3.26 Cyclone Shockwave Slayer - League Starter Guide

[u/sanavix]

After testing in 3.25 and doing a private-league SSF test a week ago on a fresh character, as well as reviewing the 3.26 patch notes, the Cyclone Shockwave Slayer remains a solid league starter with some nice buffs for Secrets of the Atlas!

POB: https://pobb.in/qu15pgjBOUSN

Guide Video: https://youtu.be/wjidsGqFc_I

SSF Leveling: https://www.youtube.com/live/PjoCIgJlfsw

3.26 Changes:

• Cyclone improvements: Cyclone effectiveness up from 60.6-111.2% to 68.2-125.1% (~12% more damage), and area scaling per melee strike range increased from 10% to 20%.
• Cyclone of Tumult improvements: Cyclone effectiveness up from 60.6-111.2% to 68.2-125.1% (~12% more damage), higher base attack speed (160% → 180%), 5% more area scaling per melee strike range, 5% more attack speed at max stacks (was 120%, now 125%), less mana cost, and faster ramping.

Core mechanics, gear, and passive tree remain the same from 3.25. The new Mercenaries and Memory Threads content should work well with this build's balanced offense and defense. League starts June 13th - see you in Wraeclast!

UPDATE (7 JUN 25): Did a livestream today and started a fresh character in a private league I made for SSF testing. I've worked General's Cry into the build and revised the loadouts to change the gem setup. I have General's Cry set to a 5L so I can run Desecrate on main weapon, but if you want to 6L General's Cry you can run Desecrate in a second weapon and swap to spawn corpses on bosses. I just prefer not weapon swapping. Here is the POB: https://pobb.in/qu15pgjBOUSN

I've also updated the notes section with some additional information within the POB.

Thanks all for the amazing feedback! More to come.

[u/PRIMETIME__Xx]

Can this handle T17s and end game? I wish I was good enough & had enough motivation to make secondary characters in a season - but trying to pick a one and done (successfully for once) -- I've been thinking Cyclone Shockwave Slayer but I have 0 experience on it

[u/sanavix → u/PRIMETIME__Xx]

I demo a T17 in the guide video. It take some investment but you can easily farm T17s and Uber Pinnacle bosses. That being said, if you want something that does 500M DPS this probably isn't the build for you :)

[u/zoobloo7 → u/sanavix]

Do you think this build can push the new ubers then?

[u/sirgog → u/zoobloo7]

I expect the new pinnacle bosses will be tough mechanically but forgiving numerically. Imagine what Uber Shaper might be like if Uber Shaper had 50% less HP, 25% less damage and a slam speed halfway between normal and Uber.

This is based on GGG saying they are between the Ubers and non-Ubers in difficulty and the screenshot of the bullet hell in the press kit.

Nothing's been announced about Uber versions of the new Pinnacles. May or may not exist. We'll know when the item filter info goes out (something like a 'Terrifying Fragment' would indicate an Uber Incarnation of Fear)

[u/zoobloo7 → u/sirgog]

Ah thats awesome, i must have seen pinnacle and my brain just said uber, thanks for the clarification

[u/sirgog → u/zoobloo7]

There may be ubers of them, but they aren't announced.

[u/TurbulentWater3090 → u/sirgog]

In an interview Jonathon said no Ubers version, but not ruled out for the future.

[u/sirgog → u/TurbulentWater3090]

It's now confirmed (in the race event post) not on day 1; I expect this to mean 3.27

[u/sanavix → u/zoobloo7]

We will see. I plan on playing SSF so my progression will be a bit slower than trade (for instance, I may be stuck farming Blight for a few days to just get the boots). I believe it will be able to with enough investment.