Nine-Lives Recoup Loop (build update)

Edit: added information

Edit2: map showcase

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Concept: using Nine-Lives and the Life/Mana Recoup haunted mods to make a recoup loop build.

Mechanics:

The build uses Mind over Matter and Corrupted Soul to redistribute the damage from the loop to all sources of EHP, and to take full advantage of Nine-Lives. ES here is mainly a buffer against large hits and to increase the self-damage from Forbidden Rite.

For recovery, other than recoup, Bloodnotch is used to recover Life from a hit taken before the loop damage (big hits will stun) and Tawhanuku's Timing to recover ES (Nine-Lives only sustains the loop). Tawhanuku's Timing recover the mana cost every fifth cast, so with 5 casts/s, it recovers around 3k ES every second (up to full). It also works as indicator while ramping since the fifth cast will occur after 3s (dmg spells are offset because of low self-damage).

For damage, the build uses Archmage and 6-7 link wands. The damage is mostly carried by Ice Spear like a normal Wardloop. There are several interesting options for the second damage setup, "shotgunning" skills like Blazing Salvo or Ice Nova of Frostbolts, high dmg effectiveness skills like Soulrend of Reaping, or multiple count skills like Volatile Dead. Ice Nova of Frostbolts is the highest PoB dmg but requires the enemy to be within the 4 novas but far enough to be hit with the second form of Ice Spear. To a lesser extend, Blazing Salvo has a similar issue where it will not overlap if the enemy is too far.

For defenses, error 404.

Comparing to Wardloop:

I have never played Wardloop so I can't evaluate accurately the differences. The survivability seems a bit worse (higher ehp but lower hit pool). The damage is worse, but may rival budget Wardloop with some better theorycrafting. The advantage is not having to manage Olroth's Resolve uptime, which gives the option of using MB and having more flasks.

This build is also much more expensive.

Pros:

• Walking simulator
• Off-meta currency sink
• Can run most map mods (except reduced cdr, reduced recovery rate)

Cons:

• Requires ramping without FR for 2-3s
• A lot of suicides (mostly forgetting to ramp)
• Squishy (especially large hits)
• Temporal Bubble and Mana Siphoning rare mobs are very annoying (especially the former)
• Difficult to party play as Determination and Malevolence break the loop

POBB

PoBB: https://pobb.in/ny0df32_MT9V

There are several item/skill setups in the pob, the default is the one I prefer (no MB and Blazing Salvo). The Mageblood setup has more dmg and better qol but worse survivability. The squire setup could potentially be the highest dmg but the high mana cost is difficult to manage.

The Glorious Vanity used has a 7% inc effect traveling point which messes up the normal duration thresholds, and requires 4 20% reduced To Dust and a lvl1 Less Duration Support (46% to 54% less).

Concerning the skill sockets, you want Summon Skeletons in the first socket of the helmet and no other skills in a first socket. This is to prevent breaking the loop while taking dmg and having low mana as SS will be triggered before the others skills (notably the archmage skills). You also want Ice Spear in the main-hand weapon so that it triggers before the off-hand. And I set the ailment skill (Freezing Pulse) to trigger before the damage skills.

Character Sheet:

HP: 7.7k (3k Life, 7.9k Mana, 2.7k ES)

Recoup: 112% Life, 158% Mana, 25% ES

Recovery /s at max recoup: 16k Life, 23k Mana, 3.7k ES (16k/s dmg taken from loop, 15.7k/s mana cost)

Time to full after a loop: 0.08s for Life, 0.17s for Mana, 0.15s for ES

Cast rate: 5 /s (27% cdr breakpoint)

DPS (pinnacle): 8 mil, 10 mil with Convergence

Cost: yes.

Build uses/content tested:

Decent for sanctum but the visual clarity makes it complicated. Great for Heist (especially with MB). Great for delve (so far, only at depth 200). Only tried one Simulacrum to wave 26 (died 3 times with 2 suicides). 8-mod maps with shrine xp strat (I rarely juice maps).

Bosses (witnessed): all shaper/elder guardians, conquerors, shaper, elder, uber elder, maven (died to mem game), Cortex.

Conclusion:

Fun build, I've been very much enjoying it, especially crafting all the gear. It is quite expensive relative to the build's power so i cannot recommend it but it's a great project for anyone with larger pockets.