Level 99 Doom Blast Elementalist^3.24

Notes

how to level this build, check out indepth pob here:  https://pobb.in/MDG3z7if_67D


What this build excel in and where it doesn't:

This is one of the best early progression builds out there comparable to DD and Cold dot. 

Its main Strenght lies in Mapping, farming Essence specifically, great for expedition, all stationary content. All leaguemechanics are doable but there are better Leaguestart builds for Heist and especially Sanctum. 

The Impending Doom / VFB character is my favourite mapping charactger of all times.

You can do all non Uber pinnacle Bosses on this build, but it takes some getting used too and it only excels at some of them:

Good: Elder / Maven / Eater / Exarch.
Meh: Sirus / Shaper / Uberelder

Bossing requires you to cast on normal Flameblast in the beginng, keep that one up with your curse, and stack Vaal charges.

If you want to pivot to full on Bossing, especially Uber Bossing, id recommend respeccing to a Maw of Mischief ignite character, or something entirely different.




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"Late" Tree vs "Mid" Impending Doom Tree:

The "Mid" Tree picks up Practical application, which makes balancing gear alot easier due to Attributes aswell as Resistances. Unfortunately this tree has two Problems: No Es on kill, aswell as not enough Suppression to Cap 100%.
Thanks to the triggering of the Curses socketed in the Vixens, This Build is very Manacost Hungry. If you go for the "Mid" Tree since you lack Attributes and Res, i would recommend having around 1000 Energy Shield. 
Additional we take the Life mastery "Skill cost life instead of 30% of mana cost", this in combination with the ES will allow us to stomach the skill cost

The "Late" Tree can get away without the Mastery and around 750 ES thanks to this small little "ES on kill" note below "Resourcefullness" , which incidentally gives us the remaining Spell Suppression Chance that we need to fully cap out at 100% Suppression




Random thoughs on  the build:

I will leaguestart in HC TRADE so getting the Vixens gloves wont be a problem.

If you want to start in SSFHC,  i'd use Lightning Conduit of the Heavens as Clear and VFB for singletarget. Through testing, i am feeling most comfortable with the chill  ascendancy (Shaper of Winter)

early on, i'd will run Shaper of Storms before running Mastermind of Discord. Clear with every target beeing shocked, is way better than with exposure that is applied through WoC only on Bosses.
As soon as we hit the "fire exposure on hit" Gloves implicit through eldrich ichor currency, i will respec to Mastermind of Discord and apply Shock through the Focus Shock Ring craft.

As soon as the character feels defensively solid, i would swap out of Shaper of Winter and grap Convergence

In Softcore you can optionally clear with WoC and immediatly take Mastermind of Discord + Convergence for some more Damage and comfy exposure.


As soon as you find a pair of the Vixens in SSF(Copium) i'd swap to Impending Doom for Clear, since it is the bestest build.

Vixens Curse Choice:

There are multiple Choices:

HC - Enfeeble, Flammability, Elemental Weakness/Temporal Chains
SC - Flammability, Elemental Weakness, Enfeeble / Punishment

You can adjust them to your needs, if you wanna be more Tanky or have more damage swap them around.

The Curse linked to your Impending Doom is the filler curse, and will have no effect. (hence why im linking to vulnerability in this pob)



Good early / midgame uniques for Vaal Flameblast:

Thunderfist
Vaal Caress

Those are both escellent Gloves to socket your VFB or Clear skill (in case of thunderfist). Only Downside is you cannot get exposure on hit.


Good endgame weapon would be a wellrolled Rebuke of the Vaal paired with Spellblade if you dont wanna craft a very good rare.
(!!!Remember Spellblade needs to be linked to both Vaal Flameblast aswell as Impending Doom!!!)


Sadism: I do not advice using this support with Vaal Flameblast. The duration penalty is so severe, that  even paired with Cloak of Flames, your ignites going too be super short, and an absolute pain in the ass to refresh, 
		     even with an Arcanist Brand / Curse setup.


Polaric Devestation vs Replica Emberwake: Same kinda applies here, even though you can upset the duration penalty of replica emberwake, i would much rather Map and play with Polaric instead. 
																    3.5 + seconds feels really comfy and is what i would aim for.


Generall Tips on using Vaal Flameblast:

Early on you will want to use Vaal Flameblast on tanky rares you encounter in maps, as well as of course the Map bosses, Essences,  Betrayal and so on.
Always make sure to keep Cursing the Enemy (either through Arcanist brand or Impending Doom), to refresh the big ignite.