Ok, been jamming this build this season on a lark, and Pinball is the patron saint of this build if nothing else, so defer to him. Will update this continuously as these are notes for going fast.
Anyways, early starting guide for kicking off totem nec, as the build has speedrun potential to 120:
- First thing, eat your sig, check akara for a superior staff base, hit up charsi for a scythe and one-socket armor bases excluding chest armor, these get you early runeword items. If akara doesn't have that, check back occasionally. We just want the scythe so we can actually do damage in the early levels before we craft Pax Mystica
- Fireheart totems still do more work. Frostclaw is great for bosses and early levelling up to 120, but falls right off. Stormeye is general clear.
- Totems only really scale off your caster attributes, so gear like any fire caster. Minion stats aren't as important, but it wouldn't hurt your knights either.
- Build runs like butter to 120, but you will need to either respec, change builds, or grind out the set to continue progression beyond that point. Two SSUs are necessary for later.
Breakpoints: (staff)
FHR:
4 70
3 152 <-- aim for this if able
2 909
FCR:
8 46
7 83 <-- at least this
6 174
Breakpoints: (dagger and nec. shield, for the set)
FHR:
6 86
5 152 <-- achievable
4 377
FCR:
11 48
10 75
9 125 <-- ez mode.
Skills:
SMAX: Fireheart Totem, Soulbond, Totemic Mastery (do this in chunks of 5 for more totems), Enbalming, Jinn
6 or 12 points: Abyss Knights. They do work, and multiples of 6 get you more knights. Will eventually need a respec around 120, but you might do that to farm teganze, toraja, etc anyways so it is generally worth putting in 12 points. Make it a 1-pointer later.
1 pt: Death Ward, the entire minion tree (skeles, hawks, etc.), Talon's Hold, all prereqs.
Gear:
Weapon:
Pax Mystica
Pax Mystica
Staves
'Tir'
Runeword Level: 10
+1 to All Skills
+7% to Spell Damage
+(2 to 5) to Blink
Elemental Resists +(11 to 15)%
(11 to 13)% Magic Find
->
Akhenaten
->
Elverfolk
Elverfolk
Staves
'ChamIstVex'
Runeword Level: 83
+(7 to 8) to All Skills
+(60 to 80) Spell Focus
35% Cast Speed
-(27 to 33)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+750 Defense vs. Missile
(21 to 30)% to Energy
Maximum Life and Mana +5%
Elemental Resists +(35 to 45)%
(31 to 40)% Bonus to Defense
10% Magic Find
in a T4 War Staff
Armor:
Akara's Robe
->
Queen of Glass
Queen of Glass
Ancient Armor (4)
Defense: (315 - 344) to (630 - 688)
Required Level: 11
Required Strength: 33 to 34
Item Level: 29
15% Cast Speed
-(6 to 8)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(18 to 29)% Enhanced Defense
+(76 to 125) to Mana
Lightning Resist +(21 to 25)%
Cold Resist +(21 to 25)%
Requirements -(11 to 15)%
Socketed (2)
Defense: (899 - 969) to (1718 - 1852)
Required Level: 30
Required Strength: 57 to 60
Item Level: 40
25% Cast Speed
-(11 to 13)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(41 to 52)% Enhanced Defense
+(176 to 225) to Mana
Lightning Resist +(31 to 35)%
Cold Resist +(31 to 35)%
Requirements -(21 to 25)%
Socketed (4)
Defense: (2084 - 2224) to (3911 - 4173)
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 175 to 186
Item Level: 67
35% Cast Speed
-(16 to 18)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(64 to 75)% Enhanced Defense
+(276 to 325) to Mana
Lightning Resist +(41 to 45)%
Cold Resist +(41 to 45)%
Requirements -(31 to 35)%
Socketed (5)
Defense: (3013 - 3202) to (5650 - 6005)
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 323 to 344
Item Level: 85
40% Cast Speed
-(18 to 20)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(75 to 86)% Enhanced Defense
+(326 to 375) to Mana
Lightning Resist +(46 to 50)%
Cold Resist +(46 to 50)%
Requirements -(36 to 40)%
Socketed (6)
Helm:
Summit
->
Ra
Ra
Helms
'ShaelThul'
Runeword Level: 35
Living Flame Gives +1% Fire Spell Damage per 8 Character Levels
+1 to All Skills
+10% Bonus to Poison Skill Duration
35% Cast Speed
-(7 to 10)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(7 to 10)% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Attacker Flees after Striking (11 to 15)%
Cold Resist +25%
Poison Resist +25%
(7 to 13)% Gold Find
7% Magic Find
(not a lot in the helms department)
Belt:
Rainbow
Rainbow
Belts
'Eth'
Runeword Level: 15
+5% to Spell Damage
+(6 to 10)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Regenerate Mana +(5 to 10)%
Elemental Resists +(10 to 15)%
(6 to 8)% Magic Find
+2 to Light Radius
->
Moonwrap
Moonwrap
Sash (4)
Defense: (16 - 18) to (20 - 21)
Required Level: 1
Required Strength: 25
Item Level: 1
5% Cast Speed
+3% to Spell Damage
+(18 to 29)% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +(11 to 15)%
Cold Resist +(11 to 15)%
Socketed (1)
Defense: (119 - 129) to (131 - 141)
Required Level: 17
Required Strength: 50
Item Level: 31
15% Cast Speed
+9% to Spell Damage
+(41 to 52)% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +(21 to 25)%
Cold Resist +(21 to 25)%
Socketed (2)
Defense: (331 - 353) to (370 - 395)
Required Level: 35
Required Strength: 125
Item Level: 51
25% Cast Speed
+15% to Spell Damage
+(64 to 75)% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +(31 to 35)%
Cold Resist +(31 to 35)%
Socketed (2)
Defense: (493 - 524) to (542 - 576)
Required Level: 43
Required Strength: 250
Item Level: 77
30% Cast Speed
+20% to Spell Damage
+(75 to 86)% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +(36 to 40)%
Cold Resist +(36 to 40)%
Socketed (2)
Boots:
Epicenter
Epicenter
Boots
'Ith'
Runeword Level: 18
0.0625% Chance of Crushing Blow (Based on Character Level)
+(4 to 15)% Enhanced Defense
+(40 to 60) to Life
Elemental Resists +(3 to 5)%
->
Outlaw
Outlaw
Boots
'TalHel'
Runeword Level: 40
+1 to Necromancer Skill Levels
Attacker Flees after Striking 5%
+(16 to 20)% to Summoned Minion Damage
+(6 to 15)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+(30 to 57)% Enhanced Defense
-1 Defense
+(11 to 15) to Energy
Elemental Resists +(3 to 5)%
Physical Damage Reduced by (1 to 5)
+(1 to 5) to Light Radius
->
Wake of Destruction
Wake of Destruction
Greaves (4)
Defense: (90 - 102) to (135 - 152)
Required Level: 9
Required Strength: 17
Item Level: 19
+(4 to 6)% Bonus to Spell Focus
(10 to 40)% Movement Speed
+(11 to 13)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(6 to 8)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(6 to 8)% to Poison Spell Damage
+(24 to 40)% Enhanced Defense
+(21 to 25) to Energy
Requirements -20%
Socketed (1)
Defense: (333 - 369) to (462 - 512)
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 33
Item Level: 36
+(7 to 9)% Bonus to Spell Focus
(10 to 40)% Movement Speed
+(15 to 17)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(10 to 12)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(10 to 12)% to Poison Spell Damage
+(58 to 75)% Enhanced Defense
+(26 to 30) to Energy
Requirements -25%
Socketed (2)
Defense: (854 - 930) to (1152 - 1254)
Required Level: 44
Required Strength: 158
Item Level: 59
+(10 to 12)% Bonus to Spell Focus
(10 to 40)% Movement Speed
+(19 to 21)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(14 to 16)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(14 to 16)% to Poison Spell Damage
+(92 to 109)% Enhanced Defense
+(31 to 35) to Energy
Requirements -30%
Socketed (3)
Defense: (1274 - 1378) to (1713 - 1853)
Required Level: 52
Required Strength: 272
Item Level: 85
+(13 to 15)% Bonus to Spell Focus
(10 to 40)% Movement Speed
+(23 to 25)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(18 to 20)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(18 to 20)% to Poison Spell Damage
+(109 to 126)% Enhanced Defense
+(36 to 40) to Energy
Requirements -40%
Socketed (4)
Gloves: T1 Honorific leather gloves. MO priority/order: resists -> str/dex -> fhr/fire spell damage -> energy. In short, we're using the gloves to help cover str/dex requirements for the staff and armor, alongside patching up resists.
Jewelry: Look for the usual good fire caster mods; fcr, fhr, fire spell dmg, +skills, etc. This slot isn't as important yet.
Sockets:
Weapon: Any jewels work. For Elverfolk specifically, Zod-crafted jewels.
Armor: Perfect Bloodstone/Onyx/Amber/Turquoise for resists, Rha runes otherwise. This setup realistically won't need more than turquoises to patch up the complete blank for poison resistance, but check your own stats to be sure.
Mystic Orbs:
Weapon: Only for elverfolk; fcr to the next breakpoint if able.
Armor: ED to 200% -> FHR to breakpoints. Fire spell damage, Str/Dex if needed for more gear, Energy otherwise.
Jewelry: PDR -> Mana regen -> fire spell damage -> Magic Find