Arc
Elementalist Build

Updated for Patch 3.14

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Estimated budget: medium

The Introduction of Archmage Support Gem in 3.10 opened a lot of new possibilities for self-casters. This build explores the Elementalis version of it - more specifically Golementalist. With five Golems and the increased effect of Buffs, they're granting it's safe to assume this is one of the most viable builds based on that ascendancy in the current version of the game. You can also check our other "Golementalist" by clicking this link, it's Burning Arrow Elementalist Ignite Build - one of the most popular in this League.

Golem's Buffs increases your offense and defense. Each of the five summoned Golems will grant you Increased Damage, Cast Speed, Physical Damage Reduction, Critical Strike Chance, Accuracy Rating, and Life Regeneration. You can Summon all these Golems thanks to your Ascendancy, Golem Commander Notable, and The Anima Stone. The best part of it is that you won't need to resummon them after they die, they'll do that automatically after 4 seconds, so it's comparable to how Auras works, you just don't need to reserve Mana.

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

The Skill of our choice is Arc - it's excellent for clearing maps, you just need to aim in the general direction of an enemy and it clears your whole screen. We're gonna be using it with Archmage Support, which implies that our build will require lots and lots on unreserved Maximum Mana. When having a lot of Maximum Mana other obvious choices emerge, like Arcane Cloak Guard Spell, Sigil of Power Spell, and The Agnostic Keystone. This Keystone forces us to have no Energy Shield so we're gonna focus on our Maximum Life instead

This video was recorded on a level 94 Witch on Standard League. Our DPS with Arc was slightly below 5kk which was enough to deal with most of the content in the game, though killing Bosses like Sirius or Shaper may take a moment than your typical Boss-Killer builds

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

You can start using Arc right from the start, in act 3 you'll be able to link it with Archmage Support. We recommend you to craft a weapon with added Lightning Damage to Spells using Vendor Recipe: Magic Wand or Sceptre, Topaz Ring, and Orb of Alteration. Lightning, Ice, and Fire Golems give you more DPS, Chaos, and Stone Golems are defensive-oriented ones that one of which you'll summon after you can afford The Anime Stone. Keep your Mana Flask updated according to your level and with mods that increase Mana Regeneration from it. There is not much more to say, the leveling process is pretty simple and does not differ too much from the mapping.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Arc setup
	Arc - A fine Spell if you value clear speed and user-friendliness
	Archmage Support - since you'll start taking Mana nodes early on, it'll boost your damage significantly even during leveling
	Lightning Penetration Support - makes Arc penetrate Lightning Resistance
	Controlled Destruction Support - another huge bonus for DPS

Golems setup
	Summon Ice Golem - for more damage - Critical Strike and Accuracy Rating
	Summon Flame Golem - for more damage
	Summon Lightning Golem - for more damage - Cast Speed
	Summon Chaos Golem - for more Physical Damage Reduction

Arcane Cloak setup
	Arcane Cloak - after you link three Mana and Guard Skills related nodes next to The Agnostic - including Dynamo, start to use this Spell
	Increased Duration Support - Arcane Cloak lasts longer

Bandits:

KIlling all Bandits for two additional Passive Points is the best option

Leveling Skill Trees:

36 Points Skill Tree
Go for Arcane Will and then head for Supreme Ego taking Mana nodes on your way

67 Points Skill Tree
Take Golem Commander, head for Arcane Capacitor, and find more Maximum Life, Maximum Mana, and Critical Strike nodes nearby

Recommended leveling items:

Dream Fragments - for more Mana and Cold Resistance
+(20-30)% to Cold Resistance 20% increased maximum Mana 50% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +(30-40)% to Cold Resistance Cannot be Chilled Cannot be Frozen
Praxis - for more Mana
+(20-30) to maximum Mana +(30-60) to maximum Mana Regenerate (3-6) Mana per second -(8-4) to Total Mana Cost of Skills 8% of Damage taken gained as Mana over 4 seconds when Hit
Atziri's Foible - that's the best Amulet there is not only for leveling - you're gonna use it later on as well.
(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +100 to maximum Mana (16-24)% increased maximum Mana (80-100)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate Items and Gems have 25% reduced Attribute Requirements

Goldrim - A helmet that's good for leveling most of the builds, this build is no exception
+(30-50) to Evasion Rating 10% increased Rarity of Items found +(30-40)% to all Elemental Resistances Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers Level Requirement reduced by 100 (Hidden)

Tabula Rasa - really good in this particular situation, you can ramp up your Mana Cost or Arc by linking it with five other Support Gems
Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden) Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

117 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels nor Thread of Hope)
117 Points Path of Building(PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Liege of the Primordial
2. Elemenacer
3. Bastion of ELements
4. Shaper of Storms

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Solaris: 6% additional Physical Damage Reduction while there is only one nearby Enemy; 20% chance to take 50% less Area Damage from Hits

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

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Righteous Fire
	Arc - high-level Arc can Chain eight times, with Greater Spell Echo from your Pledge of Hands Staff it instantly kills mob packs. Use Vaal version of it to increase your damage, it's useful in Legion or Ultimatum encounters.
	Archmage Support - the most important Support Gem, it increases your damage based on your Maximum Mana and Mana Cost of linked Spells
	Controlled Destruction Support - increases your Spell Damage at a cost of having lower Critical Strike Chance
	Arcane Surge Support - vastly improves your damage and increases Mana Regeneration
	Lightning Penetration Support - to penetrate the Lightning Resistance of your opponents
	Added Lightning Damage Support - for more Lightning Damage
	Support Skill Gems granted by Pledge of Hands
	Greater Spell Echo Support - causes supported spells to repeat twice with greatly increased Cast Speed

[UTILITY] Storm Brand
	Storm Brand - Brand-type skill used here to apply Curses on enemies. If you can afford Awakened Hextouch, you will be able to apply two Curses using it
	Awakened Hextouch Support - allows you to curse enemies with two curses upon hit
	Conductivity Support - a curse that reduces enemies Lightning Resistance
	Elemental Weakness Support - a curse that reduces enemies Elemental Resistances, that includes Lightning Resistance
	Empower Support - increases the Level of Active linked Gems
	Enhance Support - increases the Quality of Active linked Gems

[UTILITY] Arcane Cloak
	Arcane Cloak - Guard Spell that uses a big percentage of your Current Mana to prevents damage and increases your Lightning Damage, based on the amount of Mana spent on that Skill.
	Sigil of Power - defensive Buff that reduces the damage taken from enemies and grants more damage if you spend Mana while staying in the Sigil
	Increased Duration -  increases the duration of linked Skills
	Vaal Righteous Fire - Grants more Spell Damage

[UTILITY] Aura (Socketed in Essence Worm)
	Wrath - by taking Supreme Ego Keystone you can have only one Aura but with increased effect, put it in Essence Worm Unique Ring for no Mana Reservation

[MOBILITY] Flame Dash setup
	Flame Dash - Flame Dash is a great movement skill, it holds up to three charges allowing to you dash three times in a rapid succession

[UTILITY] Golems Note: Golems do not require any links
	Summon Ice Golem - summons Ice Golem that increases your Accuracy Rating and Critical Strike Chance (the first is irrelevant for this build)
	Summon Flame Golem - summons Flame Golem that increases your Global Damage
	Summon Chaos Golem - summons Chaos Golem that grants a very high Physical Damage mitigation bonus
	Summon Lightning Golem - summons Lightning Golem that increases your Attack and Cast Speed
	Summon Stone Golem - Stone Golem grants high Life Regeneration

[UTILITY] Wave if Conviction
	Wave of Conviction - applies Exposure on hit, lowering enemies Resistance. It will be Cast by a Spell Totem, or you can link it to a low-level Cast when Damage Taken
	Spell Totem Support - it's seems that casting it by Totem is more comfortable

6. Gear Setup

There are a lot of Unique Items required so your main source of Resistances will be your Belt, Gloves, and Ring. That's why it's recommended to take some Elemental Resistances on your Skill Tree. Maximum Mana and Life will be the modifiers you wanna look for. Since you have The Agnostic Keystone allocated, do not look for any ES. 

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances at 75%
2. Provide you with enough DPS and Life to start mapping

(Helmet) Crown of the Inward Eye - the Main Reason for taking it is the fact that Increases and Reductions to Maximum Mana also apply to Damage at 30% of their value, is also grants you more Mana, Life, and Armour

333% increased Armour and Energy Shield (9-21)% increased maximum Life, Mana and Global Energy Shield Transfiguration of Soul Transfiguration of Body Transfiguration of Mind

Helmet enchantments: 40% increased Arc Damage Arc deals 12% increased Damage for each time it has Chained Arc Chains an additional time

(Weapon) Pledge of Hands - provides you with a 7th Link for Your Arc, not only boosting its damage by having your Arc be cast two additional times but also increasing its Mana Cost, and with Archmage Support linked as well, the damage will be even higher. It offers you Mana, Spell Damage, and Chance to Block Spell Damage.

+20% Chance to Block Spell Damage while wielding a Staff Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Greater Spell Echo (120-160)% increased Spell Damage 100% increased maximum Mana

(Body Armour) Cloak of Defiance - the reason for taking it will be its Mana-related mods such as more Maximum Mana and more Mana Regeneration. It also saves you a Skill Point by having MoM keystone already built-in.

(300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(100-150) to maximum Mana Regenerate 1% of Mana per second 10% of Damage is taken from Mana before Life Mind Over Matter

(Boots) Skyforth - Unique items granting more Maximum Mana will be a common pattern and this is no exception. Having Stun Threshold based on 500% of Your Mana helps a lot, especially since you have no Energy Shield.

+(60-120) to maximum Mana 30% increased Movement Speed 25% chance to gain a Power Charge on Critical Strike 6% reduced Mana Reserved You have no Life Regeneration Stun Threshold is based on 500% of your Mana instead of Life

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Maximum Mana, Maximum Life, and Elemental Resistances are your priority. You can also get a Nexus Gloves as base for insane Mana Recovery from its implicit

Min. requirements: Maximum Mana Maximum Life Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Attributes Spell Damage/Damage while Leeching

(Belt) Rare Belt - focus on Maximum Mana, Life, and Resistances. A Stygian Vise is a great option, you can put an Abyss Jewel there.

Min. requirements: Maximum Mana Maximum Life Elemental Resistances

(Amulet) Atziri's Foible - the amount of Mana it provides you with makes it easily the best choice of an Amulet

(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +100 to maximum Mana (16-24)% increased maximum Mana (80-100)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate Items and Gems have 25% reduced Attribute Requirements

Recommended Anointments: Mind Drinker

(Ring) Essence Worm - since you don't want to reserve your Mana, use this Unique Ring, Wrath Aura is too good to not use it

Has 1 Socket +2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems Socketed Gems Reserve No Mana 40% increased Mana Reserved

(Ring) Rare Ring - get as much Mana, Life, and Elemental Resistances as possible.

Min. requirements: Maximum Mana Maximum Life Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Increased Mana Regeneration Rate

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - they should provide extra Life and Mana

Recommended affixes: Maximum Mana Maximum Life Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Increases Lightning Damage Increases Critical Strike Multiplier

(Jewel) Abyss Jewels - again, look for Maximum Mana, Life, and more Elemental Resistances

Recommended affixes: Maximum Mana Maximum Life Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Increases Lightning Damage Increases Critical Strike Multiplier chance to gain Phasing for 4 seconds on Kill

(Jewel) Clear Mind - additional Spell Damage when you have no Mana Reserved, increases Mana Regeneration Rate

(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate (40-60)% increased Spell Damage while no Mana is Reserved

(Jewel) The Anima Stone - with that Jewel socketed you're able to have an additional Golem following you

+1 to maximum number of Golems +1 to maximum number of Summoned Golems if you have 3 Primordial Items Socketed or Equipped

(Jewel) Unnatural Instinct - put it in the Socket near the Shaper notable, take a look at the PoB skill tree to see all the bonuses it will provide you with

Allocated Small Passive Skills in Radius grant nothing Grants all bonuses of Unallocated Small Passive Skills in Radius

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - one of the best Jewels in the game which can grant powerful Wrath Aura modifiers to boost your damage. It also grants extra Life, Mana, and Energy Shield which all boost your damage if you are using the Crown of the Inward Eye

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers> Recommended Aura modifiers: Damage Penetrates (10-15)% Lightning Resistance while affected by Wrath (70-100)% increased Critical Strike Chance while affected by Wrath (40-60)% increased Lightning Damage while affected by Wrath

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewels - One Large Cluster Jewel is sufficient. Look for the mods listed bellow

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Scintillating Idea 1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart 1 Added Passive Skill is Disorienting Display 1 Added Passive Skill is Overshock

(Jewel) Medium Cluster Jewels - Overshock and Scintillating Idea are probably the most important notables on this Jewel

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Pressure Point 1 Added Passive Skill is Astonishing Affliction 1 Added Passive Skill is Overshock 1 Added Passive Skill is Scintillating Idea

(Flask) Bottled Faith - the Critical Stike Chance and Consecrated Ground effect are extremely good in almost every build

Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (30-50)% increased Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius +(1-2)% to Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Effect Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies

(Flask) Rumi's Concoction - one of the best defensive flasks, keeps your Armour and Block Chance high

+3000 to Armour +(14-20)% Chance to Block Attack Damage during Flask effect +(6-10)% Chance to Block Spell Damage during Flask effect

(Flask) Cinderswallow Urn - Great offensive and defensive Flask. Look for Chance to Avoid being Stunned and Movement Speed

Onslaught Recharges 1 Charge when you Consume an Ignited corpse Enemies Ignited by you during Flask Effect take 10% increased Damage Recover (1-3)% of Life when you Kill an Enemy during Flask Effect Recover (1-3)% of Mana when you Kill an Enemy during Flask Effect Recover (1-3)% of Energy Shield when you Kill an Enemy during Flask Effect One Veiled Modifier

Other suggested Flasks: Caustic Mana Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleeding) Experimenter's Diamond Flask of Adrenaline (increased Movement Speed)

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.

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