Here’s my question with the new theme. Since the new theme does not actually buff your character, then how are you going to progress in the higher GRs, since your character will have to start killing mobs and keep a killing steak alive before the theme can take effect. For the Angels to appear, that would be 500 kill streak before they appear to kill the Guardian. I don’t know how many builds can solo a 140+ GR to get the streak started and keep going. Am I seeing this the wrong way? Or do people hope the exploit is still viable and can zDPS 150 GR like they did in season 19?
Don’t forget: Unlocking the very first Gateway Seal at the Altar of Rites doubles the duration of your Kill Streaks plus its rewards. This will make it easier to keep your Kill Streaks active during Greater Rifts. Or any other areas.
Agreed, but, how do you even start a kill streak at say GR 140 without any buffs. Even if you start one, getting 500 kills is going to be a chore for most builds. Especially with a seasonal character that averages below 2000 paragon (unless you bot or play all day long). I’m just wondering.
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It can be seen as a kind of domino effect. When killing enough trash, and with good density, one streak will lead to the next streak which will lead to the next. Then you can either reset or keep a kill streak close to the next breakpoint while you gather up, or look for, the next density, like having the 400 meteors get you to the 500 angels and at the same time spawn the RG.
From what I’ve seen you have to manage the progress globes because taking them might spawn the RG too soon…
Another thing. Are we sure that the kill streak duration from the Altar will work for the theme?
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That’s a good question. If it does, that would be helpful. It would also make it a breeze leveling up.
Which might be tricky once you’ve unlocked the Altar’s Reach Seal. (Progression Orbs Pickup Radius: +60 yards).
Not really. Since we didn’t have the Altar of Rites in Season 19. But, I don’t see why it wouldn’t. We’ll just have to wait and see.
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The zdps exploit is not viable in SSF cause it was done in groups but only one player entered the rift and the others rejected. The game was hence registering as a Solo clear. As for your other question the theme can be utilized by many good players. Many builds are capable of killing small trash even in the GR150 range. Proof is S29 where there were solo GR150 clears even with 800 paragons and no theme. That doesn’t mean it’s easy and it’s probably not doable by average players. And still you need to fish for great maps and pylons and calculate the kill streaks to your advantage. Soul shards had also the ring of fire that would take care of enemies. It works in similar ways.
PS. I have very little hope that the altar is going to buff the kill streaks, since it was designed to help levelling up with massacre bonuses. This reeks of some programming to be done by blizzard and why all know how it ends most of the time.
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I hate to be that guy, but it’s hard for me to believe an 800 paragon 150 clear without an exploit or uber gear from other higher leveled player/s, or Visions were extremely good to him. But I get your point. I’m sure we’ll see some 150 clears next season.
I suspect not.
The massacre bonus streak (that the altar extends) and the kill streak theme are two different things. At least they appear to be two different things. The massacre bonus is the usual popup, but the kill streak shows as a buff.
But who knows until the season goes live.
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In S29 there were free paragon points. 75 extra Arcane Power & 150% extra Area Damage gave a lot of damage to Wizard LoD meteor. I just checked S29 ladderboards on Maxroll - 211 Gr150 clears on Wiz.
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I must of missed it, because I didn’t see an 800 paragon wizard clearing 150, but you’re right, there are a lot of wizards clearing 150s. Thanks
We’ll see blood nova clearing 150 solo on day 2
Assuming you are being serious, how do you envision a 2 day old character clearing enough trash to get 500 stacks for the bosses?
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You don’t have to kill 500 enemies yourself. You just need to kill enough to get the kill streak effects to start. The effects will carry you most of the way or through the next effect and so on and so on. You’re actually spending more time gathering mobs into tight groups than you are killing things with this theme.
Like most seasons, even the one we’re currently in, you’re looking for mobs that summon other, weaker mobs or GRifts with lots of weak enemies like bugs and stygian crawlers or accursed.
Also, in some instances, a Dream GRift will work against you because they don’t spawn some of the weaker mobs making it a more fishing focused season because you’re looking for a good map with very specific mobs.
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But between the kill streak timer (which in all accounts seems likely not to be extended by the altar), and the short lived duration of the effects, it’s hard to imagine a low level char being able to do a 150.
I guess time will tell.
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Depends on what you consider “low level”. A character with 2000, 2500, or 3000 paragon should be able to do it depending on the class and set they use. There’s some good trash killing sets in this game that excel at killing weak enemies even at low paragon. Sets that get better with killing tougher enemies with more paragon and better items. But with this theme, you don’t have to have the paragon or god rolled items because the theme kills the elites and lots of trash if they’re all in the same area.
I don’t know about Day 2, that’s probably the most skilled players that still play the game but I can definitely see it being done by day 4 or 5 with most of time spent farming keys because of all the fishing you’d have to do to clear a 150 with a fresh character.
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What do you reckon will be the stand out sets / builds for next season?
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My guess (and I’m spitbaling here) is Necro will shine again 
some sort of necro death nova or corpse explosion maybe? They seem to be best at keeping the kill streak going. But man, do I hate playing necros! So I’ll probaly start with a barb and see where the season takes me. This might be a short one for me once I complete the journey and altar. 
PS It’s also hard for me to envision a 150 clear on day 2 without an exploit, which highly likely. Remember the ZDPS exploit, which they said was working as intended!!??
Yes pretty much. On top of already being very powerful builds even without a theme, Nova Necros are kings in pretty much every season nowdays. Tragoul’s variation is one of the strongest/easiest/tankiest sets to play right from tha start (combined with guardian’s set)
You don’t time out if you keep hitting something, you’ll retain the killstreak as long as you don’t die.
All it takes is a 15 proc