





This is an aggressive Commander of Darkness support build that can run 100% (and I do mean 100%) of map modifiers. It's dirt cheap to start off and can be upgraded really far.



It also wears pants, thus beating any stupid Guardians.







I wanted to play a Commander of Darkness support build after I experienced being near one, but I wasn't ready to commit so I tried to keep the build cheap and very efficient.



The very first prototype version of the build was actually amalgamated into a



For me, budget doesn't mean held together by duct tape and sticks - it has to have solid performance at a low investment level, not just basic functionality.



Obviously, this means there's a few minimum requirements:



• The Vertex;

• A -8 to Mana Cost of Skills Elreon's piece of jewelry and a couple of reduced Mana Cost of Skills jewels;

• Solaris Lorica;

• Prism Guardian;

• A Conqueror's Efficiency jewel and a level 2 Enlighten.

• A high tolerance for watching people do stupid stuff while you stand around;

• And last but certainly not least, some decent ES gloves, boots and jewelry.







The Vertex grants a 50% Mana Cost reduction which is additive with Reduced Mana's reduction, which after the Elreon's piece of jewelry Mana Cost reduction results in all gems socketed into the helmet being completely free, meaning you don't need to rely on regeneration or flasks to cast anything. It also happens to be a pretty decent ES/EVA helm for the very low price tag.



Solaris Lorica is one of two items in the game that allows you to reserve all of your life without fearing that any chaos damage will kill you instantly, making it mandatory for any build that wants to make the most of its life for reservation. It's the child of forum dwellers complaining about low life builds in 2013 and Shavronne's Wrappings.



Prism Guardian allows for fitting even more auras into the life pool, despite the build already being a Blood Magic build. It also to grants +2 to level of socketed Aura Gems which means level 21 Purities become level 23 inside it, granting 1 more base maximum Elemental Resistance (that's a big deal). It has some much needed Dexterity and a chunk of Elemental Resistances, but nearly non-existent Energy Shield.



An Elreon's piece of jewelry will subtract any remaining cost your skills may have while you're still levelling your Reduced Mana or have no reduced Mana Cost of Skills jewels. It doesn't always have to be -8 but I'd rather be on the safe side. You can just get one that'll make whatever costs you have become 0. Any piece will do, although the amulet is the least important piece of jewelry for this build since it can't have a socket and the uniques aren't as good.



Lastly, for running all the auras requires a Conqueror's Efficiency Jewel and a level 2 Enlighten.











Commander of Darkness

"Auras you Cast grant 10% increased Damage to you and Allies

Auras you Cast grant 5% increased Attack and Cast Speed to you and Allies

You and Allies affected by your Auras have +20% to all Elemental Resistances"



This might seem innocent enough but this wording actually implies each aura you cast grants increased Damage and increased Cast and Attack Speed. So, how does it work exactly? The effects are added to each aura you run and then scaled by aura effectiveness. The Elemental Resistance bonus is only applied once and not scaled.



Here's some simple math to work out the bonuses that are on all the time:



Buff Calculations

You run 10 auras and the build has 66% increased effect of non-curse auras on the passive tree.



3 auras are linked to Generosity which grants 39% increased aura effect at level 20.



3 * 5 * (1,66 + 0,39) = 30,75%



7 * 5 * 1,66 = 58,1%



58,1 + 30,75 = 88,85% increased Attack and Cast Speed from Commander of Darkness.



• The Haste aura is linked to Generosity and at level 20 grants 17% attack speeed and 16% cast speed:



17 * 2,05 = 34,8% increased Attack speed from Haste;



16 * 2,05 = 32,8% increased Cast Speed from Haste.



• Totaling:



88,85 + 34,8 = 122,8% increased Attack Speed;



88,85 + 32,8 = 120,8% increased Cast Speed.



• As for the damage calculations:



7 * 10 * 1,66 + 3 * 10 * 2,05 = 116,2 + 61,5 = 177,7% increased Damage



• Level 20 Anger adds 83 to 138 Fire Damage to attacks and 69 to 110 to spells:



83 * 2,05 = 170,15 | 138 * 2,05 = 282,9 | 170,15 to 282,9 Fire Damage added to Attacks.



69 * 2,05 = 141,45 | 110 * 2,05 = 225,5 | 141,45 to 225,5 Fire Damage added to Spells.



• Level 20 Wrath adds 16 to 248 Lightning Damage to Attacks and grants 21% more Lightning Damage with Spells:



16 * 2,05 = 32,8 | 248 * 2,05 = 508,4 | 32,8 to 508,4 Lightning Damage added to attacks.



21*2.05 = 43,05% more Lightning Damage with Spells.



Some defensive crap no one cares about:



• Level 20 Discipline grants 303 ES:



303 * 1,66 = 502,98 Energy Shield.



• Level 20 Grace grants 2575 Evasion:



2575 * 1,66 = 4274,5 Evasion.



• Level 22 Element-Specific Purities grant +4% to maximum Elemental Resistances and 43% resistance of their element:



4 * 1,66 = 6,64 → +6% to all maximum Elemental Resistances;



43 * 1.66 = 71,38 → 71% to all Elemental Resistances.



I strongly recommend getting level 21 Purities, they're very powerful defensively because when reaching level 23 through Prism Guardian they grant +5% to maximum Elemental Resistances which results in them granting 5*1,66= 8,33 → +8% to all maximum Elemental Resistances.



• Level 20 Vitality grants 1,65% Life regenerated per second:



1,65 * 1,66 = 2,739% Life regenerated per second



• Clarity's effect will depend on what level you can use to cap off your life.





A level 1 Bone Offering grants 25% additional chance to block Attacks and Spells and Prism Guardian has a base chance to Block of 22% which means you can reach 47% chance to Block Attacks and 35% chance to Block Spells without any Passive Tree investment or Rumi's Concoction.



As for Mana Cost reductions: 50 + 39 + 3 = 92% from The Vertex, Reduced Mana and 3% from Conqueror's Efficiency. You can bridge the gap to 100% with 2 jewels that have 4% reduction each. This would allow you to drop your Elreon's piece of jewelry if you have no active skills socketed outside your helm. Alternatively, you can keep the jewelry, get more jewels with Mana Cost reduction, and not use Reduced Mana.



Summary



• Buffs to allies:

122,8% increased Attack Speed;

120,8% increased Cast Speed;

177,7% increased Damage;

~226 base Fire Damage added to Attacks;

~183 base Fire Damage added to Spells;

~270 base Lightning Damage added to Attacks;

~43% more Lightning Damage with Spells;

~Gargantuan Vaal Haste (bumps IAS/ICS to over 200%).



• Buffs to allies & self:

503 base Energy Shield;

4274 base Evasion;

71% to all Elemental Resistances and +6% to all maximum Elemental Resistances (+8% with Level 21 Purities);

2,7% Life regenerated per second;

Vaal Discipline (optional).



• Buffs only to self:

At least 45% chance to Block Attacks and 35% chance to Block Spells (without Rumi's Concoction);

Free skills.





All stats calculated with level 20 gems except for Bone Offering which is level 1.







• Brightbeak



Explanation





Although it isn't everyone's personal preference for this sort of build, it's my weapon of choice thanks to the combination of two Elemental Resistances with a very high implicit increased Attack Speed, which makes for the fastest Leap Slam weapon in the game - the best skill for general movement that can also traverse empty space.



What I don't recommend

The typical aurabot weapon is Ephemeral Edge for the increased Energy Shield - but it has impressively bad mobility. Use it if you're playing with a slower party or supporting a specific boss fight.







You can't afford to move slower than your carry.

The typical aurabot weapon is Ephemeral Edge for the increased Energy Shield - but it has impressively bad mobility. Use it if you're playing with a slower party or supporting a specific boss fight.You can't afford to move slower than your carry.

Although it isn't everyone's personal preference for this sort of build, it's my weapon of choice thanks to the combination of two Elemental Resistances with a very high implicit increased Attack Speed, which makes for the fastest Leap Slam weapon in the game - the best skill for general movement that can also traverse empty space.



• Rainbowstride



Explanation





Just a good item from the old times. Staple Energy Shield boots, although they've fallen out of fashion the last couple of years they still have all the right stats; decent ES, Elemental Resistances, Movement Speed, and some block synergy.

Just a good item from the old times. Staple Energy Shield boots, although they've fallen out of fashion the last couple of years they still have all the right stats; decent ES, Elemental Resistances, Movement Speed, and some block synergy.



• Rumi's Concoction



Explanation





Has obvious synergy with Bone Offering. Will help reach extreme block levels with 0 investment on the tree. Legacy version is pretty sweet too.

Has obvious synergy with Bone Offering. Will help reach extreme block levels with 0 investment on the tree. Legacy version is pretty sweet too.



• Shavronne's Wrappings



Explanation





You've all seen it - it's Shav's. More Energy Shield, more Lightning Resistance; not needed but very desirable. Iconic Low Life build item.

You've all seen it - it's Shav's. More Energy Shield, more Lightning Resistance; not needed but very desirable. Iconic Low Life build item.



• Steppan Eard



Explanation





Honestly my favourite pair of unique boots. Very high Energy Shield, great Movement Speed bonus and flavourful modifiers with the fair compromise of having no Resistances. Great upgrade to Rainbowstride.

Honestly my favourite pair of unique boots. Very high Energy Shield, great Movement Speed bonus and flavourful modifiers with the fair compromise of having no Resistances. Great upgrade to Rainbowstride.



• Shavronne's Revelation



Explanation





Although ES builds are already quite powerful in maps with regeneration modifiers, this ring allows you to regenerate Energy Shield in 'Players have no Life or Mana regeneration' maps; not to mention it's quite a large boost to the amount you passively regenerate.

Although ES builds are already quite powerful in maps with regeneration modifiers, this ring allows you to regenerate Energy Shield in 'Players have no Life or Mana regeneration' maps; not to mention it's quite a large boost to the amount you passively regenerate.



• The Pariah



Explanation





This is at the end of the list because it's obviously a luxury item. Roll a blue socket for 100 Energy Shield and slap level 21 Discipline into it: +137 base Energy Shield and some nice speed stats.

This is at the end of the list because it's obviously a luxury item. Roll a blue socket for 100 Energy Shield and slap level 21 Discipline into it: +137 base Energy Shield and some nice speed stats.



My Gear (you shouldn't copy this - it's not always optimal)











Scorching Ray can be swapped for blight or wither or whatever your party could use



Scorching Ray can be swapped for blight or wither or whatever your party could use







There's not much to it, you put all the skills and their support gems in The Vertex with Reduced Mana and they'll have 92% to 100% reduced cost <, depending on your jewels, before Elreon's piece of jewelry discount, which usually means they're all free to cast.



You probably want a movement skill and Bone Offering at the very least.



As for the auras,



4 and 5-Link Gem Setups



A 5-Link isn't much better than a 4-Link for this build.



Anger - Wrath - Haste - Generosity + Clarity (5th link)



Cast when Damage Taken - Increased Duration - Vaal Discipline/Vortex - Immortal Call



Enlighten - Discipline - Grace - Vitality



Reduced Mana - Alternative Skill (if you put Bone Offering in the helm) - Portal



In The Vertex: Leap Slam/Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks - Reduced Mana - Decoy Totem/Bone Offering/Fortify



In Prism Guardian: Purity of Fire - Purity of Ice - Purity of Lightning







6-Link Gem Setup

Anger - Wrath - Haste - Vaal Haste - Increased Duration - Generosity



Cast when Damage Taken - Increased Duration - Vaal Discipline/Vortex - Immortal Call



Enlighten - Discipline - Grace - Vitality



Clarity - Reduced Mana - Alternative Skill (if you put Bone Offering in the helm)



In The Vertex: Leap Slam/Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks - Reduced Mana - Decoy Totem/Bone Offering/Fortify



In Prism Guardian: Purity of Fire - Purity of Ice - Purity of Lightning



Portal (In an Unset Ring/Empty Socket)





Anger, Wrath and Haste, which are the offensive auras, are all linked to Generosity for extra effectiveness, but the defensive ones aren't, so that your character can benefit greatly from them too. The only time you might change this is when you're in a group with more than one support character - you might want to get some defensive auras with Generosity then too, since the other support character might be granting you their bonuses already.



This is an aggressive Commander of Darkness support build that can run 100% (and I do mean 100%) of map modifiers. It's dirt cheap to start off and can be upgraded really far.It also wears pants, thus beating any stupid Guardians.I wanted to play a Commander of Darkness support build after I experienced being near one, but I wasn't ready to commit so I tried to keep the build cheap and very efficient.The very first prototype version of the build was actually amalgamated into a pastebin a month before I made the character, it's really different now. I don't play around with summons anymore and some of the gear choices I had in mind at the time were changed drastically.For me,- it has to have solid performance at a low investment level, not just basic functionality.Obviously, this means there's a few• The Vertex;• A -8 to Mana Cost of Skills Elreon's piece of jewelry and a couple of reduced Mana Cost of Skills jewels;• Solaris Lorica;• Prism Guardian;• A Conqueror's Efficiency jewel and a level 2 Enlighten.• A high tolerance for watching people do stupid stuff while you stand around;• And last but certainly not least, some decent ES gloves, boots and jewelry.The Vertex grants a 50% Mana Cost reduction which is additive with Reduced Mana's reduction, which after the Elreon's piece of jewelry Mana Cost reduction, meaning you don't need to rely on regeneration or flasks to cast anything. It also happens to be a pretty decent ES/EVA helm for the very low price tag.Solaris Lorica is one of two items in the game thatwithout fearing that any chaos damage will kill you instantly, making it mandatory for any build that wants to make the most of its life for reservation. It's the child of forum dwellers complaining about low life builds in 2013 and Shavronne's Wrappings.Prism Guardian allows for fittinginto the life pool, despite the build already being a Blood Magic build. It also to grantswhich means level 21 Purities become level 23 inside it, granting 1 more base maximum Elemental Resistance (that's a big deal). It has some much needed Dexterity and a chunk of Elemental Resistances, but nearly non-existent Energy Shield.An Elreon's piece of jewelrywhile you're still levelling your Reduced Mana or have no reduced Mana Cost of Skills jewels. It doesn't always have to be -8 but I'd rather be on the safe side. You can just get one that'll make whatever costs you have become 0. Any piece will do, although the amulet is the least important piece of jewelry for this build since it can't have a socket and the uniques aren't as good.Lastly, fora Conqueror's Efficiency Jewel and a level 2 Enlighten.Commander of Darkness"Auras you Cast grant 10% increased Damage to you and AlliesAuras you Cast grant 5% increased Attack and Cast Speed to you and AlliesYou and Allies affected by your Auras have +20% to all Elemental Resistances"This might seem innocent enough but this wording actually implies each aura you cast grants increased Damage and increased Cast and Attack Speed. So, how does it work exactly? The effects are added to each aura you run and then scaled by aura effectiveness. The Elemental Resistance bonus is only applied once and not scaled.Here's some simple math to work out the bonuses that are on all the time:A level 1 Bone Offering grants 25% additional chance to block Attacks and Spells and Prism Guardian has a base chance to Block of 22% which means you can reach 47% chance to Block Attacks and 35% chance to Block Spells without any Passive Tree investment or Rumi's Concoction.As for Mana Cost reductions: 50 + 39 + 3 = 92% from The Vertex, Reduced Mana and 3% from Conqueror's Efficiency. You can bridge the gap to 100% with 2 jewels that have 4% reduction each. This would allow you to drop your Elreon's piece of jewelry if you have no active skills socketed outside your helm. Alternatively, you can keep the jewelry, get more jewels with Mana Cost reduction, and not use Reduced Mana.122,8% increased Attack Speed;120,8% increased Cast Speed;177,7% increased Damage;~226 base Fire Damage added to Attacks;~183 base Fire Damage added to Spells;~270 base Lightning Damage added to Attacks;~43% more Lightning Damage with Spells;~Gargantuan Vaal Haste (bumps IAS/ICS to over 200%).503 base Energy Shield;4274 base Evasion;71% to all Elemental Resistances and +6% to all maximum Elemental Resistances (+8% with Level 21 Purities);2,7% Life regenerated per second;Vaal Discipline (optional).45% chance to Block Attacks and 35% chance to Block Spells (without Rumi's Concoction);Free skills.All stats calculated with level 20 gems except for Bone Offering which is level 1.There's not much to it, you put all the skills and their support gems in The Vertex with Reduced Mana and they'll have 92% to 100% reduced cost here's the configuration Anger, Wrath and Haste, which are the offensive auras, are all linked to Generosity for extra effectiveness, but the defensive ones aren't, so that your character can benefit greatly from them too. The only time you might change this is when you're in a group with more than one support character - you might want to get some defensive auras with Generosity then too, since the other support character might be granting you their bonuses already. Last edited by 7thFullMoon on Dec 18, 2016, 9:57:06 AM Last bumped on Apr 25, 2017, 6:31:30 AM