In every league, I do a meta recap sometime in week 2. This is issue 3.25, where we look at how Gladiator and Warden changed things, the impact of nerfs and buffs, and more.

Notes on this video: https://www.sirgog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/325-meta-day-10.pdf

0:00 Intro, why we start trading first
0:56 What about diversity? Is it going up and down at the same time?
1:39 Methodology for collecting data for this video
4:10 By far the most popular league of all time – How this affects the data
5:21 Kingsmarch influence – not too big, but can help Sanctum-focused builds climb the ranks (they are terrible at Kingsmarch, so don't spend time there)
6:41 Impact of the Melee rework, the /"shiny and new/" phenomenon
7:32 Gladiator rework impact – GGG did it
8:27 Guardian Influence – still being researched
9:04 Impact of other changes in the patch notes – mostly items. Mana, Kalandra's return, T17 nerfs, and mostly items.
14:10 Building diversity – promotion election
14:40 The story of the four promotion candidates who have fallen back – for the first time ever, none of them are at dumpster level
15:30 The big surprise – Ascension spread to level 100
15:59 The top build – Lightning Strike
17:13 Position 2: Hexblast Mines (including Hexblast of Contradiction Mines)
19:04 Position 3: Archmage Hierophant (I'll summarize all of these)
19:47 Position 4: Righteous Fire
20:47 Position 5: Instant application Critical hit Frostblades from Katabasis (without scaling of the DOT component) Slayer
21:31 Position 6: Cut Gladiator
21:51 Position 7: Molten Strike of the Zenith Strength Stacker Jugg
22:24 Position 8: Locus Mines Power Siphon Wall Attacks
23:07 Position 9: Spectrum Bow Elemental Strike
24:05 Position 10: Earthshatter Melee Strike
24:23 Quick comment on Leap Slam, why it is not number 11 (or on the list at all)
25:00 Position 11: Penance Brand of Dissipation (instant critical hit, but two versions of it)
25:43 Position 12: Flicker Strike – Slayer or Trickster
26:02 Position 13: Earth Shaking Ground Slam
26:32 Position 14: A brand new Spectral Shield Throw build – Bleed Gladiator
27:01 Position 15: The Minion Build – Holy Relic of Conviction Necromancer
27:29 Unique breakout elements
28:33 Final thoughts
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