Looks like Diablofans user tauro posted a video of him running Wand of Woh in Greater RIft 33. I'd like to go just a tad more in detail here. I just give a brief overview in the video and then showcase a full run through GR35.
It's definitely possible to push GR36-37 I believe with optimized gear and high Paragon. Last I tried and missed finishing GR36 by about 10 seconds vs. Cold Snap. I have a Zei's slotted because it's one of my highest level gems, but it doesn't perform nearly as well as in standard Greater Rift Firebird specs revolving around Hydras and/or Meteors with Sparker/Sunkeeper/Furnace.
By the way, for those who don't know, the extra EBs from Woh do not trigger Firebird or proc anything for that matter. I don't know right now whether or not the extra EBs can trigger anything.
Since level 35+ Grifts are mostly about not getting one-shot, isn't it time to revert back to Force Armor rather than Pristmatic?
Secondly, why is everyone so eager to use Blizzard - Apocalypse? The damage is terrible.
PS: Loved the start of the video.
I generally don't get 1-shot. Even in GR 37+ with Prismatic, unless I do something stupid like stand in the wrong spot when I could clearly get away. Force Armor won't save you from DoTs. Just try running Force against Molten, Electrified, Plague, Poison Enchanted, etc.
Also, I normally don't run Apocalypse. I use Meteor Shower. However, Apocalypse works better here for sustained damage because I have <50% CDR and cannot maintain perma-EB. Meteor wouldn't work as well here because it's not spammable without Cindercoat.
Also, I normally don't run Apocalypse. I use Meteor Shower. However, Apocalypse works better here for sustained damage because I have <50% CDR and cannot maintain perma-EB. Meteor wouldn't work as well here because it's not spammable without Cindercoat.
Wouldn't Energy Twister be more effective than either apocalpyse or meteor shower? Even when not spamming it it shouldn't be that hard to outdps that 1000% over 6 seconds. Especially with the 15% increase:
Maxed FB dot = 3000% per second ---> 15% increase = 450% per second --> 2 ticks and you're nearly breaking even. Not even counting the damage the twister itself deals nor the fact that FB is going to tick more than twice.
You can't rely on Gale Force as an effective damage dealer, especially because this is a pure kiting build and you'll be herding mobs behind you almost all the time. You can drop a couple of Apocalypse/Meteor Shower casts in a wide area and run around in circles within the AOE for guaranteed damage. You cannot do the same with Gale Force because it moves erratically and the fact that its coverage is absolutely terrible. In a tight corridor, it'll shine for sure, but that's not a guaranteed scenario.
It was a viable option in the past when you combined it with Mirror Image so they can cast multiple debuffs for you without spending valuable AP. But now that the debuffs don't stack, its downsides and unreliability makes it—along with Energy Twister in general—more of a wash than any other high-AP skill other than Arcane Orb.
Different story if you're using Gale Force to debuff a team full of fire users.
Also, for Apocalypse, right now Firebird appears to be double-dipping in the skill, making it deal more damage than it's supposed to (incoming fix probably). Meteor Shower/Molten Impact still wins in accelerating the threshold to trigger the infinite DoT, which is what you want so you can start herding additional mobs to speed up clear times.
But your assumption of Gale Force being irreliable just ignores the rough numbers I just posted. Having a single twister pass by your targets just for a second is enough to deal 200%ish weapon damageand apply the 4 seconds lasting 15% damage debuff.This near worst case scenario is enough to out damage Blizzard and unless you're casting your twisters in a random direction also Meteor shower. Gale force also comes with the added benefit that your DPS doesn't plummet when you run out of AP (since the debuff lasts 4 seconds).
If apocalypse actually bugs out on Firebird it is obviously better but while molten meteor might help in stacking the dot it will result in a significantly lower damage output when stacked up (especially
My point of view is ofcourse a bit different since I'm just playing a hydra build but I don't understand why meteor shower is considered guaranteed damage.while twister is not.
Looks like Diablofans user tauro posted a video of him running Wand of Woh in Greater RIft 33. I'd like to go just a tad more in detail here. I just give a brief overview in the video and then showcase a full run through GR35.
Spec:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/wizard#lQhNSO!Zbdh!YacYZc
Core gear:
- Wand of Woh
- 6 Firebird pieces (all but pants)
- Hexing Pants of Mr. Yan
- Stone of Jordan
- Strongarm Bracers
- Unity for solo or Ring of Royal Grandeur in group
- CDR Magefist in group
It's definitely possible to push GR36-37 I believe with optimized gear and high Paragon. Last I tried and missed finishing GR36 by about 10 seconds vs. Cold Snap. I have a Zei's slotted because it's one of my highest level gems, but it doesn't perform nearly as well as in standard Greater Rift Firebird specs revolving around Hydras and/or Meteors with Sparker/Sunkeeper/Furnace.
By the way, for those who don't know, the extra EBs from Woh do not trigger Firebird or proc anything for that matter. I don't know right now whether or not the extra EBs can trigger anything.
Also Rift Guardians are a pain for this build.
Huge pain.
Anyway. Viable! But not quite super effective.
Steamrolls T6, though, if that's reassuring.
Armory | YouTube | Twitter | Clan Site
Secondly, why is everyone so eager to use Blizzard - Apocalypse? The damage is terrible.
PS: Loved the start of the video.
I generally don't get 1-shot. Even in GR 37+ with Prismatic, unless I do something stupid like stand in the wrong spot when I could clearly get away. Force Armor won't save you from DoTs. Just try running Force against Molten, Electrified, Plague, Poison Enchanted, etc.
Also, I normally don't run Apocalypse. I use Meteor Shower. However, Apocalypse works better here for sustained damage because I have <50% CDR and cannot maintain perma-EB. Meteor wouldn't work as well here because it's not spammable without Cindercoat.
Armory | YouTube | Twitter | Clan Site
Maxed FB dot = 3000% per second ---> 15% increase = 450% per second --> 2 ticks and you're nearly breaking even. Not even counting the damage the twister itself deals nor the fact that FB is going to tick more than twice.
It was a viable option in the past when you combined it with Mirror Image so they can cast multiple debuffs for you without spending valuable AP. But now that the debuffs don't stack, its downsides and unreliability makes it—along with Energy Twister in general—more of a wash than any other high-AP skill other than Arcane Orb.
Different story if you're using Gale Force to debuff a team full of fire users.
Also, for Apocalypse, right now Firebird appears to be double-dipping in the skill, making it deal more damage than it's supposed to (incoming fix probably). Meteor Shower/Molten Impact still wins in accelerating the threshold to trigger the infinite DoT, which is what you want so you can start herding additional mobs to speed up clear times.
Armory | YouTube | Twitter | Clan Site
If apocalypse actually bugs out on Firebird it is obviously better but while molten meteor might help in stacking the dot it will result in a significantly lower damage output when stacked up (especially
My point of view is ofcourse a bit different since I'm just playing a hydra build but I don't understand why meteor shower is considered guaranteed damage.while twister is not.
What would be better for high Greater Rifts?
Devastator + Firebird Off Hand
Sankis Axe + Firebird Off Hand
Sunkeeper + Firebird off hand
Maximus
I'm not putting the 2 hand mace that give Elite bonus because I don't have one (forgot the name heh).
Thanks!