Goratha's Bleed Gladiator Retaliation - DAY ONE UPDATE! POPPING OFF?!

FAQ DAY ONE UPDATE NOTES BANDIT OPTIONS -They're honestly all fine options, I did opt into Alira for 15 ele res, it helps a lot for league start gearing -8% MS might be the best end-game -40 Life is not as good as expected since life rolls are so high on everything -+1 skill point might be better end-game as well LAB -I ended up taking Block from first lab, but I think this depends on whether or not you can get a 40%+block shield early (they're actually not that hard to get) otherwise go for Retaliation node -If you don't need block, go for bleed explosions in Cruel - they're really nice, I had to wait until Merc personally though (block is REALLY important) -Lucky Block from Uber Lab, this node feels INSANE for this build, honestly it's a game changer. You get way more procs and no longer get hit much. SLIGHT TREE CHANGES -Still messing around with the tree and pathing but a few notes to make -GET THE AOE RETALIATION NODES ASAP - this is because Eviscerate scales REALLY well with AOE (I think you overlap way easier, and there is less of a deadzone in the middle, it's HUGE) -I opted to get Vanquisher instead of Marauder life - probably preference but just more damage vs more life basically -BLOOD STANCE AXE NODE WORKS WITHOUT BLOOD AND SAND!! (you are ALWAYS in blood stance naturally) ENDURANCE CHARGE MOBS + STEAL CHARGE MAP MOD -Endurance Charges feel way stronger this league, not sure if it's intended change or a bug, or just the build -With that being said, the steal charge map mod is REALLY rippy and annoying because of it - we also rely a lot on endurance charges not to die ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So what Uber Lab is best? When doing Pinnacle Bosses: War of Attrition is best. During maps it's a nearly completely dead node though. How do we aggravate while we have this tree you ask? We have 10% chance to aggravate from the tree and 10% from vulnerability quality. For mapping we go with Jagged Technique, this is since for clearing we want to hit a target once and have it bleed properly. Why no Determination? Determination was nerfed, we already grab a bunch of endurance charges and new base types will give us more base armour. This combined with the fact that Blood Magic solves all our mana issues and alleviates a bunch of socket pressure(no lifetap required) makes it better to just run Pride and drop all other auras. Patch notes said life gained on block was removed from shields, your build still has it! The patch note says "Suffix Modifiers on Shields that cause you to Gain Life when you Block can no longer roll." There are 2 of these type of mods: the mod "# life gained when you block" from non-influenced shields and the mod "Recover 5% of life when you block" from shaper influence. Currently the theory is that since the Shaper mod says "recover" this isn't removed(and it wouldn't make sense to remove this and not remove es gained on block). In case it turns out it actually IS removed, swap to a non-influenced shield and replace the "Recover 5% of life when you block" mod with a "+2% to all maximum resistances" mod MANA PROBLEMS EARLY PROBABLY TAKE REDUCED MANA NODES AS NEEDED You can take mana mastery early for 5 flat mana regen (this is almost a level 3 clarity!) WHY SUNDER? You can play Earthquake or Bladestorm of Uncertainty as well, mostly preference as it's just your clear skill, retaliation will be the single target. PLAYSTYLE We mostly just shield charge and flame dash around and use Sunder and monsters will explode. Eviscerate / Crushing Fist whenever you block On single target you want to cast Vulnerability and use a Eviscerate / Crushing Fist procs. You also want to put down your War Banner (this is instant cast, really not as bad as it might seem). In bosses with their own loadscreen you'll want to use Enduring Cry to keep up Endurance Charges. LEVELING Our first goal is getting to level 12, this is probably the most painful part of leveling, we use Spectral Throw for it, Ground Slam should work as well. From level 12 to maps we'll use 2H axes with Sunder, which we'll slowly transition into bleed. Can swap to a shield earlier and go Retaliation skills if you want to risk it, requires going block nodes. Recommended to switch later once you have block, and stay 2H for longer. Merc Lab probably ideal. See the "Level 13 Example" in the Items section for an example of how you can gear early on. AXE CRAFTING Essence of Contempt is key here. Start by getting a 30% quality Reaver Axe. If this is hard to get a 30% quality Royal Axe will do. Early/mid game you spam Essence of Contempt until you hit decent % phys, craft attack speed and you're done. Later(expensive): 1. Spam Essence of Contempt until you hit hybrid % phys of the tier you want(don't go too greedy, T6+ should already be enough) 2. If you don't have an open prefix and suffix, annul until you do(while keeping the flat phys and hybrid phys of course) 3. Craft "Prefixes Cannot Be Changed" 4. Use a Veiled Orb, this should remove a suffix and add a prefix, if not: start over 5. Hope you unveil % phys, doesn't have to be % phys + bleed, any % phys works 6. Easiest method to proceed: Prefixes Cannot Be Changed -> Scout -> Multimod attack speed & dot mult 7. Harder method: Prefixes Cannot Be Changed -> Harvest add/remove speed and hope you hit high attack speed -> craft dot mult THE RETALIATION LEVELING PLAN (spectral throw is better lul) LEVEL ONE - Mule ranger for momentum + iron ring + check vendor for evasion shield (ms) and RRG or GGR SWAP TO DUELIST - Take Shield Crush + Iron ring + check vendor again copy / paste the regex: g-[gr]-r|r-[gr]-g|g-r-g|r-g-r|g-r|r-g|nne LEVEL FOUR - Shield Charge + Crushing Fist + Warbanner link Shield Charge + Shield Crush to momentum + chance to bleed LEVEL TWELVE - swap to sunder over shield crush (depending on shield status and if you have a good 1-h) SUPER END GAME RESPEC TO SLAYER MAYBE -you can run Ralakesh + stack frenzy + Olesya's Delight for affliction charges and crazy tankiness with Masterful Form SHOUTOUT TO XAI FOR CARRYING THE POB (also his fault if it sucks) **DISCLAIMER** (i am not responsible for any failed league starts) RETALIATION MIGHT SUCK