I disagree. How would you be able to fit in a hybrid build to boost the damage of Skeletal Mage and Grim Scythe without making significant sacrifices via the gear, affixes, and gems that are specific to either skill?
A Hybrid build might be able to get somewhat close dps wise, but definitely would have issues spawning mages if simulacrum doesn’t allow the correct number of mages to spawn based on Circle of Nailuj + Simulacrum.
From my testing thus far (assumes Circle of Nailuj and Haunted Visions equipped):
- Blood and Bone + Skeletal Mage (unruned), no Grim Scythe on bar = 6 mages per cast
- Reservoir + Skeletal Mage (unruned), no Grim Scythe on bar = 4 mages per cast
- Blood and Bone + Skeletal Mage (unruned) + Grim Scythe (unruned) = 2 mages per cast
- Reservoir + Skeletal Mage (unruned) + Grim Scythe (unruned) = 2 mages per cast
I think the cause is that simulacrums are not casting their portion of the mages when Haunted Visions is equipped and both Grim Scythe and Skeletal Mage on the skillbar.
This seems like a bug. I’ll be really bummed out if this does not get fixed. I’m super excited to try out a Hybrid Mage / Scythe build but this issue kind of kills the utility and efficiency of the Mages in such a build.
Hybrid builds are already extremely hard to patch together, and this is one that can actually fit all supporting items and affixes for both skills in (Necro has some nice multiplier weapons that aren’t tied to specific skills and an open offhand slot too!).