Dominating Blow
Herald of Purity
Guardian/Templar
Patch 3.4 Starter build

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One of the biggest changes that were introduced in Patch 3.4 and the Delve League is related to the Guardian Ascendancy Class and Minion Passive Skills. Guardian emerges as one of the primary Minion-based classes, with powerful nodes that grant Attack Speed and Minion Damage bonuses to the user as well. By benefiting from the same Passives twice, Guardian can maintain very high DPS even with a very low budget-gear. On top of that, Minion build is a perfect choice for the Delve League's mechanic.

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1. Gameplay

Our Dominating Blow Guardian is a combination of a tanky Melee fighter with and a Minion build. Since you benefit from the Minion Passives directly, you can maintain high DPS on Dominating Blow without the necessity to pick up the standard Two-Handed Passives from Marauder and Duelist's areas. Killing enemies with the Dominating Blow's debuff will spawn Minions, which benefit from all the Support Gems that Dominating Blow does, and also all your Melee kills while Herald of Purity is active, will summon Sentinels of Purity, that are again amplified by a number of Melee-based Support Gems for greater effect. For the defensive part, Guardian relies on his Ascendancy Passives, very high Life, and Armour Rating.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

We recommend leveling up our Dominating Blow Guardian with any high Physical DPS weapon of your choice. Since Minion Passives will apply to any weapon type you come across, it makes it much more convenient and also, a great addition for SSF players. At low levels, you can use a wide variety of skills including Raise Zombie, Ancestral Warchief, and any Melee attack that works with your currently equipped weapon. You should focus on adding as much raw Physical Damage bonuses as possible on your gear and rely on Life Passive nodes to keep you alive.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Smite setup
	Smite - newly introduced in 3.4 Melee Skill that fits perfectly this build. On top of dealing regular damage to your target, it casts an Aura which adds additional Lightning Damage both to you and your Minions
	Melee Physical Damage Support - increases Physical Damage of supported skills
	Ancestral Support - greatly increases your clear speed by making Smite attack two nearby additional targets
	Faster Attacks Support

Smite setup
	Dominating Blow - you can start using Dominating Blow after level 28, but it's recommended to start using it when you are level 40 and can afford Chober Chaber for its' insane DPS bonuses
	Melee Physical Damage Support
	Ancestral Support
	Faster Attacks Support

Raise Zombie setup
	Raise Zombie - one of the first Minion skills available in PoE. With Smite Aura's DPS bonus, on top of tanking some of the damage, Zombies will also greatly increase your damage output
	Minion Life Support - increases Zombies' Maximum Life
	Minion Speed Support - increases Zombies' Attack and Movement Speed
	Minion Damage Support - direct increase to Minions' DPS

Utility Gems
	Ancestral Warchief - increases your Melee Damage while active
	Holy Relic - a new Minion that follows you and casts Physical DPS Nova Spell when you Attack and grants increased Life Regeneration to you and your Minions
	Punishment - the best Curse for this build
	Stone Golem - grants increased Life Regeneration
	Herald of Purity - grants extra Physical Damage to your Attacks. During the leveling phase it's mainly used for that purpose and it's not advised to Support this Gem with other recommended Gems
	Consecrated Path - recommended Movement Skill for this build

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

34 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Retribution 2) Spiritual Command 3) Sacrifice 4) Redemption, Righteous Army, Spiritual Aid

59 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Devotion 2) Resolute Technique 3) Constitution 4) Heart of the Warrior

Recommended leveling items:

Blackheart - great Physical DPS leveling ring. You can use it from level 1
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

Belt of the Deceiver - very solid belt for Melee builds. Can be used until late game and in low-level maps
(25-35) to Strength (15-25)% increased 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

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

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

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Radiant Crusade
2. Unwavering Crusade
3. Harmony of Purpose
4. Time of Need

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] Dominating Blow
	Dominating Blow - primary Attack skill in this build. It will deal a moderate amount of damage and also spawn additional Minions when you kill enemies affected by its' debuff
	Melee Physical Damage Support
	Ancestral Call Support
	Maim Support - melee attacks with supported skills will Maim the target causing it to have reduced Movement Speed and receive increased Physical Damage
	Faster Attacks Support
	Culling Strike Support - will instantly kill enemies below 10% Life

[DPS] Herald of Purity setup preferably socketed in the weapon with + to Gem levels
	Herald of Purity - the newly added in Patch 3.4 Herald Skill that grants extra Physical Damage and summons Sentinels of Purity when you kill enemies. Sentinels of Purity are Minions that benefit from all the Support Gems in this setup and Minion Passives on your Skill Tree
	Ruthless Support
	Minion Damage Support
	Minion Speed Support
	Faster Attacks Support
	Fortify Support - increases the Damage of your Sentinels and grant them the Fortify buff

[MOBILITY] Consecrated Path
	Consecrated Path - the recommended movement skill for this build. Upon teleporting to a nearby enemy, you will create Consecrated Ground which will benefit both you and your Minions
	Faster Attacks Support
	Fortify Support
	Blood Magic Support - makes Consecrated Path consume Life instead of Mana

[UTILITY] Punishment and Holy Relic setup
	Holy Relic - Holy Relic is a new Minion type that grants Life Regeneration to your and your allies, and also cast Nova when you Attack. Match this Gem's level with your Cast when Damage Taken Support Gem
	Punishment - recommended Curse for this build. Keep this Gem at level 12
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts your Curse and the Holy Relic. Keep this Gem at level 9

[UTILITY] Rallying Cry
	Rallying Cry - Warcry that increases your Damage and Attack Speed

[UTILITY] Ancestral Warchief and Stone Golem
	[1-Link]Ancestral Warchief - spawns a Totem which increases your Melee Damage
	[3-Links]Cast when Damage Taken - auto-cats your Golem and Blood Rage skills
	[3-Links]Stone Golem - Stone Golem grants increased Life Regeneration
	[3-Links]Blood Rage - grants increased Attack Speed, generated Frenzy Charges, and adds Life Leech to your attacks for the duration

5. Gear Setup

Our Dominating Blow Guardian build has no specific items requirements. It can be played with only rares, any two-handed weapon type as its' core damage comes from Passive Skills, Guardian's Ascendancy, and Skill Gems. Below you will find all the recommended items, but as stated, you can replace any of the items below with Rare gear with similar attributes.

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Our recommended items will:

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

(Helmet) Rare Life/Res. helmet - one of the best choices for this build.

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 25% Fire Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance 25% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: High Armour Rating

(Helmet) Devoto's Devotion - another decent option for this build. It provides great utility in terms of clear speed

10% reduced Physical Damage +(50-65) to Dexterity 16% increased Attack Speed (150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed Mercury Footprints

(Helmet) Skullhead - solid and very cheap option for this build. It does provide all necessary defensive stats, and good bonuses to Minions

(60-80)% increased Armour and Evasion +(50-70) to maximum Life +(50-70) to maximum Mana +(10-20)% to all Elemental Resistances Minions have 10% Chance to Block Minions have +(300-350) to Armour Minions Regenerate 2% Life per second

Helmet enchantment: 36% increased Dominating Blow Damage

(Body Armour) Belly of the Beast - always a solid pick for defensive purposes. Belly of the Beast is always one of the best Body Armours for all Life build

Armour: (685 to 812) (150-200)% increased Armour (30-40)% increased maximum Life +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances 50% increased Flask Life Recovery rate Extra gore

Buy Belly of the Beast

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - Rare piece with high Life/Armour Rating and Resistances will do the job just fine

Min. requirements: 100 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance 20% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: High Armour Rating

(Body Armour) Brass Dome - great pick versus high Physical Damage Bosses like Minotaur Guardian

5% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) 30% reduced Chance to Block Attacks and Spells (600-650)% increased Armour 10% reduced Movement Speed 50% increased Shock Duration on you Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes

(Weapon) Rare Two-Handed weapon - with high Physical DPS and possibly increased level of socketed Gems

Min. requirements: 450 Physical DPS +1 level to socketed Gems

(Weapon) Chaber Cairn - one of the best items for this build. Grants amazing Minion bonuses

30% increased Stun Duration on Enemies +1 to Level of Socketed Melee Gems +2 to Level of Socketed Minion Gems (200–220)% increased Physical Damage Adds (25–35) to (45–55) Physical Damage 25% increased maximum Mana Minions have (20–40)% increased maximum Life 30% increased Skill Effect Duration

(Weapon) Atziri's Disfavor - the best in the slot, end-game weapon for this build. It not only grants insane Physical DPS for your Dominating Blow but also increases all Support Gems' levels of your core DPS setup

+2 to Level of Socketed Support Gems Adds (220-235) to (270-290) Physical Damage (12-16)% increased Attack Speed +2 to Weapon range 25% chance to cause Bleeding on Hit

(Boots) Rare Boots - with high defensive stats, Life, and Movement Speed bonus

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance 20% Cold Resistance 25% increased Movement Speed

Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently 0.6% of Damage Leeched as Life and Mana if you've Killed Recently

(Belt) Rare Belt

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 18% increased Physical Damage 25% Fire Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance 25% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

(Belt) Belt of the Deceiver - despite being cheap, it’s a great Belt for this build

(25-35) to Strength (15-25)% increased 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

(Amulet) Sidhebreath - the best in the slot. Grants amazing bonuses for your Minions and Mana Leech which is extremely important

(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

(Ring) Rare Rings

Min. requirements: Adds min. 7 Physical Damage to Attacks 50 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Cold Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance min. 0.3% Damage Leeched as Mana Optional affixes: Essence Crafted Minion Speed

(Gloves) Rare Spiked Gloves

Min. requirements: Adds min. 4 Physical Damage to Attacks 60 maximum Life 7% Attack Speed Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances

Glove enchantment: Commandment of Force Commandment of Frost

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

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Melee/Physical/Minion Damage Optional affixes: increased Attack Speed

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - grants extra Chaos Damage and Life Leech. At the same time, it's a very cheap Flask

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) Lion's Roar - one of the best utility Flasks for Melee builds

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 (immunity to Bleeding) Bubbling Granite Flask of Iron Skin (increased Armour) Ample Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline (increased Movement Speed)

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