Tornado Shot
Deadeye/Ranger
Starter build

Updated for Patch 3.8

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Estimated budget: medium

Tornado Shot Ranger is one of the most well-rounded ranged builds in Path of Exile. It can be extremely powerful as a Starter build with just a few physical DPS items required and one of the best clearing speed on lower tier Maps. Later on, it will allow you to face Shaper and the Elder as long as you can afford the required gear (including two 6-linked items for both the Tornado Shot and Barrage setups). It is rather easy to play because of its' simple gameplay mechanics, good damage and amazing AoE.

This build is also extremely flexible. Players can freely choose between going either a full glass cannon (it requires kiting experience) or keeping a balance between offense and defense. Keep in mind that if you can't stay alive the build loses its' purpose - it's meant to be extremely fast.

We would like to also invite you to check the full list of our Path of Exile's Crafty guides that can be found here: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

This build is very straightforward. Tornado Shot Deadeye is a ranged DPS class, that deals massive damage, and requires the player to kite and avoid enemy attacks. In order to be fully viable certain defensive mechanics have to be put to work, otherwise, you won't be able to fully utilize this class's potential. This build also provides amazing AoE, while may lack single-target DPS high-tier maps. This makes this build require second 5/6 linked item to put the Barrage skill in it, or swapping several Gems for boss fights. 

0:07 T14 Colosseum Map 3:53 T15 Lava Lake Map 9:48 T16 Pit of the Chimera Video recorded pre 3.8 - please wait for an updated one

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Leveling as a Ranger is of the easiest kind. It usually is more than enough to upgrade your gear with the self-found items, and the build itself provides a great balance between offense and defense. You can use at least a couple bow skills that will do just fine, with either higher single or AoE DPS. We recommend using Burning Arrow(or other Bow Attacks that you can get for completing the first quest - content is easy enough to pick any of them) early on and replace it with Tornado Shot at level 28.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Burning Arrow setup
	Burning Arrow - one of the first available bow skills in PoE. It will do just fine until you get the Tornado Shot Gem
	Added Fire Damage Support - great buff to your DPS
	Lesser Multiple Projectiles Support - this will make your BA quite viable for clearing bigger packs as well

Tornado Shot setup
	Tornado Shot - you should start using Tornado Shot as soon as it becomes available. Try to use(and level up) as many support Gems you plan to use later on with this setup. This always makes the transition to your final build much easier
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - you can use this Gem shortly after you get the TS running, just buy it as soon as you reach level 38
	Mirage Archer Support - summons a Mirage Archer on your back which uses Tornado Shot with reduced Attack Speed. Greatly increases your clear speed and shortens your leveling
	Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - increases Elemental Damage dealt with supported Attacks. It's also one of the recommended end-game Gems

Utility Gems
	Lightning Golem - the recommended Golem for this build which increases your Attack and Cast Speed
	Assassin's Mark - the recommended curse option for this build. You can start using it manually as soon as you reach level 24.
	Herald of Ice - adds moderate DPS buff, as well as it's one of the recommended endgame Spells so you might want to start leveling it up early
	Herald of Thunder - adds Lightning Damage to your Attacks

Bandits:

We recommend helping Alira for increased Critical Strike Multiplier and Elemental Resistances

Leveling Skill Trees:

36 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Finesse 2) Herbalism 3) Master Fletcher/King of the Hill 4) Deadly Draw+Heavy Draw

62 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Golem's Blood 2) Bravery 3) Acrobatics 4) Forces of Nature 5) Revenge of the Haunted

Recommended leveling items:

Blackheart - great physical DPS leveling Rings. You can use two of them for massive DPS bonus on lower levels
Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks 5% increased Physical Damage Adds 1 to 3 Chaos Damage to Attacks +(20-30) to maximum Life (2-4) Life Regenerated per second 10% chance to Cause Monsters to Flee

Meginord's Girdle - extremely powerful belt, which can be used even as endgame item for certain versions of this build
+(25-35) to Strength Adds 5 to 15 Physical Damage to Attacks +25 to Strength 10% increased maximum Life +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 25% increased Flask Life Recovery rate

Karui Ward - amazing DPS and movement speed bonuses granted by this amulet, make it the best in slot leveling item for most ranger's builds
+(20-30) to Dexterity +(20-30) to Strength +100 to Accuracy Rating 30% increased Projectile Speed 10% increased Movement Speed 30% increased Projectile Damage

Stormcloud - the first unique bow we suggest using, available from level 8
No Physical Damage Adds 1 to 85 Lightning Damage (36-50)% increased Attack Speed

Doomfletch - another recommended unique bow. Has level requirement of 28
(20-24)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Adds (12-16) to (20-24) Physical Damage (10-14)% increased Attack Speed 60% increased Mana Regeneration Rate Gain 100% of Bow Physical Damage as Extra Damage of an Element

Death's Opus - one of the most powerful leveling bows in PoE. Grants amazing DPS with the 2 additional arrows, and it just might carry you till the mapping phase with proper supporting gear (mainly with added flat physical damage)
(30-50)% increased Critical Strike Chance (100-125)% increased Physical Damage Adds (10-20) to (30-35) Physical Damage 10% increased Attack Speed +100% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier 2 additional Arrows

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

114 Points Final Skill Tree
114 Points Path of Building(PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Far Shot
2. Ricochet
3. Gathering Winds
4. Endless Munitions

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Lunaris 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%; 1% increased Movement Speed for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%

Minor God: Soul of Garukhan +5% chance to Evade Attacks if you've taken a Savage Hit recently

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Tornado Shot
	Tornado Shot - your main DPS skill. It grants amazing AoE, and very good single target DPS as secondary projectiles can hit the same target
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - one of the best support Gem for farming with TS ranger
	Mirage Archer Support - Tornado Shot is used mainly for clearing, and there is no better Support Gem for that than Mirage Archer
	Elemental Damage with Attacks Support
	Hypothermia Support - grants very high bonus damage against Chilled enemies
	Immolate Support - very high flat added Fire Damage to your attacks when your target is burning

[DPS] Barrage setup
	Barrage - this build's main single-target DPS skill. You either have to use Belly of the Beast for this setup, have another bow to swap for bosses/single-target enemies, or just carry the replacement Gems with you
	Elemental Focus Support - grants very high bonus Elemental Damage but makes Barrage unable to inflict Elemental Ailments
	Added Cold Damage - adds flat Cold Damage to supported Skills
	Elemental Damage with Attacks Support
	Hypothermia Support
	Immolate Support

[UTILITY] Herald of Ice setup
	Herald of Ice - grants moderate DPS boost, and will also apply your curse
	Onslaught Support - Herald of Ice's explosions now have a chance to grant you the Onslaught buff
	Curse on Hit Support - this Gem linked with HoI will make it apply the supported Curse
	Assassin's Mark - our recommended Curse for this build. It increases your Crit. Chance and generates Power Charges

[UTILITY] Vaal Skills
	Vaal Haste - increases your Movement and Attack speed for a short duration
	Vaal Grace - grants very high bonus Chance to Dodge Attacks and Spells
	Blood Rage - increases your Attack Speed, Life Leech, and generates Frenzy Charges
	Increased Duration Support - increases the duration of all the supported Gems

[UTILITY] Golem setup
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts your Golem which makes it grant its bonus more consistently
	Summon Lightning Golem - the best DPS-wise Golem we can use in this build

[MOBILITY] Blink Arrow
	Blink Arrow - your main mobility skill. It's great for avoiding big damage spikes and Bosses' abilities

[UTILITY] Hatred Aura
	Hatred - grants very high DPS bonus making it presumably the best Elemental DPS Aura in the game

5. Gear Setup

Tornado Shot Ranger is an extremely flexible build. It can be fully viable even with a very tight budget. While our list of recommended items will include some more expensive gear options, this can be always replaced with cheaper alternatives for the leveling/early mapping phase.

If you are unable to afford the recommended items, we are delighted to invite you to visit our Path of Exile marketplace where you can restock any type of PoE Currency.

The recommended items from our list will:

1. Help you cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS and Life to start mapping successfully
3. You will save at least a couple of hours since all the item requirements are listed

(Helmet) Lightpoacher - great Helmet option which is perfect if you want to maximize your clear speed. You should aim to get 2 Abyss Jewels with flat added Physical/Elemental damage to Attacks

Has 2 Abyssal Sockets Trigger Level 20 Spirit Burst when you Use a Skill while you have a Spirit Charge +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances Recover (4-5)% of Life when a Spirit Charge expires or is consumed (15-20)% chance to gain a Spirit Charge on Kill +1 to Maximum Spirit Charges per Abyss Jewel affecting you

(Helmet) Rat's Nest - beginner and budget-friendly option for the Helmet slot. Grants very high DPS bonus and the extra Movement Speed is an amazing addition here

15% increased Attack Speed (60-75)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance 150% increased Evasion Rating (20-25)% increased Rarity of Items found 10% increased Movement Speed 10% reduced Character Size

(Helmet) Devoto's Devotion - another Helmet worth mentioning. Grants extra Chaos Resistance, Movement Speed, and Attack Speed

10% reduced Physical Damage +(50-65) to Dexterity 16% increased Attack Speed (150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed Mercury Footprints

Helmet enchantment: Tornado Shot fires 2 additional secondary Projectiles (clear speed) Barrage fires an additional Projectile (Bosses)

(Weapon) Rare Bow - preferably Harbinger Bow for the extra Crit. Chance

Min. requirements: 340 Physical DPS Optional affixes: Increased Critical Strike Multiplier Chance to deal double damage

(Weapon) Lioneye's Glare - provides high base DPS and has 100% Hit Chance. It's one of the best Bows for this build which should be easy to acquire

(20-24)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills (150-175)% increased Physical Damage Adds (6-12) to (20-32) Physical Damage (10-20)% increased Attack Speed +(80-100) to maximum Mana Hits can't be Evaded Far Shot

(Quiver) The Signal Fire - one of the best Quivers for this build which grants very high bonus Elemental Damage

Adds 4 to 8 Fire Damage to Bow Attacks 10% increased Attack Speed +(80-100) to Evasion Rating +(10-30) to maximum Mana Gain (25-35)% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage 50% of Physical Damage Converted to Fire Damage Adds 5 to 10 Fire Damage to Bow Attacks

(Body Armour) Loreweave - my personal pick for this build. Grants very high bonus Damage and various defensive stats. It also increases your Maximum Elemental Resistances, which boosts your survivability

Has 6 Sockets Adds (4-10) to (14-36) Physical Damage to Attacks +(8-24) to all Attributes (20-60)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance +(15-50) to maximum Energy Shield +(20-60) to maximum Life +(20-50) to maximum Mana (6-30)% increased Rarity of Items found (15-50)% increased Elemental Damage Your Maximum Resistances are (76-78)%

(Body Armour) Queen of the Forest - the best choice if you want to maximize your Movement Speed (and hence, clear speed)

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (200-240)% increased Evasion Rating +(60-70) to maximum Life +(6-10)% to Fire Resistance +(26-40)% to Cold Resistance +(11-25)% to Lightning Resistance 25% reduced Movement Speed 1% increased Movement Speed per 450 Evasion Rating, up to 100% -(50-40) Physical Damage taken when Hit by Animals

(Body Armour) Rare Evasion Armour - good leveling/low-tier Map farming choice. Just aim for high defensive stats to keep you alive on lower levels

Min. requirements: 100 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance 20% Cold Resistance

(Body Armour) Belly of the Beast - grants very high bonus Life

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (150-200)% increased Armour (30-40)% increased maximum Life +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances 50% increased Flask Life Recovery rate Extra gore

(Boots) Rare Boots - get a pair with the highest maximum Life bonus you can afford

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 20% increased Movement Speed 25% Fire Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance 25% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: Strength

(Boots) Atziri's Step - one of the best in slot boots for this build. Like most of the other uniques, it lacks elemental resistances. Picking this pair will require you to invest much more in other items, in order to cap you resistances

180% increased Evasion Rating +(55-75) to maximum Life 30% increased Movement Speed (14-16)% chance to Dodge Spell Damage

Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently Adds 45 to 68 Fire Damage if you've Killed Recently

(Belt) Stygian Vise - the best in slot option for this build. If you are using Lightpoacher, the additional Abyss Jewels increases the number of Spirit Charges you can have and also can add a fair amount of flat added damage to your attack skills

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 35% Fire Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance 35% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

(Belt) Rare Belt - again, we try to grab one with the highest maximum life and elemental resistances bonuses

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 35% Fire Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance 35% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills increased Physical Damage

(Belt) Doryani's Invitation - a great budget-friendly option. Make sure you pick up the Element of which your DPS is the highest (Fire or Cold)

+(25-35) to Strength (20-30)% increased Fire Damage +(300-350) to Armour +(30-35)% to Cold Resistance +(30-35)% to Lightning Resistance 0.2% of Fire Damage Leeched as Life 10% chance to Ignite during any Flask Effect

(Amulet) Rare Amulet

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 15% All Elemental Resistances Adds min. 7 Physical Damage to Attacks Optional affixes: increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier increased Global Critical Strike Chance

(Ring) Rare Rings

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 15% All Elemental Resistances Adds min. 5 Physical Damage to Attacks Optional affixes: increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills increased Accuracy Rating

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - extra attack speed may be a good addition in end-game versions of this build

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 25% Fire resistance 25% Lightning resistance 25% Cold resistance Optional affixes: increased Attack Speed

(Jewels) Lioneye's Fall - if you can socket it under Shadow's Claw Nodes, it will grant insane damage bonuses. This is an optional choice as this Gem can be very expensive

Melee and Melee Weapon Type modifiers in Radius are Transformed to Bow Modifiers

(Jewels) Rare Abyss Jewels - with high flat Added Damage to Attacks/Bow Attacks and Life

Recommended affixes: maximum Life added Physical Damage to Attacks/Bow Attacks added Elemental Damage to Attacks/Bow Attacks Optional affixes: increased Critical Strike Multiplier

(Jewels) Rare Jewels - this should provide extra Life and damage bonuses

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Generic/Physical/Projectile Damage increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: increased Projectile Speed increased Global Critical Strike Chance increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - mandatory Flask for this build. Grants extra DPS and life leech during Flask Effect. Not to mention it is very cheap

+35% to Chaos Resistance 2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect Gain (15-20)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect Gain (10-15)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

(Flask) Taste of Hate - grants bonuses to both your DPS and sustainability. Replace with an immunity Life Flask until you can afford it

+50% to Cold Resistance +6% to maximum Cold Resistance 20% of Physical Damage taken as Cold Damage during Flask effect Gain (15-20)% of Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage during effect 30% chance to Avoid being Chilled during Flask effect 30% chance to Avoid being Frozen during Flask effect

(Flask) Dying Sun - grants great DPS buff with 2 additional projectiles. Replace with an immunity Life Flask, or Diamond Flask of choice until you can afford it

+50% to Fire Resistance +6% to maximum Fire Resistance (-10-10)% increased Charges used (15-25)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect

Suggested Flasks: Bubbling Hallowed Hybrid Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleeding) Ample Diamond Flask of Adrenaline (increased Movement Speed)

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.