Dancing Duo Scion
Necromancer/Juggernaut
Patch 3.2 Build

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Estimated budget: medium (5-15 Exalted Orbs)

Dancing Duo Scion is one of the most interesting builds in Path of Exile. It provides insane clear speed, and the only downside to it is the fact that you don't have enough time to loot all the items. While both Necromancer (full DPS) and Juggernaut (more defensive utility) are fully viable for this build, we believe Scion is the most balanced class. It grants high Minion Damage and Speed bonuses from Necromancer's Ascendancy passives, and good defenses from Juggernaut's passives (Stun immunity, Endurance Charges generation).

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1. Gameplay

Dancing Duo swords provide unique gameplay mechanics. In general, this is a support/minion build, that is based on Manifest Dancing Dervish skill which is active while you are on the Rampage. Rampage is a very interesting buff, that is available through Dancing Duo (or Dancing Dervish and several other uniques, but they are not part of this build). Rampage counts consecutive enemies you slay, and you gain this buff starting at 15 enemies killed. The Rampage counter will reset if you (or your party members) fail to get a kill within 5 seconds. Which means you have to be extremely fast, and you can't stand too long in one place. To help you maintain the buff at least 2 Writhing Jar Flasks are required (each use spawns two monsters that will count towards the Rampage counter). Also, "reduced Charges used" affix on your Belt and the Arcane Chemistry Passive are required. 

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

We recommend leveling this Scion with Summon Raging Spirit spell. It not only is one of the best Minion Spells to level up in PoE but also allows you to level up the Gems you are going to use later. In general, this is a very easy phase; you get to take all the Major DPS, and Life nodes quite early.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Raise Zombies setup
	Raise Zombie - and of the first, and the most useful Minion Gems available in PoE. Zombies act as meatshields allowing you to freely cast the SRS Spell
	Minion Life Support - greatly increases your Zombies' survivability
	Minion Speed Support - increased the Movement Speed of your Zombies, which allows them to intercept approaching monsters faster

Summon Raging Spirit setup
	Summon Raging Spirit - your primary DPS Spell during the leveling phase
	Minion Damage Support - greatly increased the damage of your Raging Spirits
	Added Fire Damage Support - dramatically increases the damage of your Raging Spirits
	Melee Splash Support - adds Splash to your Raging Spirits' attacks, which increases your clear speed

Utility Gems
	Enfeeble - this is pretty much the best defensive curse in PoE
	Clarity - increases your Mana Regeneration Rate
	Anger - adds Fire Damage to yours and your Raging Spirits attacks and spells
	Lightning Golem - this Golem increases your Cast Speed

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

32 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Gravepact 2) Potency of Will 3) Constitution 4) Lord of the Dead

61 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Death Attunement 2) Discipline and Training 3) Purity of Flesh 4) Mind over Matter

Recommended leveling items:

Perandus Signet - amazing spellcaster's leveling ring. Increases the Experience gained and Mana Regeneration Rate
+(20-25) to maximum Mana +(25-30) to maximum Mana (45-65)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate 2% increased Experience gain 2% increased Intelligence for each Equipped Unique Item 3% additional chance for Slain monsters to drop Scrolls of Wisdom

Lifesprig - great leveling wand
(8-12)% increased Spell Damage +1 to Level of Socketed Spell Gems (20-28)% increased Spell Damage (5-8)% increased Cast Speed +(15-20) to maximum Life +(15-20) to maximum Mana Regenerate (6-8) Life over 1 second when you Cast a Spell

Reverberation Rod - one of the best leveling wands to "host" the SRS. It grants the effects of Spell Echo Support Gem, which is the core of any SRS setup
(15-19)% increased Spell Damage +1 to Level of Socketed Gems Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 1 Spell Echo +(10-30) to Intelligence

Goldrim - the best leveling helmet in terms of defense. It meets your needs for Elemental Resistances for nearly entire leveling phase
+(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)

Sidhebreath - increased the damage of your Minions
(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +25% to Cold Resistance 0.2% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana Minions have (10-15)% increased maximum Life Minions have (10-15)% increased Movement Speed (15-10)% reduced Mana Cost of Minion Skills Minions deal (10-15)% increased Damage

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

122 Points Final Skill Tree
122 Points Path of Building link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Witch Ascendancy - Necromancer
2. Marauder Ascendancy - Juggernaut
3. Way of the Marauder

If you find it problematic to get carried in Uber Lab to access the Marauder's Part of the tree, you can take Necromancer's Ascendancy as the last one

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] The Dancing Dervish (Dancing Duo swords do not require any links, just six sockets will do)
	Minion Damage Support - increases the damage of your Manifested Dancing Dervishes
	Minion Speed Support - one of the most important Support Gems for this setup. It's essential for your Minions to reach enemies as quickly as possible to keep the Rampage buff up
	Additional Accuracy Support - reduces your Minions' chance to miss, which allows them to kill faster (obviously)
	Damage on Full Life Support - greatly increases your Minions' DPS
	Melee Physical Damage Support - increased the Physical Damage dealt by The Dancing Dervishes attacks
	Multistrike Support - makes TDD attacks repeat additional time with greatly increased speed

[AURAS] Wrath and Hatred
	[3L]Wrath - adds Lightning Damage to your TDD attacks
	[3L]Hatred - the best DPS Aura in Path of Exile
	[3L]Generosity Support - makes your Auras affect your Minions only, and increases their effectiveness
	[1L]Clarity - increases your Mana Regeneration Rate. Do not link it with Generosity Support

[UTILITY] Animate Guardian setup
	Animate Guardian - a very interesting Minion Spell. When used on a piece of equipment lying on the ground, it will spawn the Animated Guardian, who will carry the item. If you repeatedly use this Spell on different parts of gear, the Animated Guardian will carry them as well. The gear carried by Animated Guardian can benefit you and your allies (including your Minions), and that makes it commonly used in various Support/Minion builds. Keep in mind that items carried by Animated Guardian are lost when it dies. Suggested Animated Guardian's unique gear: Leer Cast - increases the damage of all nearby allies Dying Breath - increased the damage of nearby allies Ambu's Charge - grants Endurance Charges Victario's Flight - increases Movement Speed Southbound - greatly increases AG's Life
	Minion Life Support - increases Life of your Animated Guardian
	Fortify Support - grants your AG the Fortify buff, which helps it stay alive (if your Animated Guardian dies, you will lose the items he was carrying)
	Maim Support - AG's attacks will maim enemies. Maimed enemies receive increased Physical Damage and are slowed

[DPS] SRS Setup
	Summon Raging Spirit - Raging Spirits are used to dish out a little bit more DPS. Used mainly against tougher monsters and Bosses (this greatly help you keep the Rampage effect up)
	Spell Echo Support - makes SRS repeat additional time with greatly increases Cast Speed. Core Support Gem for this setup
	Melee Physical Damage Support - increases the damage of your Raging Spirits
	Minion Damage Support - same as above
	Culling Strike Support - will make SRS finish off low-life enemies
	Blood Magic Support - SRS will cost Life instead of Mana, which will let you spam it in longer battles

[UTILITY] Curse/Offering setup
	Vulnerability - the suggested Curse for this build. Increases Physical Damage taken by cursed enemies
	Spirit Offering - we recommend using this Offering for this build. All your Minions attacks are Physical, so this will greatly increase their DPS output
	Faster Casting - helps with curse-application
	Vaal Haste - Vaal Aura that increases Attack, Cast, and Movement Speed for a brief duration

5. Gear Setup

This build, in its' final form, is rather expensive. While Dancing Duo swords are pretty cheap and do not require any links for the core DPS setup, getting all the items required to maintain the Rampage effect for entire map might be slightly harder. Usually finishing off harder enemies in mid to high-tier maps will require at least 5 links in the Body Armour piece, and Essence of Fear crafted jewelry with Increased Minion Speed bonuses. Either way, this is a build that every true PoE fan should try out. 

At this point, we would like to invite you to visit our Path of Exile Market where you can restock your PoE Currency. On Odealo you can buy cheap Orbs and Unique items, and all offers here are user-posted.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully
3. Save you at least a couple of hours, as it's already all planned out for you!

(Helmet) Rare Life/Res. helmet - preferably Bone Helmet with "increased Minion Damage" implicit modifier

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 25% Fire Resistance 25% Cold Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance 40% increased Minion Damage

(Weapon) Dancing Duo - the build-defining item. Pretty much self-explanatory pick for this build :)

40% increased Accuracy Rating (160-190)% increased Physical Damage (25-30)% increased Attack Speed 5% increased Movement Speed Rampage Triggers Level 15 Manifest Dancing Dervish on Rampage Manifested Dancing Dervish disables both weapon slots Manifested Dancing Dervish dies when Rampage ends Manifest Dancing Dervish also manifests a copy of Dancing Dervish

(Body Armour) Saqawal's Nest - the BiS armour for this build. It increases the effect of Aspect of the Avian by 100%, and at the same time provides high All Attribute bonuses and Reduced Mana Reservation

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) +(25-75) to all Attributes +(30-40)% to Lightning Resistance (10-6)% reduced Mana Reserved 100% increased Aspect of the Avian Buff Effect Aspect of the Avian also grants Avian's Might and Avian's Flight to nearby Allies +(120-150) to Evasion Rating and Energy Shield

(Body Armour) Belly of the Beast - always a great pick for any Life build. If you feel like you need some extra defenses go for this piece

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) Saqawal's Talons - this is the more budget-friendly pair of boots you can pick for this build. You need to Aspect of the Avian skill, which is granted either by those, or a pair of Beastcrafted rare boots

Grants Level 20 Aspect of the Avian Skill (100-150)% increased Armour and Evasion (20-30)% increased Movement Speed +(-2-2) seconds to Avian's Flight Duration 100 Life Regenerated per Second while you have Avian's Flight 12 Mana Regenerated per Second while you have Avian's Flight

(Boots) Beastcrafted rare boots - are the best in the slot. You need them to grant the Aspect of the Avian Skill and provide some additional defensive stats. 30% increased Movement Speed (or very close to that) is a must

Min. requirements: Aspect of the Avian Skill 65 maximum Life 30% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances

(Belt) Rare Life/Res. belt - Reduced Flask Charges used is a mandatory stat on this item

Min. requirements: 90 maximum Life 40% Fire Resistance 40% Lightning Resistance 18% Reduced Flask Charges used

(Gloves) Rare Life/Res. gloves - not a bad choice either. Rare gloves will provide higher defensive utility

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Cold Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: increased Spell Damage

(Amulet) Essence of Fear crafted Rare Amulet

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 20% increased Minion Movement Speed Optional affixes: Attributes Elemental Resistances

(Ring) Essence of Fear crafted Rings - preferably Diamond Rings for increased Global Critical Strike Chance

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 20% increased Minion Movement Speed Optional affixes: Attributes Elemental Resistances

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

Recommended affixes: % increased maximum Life % increased Minion Damage Optional affixes: % increased Spell Damage (for Summon Raging Spirits)

(Jewels) Ghastly Eye - with increased Movement Speed, and added Elemental Damage to Minions' attacks

Recommended affixes: % increased Minion Movement Speed added Physical Damage to Minions' attacks 30 maximum Life Optional affixes: added Chaos/Elemental Damage to Minions' attacks

(Flask) Writhing Jar - mandatory Flasks for this build. You need at least 2, and preferably 3 of them equipped. They are used to spawn Monsters that help you gain (and keep up) the Rampage effect

Instant Recovery (75-65)% reduced Amount Recovered 2 Enemy Writhing Worms escape the Flask when used (20-10)% reduced Charges used

Other suggested Flasks: Experimenter's Divine Life Flask of Staunching (immunity to bleeding) Ample Quicksilver Flask of Heat (immunity to freeze and chill effects)

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.