In the world of Path of Exile 2 (PoE2), the Cast On Shock Deadeye Ranger build has long been a favorite for many players. Known for its high speed, damage output, and impressive mobility, the Deadeye’s ability to trigger powerful spells upon shocking enemies made it a top-tier pick. However, most recent balance changes and nerfs have made some slight adjustments to this build. This article will walk you through the latest PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye build, ensuring you still reap the most out of this incredible Ranger class even after the nerf. We’ll break down all the aspects of the build: gear, skill trees, and mechanics that power this incredible playstyle.
What is Cast On Shock Deadeye Build in PoE2?
The CoS Deadeye Ranger build focuses on the Deadeye ascendancy combined with high-speed projectile skills, critical strikes, and shock effects to cause incredible damage. After the nerf, this build was adjusted a bit, but it still remains one of the best options for both solo and party play in PoE2. The core mechanic involves striking for massive lightning damage through shocks, while Cast on Critical Strike (CoC) or Cast on Hit (CoH) ensures that your spells activate automatically when you land a critical strike or hit an enemy.
This build has amazing mobility, a strong potential for damage, and the ability to clear the endgame content, meaning high-level maps, bosses, and even end-game bosses like the Searing Exarch or Uber Elder.
PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye Ranger Build Nerf: What’s Changed?
The Cast On Shock Deadeye build got tuned up in PoE2 as part of its cycle of balance changes. Most of the nerfs from this are as follows:
- Shock Scaling Reduced: The potency of the shock delivered by critical strikes has been somewhat reduced. It will mean less raw damage output per shock but will still be a very strong effect.
- Skill Adjustments: Some key skills that synergized with the build, such as Ballista Totems or Explosive Arrow, have had their effects reduced a bit.
- Projectiles Scaling: Some of the projectile scaling options available to Deadeye have been reduced, which impacts the overall AoE damage, though this nerf is minor.
These changes affect the raw power of the build slightly, but it remains a very viable choice, requiring only small adjustments in your setup.
Core Mechanics of the PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye Build
The main goals of the Cast On Shock Deadeye build are listed below:
- Critical Strike Chance: Maxing out critical strike chance would mean that your spells land reliably on every hit, which is very important to achieve.
- Scaling Lightning Damage and Shock Effects: Focus on scaling the lightning damage and shock effects. The shock effect increases the dealt damage to enemies, hence an important element of the build.
- Projectile Scaling: Maximize your projectile damage and speed that your projectiles deal a significant amount of damage over a distance.
- Mobility & Speed: The ascendancy of Deadeye allows a high mobility, which leaves you agile in avoiding any damage while maximizing your own output.
PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye Build – Passive Skill Tree & Ascendancy
Ascendancy (Deadeye):
The Deadeye ascendancy remains a solid pick for this build. All of the Deadeye’s perks focus on boosting projectile damage, raising critical strike chance, and moving speed, which all will be very useful to a playstyle based around Cast On Shock.
Ascendancy nodes to note are:
- Far Shot: Provides additional damage to attacks launched at a distance. These skills synergize extremely well with anything projectile-based.
- Tailwind: Gives you increased movement speed after you have spent a period of time moving, giving you additional mobility for dodging and kiting.
- Master Fletcher: Increases your attack speed and projectile damage, a huge damage booster for ranged builds.
- Endless Munitions: Increases the number of projectiles, boosting your clearing speed in crowded areas.
Passive Skill Tree:
When building the passive skill tree for the Cast On Shock Deadeye, pay attention to the following;
- Critical Strike Nodes: Spend as much into critical strike chance and critical strike multiplier nodes as much as possible to maximize hit damage on critical hits. Make sure your spells break often.
- Lightning Damage Nodes: Since this uses lightning-based projectiles, go for lightning damage and the shock effect scaling.
- Projectile Damage Nodes: Focus on projectile damage, increased attack speed, and area of effect nodes.
- Survivability: Don’t forget defensive nodes for life, energy shield, and resistances to survive against tougher endgame bosses.
PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye Build – Best Skills & Gems
These are some of the best skills and gems to utilize in your Cast On Shock Deadeye build:
- Primary Skill: Tornado Shot – A powerful projectile-based skill that fires multiple projectiles in a cone, allowing you to clear packs of enemies quickly.
- Cast On Critical Strike Support – This is the heart of the Cast On Shock Deadeye build, automatically triggering powerful spells when you land critical strikes.
- Secondary Skill: Ball Lightning or Arc – Both skills work extremely well with Cast on Shock, as they deal substantial lightning damage and trigger shock effects.
- Volley or Elemental Damage with Attacks Support – These support gems enhance projectile damage, which is crucial for your primary attack.
PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye Build – Recommended Gear & Items
For the Cast On Shock Deadeye build, you want to focus on the following gear:
- Weapons: A high-damage bow with increased critical strike chance or lightning damage is crucial. Look for bows with increased attack speed and elemental damage bonuses.
- Helm, Armor, and Gloves: Aim for gear with high resistances, life, and energy shield. The Voll’s Protector chest armor can be a great choice for additional shock-related benefits.
- Rings and Amulet: Look for rings and amulets that boost critical strike chance, lightning damage, and life. The Tear of Purity amulet can be helpful for elemental resistances.
- Flasks: Flasks that increase critical strike chance, damage, or resistances are beneficial. A Quicksilver Flask for speed is a must-have.
PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye Build – Leveling Guide
Leveling the Cast On Shock Deadeye build requires some adjustments. Early on, use skills like Spectral Throw or Barrage to clear areas quickly while focusing on building up your critical strike and projectile damage. Once you hit level 31, you can start integrating Tornado Shot as your primary skill, followed by the appropriate Cast on Critical Strike setup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Path of Exile 2
Q1: How should one work around the nerf given to Cast On Shock Deadeye in PoE2?
This nerf mainly impacts raw shock scaling, but the increases provided by critical strike chance and projectile scaling allow for makeup. Focus on maximizing all your gear and your skill tree to preserve as high damage output as possible.
Q2: Is Cast On Shock Deadeye buildable for solo or party play?
Yes, this build is good for solo play as well as party play. It clears maps pretty quickly and efficiently and handles endgame bosses if the gear is right.
Q3: What is the best secondary skill for Cast On Shock Deadeye?
Ball Lightning or Arc is perfect with the Cast On Shock Deadeye build. Both are lightning-based skills that benefit from high critical strike chance and shock effects.
Q4: What is the focus of the Cast On Shock Deadeye build?
It is primarily a critical strike, lightning damage, and projectile scaling build, shocking enemies for high damage output and fast clearing of areas.
Despite the nerf, PoE2 Cast On Shock Deadeye is still really a formidable choice for fans of a more mobile and explosion-damaged gameplay. Provided that there are critical hits, a healthy amount of lightning damage scaling with projectiles should easily fit you into your goodly strong and fluid dynamic approach of play to enjoy its use. Carried smoothly to the top by perfect gear, this pass skills tree, along with well-adjusted setups in *Path of Exile 2, Happy Hunting!” *
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