Level 90 Explosive Arrow Totem Champion^3.21

Notes

3.21   300%+ IIR 15% IIQ MAGIC FIND EA BALLISTA CHAMPION INTO END GAME RUTHLESS GUIDE V1.2

I started making this to guide myself in ruthless for 3.21 and then it just morphed into this.  

This build is very tanky, has great dps, even distribution of stats for easy gearing, and has access to a lot of resist nodes which helps us to gear the IIR pieces much more easily.  Overall one of the best builds for ruthless IMO.


SKILLS, PASSIVES, ITEMS AND LEVELING 

There are different passive trees, item sets, and skill sets in this POB. When switching between sets, make sure to do it in all 3 tabs (Tree, Skills, Items).

For leveling, start with Precise Technique then switch to Elemental Overload once you get there.  I will be leveling with Splitting / Shattering Steel.

End game setups:

Lightning coil setup - Cheaper, elemental ailment immune.  Slightly more squishy, weaker to chaos.  More DPS. 

Determination setup - More expensive. Tankier, less DPS.


DPS CALCULATION OF EXPLOSION (MAXIMUM SUSTAINABLE FUSES)

POB does not calculate the actual dps of explosive arrow's explosion on the side panel correctly, which can adversely affect your decisions.  The "Average Damage" is just the explosion damage [dmg], not explosion DPS [dmg/sec].  
The "Full DPS" option in the skills section just multiplies the average damage of the explosion with the attack rate, which isn't correct at all.  For this reason, do not ever enable Full DPS, it will just confuse you.

If you aren't reaching max 20 arrows before the explosion, the dps is simply Average Dmg [dmg] / Fuse Duration [sec].  When your attack rate stacks the max of 20 arrows faster than the fuse duration, you will need to calculate what the actual DPS is.    

For this reason I have been calculating the DPS manually using the below method.  This assumes you have all your ballista totems up and you are reaching the "Maximum Sustainable Fuses" of 20 in less than the fuse duration, which you should be with 6 totems and Quill Rain.  

Total DPS [dmg/sec] = EA Explosion DPS [dmg/sec]  +  Total DoT DPS [dmg/sec] 

Total DPS [dmg/sec] = Average Damage [dmg] / (fuseLimit [20] / (hitChance * attackSpeed * totemLimit) )    +    Total DoT DPS [dmg/sec]
			
This will give you a closer number to the actual dps.



POB knows about this and should be getting fixed.  Issue tracker: https://github.com/PathOfBuildingCommunity/PathOfBuilding/pull/5432




Below you'll find a general outline for each stage of mapping and order of purchasing items.  It's by no means a concrete outline; adjust your purchases based off supply, needs, or if you find great deals.

CHEAP ITEMS TO BUY FIRST - FIRST MAPS (T1-T5, Lvl 80)

Cheap Rares / Cheap Supports / Cheap Skill Gems - Fix resists -- try to get a chest piece with cold res so you don't have to mess with your resists too much when you get the big MF pieces (Greed's Embrace has cold res on it).  
					Start leveling gems in your 6 socket weapon swap!  Buy extra EA's to level to double corrupt for later.  
					Be sure to look at both skill sets for gems you need ( !! some don't need to be leveled).

Quill Rain -- HUGE DPS, need to get this as soon as you can afford it. Get to 6 sockets & 5 links it if you can (no need to 6L) !!!!!Do not buy low iLvl base!!!!! -  Proj speed does increase dps a little so try to get a high roll.

Rat's Nest  -  DPS, movespeed, and IIR, solid choice -  Can also find a decent rare helmet with IIR

Sundance  -  DPS, movespeed, and IIR, solid choice.  Can also find decent rare boots with IIR

Decent Rarity Rings & Amulet  -  IIR or double IIR mods required, try to get ones with lightning resist (this is important for when you get the big MF pieces), any other good mods a bonus especially resists

Decent Quiver -- Resistance needed here, one Lightning/Cold to attacks mod needed here or elsewhere for EE, Attack speed good, Proj Speed good, Life excellent, Dmg with bows excellent, DoT multi amazing

Decent Gloves -- Resistance needed here, one Lightning/Cold to attacks mod needed here or elsewhere for EE, IIR or double IIR mods required, Attack speed good, Life excellent

Decent Belt  -  Use the slot to fix remaining resistances, Life excellent, Ele dmg with attacks excellent.  Don't count on this belt too much for your resists as we will be getting a String of Servitude later.

Gold Flask to pop when killing rares/uniques



Expected DPS at this point:  ~500,000+ TOTAL DPS  against standard bosses  

Expected IIR at this point: 150%+ IIR




PRIORITY LIST FOR BIG TICKET IIR ITEMS - MF YELLOW -> RED MAPS   (T6-T13+, LVL 81-90)

Expensive Supports / Skitterbots / Defiance Banner (Determination build) / Purity of Elements (Lightning coil build)   -  If not going Lightning coil route, wait to get Determination 


As you purchase the below items, you may need to find better IIR Rings and Amulet with better resists or different resists

Replica Stampede or Stampede -- We need this to use negate the downsides of Greed's Embrace and Aurseize.  I put the Disciple of the Unyielding anoint for more survivability + little bit dmg.

Greed's Embrace -- Be sure to have 2 quicksilver flasks when you use this, otherwise you'll be slow as molasses

Aurseize -- Very rare item, will be hard to find and expensive.  

String of Servitude (75% rarity)   -- expensive.  No real good alternative for belt.


Expected DPS at this point:  ~800,000 DPS  - 1,000,000 TOTAL DPS  against standard bosses  

Expected IIR / IIQ at this point: 300%+ IIR  10%+ IIQ




PRIORITY FOR BIG TICKET DPS ITEMS (T14-T16 MAPS / PINNACLE BOSSING, LVL91-95)

Emberwake -- This is a very cheap dps ring you can get immediately.

Lightning Coil (Lightning coil build) - Our defensive layer to physical.  

Malevolence (Lightning coil build) - Big dps.  This is possible to fit in on the determination build.  You will need to follow the lightning coil passive tree to make it work, and drop defiance banner / unbound ailments.

Wilma's Requital (Determination build)--  Shouldn't be too expensive.  Great DPS item and allows us to get the keystone on west side without having to travel there, and to drop precision.   Need regret orbs now most likely... 
				!!!!!!  Precision should no longer be necessary -- Start preparing for its removal.  !!!!!!! 
				I know people use devouring diadem, but I'm expecting the drop rate to be nerfed.  I think this is a great alternative that I could fit in.

Determination (Determination build) -- Replaces precision.  Of course this will be insanely expensive, but you dont want to start dieing and losing a ton of XP so this should be high priority.  
				To run this aura, we need the mana reservation mastery node via Dynamo near the center and lifetap on explosive and ensnaring arrow!  If you get reservation efficiency with skitterbots enchantment on your helmet, you don't need this mastery anymore, freeing 3 passive points which is definitely worth it!
				No longer need enduring mana flask.    

The Taming - Just a solid ring for ruthless with all the resists and dmg.  It frees up other rare slots from requiring resists, making it much easier to gear in Ruthless.  

Polaric Devastation - This ring allows us to remove infernal cry and has some resists to help us gear the below items.  We can switch to enduring cry for endurance charges.

Excellent Rare Body Armour (6L)  - 6th link is a very large DPS increase.  Find an excellent rare to 6L or a good 6L base to make your own --   Spell Suppression needed here, Life excellent, Chaos resistance amazing.  

Dyadian Dawn  --   No brainer

Excellent Rare Amulet  -  Intelligence needed here or elsewhere most likely, Lightning/Cold to attacks needed here or elsewhere for EE, Life excellent, Ele dmg with attacks excellent, DoT multi amazing, +skills godlike

Excellent Rare Quiver  -  Lightning resistance needed here or elsewhere, Lightning/Cold to attacks needed here or elsewhere for EE, Accuracy good if you need it, Attack speed good, Life excellent, Dmg with bows excellent, DoT multi amazing.  !!!!Do not get extra projectile!!!!

Excellent Rare Boots -  Spell Suppression needed here, Life excellent, Chaos resistance amazing, 30% movespeed amazing

Excellent Rare Gloves  -  Spell Suppression needed here, Lightning/Cold to attacks needed here or elsewhere for EE, Accuracy good if you need it, Life excellent,  Attack speed excellent, Chaos resistance amazing

Unnatural Instinct  -- Very rare, but amazing

Rain of Splinters - very hard to get, just swap to LMP/GMP for mapping, you should be doing more than enough dps

If you find any worthwhile jewels go ahead and use them.  Needs Life and 2 damage mods preferably.



Expected DPS:  ~3M minimum - 4.5M+ fully buffed/debuffed TOTAL DPS against guardian/pinnacle bosses



UBERS (LVL 95+) 

Just check the sets for the goals of this section.  Not expecting to get to this point really, but nice to have goals.





This is as far as I got with this guide.  Good luck!