Updated for Patch 3.21
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Guide notes | |||
June 14, 2023 -Build created |
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Build overview | |||
Tags: [CASTER] [ELEMENTAL] [LIFE] | |||
Budget: Defenses: |
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Boss DPS: AoE: |
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Patch 3.21 has introduced a significant change to most of the Abyss-themed items, Lightpoacher and Shroud of the Lightless amongst them. The Body Armour makes you Penetrate 4% Elemental Resistances per Abyss Jewel affecting you, and the Helmet grants you an extra 5% of Physical Damage as Extra Damage of each Element per Spirit Charge. Spirit Charges are gained on Kill and last for 10 seconds (you can only have as many of these Charges as you have Abyss Jewels). You will also need to retain them - they tend to be consumed each time you use a Spell to Trigger Spirit Burst Skill, and you don't want that (we will explain how to achieve it later). To get as many Spirit Charges and Abyss Jewels you will need to allocate a lot of Jewel Sockets using Skill Points, that's the main reason to pick Scion - this character gains more Skill Points than other classes. We managed to accumulate 19 Abyss Jewels, resulting in 95% extra Fire, Cold, and Lightning Damage based on Physical Damage, which already quadruples the base damage. It also grants 76% Elemental Damage Penetration, which is unheard of in regular builds.
We've selected one of the best Physical Damage Spells - Ethereal Knives. To boost Spell Damage simply increase its Gem Level, link it with multiple Support Gems, and use proper Auras. The most efficient way to exploit the circumstances we've set up is to increase the base Physical Damage and invest in Critical Strikes. Shroud of the Lightless doesn't allow you to socket a six-link setup there, and while using a Bow may be a good idea, having The Squire Shield with a particularly good Wand/Dagger yields the best results. As for the other gear pieces, we've used other Abyss-themed items - Command of the Pit, Bubonic Trail, and Darkness Enthroned. To accommodate more Abyss Jewels use variants with two Abyss Sockets. It leaves little to no space for other Skills - you still need Auras, Movement Skill, Guard Spell, and a Curse. The defenses were merely an afterthought, but due to the multiple Abyss Jewels, you can get some extra Maximum Life on each resulting in around 6k of it.
You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List
Use Ethereal Knives against all types of enemies. Choose Flame Dash, Steelskin, and Sniper's Mark for your Movement Skill, Guard Skill, and Curse respectively. For Auras we recommend Zealotry, Haste, Herald of Ash, and Vitality. You may replace Haste with Grace for better defensive capability and Herald of Ash with Herald of Purity for more damage but worse clear speed.
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PROS |
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CONS |
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The build is good only on leveled-up characters, it needs to host a lot of Abyss Jewels. We recommend getting to level 85 or so by other means. You will have to respec a lot of Skill Points, there's no way around it, the build is just too specific. Use our Scion Leveling Guide. It uses Caustic Arrow and Ballista Totems.
Bandits:
Kill all three bandits and be rewarded with two additional Skill Points
Leveling Skill Trees:
27 Points Passive Tree
Get some Maximum Life and Bow/DoT nodes.
62 Points Passive Tree
Continue gathering Maximum Life and Bow, Chaos, and Damage over Time nodes. Get Charisma too to fit in more Auras.
Final Skill Tree:
100 Points Final Passive Tree (doesn't include Cluster or Unique Jewels)
124 Points Path of Building (PoB) link
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in that order:
Pantheon:
Major God: Soul of the Brine King: You cannot be Stunned if you've been Stunned or Blocked a Stunning Hit in the past 2 seconds
Minor God: Soul of Ryslatha: Life Flasks gain 3 Charges every 3 seconds if you haven't used a Life Flask Recently; 60% increased Life Recovery from Flasks used when on Low Life
[DPS] Ethereal Knives setup use The Squire if you can |
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Ethereal Knives - You're looking for a Spell that deals Base Physical Damage. There are limited opportunities to Convert the damage and you don't really need to do so. Ethereal Knives is probably the best Skill - it's simple, has great AoE, and can be upgraded with Nimis. |
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Empower Support - Increases Gem level of Ethereal Knives resulting in more damage. |
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Inspiration Support - Lowers Mana Cost, increases Crit Chance, and Elemental Damage. Use a Divergent one for 44% Reduced Mana Cost. Combined with a Flask that reduces Mana Cost, Militant Faith Jewel, or other Jewellery items, it should cost no Mana at all. |
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Power Charge on Critical Support - Generates Power Charges on Critical Strikes, which is often, and grants more damage per such Charge. |
Other recommended Support Gems which can be found as Wand/Sceptres Modifiers (Rune Daggers too, but the pool is more diluted with useless mods there). Simply select two as Support Gems for a six-link setup if you're using a Bow. | |
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Increased Critical Strikes Support - Can be found as Shaper Suffix on a Wand. It increases Crit Chance, which is good if you still need it. You probably will, It's hard to get 100% of it without this Gem. |
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Increased Critical Damage Support - Can be found as Elder Suffix on a Wand. Use it if your Crit Chance is particularly high, it's one of the best Support Gems if you met this condition. |
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Spell Echo Support - Can be found as Elder Suffix on a Wand. A significant damage enhancement - the Skill is beating repeated with increased Cast Speed. We heavily recommend the Awakened variant for even more damage. |
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Faster Casting Support - Can be found as Shaper Suffix on a Wand. It simply grants more Cast Speed. |
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Added Fire Damage Support - Can be found as Shaper Prefix on a Wand. Adds extra Fire Damage sourced from Physical Damage, it's actually quite good even if you have a lot of Spirit Charges already. |
[UTILITY] Helmet setup socketed in Lightpoacher (2 Abyssal Sockets) |
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Archmage Support - It's needed here to increase the Mana Cost of Spirit Burst, which is a Spell that comes with the Lightpoacher. If the Cost of it is too high it won't trigger and you won't lose your precious Spirit Charges. It will cost only 1 or 2 Mana, so the character should stay below this threshold at all times. All your other Skills should cost 0 Mana. |
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Spirit Burst - Automatically consumes all your Spirit Charges when you use any Skill. You don't want to do that, the damage it causes is too low and it's better to keep these charges for a passive bonus. It has no Mana cost by default. |
[DPS] Various Gems socketed in Shroud of the Lightless (2 Abyssal Sockets) |
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Steelskin - A Guard Spell that stops Bleeding at mitigates a portion of incoming damage for a duration. |
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Flame Dash - Use it to move faster or avoid precognited attacks. |
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Sniper's Mark - Enemies affected by it receive increased Projectile Hit Damage. |
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Inspiration Support - Use a Divergent one to lower the Mana Cost of all linked Skills. |
[UTILITY] Arrogant Aura setup | |
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Vitality - Keep it at Level 1. You can use ![]() ![]() |
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Arrogance Support - You have to have some of your Life Reserved. If you're not on Full Life, you will lose 20% of your Mana each second due to the Agnostic Keystone. It ensures that you have exactly 0 Mana constantly. You'll still be able to cast Spells due to the Inspiration Support Gems. |
[UTILITY] Other Auras these don't need linking |
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Herald of Ash - Adds Fire Damage sourced from Physical Damage, increases, and grants more Spell Fire Damage. Slain enemies will inflict Burning all around them which enhances clear speed. Use ![]() |
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Zealotry - Grants more Spell Damage and Spell Critical Strike Chance. It's the best damage-wise Aura. |
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Haste - Increases Movement and Cast Speed. It's great if you value Clearing, but consider these alternative options - ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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We've taken drastic measures to maximize the number of Abyss Sockets. We have selected five Unique Abyssal gear pieces with such sockets in them - Lightpoacher, Shroud of the Lightless, Command of the Pit, Bubonic Trail, and Darkness Enthroned. Also, The Squire is a great addition we've used alongside a Rare Wand with multiple built-in Support Gems. This way it's possible to have a 9-link setup despite the limited availability of regular Gem Sockets. The multiple Abyss Jewels should get you all the stats you normally would associate with a generic Spell-caster - Cast Speed, Maximum Life, added damage to Spells, and Crit-adjacent mods. The build varies a lot in price because of these Jewels, you can get them for 1c or a few Divines each. Get around 18 of them and one Unique Kurgal's Gaze. Energy Shield is insignificant. Don't reduce the Mana Cost of Skills by a flat amount (like 7), but by percent (like 7%), it would make your Spirit Burst cost 0 Mana, and that's bad.
Our recommended items will:
Stat priorities on items:
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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 +1 to Maximum Spirit Charges per Abyss Jewel affecting you Gain a Spirit Charge on Kill Gain 5% of Physical Damage as Extra Damage of each Element per Spirit Charge |
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Helmet enchantments: 30% increased Ethereal Knives Projectile Speed 40% increased Ethereal Knives Damage Ethereal Knives fires Projectiles in a circle |
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Min. requirements: +1 to Level of Socketed Gems +2 to Level of Socketed Support Gems (crafted) Global Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: increased Projectile Speed increased Spell Damage chance to deal Double Damage (crafted) |
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Min. requirements: at least two of the listed built-in Support Gems Optional affixes: Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Increased Critical Strikes Socketed Gems are supported by Level 20 Increased Critical Damage Socketed Gems are supported by Level 20 Spell Echo Socketed Gems are supported by Level 20 Faster Casting Socketed Gems are supported by Level 20 Added Fire Damage increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells Global Critical Strike Multiplier increased Cast Speed Gain #% of Physical Damage as Extra Lightning/Cold/Fire/Chaos Damage |
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Has 3 Sockets All Sockets are White +(5-8)% to Quality of Socketed Support Gems Socketed Support Gems can also Support Skills from your Main Hand (100-150)% increased Armour and Evasion +(3-5)% Chance to Block |
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Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life Gain 15% of Physical Damage as Extra Cold/Lightning/Fire Damage Global Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: increased Projectile Speed increased Global Critical Strike Chance increased Burning Damage #% of Physical Damage Converted to Fire/Cold/Lightning Damage Elemental Resistances |
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+(20-25) to maximum Mana Has 2 Abyssal Sockets Penetrate 4% Elemental Resistances per Abyss Jewel affecting you 20% chance to Trigger Level 20 Shade Form when you Use a Socketed Skill (160-180)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield 1% increased Maximum Life per Abyss Jewel affecting you 1% increased Maximum Mana per Abyss Jewel affecting you |
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Has 2 Abyssal Sockets Triggers Level 20 Death Walk when Equipped (24-32)% increased Movement Speed while affected by a Magic Abyss Jewel (60-40)% reduced Duration of Elemental Ailments on You while affected by a Rare Abyss Jewel (16-24)% increased Reservation Efficiency while affected by a Unique Abyss Jewel |
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Has 2 Abyssal Sockets (6-10)% increased Cast Speed (4-6)% increased maximum Life With a Ghastly Eye Jewel Socketed, Minions have +1000 to Accuracy Rating With a Hypnotic Eye Jewel Socketed, gain Arcane Surge on Hit with Spells |
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Has 2 Abyssal Sockets (50-100)% increased Effect of Socketed Abyss Jewels |
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Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life various Flask modifiers Optional affixes: Gain Alchemist's Genius when you use a Flask (Essence) Elemental Resistances Strength |
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+(25-35) to Strength +(30-50) to Dexterity +(15-25)% to Fire Resistance +(15-25)% to Cold Resistance Magic Utility Flasks cannot be Used Leftmost (2-4) Magic Utility Flasks constantly apply their Flask Effects to you Magic Utility Flask Effects cannot be removed |
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Min. requirements: +50 to Maximum Life +1 to Level of all Physical Skill Gems Optional affixes: Resistances +1 to Level of all Skill Gems Global Critical Strike Multiplier increased Global Critical Strike Chance increased Cast Speed 5% reduced Mana Cost of Skills (crafted) |
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Recommended Anointments: Tireless Natural Remedies Longshot Marked for Death |
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Min. requirements: +50 to maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Global Critical Strike Multiplier Chaos Resistance Attributes 5% reduced Mana Cost of Skills (crafted) |
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+(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance +(30-50) to Dexterity (25-35)% increased Projectile Damage Projectiles Return to you Projectiles are fired in random directions |
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Recommended affixes: Maximum Life Resistances Attributes Crit Chance Crit Damage Added Damage to Spells increased Cast Speed |
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+(10-20) to Intelligence 8% increased Effect of Arcane Surge on you per Hypnotic Eye Jewel affecting you, up to a maximum of 40% |
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Carved to glorify (2000-10000) new faithful converted by High Templar (Avarius-Dominus-Maxarius) Passives in radius are Conquered by the Templars Historic <two random mods of devotion> |
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Denoted service of (500-8000) dekhara in the akhara of Balbala Passives in radius are Conquered by the Maraketh Historic |
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Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flesh Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flame |
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Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Sadist 1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart 1 Added Passive Skill is Doryani's Lesson 1 Added Passive Skill is Widespread Destruction |
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Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Basics of Pain 1 Added Passive Skill is Quick Gateway |
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Recovers (120-168) Mana over 5.00 seconds Recovers (435-609) Life over 5.00 seconds Consumes (16-18) of 40 Charges on use Instant Recovery (75-65)% reduced Amount Recovered 2 Enemy Writhing Worms escape the Flask when used Writhing Worms are destroyed when Hit (20-10)% reduced Charges per use |
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+35% to Chaos Resistance Gain (5-8)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect 2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Effect Gain (5-8)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect |
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Suggested Flasks:
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If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.
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