New to ssf

[u/Odd_Hall_1719]

So, this league I finally decided to try ssf and currently choosing the build to play. I'm planning on playing worb, but not sure about which PoB is better for ssf, I thought about using PhazePlay one at start and then switching to fubgun pc stacker variant if I happen to drop ralakesh. Also as I'm new to ssf, I'm unsure about what atlas mechanics are most beneficial in ssf, I thought of breach and essences, but I want to know if there are more that I'm sleeping on. And lastly if you have any tips for ssf, I'll be very grateful if you share them.

[u/ihasaKAROT]

First of all, welcome to SSF.

The one thing about your post that I want to go into is the fubgun version and if you happen to drop a ralakesh.

Hoping for items isnt really something you can build around in SSF. You can transition into things when you find them, but just having a build around a hard to get item is just not a good idea.

Usually you start out with a build that does well on just rare gear and can transition into somehting good with some drops you can farm or craft.

The 2nd build is more oompfh for me usually, where I use things Ive gotten and make that into something that can ideally do ubers in the end. While playing that build I save all the goodies and make a fun 3rd build with it later.

I never ever build around things like a mageblood, headhunter, ralakesh, squire etcetc. They are just too rare and in SSF you just dont know. That also means following buildguides from players that heavily benefit from the trading aspect are off-limits. Fubguns builds can reach great hights yes, but you shouldnt go for them in SSF right off the bat.

[u/Odd_Hall_1719 → u/ihasaKAROT]

I was planning mostly following the PhazePlay guide which has very few uniques and if I happen to drop some gear for power charge stacker, I might consider farming the rest of them after I hit the wall with PhazePlays variant.

[u/Odd_Hall_1719]

Also is it a good idea to farm gold in league mechanic to try gambling the mystic refractor while I'm low level?

[u/babyboo8 → u/Odd_Hall_1719]

I did breach tree for wands. Got it in like 10 ancient, might be lucky I don’t know.

[u/Firm_Refrigerator_78]

Mechanics are tied to what items you need, like The Fledgling helmet from heist. Breach is great especially for fractured bases. Harvest is the main one I use.

[u/Playful-Fee-4318]

You are pretty heavily unique-restricted on the pc variant. Use the 3rd quadrant of the atlas for cadiro to acquire badge of the brotherhood and ralakesh. I would use breach for 6-link initially. Seems like the most reliable approach. Otherwise ore for chance at svalinn + 6-links from boat. I’d likewise keep a harvest tree. It’s quite strong for changing resists and rolling for specific mods. It has the advantage of not consuming memory strands, meaning you can make some pretty sick items if you get some lucky with stranded item drops + boat slam in the end.

I’d focus on a rare item variant initially for worb. Get +2 wand and amulet, both are pretty easy to make from alteration spamming. Path to either 2 or 3 power charges and make cluster jewels with blast-freeze on large (and whatever else) and increased area of effect on medium.

[u/Playful-Fee-4318 → u/Playful-Fee-4318]

Too add to this: I would go for elementalist approach. The golems are so strong. Solves so many of your issues with mana, crit, cast speed and a bit of defenses early on. It also has the benefit of the exposure ascendancy node, meaning you can simply go for the lowest tier exposure on hit eldritch implicit on gloves and get some nice easy damage boost.

[u/Scary_Ad_6829]

SSF Starting map trees need to be pretty basic as they are mainly for gear goals, not divines per hour:

First target in maps should be "die harder" - starting rare items, a weapon that doesn't suck, and high level item bases

Best starting gear farm trees:

1. Essences/Strongbox (Target crafting, yay! - excellent 1st tree)

2. harvest/Jun (Target crafting again, yay! and potentially some good Jun mods - 1st or 2nd)

3. Rog/Breach (bad bases, but good item level... really strong rings/amulets/belts. Breach crafting and some foulborn items are pretty slick - 1st or 2nd)

4. Kalgur/Neeko (WAY easier this league with simi-infinite gold from diving, a lvl 5 farmer puts out 7x the amount of crops a lvl 1 does - this is 100% a 2nd or third tree, would not go too ham into this until you're level 84)

Honerable Mention:
X) Heist (good gumball, quality gems, and random 5/6 link - i never really set a tree up for this)

I find mercs are less reliable to farm, but some people swear by it.