Tanky Lightning Spear/Storm Lance Guide - allrounder with showcase & progression info

There are three main setups to progress through. Here are video showcases and explanations I posted throughout my own progression.

Lategame Eva/ES setup: https://youtu.be/ASQc7tAZLmU
Midgame setup: https://youtu.be/Zf_av-t5wxo
Campaign & early setup: https://youtu.be/WUMVncPjZcs

Campaign progression & gameplay
In A1 I used Whirling Slash/Twister until I unlocked Lightning Spear.

Once you unlock Storm Lance you can combo it with Explosive Spear linked with Expedite. Throw the Explosive Spear first then the Storm Lances linked with Scattershot at the same point. In A2-A3 normal I found that Lightning Spear didn't do enough damage to clear so I just used this combo, but that's highly dependant on your spear. Volt support works well in Storm Lance.

After your first Ascendancy trial unlock Critical Strike and you can start using Sniper's Mark instead of Explosive Spear. When consuming a frenzy charge, Storm Lance will detonate on its own.

In A1 cruel I got a good spear and I started using LS again for clearing.

Ascendancy
From first to last unlocks: Critical Strike -> Infuse Weapon -> Reveal Weakness -> Penetrate
You can get Reveal Weakness before Infuse Weapon if you prefer.

Gameplay - how to play
Clearing: throw Lightning Spear at packs. It can be more efficient to not spam it and run for a bit/dodge roll between two casts to gain Voltaic charges (it gives up to 3 Chains and 30% damage). You can cast Barrage between two packs, I especially like to do that when encountering a rare as the repeats & bounces from the minions will chunk or even kill the rare. We have different possibilities to apply Electrocution which will generate a Frenzy charge through Combat Frenzy. LS will consume a frenzy charge to split into 3 spears for even more clear.

Bossing: apply Sniper's Mark, throw Storm Lances, when you crit the mark is consumed and generates a Frenzy charge. That will empower your next Storm Lances which will release tons of bolts then explode for high damage. Do not throw Storm Lances again before they have detonated or you'll lose the damage from the detonation and risk wasting your frenzy charges. Keep re-applying Sniper's Mark on CD (if it's consumed).

Skill Gems
Check the relevant selection, but here are some explanations.
Lightning Spear links:
- Volt is the most important
- Martial Weapon is really nice but once you have enough attack speed is not mandatory
- Electrocute allows to generate frenzy charges through Combat Frenzy. If you use Kitoko's Current gloves you don't need it, and you can also try the Herald of Thunder - Electrocute - Neural Overload setup instead which is what I moved to in the end.

Fork can be added once your damage feels good enough (you one shot most enemies).
Innervate boosts your global lightning damage on kill.
Twofold can be used as well for more frenzy charge bonuses but I prefer more damage.

Storm Lance links:
- Scattershot is the most important
- the rest are damage links that can be used on Lightning Spear if you prefer. The setup I show is in my opinion the best for bossing, but if you're in a map farming session you may want to put Lightning Infusion and Primal Armaments in Lightning Spear and swap back when necessary.
Other possible supports: Perpetual Charge, but I prefer more dmg and I use that one in Barrage.

I do not run the Rhoa Mount but if you can afford Spirit on your body armour it can be worthwhile for more clear speed.

Ghost Dance is obviously only after you swap to eva/ES setup.

Item choices
Your spear should be a high physical or lightning DPS. After unlocking Penetrate ascendancy you want a high accuracy rating prefix + high phys DPS + Greater Vision Rune. On suffixes crit damage is good, stun buildup can be nice for bossing, attack speed & crit chance are nice but not mandatory. life gain on hit & life/mana gain on kill are really nice as well.

Lightning/phys dmg on rings and gloves is also a really nice DPS boost. You can also find accuracy rating, crit damage, crit chance.

Kitoko's Current unique gloves can be used to have Electrocute on all your lightning damage, without using the support gem.
The main difference is that it will allow you to electrocute bosses with Storm Lance.

The evasion/Energy Shield setup requires a minimum investment, you'll need some attributes on your gear to cover for the 120-130 int on the ES helmet (depends on the base item).  You will also need spirit on your amulet for Ghost Dance. My setup cost between 10 and 15 divs in total ~5 days into the league.


You can follow my progression at https://twitch.tv/vikfro