Bleed/Poison
Cyclone Trickster build

Updated for Patch 3.5

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Estimated budget: medium to high

Our Cyclone Trickster is one of the most interesting Cyclone builds out there. It is based mainly on Damage over Time from both Poison and Bleed. Trickster is the best character class for this build, increasing your Damage over Time greatly, and granting very high Attack Speed bonuses for this Melee class. On top of very high damage, this build provides very solid defenses and is fully viable for clearing all the end-game content.

If you are looking for a Melee/Cyclone build that is out of the ordinary and breaks stereotypes, this is something for you.

For the full list of our Path of Exile builds you can visit the following article: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

This is a typical Melee/Cyclone build which is based on spinning around Maps and obliterating all enemies on your way. However, unlike the other builds, it's not based on the "on-hit" Damage dealt by Cyclone, but utilizes two powerful Damage over Time mechanics - Bleed and Poison. Your hits have 100% Chance to Poison and 100% Chance to inflict Bleeding on Hit, allowing you to scale your damage greatly the longer the fight. At the same time, Trickster provides amazing defensive utility. Your character will have high Life (nearly 6,000 Life on a moderate budget), 30% Chance to Dodge Attacks, amazing Life Leech and Recovery from Trickster's Ascendancy and Passives, and an additional chance to Evade Attacks.

0:06 Tier 15 Tower 0:45 Tier 14 Courthouse 1:08 Tier 16 Guardian of Hydra 1:36 Tier 16 Underground Sea This video was recorded on a level 91 Trickster on the Standard Softcore mode. The character in the video uses Daresso's Defiance, Starforge, and Fenumu's Weave Gloves

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

The best way to level up this Trickster character is by using Viper Strike on lower levels, focusing mainly on Chaos/Poison DPS. You can switch to Cyclone at any point, but I have personally used Viper Strike all the way to level 70 and Act XI. The best thing about swapping the skills early on is the ability to level up all the Gems you need for your final setup right away. 

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Viper Strike setup
	Viper Strike - one of the first attack skills available for the Shadow class that utilizes Chaos/Poison damage
	Melee Physical Support - core Support Gem in this build. It increases both the direct damage your deal with Melee attacks, as well as the damage you deal with Poison and Bleeding
	Melee Splash Support - adds an extra splash to your Viper Strike attacks increasing your clear speed greatly
	Faster Attacks Support

Leap Slam setup
	Leap Slam - your primary mobility skill which lets you progress faster
	Faster Attacks Support

Utility Gems
	Herald of Agony - increases your chance to Poison and the damage you deal with Poison
	Herald of Purity - adds Physical Damage to your Attacks
	Summon Lightning Golem - Lightning Golem increases your Attack Speed
	Ancestral Protector - summons a Totem which increases your Attack Speed while active

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for the extra two Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

32 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Trickery 2) Fangs of the Viper 3) Fatal Toxins 4) Herbalism

62 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Brutal Blade 2) Toxic Strikes 3) Dirty Techniques 4) Golem's Blood 5) Thick Skin

Recommended leveling items:

Blackheart - the best leveling Ring for this build. You can use two of them and replace one of them with Voidheart at level 48
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

Edge of Madness - the best leveling weapon for this build. You can use Edge of Madness until late game, as it gets additional DPS each time you level up. Edge of Madness has nearly 500 DPS at maximum level
40% increased Global Accuracy Rating +1 to Level of Socketed Active Skill Gems (40-60)% increased Physical Damage Adds (60-68) to (90-102) Chaos Damage 1% increased Chaos Damage per Level Adds 1 to 2 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level

Meginord's Girdle - very powerful leveling belt for this build. Like Edge of Madness, it can be used during the early mapping phase as well
+(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

Growing Agony - threshold jewel for Viper Strike. Greatly increases your overall DPS for just one Jewel Socket
(8-12)% increased Damage over Time With at least 40 Dexterity in Radius, Viper Strike deals 2% increased Damage with Hits and Poison for each Poison on the Enemy With at least 40 Dexterity in Radius, Viper Strike has a 10% chance per Poison on Enemy to grant Unholy Might for 4 seconds on Hit

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

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

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Patient Reaper
2. Prolonged Pain
3. Harness the Void
4. Weave the Arcane

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 Gruthkul 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Cyclone
	Cyclone - your main DPS skill. It has very high Attack Speed and Hits approximately 10 times each second applying multiple stacks of Poison and Bleed
	Melee Physical Damage Support
	Unbound Ailments Support - increases the damage you deal with Ailments
	Deadly Ailments Support - same as above
	Swift Affliction Support - increases your Damage over Time
	Maim Support - increases Physical Damage dealt and Maims enemies slowing them down

[DPS] Ancestral Protector and Vaal Double Strike
	Ancestral Protector - summons a Totem which increases your Attack Speed and deals high damage on its own (approximately 30% of your Cyclone damage)
	Vaal Double Strike - used solely for the Vaal Skill which grants you high additional burst damage when used
	Melee Physical Damage Support
	Maim Support
	Unbound Ailments Support
	Deadly Ailments Support

[UTILITY] Golem and Leap Slam
	Summon Lightning Golem
	Leap Slam
	Fortify Support

[UTILITY] War Banner and Herald skills (no links are required, one of them should be socketed with Golem/Leap Slam, and the other two with CwDT/Phase Run setup)
	War Banner - increases Physical Damage taken by nearby enemies, as well as gives you the Adrenaline buff when you plant it. Great for additional DPS when dealing with higher Tier Bosses
	Herald of Purity
	Herald of Agony

[UTILITY] Phase Run
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts supported spells. Use at level 8
	Phase Run - do not upgrade this Gem above level 10. When triggered, it will grant Phasing and increase your Melee Damage for a short duration

[UTILITY] Immortal Call and Vaal Haste
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts supported spells. Use at level 8
	Immortal Call - grants brief immunity to Physical Damage. Use this Gem at level 10
	Vaal Haste - Vaal Aura which increases your Attack and Movement Speed for a brief duration
	Increased Duration Support - increases the duration of all supported buffs

5. Gear Setup

Below you will find all the recommended gear for this build. We have included most of the alternative items as well. This build is very flexible and can be played with only Rares equipped, however, it will make it harder to reach 100%/100% Chance to Poison and Bleed, lowering this builds general performance. Still, with such low item requirements, this build can be a fairly powerful and efficient Starter build. 

Our recommended gear will:

1. Cap your Elemental Resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS and maximum Life to start mapping

(Helmet) Starkonja's Head - one of the best Helmets for this build. It grants very high defensive utility and increases your Attack Speed which is one of the core stats

50% reduced Damage when on Low Life +(50-70) to Dexterity 10% increased Attack Speed 25% increased Global Critical Strike Chance (100-130)% increased Evasion Rating +(80-100) to maximum Life 150% increased Global Evasion Rating when on Low Life

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - good for leveling and early mapping. It's best to pick Evasion-based Helmet

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 35% Fire Resistance 35% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: Nearby enemies take % increased Physical Damage (Delve mod)

Helmet enchantment: Cyclone has 15% increased Attack Speed

(Body Armour) Daresso's Defiance - one of the best choices for this build. It grants Endurance Charges and Onslaught with up to 100% increased effect

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (160-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(60-90) to maximum Life (0.4-0.6)% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life 6% chance to Dodge Attack Hits You lose all Endurance Charges when Hit You gain an Endurance Charge on Kill You gain Onslaught for 5 seconds per Endurance Charge when Hit (60-100)% increased Onslaught Effect

(Body Armour) Belly of the Beast - this Armour provides very good defensive utility, by greatly increasing your maximum Life

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (120-150)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(50-70) to maximum Life +(9-12)% to all Elemental Resistances (40-50)% increased Area of Effect (40-50)% increased Area Damage Extra gore

(Weapon) Starforge - the best in the slot for this build. It's one of the most powerful unique weapons and the highest Physical DPS sword in Path of Exile

30% increased Global Accuracy Rating (400-500)% increased Physical Damage (5-8)% increased Attack Speed +(90-100) to maximum Life 20% increased Area of Effect for Attacks Deal no Elemental Damage Your Physical Damage can Shock

(Weapon) Edge of Madness - great choice if you have started leveling with this weapon. It can be easily obtained by exchanging "The Calling" Divination Cards

40% increased Global Accuracy Rating +1 to Level of Socketed Active Skill Gems (40-60)% increased Physical Damage Adds (60-68) to (90-102) Chaos Damage 1% increased Chaos Damage per Level Adds 1 to 2 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level

(Weapon) Rare Two-Handed Sword

Min. requirements: 500 Physical DPS 1.7 Attacks per Second

(Boots) Rare Boots - with high defensive stats and increased Movement Speed

Min. requirements: 65 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance 30% Cold Resistance 30% Lightning Resistance 25% increased Movement Speed

Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently

(Belt) Stygian Vise - with Life and Elemental Resistances

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance 30% Cold Resistance 30% Lightning Resistance

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - your main focus is to cap your Elemental Resistances with the Amulet item

Added min. 7 Physical Damage to Attacks 60 maximum Life 30 Intelligence 35% Fire Resistance 12% All Elemental Resistances

(Rings) Rare Ring

Min. requirements: Added min. 12 Physical Damage to Attacks 60 maximum Life 25 Intelligence 35% Cold Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Dexterity

(Gloves) Voidheart - mandatory Ring to easily reach 100%/100% Chance to Poison and Bleed on Hit

Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks 5% increased Global 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 Melee Attacks have (30-50)% chance to cause Bleeding Melee Attacks have (20-40)% chance to Poison on Hit

(Gloves) Fenumus' Weave - the best in the slot. This pair grants the highest bonus DPS for the Gloves slot

Grants Level 20 Aspect of the Spider Skill (120-170)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(40-50) to maximum Life (6-9)% increased Attack and Cast Speed (40-60)% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments against Enemies affected by 3 Spider's Webs Adds (8-10) to (13-15) Chaos Damage for each Spider's Web on the Enemy

(Gloves) Haemophilia - another decent pick that can be also used during the leveling phase

25% increased Damage over Time +(20-30) to Strength Attacks have 25% chance to cause Bleeding (25-40)% increased Attack Damage against Bleeding Enemies Bleeding Enemies you Kill Explode, dealing 5% of their Maximum Life as Physical Damage 25% reduced Bleeding Duration

Glove enchantment: Commandment of Force Commandment of Blades

(Jewels) Abyss Jewels

Recommended affixes: 35 maximum Life Added min. 6 Physical Damage to Attacks/Sword Attacks Optional affixes: increased Damage if you have killed recently chance to gain Unholy Might on kill

(Jewels) Rare Jewels

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Damage over Time Optional affixes: increased Attack Speed increased Global Physical Damage

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - grants very high bonus DPS and it 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) Witchfire Brew - increases your Damage over Time, and grants Despair Aura curse, which is the only way to use a Curse in this build (unless you can afford 5 Exalted Orbs or more to get it as a glove corruption)

100% increased Evasion Rating Creates a Smoke Cloud on Use 50% increased Charges used (25-40)% increased Damage Over Time during Flask Effect Grants Level 21 Despair Curse Aura during Flask Effect

Other suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Heat (Freeze immunity) Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (Bleeding immunity) Ample Jade Flask of Adrenaline (increased Evasion Rating and Movement Speed bonus)

We hope that you enjoyed this guide and that you will enjoy this interesting Cyclone build even more. We will appreciate your feedback. If you have any suggestions about which build should we work on next, let us know in the comments below.

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