then gradually pump Overload

• Move onto Hellfire Mine next. For the Arcanist, if you are done with Overload, then start to increase your Inner Focus steadily

• After that, place points into Vindictive Flames. For the Arcanist, you can just focus on maxing out the Mastery bar if you are done with Inner Focus

From this point on, place points wherever you desire. I recommend building up Maiven’s Sphere and Reckless Power until you hit Level 94

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Gear wise, equip whatever fire damage pistols / 2 handed ranged weapon you can find and remember to check the vendors while offloading your inventory. Prioritize resistances on every other armor piece. Note that if you choose to level with a 2 handed ranged weapon, then you can pick Searing Might as a modifier in the Fire Strike Line.

The Relics I used to enable dual wielding are Gunslinger’s Talisman, Marauder’s Talisman & Plunderer’s Talisman

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For devotions, I used the following path while leveling:

1. Green Crossroad
2. Spider
3. Red Crossroad
4. Mantis
5. Hydra
6. Solael’s Witchblade (Bind Eldritch Fire to Fire Strike)
7. Blue Crossroad
8. Sailor’s Guide
9. Refund Blue Crossroad at Spirit Guide
10. Behemoth (Bind Giant’s Blood to Flame Touched)
11. Ghoul (4 Nodes only, Bind Ghoulish Hunger to Vindictive Flame)
12. Revenant (4 Nodes only just for ADCTH)
13. Fiend (4 Nodes only for +Fire and Chaos Damage)
14. Magi (Bind Fissure to Thermite Mine)
15. Refund Green Crossroad at Spirit Guide
16. Ulzuin’s Flame (5 Nodes only towards the right path)

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Just remember to respec your skill points and devotions at level 94 if needed and follow the rest of this guide.

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Build

Sorcerer, Level 100 (GD 1.1.9.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator : Final Build

Attribute points- Physique /85 Cunning /22 Spirit /0

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this is a pure 2 handed ranged auto attack build, but the truth is that it really isn’t as Callidor’s Tempest is one half of the build’s offensive setup next to Fire Strike

While the damage might not reach close to the numbers which a Purifier can deal out, it is still a very considerable amount as that this build operates with attack and cast speeds that are close to maximum capacity. Not only does this mean that it is pretty easy to deal more consistent damage during the tiniest of openings, but it also means that the character is a life steal Machine- Both Fire Strike and Callidor’s Tempest have “% Weapon Damage” Attributes (For those who don’t know, Life Steal only works if an ability has % Weapon Damage for the most part)

So to get to the point, Fire Strike is best used against Faraway hostiles / Bosses and Callidor’s Tempest comes into play when your character is being rushed by mobs. When played aggressively, the sorceress will more than likely top up her health at a quick rate. The only considerations are named enemies who can outpace your life leeching. As such, it is vital to keep kiting / teleporting backwards when confronting certain foes or hanging around more defensive obstructions to create distance for ranged engagements. While playing, it is always a good idea to be aware of your cooldowns for blast shield & Mirror of Ereoctes - Go full defensive (that means keep moving around) if any of them have triggered and only continue your attacks once both of them are off cooldown.

For the purpose of comparison, another build which resembles mine the closest is [1.1.2.5] Aether Fire Strike Defiler (c) (sr) . Have a look at it and make any adjustments to suit your liking. Personally, I felt that building around the Dreadscorcher rifle was easier with a sorcerer…or at least that was due to the fact that my gear selection was meant for casters in the first place.

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Devotions

1.Green Crossroads

2.Spider

3.Blue Crossroads

4.Lizard

5.Widow (Bind to Fire Strike)

6.Red Crossroads

7.Jackal

8.Ghoul (Bind to Blast Shield)

9.Kraken

10.Sailor’s Guide

11.Eel

12.Spear of the Heavens (Bind to Reckless Power)

13.Purple Crossroads

14.Empty Throne

15.Hydra

16.Refund Green, Blue & Purple Crossroads

17.Behemoth (4 Nodes Only, Bind to Iskandra’s Elemental Exchange)

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Final Words:

Overall, a pretty fun build to play but it isn’t that close to being top tier. If I were to rank it, the build would likely fall along the ranges of C- to B ; It’s not meh, but it ain’t great either, just good. I really did like the idea of a fragile looking sorcerer who can play a mean ranged game and handle herself well when things start getting into her personal space. The only minor nitpick I had was that the Fire Strike projectile did not turn green to reflect the damage type conversion, Because I seem to remember that the Drain Essence Skill does change color if a certain set was equiped.

[AetherLock]

Hello, not sure if you still play this game or not. I guess I am going to be the first to comment on this build and I am going to Necro this old post because I am currently working on a new build just like this with the release of the new grim dawn update recently.
I am also currently leveling up a 2-handed ranged sorceress because there doesnt seem to be any builds focusing on this class for 2-handed ranged. I actually considered a spellbinder combination also, but I think the firestrike ability in demo coupled with the resist shred to fire outweighs the aether resist shred in necromancer. That being said, I think the reason this build is so “not great, just good” as you put it is that you put too much emphasis into converting almost solely to aether, rather than using Arcanists natural Aether and Fire synergy through built-in skills such as CT, Reckless Power and Devastation. Not to mention the crazy fire buffs you get from Demo’s skills. By utilizing both damage types you now have dual skills one from each class that do fire resist shred. Aether resist shred can be obtained quite simply through a few pieces of easy to farm select gear and a few devotion procs as well taking this “not great, just good” build to something much more survivable and heavy hitting. As a matter of fact, there are much better suited sets than the Pieces you have chosen here in the game specifically for exploiting this dual damage synergy with these two classes Specifically, although you wont get the full set bonuses as those sets are typically for melee. Just losing the full set bonus though doesnt make using them alongside a 2-handed ranged option any less functional. I assume you chose the pieces you have in this build because of the conversion to Aether, rather than the synergy. Let me know if you would like for me to post a link to the build once I am done with it and let you know how it worked out? I am should post it relatively soon as I have the character to around level 50 now and already acquired almost every piece I think I am going to need for end-game through other characters and sitting in stash waiting. I love this game.

[Gnomish_Inquisition]

@AetherLock

Devastation.

“requires a caster offhand”

also, the issue here isn’t the conversion focus or “not utilizes native dual synergy”
it’s going fire strike + spam CT and going fire strike with no wps
it’s simply 2 conflicting skills/approaches at its core, and neither of them is then “focused” in proper because of it
*there is also absolutely nothing wrong with focusing in a single dmg type, in fact it’s pretty “meta” to do so, since it makes it easier to boost in general - and there isn’t necessarily any “huge” benefit to going multi dmg, which also impacts RR and additional investment required for a build

[AetherLock]

Yes, I missed that part about the mastery skill requiring an offhand, however devastation can be procced via item as well, in this instance being a ranged build specifically and focused on Aether the Wrathsteel Repeater does this without the need for an offhand.
Yes many “Meta” builds do narrow damage down to one type and that is one way to do it, but not the only way, especially when dealing with skills and buffs that offer “neighboring” synergy like arcanists skills do. It seems to me like just a waste of an automatic buff to just leave all that damage on the table or waste item slots converting it when its not really all that necessary.
As far as this being a single damage type conversion build it would have made more sense to me to go Necro for a Spellbinder, rather than Demo, where the natural damage type is already Aether without having to convert to anything and also includes a resist shred skill for aether just like demo’s thermite mine does. The difference being its an aura rather than a button press so saves the headache of constantly having to activate it or rely on a cooldown. This would also alleviate the issue with “no wps” since Necro has two.
As far as there not being a huge benefit to multi-dmg and impacting RR, which I am assuming you meant RR (Shred), there really isnt all that much investment needed when you are using “Paired” damage types that most gear specifically designed to be used by that combination of masteries provides in spades. Numerous enemies in the game (especially bosses and celestials) have very high natural resistance to certain damage types by their very nature, even with maxed RR Shred it is difficult to put some of these enemies down. Having a high secondary damage type that the enemy is not resistant to and for which you also have good RR Shred makes more sense to me. Especially when that damage type is “paired” on a mastery or combination of masteries and buffing it is done automatically through increasing points in the same skill your already buffing for your primary damage type. If your having to convert the damage to something else, you are always losing something in the conversion, but thats just my opinion, take it or leave it. Some of the bonuses to certain skills from the gear (Callidors Tempest as an example) may not exactly line up with the way you may want to play a certain build, but if you are trying to gear for CT it then makes no sense why you would want to choose ranged as your primary weapon anyway. Again, just my opinion, but I hope I have made some valid points regardless.

[Gnomish_Inquisition]

@AetherLock

Aether the Wrathsteel Repeater

you’re kidding right?
you realize that would ruin the build? - and that item proc has 0 relation to class skills?

@AetherLock

it seems to me like just a waste of an automatic buff to just leave all that damage on the table or waste item slots converting it when its not really all that necessary.

it’s not left on the table
and yes it can be necessary “hence why it’s a meta approach”

@AetherLock

go Necro for a Spellbinder

this is like the 3rd time you’re making such a mention so i’m starting to think you’re not realizing what this is about; it is a ather firestrike build; you need demo for that

@AetherLock

here really isnt all that much investment needed when you are using “Paired” damage types that most gear specifically designed to be used by that combination of masteries provides in spades

again, incorrect, it matters for devos, proc assignments and yes also gear because it mean you might not be able to pick optimal gear chasing equal dmg boosters

@AetherLock

even with maxed RR Shred it is difficult to put some of these enemies down

it is not, we’re killing celestials with over 100 res fine on mono dmg builds, split dmg doesn’t really/necessarily help you here as you think

@AetherLock

a high secondary damage type that the enemy is not resistant to

enemies can be resistant to more than 1 dmg type, so going halfsies on 2 doesn’t necessarily help you overall

@AetherLock

you are always losing something in the conversion

you’re not always, you lose dots on some builds, that’s about it, but it’s not always a significant loss because the direct dmg can have the potential to make up for it

@AetherLock

but if you are trying to gear for CT it then makes no sense why you would want to choose ranged as your primary weapon anyway

while it doesn’t apply to this build; ranged weapons is literally the best weapon for some Callidor Tempest build
i’m going to take it as you don’t really know how/what a skill can scale on and in this case doesn’t realize what Callidor can scale with?

the overall sentiment is simply you don’t seem to notice this is an X build, and are approaching it as if it’s Y build/don’t realize that most of what you’re suggesting would stop it being X build and turn it into a totally different Y build, which makes it meaningless/the build stop existing

[AetherLock]

Nope, not kidding at all actually, especially since I wasn’t suggesting using that weapon for this build at all. I was pointing out that you could get devastation without having to have an offhand in a build, any build for that matter, not just this one.

As far as the rest of your answers go, some of it I agree with, some of it I dont. Specifically, having a secondary damage type does indeed help with damage resistant monsters, all the way through ultimate in the campaign. What you are suggesting in mentioning “meta” builds is for people who are doing builds to farm the highest shards in SR and end level crucible on ultimate. I never argued that this wasnt the case and in most instances with most builds focusing on a single damage type does help, you are right. This builds OP wasnt designing this build to do that, nor does he mention that being the goal for this build or even possible for this build anywhere in the details or presentation of this build. So in essence they are talking about running this build through the normal campaign all the way up to ultimate in harcore. Not SR farming, Not Crucible farming, NOT a META build as you keep wanting to point out.
Yes, enemies can be resistant to more than one damage type, but you are absolutely NOT going “halfsies” by buffing paired complimentary damage types . You are not splitting the damage in half at any point, you are actually raising the damage of both types equally through expenditure of points in the skills. Does gear change the end result of the total damage applied, of course it does, because a weapon usually only has one flat damage type. There are of course exceptions to this as well and there are some weapons that have more than one type of flat damage on them.
Yes you do ALWAYS lose something in conversion… Whether it be lost buffs for the damage type you converted from or loss of impact from one damage type that isnt getting buffed as part of the conversion, there is always some amount of damage that gets basically ignored because it is no longer the primary focus or becomes irrelevant as far as total damage numbers go. DOTS not converting is the perfect example of this, thanks for including that as an example.
Lastly, you make a pretty bold assumption at the end there about what you assume I may or may not know about this game. Suffice it to say that you seem to love extolling the idea of “Meta” over and over again, as if that is the only way to play, or the only reason to play this game or design a build. As if no other opinion on theorycrafting matters besides the idea that only single damage meta builds are vauluable, useful, or the only way to make a good build. That absolutely is NOT the case in any way shape or form for numerous builds including Pet builds, Retal builds and several other examples, but I digress. You just keep excoriating me for making a suggestion and trying to open up a dialogue with the original OP (not you) about their build, which they (again, still not you) invited by by including this line in the details of the build… OP - “Have a look at it and make any adjustments to suit your liking.”
But you know, whatever, you do you… If the OP is still active and wants to discuss my ideas, great, if not, thats ok too. Either way I am done with bantering back and forth with you about it. Enjoy the game…

[Gnomish_Inquisition]

@AetherLock

I was pointing out that you could get devastation without having to have an offhand in a build, any build for that matter, not just this one.

no, because it’s not the same,
again, i’m not sure if you’re aware what procs are or them being unlinked from player skills?
hence this weapon is not really granting you devastation; and in no build scenario would it be worth taking “because it has devastation proc”

@AetherLock

is for people who are doing builds to farm the highest shards in SR and end level crucible on ultimate

no, it’s not
again, you seem to misunderstand things or lump them together, and the meta approach is just that because it works throughout

@AetherLock

So in essence they are talking about running this build through the normal campaign

they are not; which is why OP links to an entirely different and separate/specific levelling guide for the levelling process; this is an end build, hence the items it uses, whether or not it clears SR/Crucible or Celestials is not a requirement, but the items and setup it uses are end and advertised as an Ultimate build, not a levelling guide

@AetherLock

but you are absolutely NOT going “halfsies” by buffing paired complimentary damage types . You are not splitting the damage in half at any point, you are actually raising the damage of both types equally through expenditure of points in the skills.

not how things work no

@AetherLock

Yes you do ALWAYS lose something in conversion… Whether it be lost buffs for the damage type you converted from or loss of impact from one damage type that isnt getting buffed as part of the conversion, there is always some amount of damage that gets basically ignored because it is no longer the primary focus or becomes irrelevant as far as total damage numbers go

and again incorrect; which is why the meta approach exists and works (and could be debated as arguably superior)

@AetherLock

DOTS not converting is the perfect example of this, thanks for including that as an example.

which as i also mentioned in most cases become irrelevant

@AetherLock

bold assumption at the end there about what you assume I may or may not know about this game

based on your statements, and continued assertions you’re not giving anything to indicate the contrary; hence the perception/assumptions you create

@AetherLock

As if no other opinion on theorycrafting matters besides the idea that only single damage meta builds are vauluable, useful

not the issue, nor what you’re purely being corrected on, hence the growing perception you have several fundamental understandings, easiest example would be the CT mention, but the devastation proc is grand too

@AetherLock

Pet builds

pet builds are relatively unique in this, which is due to roughly 3 key factors that set them apart from majority of player builds

@AetherLock

Retal builds

yes, retal too, this is why you see some of the stronger retal builds try to pile into 1 basket

@AetherLock

keep excoriating me for making a suggestion

i’m not, i’m pointing out basic flaws in the suggestions/“fundamentally altering this build from X to Y” - which strangely you seem to gloss over multiple times
and then addressing basic mechanical flaws in some of your notions, because it then doesn’t help your suggestions/arguments on top…