Energy Blade
"The Jedi Master"
Inquisitor Build

Updated for Patch 3.21

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Energy Blade is one of the most unusual Skills in Path of Exile. It's one of its' kind ability, that converts around half of your Maximum Energy Shield to create a weapon that has base Lightning Damage increased by the amount converted that way (further multiplied by 50% if you are using a two-handed weapon). Your equipped weapon (or weapons) will not grant any other bonuses except for the Lightning Damage generated by Energy Blade, but you can still use Gems socketed in them. We're aiming for around 20 000 ES which would result in a one-hand weapon with base 52 to 8 235 Lightning Damage. It may seem like a lot, but half of that Energy Shield will be removed, and you will not benefit from any other bonuses your regular weapon would normally provide. In order to fully utilize this mechanic, we are going to use Inquisitor with Battlemage Passive, causing all that damage to be applied to your Spells as well. By stacking Strenght and Intelligence, you can get enough maximum Life, Energy Shield, and Critical Strike Chance bonus from Righteous Providence to make a very powerful Cyclone Cast on Crit. build.

The triggered Spell of choice is Ice Spear, which provides great clear speed, has decent damage effectiveness, and deals good damage against Bosses. Thanks to the extra added damage from Energy Blade, and 100% Chance to Crit., you will have enough damage to deal with basically any content in the game. When it comes to defenses, it's not as simple as this build uses a lot of different mechanics that synergize exceptionally well on your character. First of all, half of your Energy Shield is gone by default, but the remaining 10k is still a lot. It makes use of the Coruscating Elixir. With it, Chaos Damage will not bypass your Energy Shield - that's important since almost all of your Life is Reserved. Most of the Mana Pool too. That's why we're also implementing Radiant Faith Keystone gained via a pair of Forbidden Jewels. Now you have tons of Armour and Energy Shield. To make additional use of the Reserved Life and Mana, pick Rathpith Globe Shield - it's responsible for a big portion of your total DPS with its bonuses to Crit. Chance and Spell Damage. You won't suffer Life Loss if you have no Life left to lose, it can't kill you. The combined ES gained from The Ivory Tower and Crown of the Inward Eye should result in tons of extra defenses. The build has a small chance to block Spells and Attacks. Elemental Damage is mitigated with Ruby, Topaz, Sapphire Flasks, and Inquisitor's Keystone.

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

1. Gameplay

This build offers a very straightforward, basically one-button playstyle, even though it does utilize several complex mechanics. You are going to spin with your Cyclone which will trigger Ice Spear to kill enemies all around your screen. You can also cast Frost Blink to avoid big damage spikes. You will be able to use Molten Shell as well, which is an Instant cast spell and can be used while you are Channelling Cyclone. Molten Shell further boosts your Armor Rating, and grants a protective Shield. For Auras you'll be using Wrath, Zealotry, Vitality, Clarity, Precision, Discipline, Purity of Elements, and Defiance Banner. For a Curse - Sniper's Mark.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Use our Templar Leveling Guide for PoE using Lightning Spells. The build requires an absurd amount of unique items, many of which you won't be able to wear until you start yellow or red maps. Buy all the necessary items first and if you're ready equip them. You will also need a lot of Passive Skill Points to start dealing meaningful damage.

Bandits:

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

Leveling Skill Trees:

31 Points Skill Tree
Start with the default Elemental Damage and Maximum Life

66 Points Skill Tree
Get even more Lightning Damage and Maximum Life. Cast Speed and Reservation Efficiency will be important too.

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

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

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. RIghteous Providence
2. Inevitable Judgement
3. Augury of Penitence
4. Instruments of Virtue

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

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Ice Spear/Cyclone setup
	Ice Spear - your core source of DPS which will have its' damage increased by your Energy Blade and Battlemage Passive. It deals Cold Damage (you will deal mostly Lightning Damage due to Battlemage) and fires Projectiles in sequence. Use the Anomalous version to pierce first enemies.
	Cyclone - Melee/AoE attack that is used to trigger your Ice Spear via Cast on Crit Support Gem. Cyclone offers the best on-hit frequency out of all available attacks.
	Cast on Critical Strike Support - Causes Critical Hits from your Cyclone to trigger Ice Spear automatically.
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - Fires more Projectiles to kill more enemies faster and to deal extra damage against bosses.
	Inspiration Support - increases Elemental Damage, Critical Strike Chance, and reduces the Mana Cost of linked Skills.
	Increased Critical Damage Support - Increases the damage you deal with Critical Strikes, and with nearly 100% Chance to Crit., this is one of the best Gems you can use.

[UTILITY] Life-Reserving setup
	Wrath - More Spell Lightning Damage, and Added Lightning Damage to Attacks. You will benefit from both features due to Battlemage.
	Clarity - Regenerates Mana - an important resource in trigger-type builds.
	Vitality - Regenerates Life, It's not really important and you can keep it at level 1.
	Arrogance Support - Linked Spells Reserve Life instead of Mana. You should be able to afford it. Life is pretty much useless in this build anyway.

[UTILITY] Energy Blade
	Energy Blade - A build-defining skill that reduces your Maximum Energy Shield by half, but that Energy is used to create an extremely powerful weapon that you are going to use instead of your equipped one. With Battlemage Support, all that damage will be applied to your Spells as well.

[UTILITY] Molten Shell
	Molten Shell - Molten Shell is definitely the best Guard Spell here, it protects you from incoming hit damage for some time.

[UTILITY] Mana-Reserving setup
	Zealotry - One of the best DPS Auras for this build which increases your Spell Damage and Spell Crit. Chance.
	Discipline - this Aura increases your Maximum Energy Shield which is a must-have for all Energy Blade builds
	Purity of Elements - Grants Elemental Resistances and complete immunity to all Elemental Ailments. It's needed as you don't have many rare items to get these Resistances from.
	Enlighten Support - Linked Spells Reserve Less Mana.

[MOBILITY] Flame Dash setup
	Flame Dash - Flame Dash is one of the best movement skills for this build which helps you avoid big damage spikes and travel faster.  Frostblink can be used too, it's an instant Spell that won't stop your Cyclone.

[UTILITY] Another Mana-Reserving setup
	Defiance Banner - A Banner skill that boots your Armour and Evasion Rating and reduces your chances of getting Critically Hit for just a few % of your Max Mana.
	Precision - Boosts your Critical Strike Chance and Accuracy Rating, You can keep it at a low level.

[UTILITY] Curse setup
	Sniper's Mark - Enemies Cursed by this Mark receive increased Damage from Projectiles.
	Mark on Hit Support - Sniper's Mark is being applied automatically against tough opponents.
	Arcane Surge Support - Keep it at a low level. It grants Arcane Surge buff for an increased Mana Regeneration Rate and Cast Speed.
	Enhance Support - Increases Gem Quality of all linked Skills.

6. Gear Setup

Below you will find the recommended equipment for our Energy Blade Inquisitor Build. Generally, it's an attribute-stacking build that requires you to get as much Strength and Intelligence as possible, so the gear will leave little to no space for experimentation. Overall, it's a cost-effective build, one that is definitely worth trying out because of various interesting mechanics and the most unique skill used. At the same time, it provides a very enjoyable playstyle, as most CoC/Cyclone builds do. 

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 - One of the best Helmets for this build as it fits perfectly. It not only boosts your Life, Energy Shield, and Mana but also increases your damage based on those three stats.

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: Ice Spear fires an additional Projectile

(Weapon) Energy Blade - You are going to equip any three socketed one-handed Weapon, its stats are irrelevant. It's going to be converted to Energy Blade anyway, and its stats are going to be replaced with the Added Lightning Damage from this Skill.

Energy Blades have minimum Lightning Damage equal to 2% of Energy Shield, plus (2–12) Energy Blades have maximum Lightning Damage equal to 40% of Energy Shield, plus (40–235)

(Shield) Rathpith Globe - It doesn't matter that all of your Life is Reserved, you can still reap the benefits of Critical Strike Chance and Spell Damage sourced from it with no drawback.

(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage (120-160)% increased Energy Shield 10% increased maximum Life Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill 5% increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells per 100 Player Maximum Life 5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum Life

(Body Armour) The Ivory Tower - The extra Maximum Energy Shield per Reserved Life is great as you have over 6000 of it Reserved due to Strength-stacking and other unique items, resulting in almost 2000 ES.

+(40-70) to Intelligence +30 to maximum Energy Shield per 100 Reserved Life +(80-100) to maximum Mana Regenerate 2% of Energy Shield per second Chaos Damage is taken from Mana before Life

(Boots) The Stampede - Makes you spin faster, increases Mana Regeneration Rate, and Cooldown recovery for Travel Skills.

(100-150)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield (30-40)% increased Stun and Block Recovery (50-80)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate of Travel Skills (30-40)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate while moving Your Movement Speed is 150% of its base value

(Gloves) Shaper's Touch - The BiS pair and the only one that you should even consider for this Attribute stacking build. It grants so many stats based on your Attributes that it's nearly impossible to replace it with anything else. Also, try getting one with a good implicit mod.

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

(Belt) Cyclopean's Coil - The best Unique Belt for attribute stacking builds. Grants a lot of bonuses to all Attributes, Life, and Mana. Don't worry about the Elemental AIlments, you're already immune to all of them.

+(25-40) to maximum Life +(60-80) to maximum Life (5-15)% increased Attributes Cannot be Frozen if Dexterity is higher than Intelligence Cannot be Ignited if Strength is higher than Dexterity Cannot be Shocked if Intelligence is higher than Strength 1% increased Damage per 5 of your lowest Attribute

(Amulet) Eyes of the Greatwolf - Here you will need the modifier for increased Attributes. The second one is less important. Global Critical Strike Multiplier, increased Damage, and increased Global Defences are the best ones.

<Two random talisman implicit modifiers> Implicit Modifier magnitudes are doubled

Recommended Anointments: Utmost Intellect Charisma

(Ring) Nimis - Unsurprisingly, one of the best Rings for this build. The returning Ice Spears will damage your enemy once again.

+(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance +(30-50) to Dexterity (25-35)% increased Projectile Damage Projectiles Return to you Projectiles are fired in random directions

(Ring) Rare Ring - Used mainly for Attributes and possible extra Resistances. Cogwork Ring would work great here as you will need a lot of these.

Min. requirements: 50 Maximum Life 70 Strength/Intelligence or combined 60% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Maximum Mana Dexterity Increased Strength or Intelligence

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Most likely you will need a couple of Jewels to get all the missing Resistances or Dexterity. Other than that, you can get extra Crit. Multiplier, Attributes (obviously), and Life/ES bonus.

Recommended affixes: Elemental Resistances Maximum Life/Energy Shield Attributes Critical Strike Multiplier

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - A Large Cluster Jewel will be needed to accommodate two Split Personality Jewels. Use it to gain Resistances, Defences, and Attributes.

Recommended affixes: Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +# to Maximum Energy Shield Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +# to Strength Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +# to Intelligence Added Small Passive Skills also grant: Chaos Resistance

(Jewel) Brutal Restraint - Get the Balbala variant for the Traitor Keystone. With it, you will be able to have three flasks up permanently.

Denoted service of (500-8000) dekhara in the akhara of Balbala Passives in radius are Conquered by the Maraketh Historic

(Jewel) Split Personality - Get extra Strength and Intelligence from these Jewels. You build your whole Skill Tree around them to squeeze out as much Strength and Intelligence as possible.

This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location <Two random modifiers>

(Jewel) Forbidden Flame & Flesh - Radiant Faith would elevate this build with the amount of extra Armour and Energy Shield it grants. It fits here like a glove.

Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flesh Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flame

(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. Lightning Damage Penetration, Chaos Resistance, or Crit Multiplier are the best mods.

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

(Flask) Coruscating Elixir - Ruby Flask that stops Chaos Damage from killing you. Very important. It should be automatically re-used at the end of its effect via Instilling Orb.

+50% to Fire Resistance 20% less Fire Damage taken Chaos Damage taken does not bypass Energy Shield during effect Removes all but one Life on use Removed life is Regenerated as Energy Shield over 2 seconds 25% increased Duration

Other suggested Flasks: Surgeon's Sapphire Flask with increased Armour Surgeon's Topaz Flask with increased Crit Chance Each Flask will receive 1.6 Charges every second. They'll last for 9.6 seconds with 20% Quality and no Prefixes, meaning you will need to increase their Charge Recovery, reduce Charges Used, or have a chance to gain a Flask Charge when you deal a Critical Strike.

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.