Summary
- Build Status: Despite slight nerfs, the Disciple of Varashta plant build remains a highly effective league starter.
- Key Nerfs:
- Energy Shield (ES) recovery is harder due to the removal of “faster start of recharge” from gear and the passive tree.
- Shock Conduction II has been removed from the Thunderstorm skill, requiring players to compensate with shock chance from the tree and gems.
- Key Buffs/Adjustments:
- Command skill movement penalties have been reduced from 70% to 50%, improving mobility.
- Bug fixes, such as the potential resolution of Living Lightning II scaling issues, may improve performance.
- Strategic Advantages: Varashta offers superior survivability and utility compared to the Oracle class, specifically through Ascendancy nodes that reduce ES recharge delay and provide physical damage reduction.
Patch Changes and Build Impact
- Energy Shield Adjustments: Base ES recharge delay is four seconds. The Varashta Ascendancy node, The Fourth Teaching, reduces this by one second. While the removal of other recharge sources is a nerf, Varashta remains less affected than other classes.
- Thunderstorm Changes: The removal of Shock Conduction II—which guaranteed shock on drenched enemies—necessitates a shift in strategy.
- Replace the removed interaction by prioritizing shock chance on the passive tree and using support gems like Shock.
- The current weapon swap strategy (using shock magnitude and chance) remains viable for maximizing plant damage.
Levelling and Campaign Strategy
- Leveling Options:
- While Entangle and Thrashing Vines (available at level 31) are core, the early game can be improved by running Bone Storm to bridge power gaps.
- Alternatively, utilize minion abilities (Carlari and Riszan) to power through the campaign. The minion-focused path can be respecced into the full plant build once map progression begins.
- Why Varashta over Oracle:
- Tankiness: Varashta provides superior base defenses, including physical damage reduction derived from ES and the reduced recharge delay.
- Intrinsic Advantages: The Intrinsic of Power allows for the simultaneous use of high-stat gear like rare focuses, staves, and Aperture of Cruelty.
- Utility: Carlari provides access to Unholy Might (via Kergal’s Leash) and Critical Weakness through command skills, which are now easier to use due to the reduced movement penalty.
End-Game Scaling
- The build continues to rely on complex interactions, such as impale extraction via Living Lightning.
- Summon of Mumu’s Gaze (helmet augment) is crucial for removing damaging elements when using command skills.
- Oracle builds typically rely on strength-stacking (using Black Scythe training), but Varashta remains the recommended choice for a smooth, powerful league start.
Key References