I understand what dps means . . . and a good part of what amps effective dps (which is what matters) in any game is having damage going out to multiple targets simultaneously. More targets ticking = higher effective dps. You already talked about the shyte range of bats -- which means they hit consistently less targets. And, worse, if there are say 2 packs within 40 yds of you but separated by 80 yds from each other . . . with bats run to one pack, do damage, run to second pack do damage vs Cloud -- drop cloud on both. Target numbers quickly overwhelm the extra damage. I'm pretty sure those two packs will die quicker with Cloud than Bats netting higher dps in the process. Against the same three targets with all of them optimally standing next to you -- yes bats has higher effective dps. If there's more on your screen not next to you and or the mobs like to move (i.e. in over 75% of real game conditions) not so much.
Nothing for nothing, the life return of Bats versus Acid Rain with high LoH is a miserable comparison as well -- Acid Rain coefficient just abuses anything Bats can do.
The only thing that makes this even a semi-reasonable conversation is the fact that it's an MP10 build where mana will come into play. Bats mana efficiency over Acid Rain at MP10 may be enough to overcome all of the range issues in that it will have higher uptime due to it not ooming you as fast. In MP4-5 and below with reasonable dps, this isn't an issue or a conversation really.
As stated earlier, this build's weak against ranged mobs. As for the melee - the range (and radius) doesnt matter. Cause without pets mobs will run to you by themself. In contrast, AC at high MP just doesnt cut it. Not enough damage, too big mana cost. All targets are dying equally bad. So imo this build should used in coop. With DH for example. I'm not a fan of bats and i love AC at low MP but...
At lower MP levels waiting for mobs to run to you is downtime and/or you moving and running to them is ramp-up time for bats. So, even melee mobs, the range matters imho.
For MP10, I understand mana concerns will likely tip the scales toward bats though honestly MP10 is a hugely diminishing return in any case. An Acid Cloud build works very well through MP4 even using PtV. At MP5-7, AC still works very well but need to take out PtV and put in VQ. MP8-10, yeah a Cloud build likely begins to hurt -- but honestly anything at MP8-10 is pretty damn inefficient -- technically speaking anything above MP1 is pretty damn inefficient
Yes, as I stated in OP, this build is intended for MP9-10 and nothing else simply because the mana efficiency is better. AC or Bears are best for MP0-7 or 8.
At MP10, you're not trying to kill 2-3 packs at a time, just 1, so this becomes a more viable option as you have both stated.
So, I couldn't quite get the Cloud of Bats build to work: 1) no ranged DPS and 2) Still OOM, just slower. So I scrapped it and looked for other ways to get high DPS with range and not run out of mana.
Passives: Jungle Fortitude, Pierce the Veil, and Fetish Sycophants
To make this work you need about 120-130K unbuffed DPS, ~1500 LoH or some LoH with LS. Also, you need attack speed gear.
Basically, manitou plus locusts do most of the DPS - it's not bursty like bears, but you can sustain the DPS. Dogs hold the line for spamming firebomb (which with the AoE does a lot of DPS and heals you like crazy if you have LS). Finally, because of AS and spamming firebomb, you get up 7-8 fetishes per elite. They further hold the line/soak damage, but also do 20% damage a hit, so when you have 7-8 out it's like having a Gargantuan's DPS (yes they run in and out, so DPS is sporadic that's why 7-8 are needed to get to 100% more damage being put out).
I like this build for a few reasons: 1) Rarely OOM - must accidently do 2 Locusts or 2 Manitous to run out, 2) Pick up radius is a thing of the past, 3) High sustained DPS, 4) Hardly take ranged hits anymore cause all the pets get in the way, 4) You can run this build on any MP and still do just fine (no noticeable farming time differences in MP 1-5).
Nothing for nothing, the life return of Bats versus Acid Rain with high LoH is a miserable comparison as well -- Acid Rain coefficient just abuses anything Bats can do.
The only thing that makes this even a semi-reasonable conversation is the fact that it's an MP10 build where mana will come into play. Bats mana efficiency over Acid Rain at MP10 may be enough to overcome all of the range issues in that it will have higher uptime due to it not ooming you as fast. In MP4-5 and below with reasonable dps, this isn't an issue or a conversation really.
D3Progress: http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/emberos-1608/Emberos/51824579
For MP10, I understand mana concerns will likely tip the scales toward bats though honestly MP10 is a hugely diminishing return in any case. An Acid Cloud build works very well through MP4 even using PtV. At MP5-7, AC still works very well but need to take out PtV and put in VQ. MP8-10, yeah a Cloud build likely begins to hurt -- but honestly anything at MP8-10 is pretty damn inefficient -- technically speaking anything above MP1 is pretty damn inefficient
D3Progress: http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/emberos-1608/Emberos/51824579
At MP10, you're not trying to kill 2-3 packs at a time, just 1, so this becomes a more viable option as you have both stated.
So, try this:
LC - Firebomb + Ghost Bomb
RC - Locust Swarm + Searing Locusts
1 - Zombie Dogs + Leeching Beasts
2 - Spirit Walk + Healing Journey
3 - Soul Harvest + Vengeful Spirit
4 - Spirit Barrage + Manitou
Passives: Jungle Fortitude, Pierce the Veil, and Fetish Sycophants
To make this work you need about 120-130K unbuffed DPS, ~1500 LoH or some LoH with LS. Also, you need attack speed gear.
Basically, manitou plus locusts do most of the DPS - it's not bursty like bears, but you can sustain the DPS. Dogs hold the line for spamming firebomb (which with the AoE does a lot of DPS and heals you like crazy if you have LS). Finally, because of AS and spamming firebomb, you get up 7-8 fetishes per elite. They further hold the line/soak damage, but also do 20% damage a hit, so when you have 7-8 out it's like having a Gargantuan's DPS (yes they run in and out, so DPS is sporadic that's why 7-8 are needed to get to 100% more damage being put out).
I like this build for a few reasons: 1) Rarely OOM - must accidently do 2 Locusts or 2 Manitous to run out, 2) Pick up radius is a thing of the past, 3) High sustained DPS, 4) Hardly take ranged hits anymore cause all the pets get in the way, 4) You can run this build on any MP and still do just fine (no noticeable farming time differences in MP 1-5).
Try it out!
Profile: Insect#1546