This is long… Took me an hour to write
For the past few seasons, I always managed to hit #50 or higher with Wizard I think. For season 21, I’m #8, and that’s with regular typhon set and not an LoD hydra build.
I used to play tal set a lot before this channeling build seasons began. So I am happy to see that the 1 second delay from shoulder removed and that etched sigil cast only energy twister. It’ll make more wizard players play other builds / sets.
First, Fragment of Destiny buff says 25-30% per stack. In game, it says 20-30%.
I didn’t play the PTR long but I wanted to see how the redesigned fragment of destiny is. It says one spectral buff whenever you “land an attack with signature spell”. That means when you hit with signature spell!
But in the PTR, you gain one spectral per monsters hit, which is different from landing a hit. if you cast magic missile with the magic missile orb (mirror ball) cubed or equipped, you will gain 3 spectrals. (Well that is okay since this means you have to give up other items to cube.)
However, when you cast electrocute with the first rune (chain lightning), you might get 10 stacks with few hits. As long as you land the first shot, the rest spectral is guaranteed since the rune effect hits 100%. If there are 3 mobs, you will need 3-4 casts.
But now look…when you cast shock pulse - living lightning, you need only a single shot to get 10 stack. I do not know how it will work on bosses, but on a single zombie, it does give 10 stack depending on your position.
Summary of Fragment of Destiny- Right now, it’s not one spectral per monster hit, but 1 spectral per hit on monster.
Although the hydra channeling build is probably done, the buff to the Typhon makes it TOO good. It seems as the new hydra buffs are designed to debuff or balance the hydra build with the planned DMO build,
The changes that seem like hydra build set debuffed are actually buffs hydra builds.
Here is how.
Winter flurry = 150% bonus, fragment of destiny 200%. so it’s 350% compared to deathwish 325% and 150 etched sigil = 475% right now. (serpent sparker and magistrate cube isn’t changing so I will not write about it here.)
And the 6 piece bonus dmg from 1300% to 2000% means increase of 150% or so. Therefore, it’s more than 500% now. AND the character can move around and the dmg increase is instant! And then there is Arcane Dynamo…60% additional dmg
In the beginning of the season 21, my friends didn’t want to play with me because I had to channel and wizard having long cooldowns on teleport made it impossible to follow the GoD set or the monk POJ. So I couldn’t do fast runs seeking elites. I had to solo or leech for 2 min lvl 85s. a lvl 85 grift takes me about 4-5 min. So there is no way to run 2 minute runs. I had to solo every run unless the grift we were doing was 115 or higher.
With the next season’s buffed hydra built, I may be able to do fast lvl 85 runs since I do not have to stand still and I can join my friends.
But here is the deal
The buff to hydra means I won’t be able to play tal rasha set or firebird set. I hate how every solo wizards on the leaderboard are vyr or LoD. I think I am the only one who played regular typhon set. With the season 22 changes, I think I will end up casting two hydra and moving around casting some multi-hit signature spell.
We need tal set and firebird set to be buffed. Give those two sets a buff. I tried a lot of build with tal rasha this season, but my dmg was never enough to beat typhon set, even with soj and other glass cannon items.
Both Tal set and Firebird just need increased numbers for the sets!
As for the DMO energy twister or frozen orb:
I like how DMO is buffed. But it means using skills that can be reflected. No one will play with me when we have a zdps with nemesis calling the spinner monsters while I have the moving energy twisters! the twisters cannot be removed/stopped, the reflected lightning from monsters and the green flies kill team when I use slow time. So I’m stuck with soloing with the energy twister sitting on floor. It feels like the old DH caltrop build.
Even for the frozen orb build, it won’t change how ppl play. No place for wizards to play together with others.
Interestingly, the energy twister / hurricane thing bonus from season 21 did not get reflected! can you use it to make energy twister to be steady and not get reflected?
Please buff Tal set / firebird set dmg
OR
leave the DMO / Typhon set 6 piece set bonus % as it is. The buffed items will make wizards a little bit balanced, even though tal set or firebird will be on display at walmart or somewhere…
OR
Make all these changes, but with the non-reflect energy twister and buffed tal set and firebird.
I hope to play tal set again. both firebird and tal set can be used with DMO or typhon 4 piece bonus btw. So don’t worry about the dmg reduce part. Otherwise, it will be too OP.
There are other builds, but I won’t share them here. hehe…
As for firebird set, can u increase the 6 piece bonus and make weapon damage as part of the 3 fire damage required? friends are away from screen by the time you hit with 3 skills…
Ultimately, reduced teleport cooldown or better illusionist skill please.
This was long, but I hope it helps.