Currently, the Arachyr set is way underpowered compared to Darts/Carnevil builds and Jade Harvest. A real quick look at the top 1000 on the WD non-season ladder seems to indicate that none of them are Arachyr builds.
There are maybe one or two Helltooth builds on the ladder. Although underpowered next to Darts and Jade, the Helltooth Gargs build is great at regular Rifts and many bounties. But the Arachyr builds are weak to the point of being unusable in any situation.
These are suggestions for elevating the Arachyr set:
[1] The Spider Queen that comes with the 2-piece bonus is just about useless. Its attack AI is not good, and it’s really only of any use against Rift Guardians, when there are no other targets to distract it. The damage it does Is inconsequential and unnoticeable even in mid-level Torments.
Here’s an idea. For the 2 piece set bonus, give the Arachyr SQ the effect of the following Corpse Spiders runes: Leaping Spiders {release jumping spiders that leap up to 25 yards to reach their enemy and attack for a total of 645% weapon damage as Poison}; Spider Queen {the jumping spiders deal 2625% weapon damage as Poison over 15 seconds}; and Blazing Spiders {jumping spiders return 3 Mana to per hit}. Damage is all poison.
That will give the Arachyr SQ some incremental AOE damage that will affect enemies all over the screen. Meanwhile, the Mana return will be a nice bonus, especially for channeling Firebats.
[2] Change Bakuli Jungle Wraps to have the following effects: “Firebats deals 257% increased damage to enemies affected by Locust Swarm or Piranhas; and 350% damage to enemies affected by a Spider Queen and either Locust Swarm or Piranhas.”
Recollect that under this proposal, the Arachyr SQ releases jumping spiders that deal 2625% weapon damage over 15 seconds. Thus, the Arachyr SQ would now buff the damage of the Firebats attack.
[3] Adjust the 4 piece set bonus as follows:
“Hex gains the effect of the Toad of Hugeness and Unstable Form runes. You gain 50% damage reduction and heal for 10% of your maximum Life per second for as long as the Toad of Hugeness is present.”
The Unstable Form rune effect is as follows: “hexed enemies explode when killed, dealing 500% weapon damage as Fire to all enemies within 8 yards.”
[4] These changes could really add to the DPS thanks to the damage multiplier for creature skills from the 6 piece bonus for the Arachyr set. Tweaks would be needed to get the damage right compared to the other builds.
These changes would do the following:
• add a little more graphical flair to the build
• provide buffs that highlight creature powers, which is the idea of the Arachyr set
• makes improvements based on code that already exists
• does not really alter the gameplay employed by people who use the set
• does not simply increase damage or damage reduction numbers, for example, but uses various rune mechanics to buff the character. This adds more depth to the build, and perhaps makes it more interesting for the players. Maybe. Possibly. Perhaps.
I don’t know if all of the above presents too heavy a load on the graphics cards, but look at how the Necro can handle Skeletons, Mages, and the like all at once. It does not appear to me that the graphics for Leaping Spiders or Unstable Form are all that bad, and those are the only additions to the graphics load that I am proposing.
Blizz staff, thanks in advance for giving this any amount of attention. Regardless of the above, I hope that the Arachyr set can be upgraded to make it viable in the current high-powered state of the game.
:
more viable for instance.