Brutal Cyclone
Slayer/Raider Ascendant build

Updated for Patch 3.5

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Estimated budget: mediocre

Cyclone is Melee Skill, that was added back in the Beta, but since then it's always on the top in terms of damage. Very high Attack Speed combined with great Area of Damage makes this build both enjoyable and very strong. Investing in more expensive uniques like Starforge or Mark of the Elder setup will allow you to reach and kill even Guardians and Shaper himself. It's purely Physical damage build, so you are immune to any type of Elemental Reflection.

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

1. Gameplay

Cyclone is a specific skill to use because while it drains mana during spinning, it's not channeling skill. You can't break Cyclone during it's spinning, so try to use it on shorter distance, but more often. This way it's both safer and you will deal much more damage, especially against Bosses. Our movement skill is Leap Slam, which is a perfect choice for jumping fast between monster packs. Vaal Double Strike and Ancestral Warchief Totem are here to help melting Bosses and tougher Rare monsters.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

It's recommended to level this build with Cleave skill until level 28 when you can start using Cyclone until the late game. All Support Gems during leveling are going to be used in the final build as well. Your primary goal should be to increases your weapon's base Physical DPS and Life/Resistances on other gear parts.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Cleave setup
	Cleave - one of the first skills you can acquire, works well until you can get Cyclone
	Maim Support - great boost to Physical Damage and inflicts Maim, which reduces Movement Speed of your enemies
	Ruthless Support - every 3rd hit will hit much harder and deal increased damage

Cyclone setup
	Cyclone - switch to Cyclone as soon as you hit 28
	Maim Support
	Melee Physical Damage Support - a huge boost to Physical Damage
	Faster Attacks Support - you will spin much faster

Utility Gems
	Vulnerability - cursed enemies receive increased Physical damage
	War Banner - increases both your Accuracy and Physical damage received by nearby enemies

Bandits:

We recommend helping Alira for bonus Resistances and Crit. Multiplier

Leveling Skill Trees:

36 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Constitution 2) Mortal Conviction 3) Blade Master 4) Juggernaut 5) Barbarism

63 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Disemboweling 2) Heart of the Warrior 3) Hematophagy 4) Art of the Gladiator

Recommended leveling items:

Belt of the Deceiver - insane leveling belt, which grants Elemental Resistances, Life, and Increased Damage
+(25-35) to Strength (15-25)% increased Global Physical Damage You take 30% reduced Extra Damage from Critical Strikes +(30-40) to maximum Life +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances Nearby Enemies are Intimidated

Goldrim - amazing leveling Helmet which covers up all your needs for Elemental Resistances during early levels
+(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)

Le Heup of All - these Rings provide everything - Attributes, Damage, and Resistances
(10-30)% increased Damage +(10-30) to all Attributes (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found +(10-30)% to all Elemental Resistances

Redbeak - perfect starting weapon, that you can use since level 1. It's recommended to dual-wield them
40% increased Global Accuracy Rating 100% increased Damage when on Low Life 50% increased Physical Damage Adds 2 to 6 Physical Damage 10% increased Attack Speed +(20-30) to maximum Life +2 Life gained for each Enemy hit by Attacks

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

118 Points Skill Tree
118 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Duelist Ascendancy - Slayer
2. Ranger Ascendancy - Raider
3. Path of the Ranger

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 primary DPS skill. Deals massive both single and AoE damage
	Melee Physical Damage Support - biggest damage boost
	Concentrated Effect Support - massive Damage boost in exchange for lower Area of Effect
	Faster Attacks Support
	Maim Support
	Brutality Support - insane Physical damage boost, but you can no longer deal Elemental and Chaos damage

[DPS] Ancestral Warchief and Vaal Double Strike setup
	Ancestral Warchief - not only deals a lot of damage by itself but also boost your Melee damage
	Vaal Double Strike - this skill deals massive damage against the single target. Use it against tough Rare enemies and bosses
	Melee Physical Damage Support - biggest damage boost
	Ruthless Support - every third hit will hit like a truck
	Maim Support - great boost to Physical Damage and inflicts Maim, which reduces Movement Speed of your enemies
	Brutality Support - insane Physical damage boost, but you can no longer deal Elemental and Chaos damage

[MOBILITY] Leap Slam setup
	Leap Slam - your primary movement skill
	Faster Attacks Support - increases the movement speed of Leap Slam
	Fortify Support - after hitting an enemy with Leap Slam it will grants you Fortify Buff, which reduces Damage Taken
	Endurance Charge on Melee Stun Support Support - after stunning an enemy with Leap Slam it will generate Endurance Charges

[UTILITY] Immortal Call and Vaal Haste
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - will auto-cast Immortal Call after a certain amount of damage is taken. Keep this Gem at level 1
	Immortal Call - grants brief Physical Damage immunity. Keep this Gem at max level 1-3
	Increased Duration Support - increases the duration of Immortal Call and Vaal Haste
	Vaal Haste - after acquiring enough souls you can use this skill, which increases your Attack Speed by a lot

[AURA] War Banner
	War Banner - increases both your Accuracy and Physical damage received by nearby enemies

[UTILITY] Ice Golem and Blood Rage
	Ice Golem - increases your Critical Strike Chance and Accuracy Rating
	Blood Rage - not only increases our Attack Speed and Life Leech but also generates Frenzy Charges which increases both Movement and Attack Speed
	Cast When Damage Taken Support - it will automatically recast Blood Rage and Ice Golem after receiving Damage

5. Gear Setup

Below you will find all the recommended and required items for this build. As usual, all required stats are listed (items are also included in the PoB link). 

At this point, we would love to invite you to visit our Path of Exile Marketplace where you can buy cheap PoE Currency in case you are unable to complete your build.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully

(Helmet) Starkonja's Head - best in the slot for this build. Grants a lot of Life, Evasion but also Attack Speed and Critical Strike Chance

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 enchantments: Increased Cyclone Damage

(Weapon) Starforge - definitely the best possible weapon for pure Physical Cyclone

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) Rare Two-Handed Sword - good and cheap alternative for Starforge. Try to get one with highest Physical damage

450+ Physical DPS 1.5 Attacks Per Second

(Body Armour) Carcass Jack - good starting option. Carcass Jack provides maximum Life, Elemental Resistances and damage boost for Cyclone

(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

(Body Armour) Loreweave - all around perfect Body Armour for this build. It provides increased Damage, Survivability, and Defenses. Try to get one with 80% Maximum Resistances

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 (76-80)%

Corrupted modifiers: +2 levels of Socketed AoE Gems +1 level of Socketed Gems increased Damage

(Boots) Rare Boots - we need as much Elemental Resistances, as possible

Min. requirements: 70 Maximum Life 35% Cold Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance 25% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Dexterity

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

(Belt) Rare Stygian Vise - we are trying to fix Resistances here, so try to get as much as possible

Min. requirements: 70 Maximum Life 35% Cold Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance 35% Fire Resistance

(Amulet) Carnage Heart - provides a lot of stats, which are going to scale really well with Shaper's Touch, as well as Resistances and much faster Life Leech rate

+(10-16) to all Attributes +(20-40) to all Attributes +(10-20)% to all Elemental Resistances (1.2-2)% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life 50% increased Life Leeched per second (30-40)% increased Damage while Leeching Extra gore

(Ring) Rare Rings - preferably Steel Rings for additional flat Physical Damage. Try to get one of them as Shaper for combination with Mark of the Elder

Min. requirements: Curse enemies with Level 12 Assassin's Mark on Hit 40 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance Optional affixes: Accuracy Rating Physical Damage to Attacks

(Ring) Mark of the Elder - use it only if your other ring is Shaper one. Provides immense Damage boost for the Ring slot

Adds (3-4) to (10-14) Physical Damage to Attacks Adds (26-32) to (42-48) Cold Damage to Attacks (6-10)% increased maximum Energy Shield (6-10)% increased maximum Life (60-80)% increased Attack Damage if your other Ring is a Shaper Item Cannot be Stunned by Attacks if your other Ring is an Elder Item 20% chance to Trigger Level 20 Tentacle Whip on Kill

(Gloves) Shaper's Touch - since we are getting tons of Attributes on other Equipment slots, these gloves are going to provide over 100% Melee Damage boost

(80-120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +4 Accuracy Rating per 2 Intelligence +1 Life per 4 Dexterity +2 Mana per 4 Strength 2% increased Energy Shield per 10 Strength 2% increased Evasion Rating per 10 Intelligence 2% increased Melee Physical Damage per 10 Dexterity

(Jewels) Rare Jewels - all jewels should provide extra Life and at least one Damage amplification mod

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Physical Damage/Area Damage/Melee Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: increased Attack Speed increased Critical Strike Multiplier

(Jewels) Abyss Jewels - your priority should be added flat Physical Damage to Attacks

Recommended affixes: Maximum Life Elemental Resistances Adds Physical to Attacks/Sword Attacks

(Flask) Lion's Roar - grants amazing Physical Damage boost as well as knockback, which helps with survivability

Adds Knockback to Melee Attacks during Flask effect 75% chance to cause Enemies to Flee on use (20-25)% more Melee Physical Damage during effect Knocks Back Enemies in an Area when you use a Flask

Other suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (Bleeding immunity) Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Heat (Freezing immunity) Experimenter's Diamond Flask of Adrenaline (Critical Strike) Ample Basalt Flask of Iron Skin (Armour/Physical Damage Taken Reduction)

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.