12 replies to this topic

[ProzaicMuze]

(NEXT GUIDE: Spirit Barrage Witch Doctor)

I'm back with another guide! If you missed my last guide for a Bola Shot Demon Hunter, you can find it here:

Thread | Preview | Build Guide

This next guide is the first theme build focusing on the Hand of Ytar rune for Lashing Tail Kick. By stacking spirit regeneration and -LTK items you can adopt a pseudo-ranged playstyle. Very relevant if you're interested in the possible changes available from the PTR. I happen to be using the 4-piece Inna's Bonus for mostly free Sweeping Wind, but you can swap this for Wave of Light if you lack the gear. Feedback and/or criticism is welcomed and appreciated as always

Feedback and/or criticism is welcomed and appreciated as always

GAMEPLAY PREVIEW

HAND OF YTAR BUILD GUIDE

Build Calculator - http://us.battle.net...XgQS!UYd!ZcbaZY

Full Inna's Set - http://d3up.com/b/192143

You can find my channel at www.youtube.com/ProzaicMuze

[ProzaicMuze]

'dem monks and their vows of silence. . .

[vioche]

cool alternative, however people these days are mainly intrested in whats moste damage/efficiency and i havent tried this build but i doubt its very fast paced

[Faesrollvtwo]

Looks pretty boring to me, nice video tho.

[rathgood]

ProzaicMuze, on 17 January 2013 - 11:04 AM, said:

This next guide is the first theme build focusing on the Hand of Ytar rune for Lashing Tail Kick. Very relevant if you're interested in the possible changes available in the PTR. Be sure to watch the Gameplay Preview first to familiarize yourself before watching the Build Guide.

I was hoping to have this guide out last Friday, but the YouTube powers that be had a few questions about the music in my videos (they needed me to identify 'em) so I had to wait until they was happy to start uploading again. We're should be good to go now!

I'll be releasing the Witch Doctor guide on schedule this Friday or Saturday. Feedback and/or criticism is welcomed and appreciated as always

One thing I noticed is that you did not mention is that shields can come with up to -5 to LTK.  This is a major item as one can get a shield with All-res, Crit chance, -5 LTK, vit, dex, and additional stats (including stun, chill on hit, or Prime res).  This provides some additional protection allowing the user to "absorb" more hits and opens up a more varied selection for the MH weapon.  Overall, I really like the build you provided.  Just tried it out and had a blast.

[ProzaicMuze]

vioche, on 19 January 2013 - 03:38 PM, said:

cool alternative, however people these days are mainly intrested in whats moste damage/efficiency and i havent tried this build but i doubt its very fast paced

Faesrollvtwo, on 19 January 2013 - 04:52 PM, said:

Looks pretty boring to me, nice video tho.

You've both got a point. It can be slow in certain situations and to some it will be incredibly boring, but I happen to find the standard cookie-cutter builds soul-numbing. Hopefully one of the many other builds I've got planned will pique your interest

rathgood, on 19 January 2013 - 07:50 PM, said:

One thing I noticed is that you did not mention is that shields can come with up to -5 to LTK.  This is a major item as one can get a shield with All-res, Crit chance, -5 LTK, vit, dex, and additional stats (including stun, chill on hit, or Prime res).  This provides some additional protection allowing the user to "absorb" more hits and opens up a more varied selection for the MH weapon.  Overall, I really like the build you provided.  Just tried it out and had a blast.

This was somewhat intentional as the next couple of Monk builds will feature a shield. I like to avoid having too many commonalities between my builds. In retrospect, I probably should have included it on the list of LTK items and if I end up needing to completely update the guide after the patch I will. I've had several people point out that they had varying levels of success with a shield and it is especially helpful for tanking higher MP levels that normally would be rough.

Glad you enjoyed, though

[inkcheese]

You call it Ion Cannon. I call it the Buddhist Palm. I wish it were more than just slow though and hide wider area. I like esoteric builds like this. I actually built a Backlash build way back when, it kills trash really fast but fails against certain elites and most bosses.

I'd actually like to try this build but I don't have the gold to do it. I don't play as much as I used too because reality has biting a lot more lately. Question is, are -X LTK items expensive on certain slots?

[rathgood]

inkcheese, on 21 January 2013 - 12:02 AM, said:

You call it Ion Cannon. I call it the Buddhist Palm. I wish it were more than just slow though and hide wider area. I like esoteric builds like this. I actually built a Backlash build way back when, it kills trash really fast but fails against certain elites and most bosses.

I'd actually like to try this build but I don't have the gold to do it. I don't play as much as I used too because reality has biting a lot more lately. Question is, are -X LTK items expensive on certain slots?

I've found the the weapon is by far the cheapest one to pick up.  SoJ and Mara's can be expensive depending on how well they are rolled (settled for a Mara's with no crit/AS/Crit damage).  Skullgrasp is a wild card.  The biggest Pain is searching through dozens of pages of Mara's and Skull Grasps in order to find the ones with -4/5 LTK.

[ProzaicMuze]

inkcheese, on 21 January 2013 - 12:02 AM, said:

I'd actually like to try this build but I don't have the gold to do it. I don't play as much as I used too because reality has biting a lot more lately. Question is, are -X LTK items expensive on certain slots?

I mentioned this in the guide, but I snagged each item for 2mil or less. If you have the patience to peruse the AH pages, you can find an affordable weapon and -LTK gear

As pointed out, the weapon/shield is usually the cheapest, though.

Also, just posted the next guide for a Spirit Barrage Witch Doctor

[inkcheese]

Unfortunately 2M is a lot for me. lol

I guess I'm going shield.

[ProzaicMuze]

If you're US, look up Inna's Reach with 300 Dex, Lifesteal and -4 LTK. There are a handful of 1200+ ranging from 100k bids to 1mil buyouts. If you're willing to sit on one you can get them rather cheap.

If you drop Lifesteal there is one for 5k. As in 5,000 gold. Just fiddle with the numbers a bit and you'll find one you can afford

[rathgood]

ProzaicMuze, on 22 January 2013 - 12:42 AM, said:

If you're US, look up Inna's Reach with 300 Dex, Lifesteal and -4 LTK. There are a handful of 1200+ ranging from 100k bids to 1mil buyouts. If you're willing to sit on one you can get them rather cheap.

If you drop Lifesteal there is one for 5k. As in 5,000 gold. Just fiddle with the numbers a bit and you'll find one you can afford

I got a 1400+ DPS one with -5 LTK and a decent 3K bleed (27% application or so) for sub 250K right after 1.0.6 went live.  So the higher DPS ones should be out there somewhere.

Also ProzaicMuze, have you experimented with WotHF: Windforce Flurry as another ranged option to compliment Ion Cannon?  Also, do you know if Ion Cannon can proc the set bonus of the Shenlong set?  I'd be an interesting build if it could.  Would need more Spirit regen to make up for the faster Attack speed and lack of -4/5 LTK, but would bring a larger ranged option.

[ProzaicMuze]

rathgood, on 23 January 2013 - 03:13 PM, said:

Also ProzaicMuze, have you experimented with WotHF: Windforce Flurry as another ranged option to compliment Ion Cannon?  Also, do you know if Ion Cannon can proc the set bonus of the Shenlong set?  I'd be an interesting build if it could.  Would need more Spirit regen to make up for the faster Attack speed and lack of -4/5 LTK, but would bring a larger ranged option.

I have, actually. The problem with Windforce Flurry is the animation is unbearably slow (have to wait for 3rd attack) if you're not dual-wielding as is the projectile. In the time it takes to launch ONE of these, you can have 3+ Ion Cannon blasts. It's funny you should mention the Shenlong set because I was going to address this exact problem by combining Windforce Flurry with the attack proc.

The Shenlong spirit blast is triggered by attacks rather than hits, so yes, attacking with Ion Cannon can proc it even if you're not hitting anything. Also, if I recall correctly, the blast pierces targets AND scales off your damage. Don't quote me on that though ;P

Something you could try, though, is drop a few Ion Cannons to slow monsters enough to comfortably get the 3rd attack off for Windforce Flurry.