First Lifer Alchemist Nuker for Reaper Raids

[westside]

Thanks again to @Griglok (Karatemack) for having me on last night to discuss the build. Ninety minutes goes by pretty fast, and we had to handwave over the gear selection. So if you have any questions about the gear, I'm happy to dive deeper in this thread.

Also, I had put together a Love/Gripes list with Alchemist to discuss if we had time. Since we didn't, I'll post it here to spark some conversation.

Love:

1. Don’t have to be facing the mob to throw vials at it. “You are not facing your target” is one of the most frustrating things about other casters.
2. Alchemist is a top tier nuker. 1400 cold spellpower (boosted) on a first life toon without reaper points is phenomenal.
3. It's got built-in elemental immunity stripping, and the first vial of Multivial removes that immunity so the remaining 3 vials do full damage. The lack of elemental stripping is why I stopped playing Warlock.
4. Multivial is an excellent nuke spell - only Meteor Swam better IMO due to Sorcerer cast speed and cooldown.
5. At level cap you can solo R3 Legendary quests with 0 reaper points, if you're patient and knowledgeable about the quest.

Gripes:

1. Elemental Obliteration (T5 bombardier) is only MCL 10 base, which caps at 17. Requires an epic feat for it to be worthwhile (MCL27) at end-game. That's lame for a T5 ability.
2. Reactions don’t trigger when there’s lag, and SSG has been unable to address lag long-term.
3. No real choices for level 6 spells. Would love a single target nuke for bosses.
4. No great secondary enhancement tree. Feydark is just “ok”: +4 INT, 31 USP, 2% universal crit. Apothecary is pretty bad, other than Life Salve.
5. High skill ceiling with spiking Pyrite reaction every 12 seconds, while maximizing damage. Not easy because Alchemist spells have a wide range of cooldowns between 3-12 seconds. <insert meme of calculus floating around Katee Sackoff's head>. Sorcerer is a much simpler class to play, so it's much more accessible to the player base.

Epic Destiny Gripes:

6. Magus: You can easily "miss" with Time Stop. For something that's supposed to be an epic moment, it's totally lame and disappointing when you activate Time Stop and nothing happens.
7. Primal Avatar: Storm Catcher epic strike requires a hard target. Targeting requirements need to be the same as spells where the recticle target is honored.

Regarding gear , would this gear set up be reasonable for a more end game build not bound by the restrictions?

 

[tassdar0226]

hello, I use this build to run my 1st alcm, it's very smooth. But I got 2 questions about the feats .

1.Why don't you take the "master of spellvital"?

2.Is it enough DC for "Burst of Glacial Wrath" ?

Thx for sharing this good build for us

 

[Silvarost]

hello, I use this build to run my 1st alcm, it's very smooth. But I got 2 questions about the feats .

1.Why don't you take the "master of spellvital"?

2.Is it enough DC for "Burst of Glacial Wrath" ?

Thx for sharing this good build for us

Can't speak for Ying, but I can offer some of my opinions and repeat other things he said. First question, master of spellvials. It only boosts Elemental Obliteration (SLA) and the lvl 1 spellvial alchemist spells (you're usually using the multivials and other higher level spells due to AOE damage and extra effects). Ying mentions in another thread how disappointing he found EO to be, and I tend to agree with him. Even in heroics it's not that great damage wise (no extra effects either), and going to epics it's even more noticeable.

Second question, the DC for Glacial Wrath. In his GoogleDoc he lists his Evocation DC as 105 (116 situational). In his breakdown he lists the bonus from heighten as 6, the highest level of alchemist spells he had, but unless he already factored that in I believe that his Glacial Wrath would have a higher DC than 105 due to it being an epic spell (I want to say it would be 109, but not positive) and for a first life toon that's pretty good. Usual benchmark for legendary content is 100+ (the older the legendary content the more likely it is to work), so I think that it does have a high enough DC to make it worth taking.

 

[azrael4h]

RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE!

Question, even though it probably won't matter to me on this life, what does Perfect SWF give this build? I can somewhat see SWF for the HP bonus I guess, but PSWF doesn't seem to add much?

 

[Vox]

RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE!

Question, even though it probably won't matter to me on this life, what does Perfect SWF give this build? I can somewhat see SWF for the HP bonus I guess, but PSWF doesn't seem to add much?

it's another 25% bonus to base class hp, same add as each of the others

 

[azrael4h]

it's another 25% bonus to base class hp, same add as each of the others

Ah, I wasn't seeing that in the wiki. Thank you, you're a gentle-critter and a scholar.

 

[Frantik]

If you swapped SWF for Shield Proficiency and also took Shield Mastery later (and ofc swap Perfect Shield for Perfect SWF), you could equip that large shield (the heroic version would be fine = easier farm) from the Ettercap Incursion quest and fit in a -15% ASF augment to get +15% health which would be quite nice. If you have 70 EDP now, maybe drop 1 EDP from Magus (zero cost Intensify), don't spend any into EA and spend the remaining 13 EDP into Shadow Dancer for immunity to energy drain + improved evasion + more reflex saves.

EDIT: i think i'm going to try out Alchemist for the very first time, right now! Thanks for the build!!

2nd EDIT... I see what did with the Light Armor Proficiency Feat, so opting for Drow instead of Gnome and grabbing -15% ASF from armor

 

[ChaoticNecromancer]

How much damage does your multivial do?

 

[Frantik]

How much damage does your multivial do?

each vile does 1d4+3 per caster level (max CL 20) so at end game, this becomes CL30+/MCL 27 (with no extra sources like Dragonborn's racial +2 MCL)

1d4+3 = 2.5 + 3 = 5.5 per caster level = 148.5 (CL 27)

Y1NG's build shows approx 1300 spell power (cold + universal), so let's round things up and down to give a ball park figure:

150 damage per vile
4 viles per spell
1300 spell power => x14 factor

damage from one multivial spell (no metas, no reactions, no burning ambition, no crit) = 8 400 nominal damage (AoE) per spell.

Hope this helps. Hope more that the maths is correct

EDIT: just a note, i think i'll opt for Icehorn on my run to level 34 because it will be cooler.

 

[Vox]

Y1NG's build shows approx 1300 spell power (cold + universal)

That isn't how it works. The specific type includes universal already.

each vile does 1d4+3 per caster level (max CL 20) so at end game, this becomes CL30+/MCL 27

To nitpick, every alchemist bomber should be taking advanced & base pyrite studies for +1cl/mcl.

fit in a -15% ASF augment

Without the LD event restrictions, going double Zar/Vol raid int & a single Dragonsoul -asf as part of your 3/5pc DS, will cover your light armour/asf needs.

 

[Frantik]

That isn't how it works. The specific type includes universal already.



To nitpick, every alchemist bomber should be taking advanced & base pyrite studies for +1cl/mcl.



Without the LD event restrictions, going double Zar/Vol raid int & a single Dragonsoul -asf as part of your 3/5pc DS, will cover your light armour/asf needs.

Oh my word, now I feel foolish; i don't know why, but all these years I always thought the individual spell powers were seperate from the universal... oops!

Nitpick or not, i forgot about the specific alchemist feats.

And I had completely overlooked the Dragonsoul -10% ASF filigree; Dragonsoul versus Otto's is a tough call, -10% spell cooldowns + +10% spell critical damage versus +2 DCs and 200 spell points, and by throwing the -10% ASF into the equation, Dragonsould is very attractive. But the advantage of +2 DCs from Otto's on a first (low) lifer as per Y1NG's OP is a good point. I generally put 12 EDP into Shadowdancer for Shadowcaster (-10% spell cooldowns) for my casters anyway. I need to think about this more. But I was also aiming to use a 15% ASF large shield.

Thanks!

 

[Ying]

That isn't how it works. The specific type includes universal already.

Y1NG's build shows approx 1300 spell power (cold + universal), so let's round things up and down to give a ball park figure:

It's 1300 when you factor in metamagics, which aren't reflected on the character sheet's spellpower list.

 

[ChaoticNecromancer]

I know that this is an first life build. But one question. If the dude just do epic reincarnations and pick the +9% spell critical chance from Epic past lives. With liquid power 1+2+3+capstone he gets +8% crit chance. With Spell critical 1+2+3+4, he gets +4%. That is +9+8+4% critical chance only from epic past lives and bombardier. With more feats and moderate gear, that build can probably crit more than hit normal.

I'm right? First time playing alchemist.

 

[Frantik]

I know that this is an first life build. But one question. If the dude just do epic reincarnations and pick the +9% spell critical chance from Epic past lives. With liquid power 1+2+3+capstone he gets +8% crit chance. With Spell critical 1+2+3+4, he gets +4%. That is +9+8+4% critical chance only from epic past lives and bombardier. With more feats and moderate gear, that build can probably crit more than hit normal.

I'm right? First time playing alchemist.

Crossing my fingers here as I'm also new at alchemist but you you are right and every source of extra crit % is useful... I Tr'ed a first lifer to make my alchemist build following Y1NG's guide; toon was at level 34 so I got to choose +3% elemental spell critical chance, so now I'm feeling almost meta! I have a legendary Vol's Influence set in the bank (iirc its a heavy armor set so I'd just need to make a light armor version and be ready to go) which also gives a nice +6% artefact boost. Y1NG chose to spend 31 AP into feydark for ofc GCS, +4 CHA, free enlarge, but also bags +2 universal spell crit chance.

 

[Frantik]

Ying,
Can you confirm that at present, T5 Bombardier ability Augmentation (+2 CL Crimsonite + Gildleaf spells) is not useful now that most spells are limited to MCL 20 max at caster level 20, and secondly, that core 5 Feydark free Enlarge meta is not hugely useful on this build?
I'm trying to fit in VKF 2nd core and 9 AP into Drow tree.
Thanks!

 

[Ying]

At level 34, my max caster level is capped at 28. Every Crimsonite and Gildleaf spell I use was at least +2 over the max caster level so there's no point to Augmentation right now.

I wouldn't touch Alchemist until lag is addressed. There's nothing more infuriating than your reactions not triggering, and that happens frequently with lag.

 

[Frantik]

At level 34, my max caster level is capped at 28. Every Crimsonite and Gildleaf spell I use was at least +2 over the max caster level so there's no point to Augmentation right now.

I wouldn't touch Alchemist until lag is addressed. There's nothing more infuriating than your reactions not triggering, and that happens frequently with lag.

Thanks for the prompt reply. MCL 28 was my understanding too. Apart from the lag problem (yeah, i've noticed that spells don't always land), the realisation that the Bombardier tree needs a little love and affection by modifying the now useless T5 ability and the three core +3 caster level abilities seems "urgent". Perhaps one day they will add at least one more MCL and CL to the tree and some extra UP.

 

[Haphazard]

I know that this is an first life build. But one question. If the dude just do epic reincarnations and pick the +9% spell critical chance from Epic past lives. With liquid power 1+2+3+capstone he gets +8% crit chance. With Spell critical 1+2+3+4, he gets +4%. That is +9+8+4% critical chance only from epic past lives and bombardier. With more feats and moderate gear, that build can probably crit more than hit normal.

I'm right? First time playing alchemist.

I think Alchemist is still strong in group questing up to cap and solo but tough in high reaper or raids without good gear and past lives (and even with) Lag is bad for them for sure (although not too bad on Moonsea atm). If you're in levelling mode they are still awesome for wilderness. Barovia and Orchard are quick quick quick.

 

[ChaoticNecromancer]

I wouldn't touch Alchemist until lag is addressed. There's nothing more infuriating than your reactions not triggering, and that happens frequently with lag.

Me too.

I did an lv 1~30 alchemist and double reincarnated.

What made me frustrating to play as one is the insane lag. Now, I'm Artficer.

Other problem is the lack of survivability at high epic levels. Don't get me wrong, Goldsking 30DR is amazing. At lv 15. At lv 30 is irrelevant.

 

[Monicle le Blair]

Enlarge meta is not hugely useful on this build

You need that blue quicken to use enlarge on alchemist. Otherwise your vials will always hit the ceiling.
It's useful as it is for any other caster.