Shadow Smite - A "not guide" to use a skill differently

I posted this in the Smite Skill Feedback, and someone PM'd saying I may get more feedback here.

I recognize that this is not an optimal build.
I recognize that this will never kill Atziri.
I recognize that this is probably not how Smite was meant to be used.
This character isn't about any of that. I'm just trying to see what I can do with the skill.

Backstory:
I had a mid 60's Shadow with a free respec lying around a little while ago, So I decided to try out Smite, and see if I could do something with it that wasn't the normal "I'm going to have minions all the time!"

While I'm having a blast, I should state that I'm not that far into mapping. I'm going through T5 Maps, and still trying to sort out some better gear. So far, I feel that my clear speed is comparable to my Frost Blades Ascendant around the same time / level / gear, but with better survivability. Evasion / Dodge / Block seems to be a little more spikey in damage intake, but harder to actually "get dead". I have more time after a spike of damage to get stabilized than I did solely relying on IR + Armor / Flasks / Leech. I've come at the defenses for this character in much the same way that I did in WoW, when thinking about how to get "tank" ready.

The only thing that I've yet to understand about how Smite works, is that I have kept the AOE Lightning damage going for considerably longer than 4 seconds after a melee hit, while there are other mobs in range. I found this in a Trial, when I had nudged myself into a corner waiting to time up some traps near a fire room. I had just melee'd down some of the spawning skellies, and after nudging myself in the corner, the AoE from Smite kept zapping more skellies as they spawned. Not sure if it was a bug, or if I missed how the AoE can perpetuate itself.

Anyway, onto the setup as it is currently. What I'm wearing is what I had lying around the stash, plus a 6L I bought on the cheap.

Gear:


Passive Tree

As you can clearly see, this is not top flight gear, but it's working so far, and my plan is to keep working on it, and see how far it can go.

What I'm trying to accomplish
My idea for this build, was to work on pumping up the lightning damage. I'm looking to get the most bang out of all of the Damage elements of Smite. Not just the melee strike but more specifically the AoE. So far, the AoE is a significant contributor to Clear Speed, even if it doesn't help on Bosses (that don't have adds)

I have a couple of other weapons lying around that I've tried, but this one has been the best so far DPS wise, sporting T1 Speed and Lightning Damage. I'll still keep looking for other swords to upgrade to, but so far, nothing has dropped that is close.

Other weapons I've tried



How I play.
Whirling Blade into packs, shooting for center, and then start Stabbing anything close. The AoE will mow down mobs. Rinse and Repeat.

So far, I haven't differentiated for Magic / Rare packs. Except maybe I have to pop flasks to stabilize, or grab more DPS.

Summon Skeltons
I do not use normal Summon Skel. Only Vaal Skel. I'll use it for Essence Packs, Boxes, Shrines, Bosses, Elder Portals, Beyond, Abyss, and what not. The aura is definitely a noticeable increase during these times. I do try and stay centered in the Vaal Skels as much as possible (without being dumb) to ensure that I am effectively AoE-ing everything down.

What's next
Higher Tier Maps. So far, the only content that I know I won't be able to down with Smite as a Shadow is Atziri. I don't think that I would be able to position myself during the split phase to ensure that no lightning strikes hit the mirror, and I'm pretty sure that a Lightning Strike on the mirror would end me.

Character Stats (close, I don't have the game open in front of me right now)
HP: 4250
EV: 49%
Dodge: 40%
Block: 24%
Resists: Over Cap
Accuracy: 88% (so far, I haven't noticed that it matters, since the Lightning will strike, even if you stab air)
Crit: 19%
DPS, no charges, buffed in H/O: ~30K
DPS, with max Charges: ~54K
Ele Pen: 54%