Path Of Exile Resource #19 - Varunastra Unique Item Review

Varunastra in Path Of Exile is a unique vaal blade that when equipped grants the player up to 60 percent increased physical damage, up to 45 to 100 added physical damage, up to 3 mana gained for each enemy hit by attacks, the unique modifier "counts as all one handed melee weapon types", and 18 percent increased accuracy rating from the vaal blade's implicit modifier. 3d art for the Varunastra unique was added in June of 2016. This unique has not changed since it's original introduction into the game in March of 2016.

Item Usefulness Information - This unique is in the current moment best suited for certain range based character builds and melee based character builds due to it's unique modifiers. The up to 60 percent increased physical damage granted by the unique is great for both range and melee based character builds that fully utilize and scale physical damage to eliminate enemies. In order to fully utilize the potential of the Varunastra unique weapon as a range based character, you will need to use the skill gem Spectral Throw as your main damage source, as no other range based skill gem will work with a melee based weapon. The up to 45 to 100 added physical damage granted by the unique is a large source of flat physical damage and is useful for character builds that mainly deal and scale physical based damage to eliminate enemies. The Varunastra unique weapon's physical damage stats are considerably high compared to other unique weapons or most rare weapons. The up to 3 mana gained for each enemy hit by attacks is an incredibly useful utility stat, as most range and melee based character builds do not have high enough mana regeneration to consistently use their main damage skill, and instead have to rely on mana leech and mana gained on hit in order to sustain the usage of their main damage skill. The implementation of the mana gained on hit being on the Varunastra unique weapon means that you do not have to invest into mana leech or mana gained on hit anywhere else on your range or melee based character, be it on your skill tree or your main gear. The 18 percent increased accuracy rating granted by the unique's implicit modifier is useful for increasing your chance to successfully hit enemies and thus dealing damage to them. The unique modifier "counts as all one handed melee weapon types" is certainly unique in the game at the current moment and is exceptionally powerful if used and scaled correctly. This unique modifier allows for the taking of the most powerful passive skill nodes on the passive skill tree and feeling their powerful unique benefits stack up. For example, the most efficient passive skill nodes to take and utilize while wielding the Varunastra unique weapon are the Deadly Dilettante, By The Blade, Soul Raker, Adder's Touch, Fatal Blade, and Claws Of The Falcon nodes. All of these passive skill tree nodes affect and enhance different types of melee weapons, however since the Varunastra unique weapon counts as all one handed melee weapon types, it receives all of their unique benefits. The best character class to pick when deciding to fully utilize and maximize damage output with this unique is the Ranger. The best ascendancy class to pick when deciding to go Ranger is the Raider in the current stage of the game. You cannot use this unique in the early stages of the game, since it's level requirement is level 64. In the late stages of the game, this unique is a great physical damage based weapon for both certain range and melee based characters and has great versatility and utility in regards to passive skill tree node pickings.

Informative Links -
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Varunastra - additional information regarding the Varunastra unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Accuracy - additional information regarding the accuracy mechanic
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Spectral_Throw - additional information regarding the Spectral Throw attack skill gem
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Raider - additional information regarding the Raider ascendancy class