[3.29] Captainlance9's Luminary Merc Bot

Work in Progress Disclaimer

• This is a work in progress currently but will be a fully fleshed out Leaguestarter guide prior to the launch as I will be theorycrafting and updating in preparation for Curse of the All Flame. I am going to be working on PoB / leaguestart progression plans / buylist / ect for the build and will be updating here as I figure things out.

Non Ideal Mercs / Brick Scenarios

• Mercs unlisted can still be solid placeholders, just swap to ideal options when you find them.
• Brutality Support links can BRICK damage
• Deadly Ailments(less damage with hits) can lower damage
• Movement Skills Brick AI of the Mercs

Leveling Plan

• Act 1 = Spectral Throw
• • Requires Least amount of swaps
  • 3L = Spectral Throw + Volley Support + Chance to Bleed Support / Faster Attacks Support
  • good damage in act 1 / early act 2 when paired w/ Decoy Totem + Sniper's Mark
• Act 2 = Righteous Fire Swap ~ Lvl 18ish
• • Highest overlap with Flame Link support tree for playing as merc bot
  • works well for early campaign
  • REQUIRES BENCH crafting fire res on every available suffix + ruby rings to swap too
  • REQUIRES transmutes (get these by selling magic/rare items unid / only id items that could be potential upgrades for weak slots)
  • Righteous Fire - Elemental Focus - Efficacy Support - Burning Damage Support
  • Scorching Ray - Infused Channelling Support - Efficacy Support - Controlled Destruction Support
• Act 3 = Get Luminary ascendancy & Hire first Permanent Mercenary
• • Refer Merc Options listed below for recommend mercs to look for
  • Act 3 sceptre of god zone has first guaranteed merc spawn (maybe resettable, not confirmed)
• Act 4 = Get Flame Link
• • Consider using Lifetap Support to solve cost, may require additional fire res / regen on gear.
• Act 5-10 = Righteous Fire -> Full Merc Bot
• • Righteous Fire is there to bridge gap between full on merc bot and needing some supplemental damage if rng gives bad merc ect.
  • Once the merc starts to be able to deal acceptable damage begin transitioning away from righteous fire

Ideal Merc Options

• AVOID Movement Skills on MERCS at all costs
• Kineticist
• • BiS Clear Merc
  • Kinetic Blast of Clustering - Multiple Projectiles Support - Returning Projectiles Support - Clear Support(pierce/chain/ect)
  • do NOT get Kinetic Bolt - this will brick merc ai to not use clustering properly
  • Buff Skills: Haste / Inspiring Cry
• Manyshot
• • Good Clear / Single Target
  • Ice Shot - Multiple Projectiles Support - Returning Projectiles Support - Elemental Damage with Attacks Support
  • Vaal Ice Shot(single target needed) - Returning Projectiles Support - Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - Cooldown Recovery Support
  • Buff Skills: Grace / Hatred / Frost Bomb
• Bladebitter
• • Single Target Merc w/ armour stack angle
  • Profane Strike(purple Molten Strike) - Multiple Projectiles Support - Faster Attacks Support
  • Buff Skills: Grace / Malevolence / Withering Step
• Smoulderstrike
• • Single Target Merc w/ armour stack angle
  • Molten Strike - Multiple Projectiles Support - Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - Gilded Molten Eruption III(5 extra proj every 5th attack)
  • Buff Skills: Anger / Molten Shell
• Blade Ambusher
• • Good Bossing / Single Target Merc
  • Spectral Helix of Trarthus - Multiple Traps Support - Trap and Mine Damage Support - Slower Projectiles Support
  • Buff Skills: Grace / Summon Skitterbots
• Combatant
• • Good All rounder / Starter Merc (better clear option as armour stack setup late game)
  • Static Strike - Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - More Duration Support - Chain Support
  • Frost Blades - Returning Projectiles Support - Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - Chain Support/
  • Buff Skills: Wrath / Purity of Ice

Videos

• Leveling Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNeTIMbxqco
• Luminary Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-jJT6Z9-ZU