This is the result of the GC Elementalist build I theorycrafted before league start. The build is OK, it can do T17's pretty comfortably, but that's pretty much it. The damage is enough for ubers, but you can't really do them on this build because there is no visual clarity, so you literally cannot see things like exarch runes or sirus storms until you are dead. Very frustrating imo. All in all, I would not recommend you play this build in SSF. The gearing is too expensive, and the clear feels too clunky. The damage is good, but the mechanics suck ass. (Also note that I ran out of crafting resources in SSF so my wands suck ass, but you could easily make better wands if you spent more than 5 minutes crafting them).

Glacial Cascade of the fissure is around 33% more damage and you can fire it from way further cuz it almost always gets 3 overlaps (see Aero's video on this), but it's only really useful for single target, and I forgot to put it on for this video so whatever. Normal GC is better for mapping.

In this build I use Grace for mapping and Zealotry swap for single target. I also forgot to put on Zealotry for this video so whatever.

In POB I calculate damage assuming 3 overlaps. The two overlapping initial waves do 100% damage each, and the final wave does 400% damage, for a total of 600% damage (count = 6).

Merc setup is Winter Deacon with Hatred, Shaper's Seed with culling anoint, Galesight helmet for brittle application (with a high phys/cold DPS mace), and Kaom's Binding. The Hatred he gives is actually Lv. 26 hatred, I tested it using my autoattack tooltip. BTW, I'm not sure the culling anoint works. I don't know if the Merc has to be the one applying the mark in order for it to work, or not. Also, the merc accuracy sucks ass. It might be better to sacrifice a damage prefix on the merc weapon to craft "hits cant be evaded". Other than that, I just gave merc Windscream + 2x doedre rings + asenaths to apply extra temp chains. It would probably have been better to forgo the temp chains and give the merc some ailment scaling to make the brittle better.

Also a note on defenses. A bunch of trolls on my first GC video whined about this build having low defense. As you can see in this video, the defense is absolutely enough for all non-uber content including T17's. Stay in trade league if you need Mageblood + Aegis + Melding in order to do a T16! That being said, I think it's completely ridiculous that if you're SSF, you have no access to many "standard" endgame defensive layers like that one (or even offensive scaling mechanics). Over time the monsters power level scaled up dramatically, but SSF players stayed having basically no access to any real offensive or defensive scaling other than "play a meta build" or "get lucky and drop xyz uniques". It's kind of lame!!!

https://pobb.in/k1RU85OJ-oZl

https://www.twitch.tv/smokie_777

#pathofexile #secretsoftheatlas