Quote (Goomshill @ May 19 2026 10:07pm)

Here's some footage of what a bis summoned tainted / blood boil warlock looks like
only t1 herald because I had to reshoot it just to get heralds to summon in a short enough tomb clip anyway, but I think it gets across the idea of the damage potential
Its a noticeable huge difference in immunes vs non-immunes though, since you're mostly dealing blood boil damage to them and tainted only chipping in a little bit, since against immunes I'm often putting them at 0-50% dr vs boil, 23% fr vs boil, 78% fr vs tainted
and significant drop in hp/life recouped via hex:siphon compared to previous version, because summon tainted are probably getting half or more of the kills and not triggering any LAEK/MAEK. Have to use blue potions quite a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pjkmvxCE1M

Do ES warlocks with whatever build, be it phys or hex purge, still stack up compared to this?

Quote (LegolasJJH @ May 19 2026 09:16pm)

Got

Hellwardens
+2warlock fcr ammy
Enigma
Eth fort tm
Meph book with stone
Arach
2 fcr ring
Horazon boot
Loh

Insight might merc
Fanat + cursed heph

Echo strike warlock

Pre nerf he cleared p8 solo with ease

Post nerf he's pretty Meh in p1 and not even viable to solo p8 anymore

Quote (Goomshill @ May 19 2026 10:07pm)

Here's some footage of what a bis summoned tainted / blood boil warlock looks like
only t1 herald because I had to reshoot it just to get heralds to summon in a short enough tomb clip anyway, but I think it gets across the idea of the damage potential
Its a noticeable huge difference in immunes vs non-immunes though, since you're mostly dealing blood boil damage to them and tainted only chipping in a little bit, since against immunes I'm often putting them at 0-50% dr vs boil, 23% fr vs boil, 78% fr vs tainted
and significant drop in hp/life recouped via hex:siphon compared to previous version, because summon tainted are probably getting half or more of the kills and not triggering any LAEK/MAEK. Have to use blue potions quite a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pjkmvxCE1M

Do ES warlocks with whatever build, be it phys or hex purge, still stack up compared to this?

Quote (Goomshill @ May 19 2026 10:07pm)

Here's some footage of what a bis summoned tainted / blood boil warlock looks like
only t1 herald because I had to reshoot it just to get heralds to summon in a short enough tomb clip anyway, but I think it gets across the idea of the damage potential
Its a noticeable huge difference in immunes vs non-immunes though, since you're mostly dealing blood boil damage to them and tainted only chipping in a little bit, since against immunes I'm often putting them at 0-50% dr vs boil, 23% fr vs boil, 78% fr vs tainted
and significant drop in hp/life recouped via hex:siphon compared to previous version, because summon tainted are probably getting half or more of the kills and not triggering any LAEK/MAEK. Have to use blue potions quite a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pjkmvxCE1M

Do ES warlocks with whatever build, be it phys or hex purge, still stack up compared to this?

Quote (AlphaBetaGammaDelta @ May 20 2026 08:26am)

Looks a bit faster than phys, haven't tried the hex purge magic build yet. But I think you will take a long time to clear t5 heralds, especially if they have stone skin

Quote (Goomshill @ May 20 2026 10:00am)

I think fire immune heralds could be an issue yeah. There's a totally lopsided damage output when tainted are hitting at -85% fire resist vs some mobs, 78% vs immunes, and 95% vs immune heralds after the merc dies. Boil dps is okay at killing them on its own but definitely a slower grind than the pre nerf ES. But if heralds arent immune the tainted just shred them.

Tainted vs bind demon is still a real consideration now we've seen bound demons can be effectively immortal again, and you can still get reasonable amp on aura + cursed alone, or a dreadfang merc. I still think the tainted win out overall