Explosive Shot/Shockburst Rounds
Deadeye Build

Updated for Path of Exile 2 Early Access

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

The build revolves around Shockburst Rounds, which is currently one of the strongest Skills in the game, to deal with bosses. It's a Crossbow Ability that releases a deadly pulse upon Hitting a Shocked or Electrocuted enemy, but the Skill itself is unable to apply neither. It can, however, Freeze, even when dealing mostly Lightning Damage. It can do so thanks to The Three Dragons Helmet - it causes your Elemental Damage to apply a different type Ailment. For Lightning Damage, it's Freeze Buildup instead of Shock. To apply Shock, and make this skill deal reasonable DPS, you will now need to deal Fire Damage. That's one of the roles of the Explosive Shot. Its second role is hunting down the small game because its explosions have large AoE and high damage. Combine it with three Herlad Skills for one of the fastest mapping builds.

Deadeye specializes in Projectile-type abilities and fast movement so it fits this build the most. Point Blank and Endless Munitions will improve your DPS, especially in close combat. Gathering Winds and Wind Ward enhance your mobility and durability. This effect pairs up well with good movement Speed, high evasion rating, and Wind Dancer. Minor opponents won't get a chance to harm you due to the ranged nature of your abilities, while bosses will stay Frozen, so that you approach them safely and benefit from Point Blank.

You can also check our other Path of Exile 2 builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

Use Explosive Shot to deal with all kinds of enemies running around the map. If the enemy is too tough to deal with this way, switch to Shockburst Rounds, but not before it's Shocked. Against the most difficult enemies, cast Voltaic Mark and use Emergency Reload to boost your DPS. Your passive Skills are Herald of Ash, Herald of Ice, Herald of Thunder, Wind Dancer, and Overwhelming Presence.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Start with any Bow or Crossbow Skill with good damage and another one with good clear potential, just as in the finished build. We recommend starting with Cold Damage and Herald of Ice. Combine listed skills with Grip of Winter, Polcirkeln, and Asphyxia's Wrath if using a Bow. These are low-level cheap uniques that will elevate your leveling process. You can slowly transition into the final version of the build if you have the required Unique Helmet and you meet the Attribute requirements.

[DPS] Permafrost Bolts setup
	Permafrost Bolts - It'll be your main damaging ability until you equip Explosive Shot. It deals Cold Damage, so pair it up with Herald if Ice first. You can use other shard-like skills, but freezing seems the most useful at this early stage of the game.
	Martial Tempo - 25% more Attack Speed.
	Cold Infusion - Additional Cold Damage, but less Fire and Lightning Damage.

[DPS] Ice Shards setup
	Ice Shards - Use them against enemies that can destroy ice crystals, like bosses. These crystals deal a lot of damage when broken. Switch to Shockburst Rounds as soon as you can.
	Concentrated Effect - Concentrated damage.
	Scattershot - Two additional projectiles for more shards.

[UTILITY] other gems
	Herald of Thunder - Improves your clear speed and converts damage.
	Herald of Ice - Improves your clear speed and converts damage.
	Herald of Ash - Improves your clear speed and converts damage.

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

Click on the image to open the Passive Tree preview in a new window Or use the full browser version: Passive Tree

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in this order:

1. Gathering Winds
2. Point Blank
3. Endless munitions
4. Wind Ward

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Explosive Shot setup
	Explosive Shot - It deals mostly Fire Damage, which will Shock. It loads only one or two Bolts per clip, but in turn, its damage and AoE is high. This setup will keep you mobile while upholding the skill's role as a clearing, and ailment-inflicting tool.
	Scattershot - Since Explosive Shot is used mainly for clearing, adding more projectiles per shot is recommended.
	Mobility - You can attack and move faster.
	Rising Tempest - With three Elemental Herlads you will often Shock, Chill, and Ignite. That's 36% more damage with Rising Tempest.
	Fire Penetration - Additional Penetration for Fire Damage.
	Conduction - 100% more chance to Shock; this is extremely valued during boss fights with a large life pool.

[DPS] Shockburs Rounds setup
	Shockburs Rounds - It's the main damaging ability against bosses. Its most potent component is the pulse that's triggered against Shocked enemies, and it's not a projectile.
	Primal Armament - 25% more Elemental Damage.
	Concentrated Effect - More Area Damage, but less AoE. It only affects the pulse, so don't be fooled by the preview DPS that doesn't change.
	Lightning Infusion - Adds 25% of Damage as extra Lightning Damage, but causes you to deal less Cold and Fire Damage.
	Elemental Focus - Since Shockburst Rounds is not really supposed to inflict Ailments, you can put Elemental Focus here for more Elemental Damage. Heft can be a good substitute if you want to Freeze bosses, and if your Physical Damage is high.
	Fresh Clip - 1% more Damage for each Bolt you've loaded in the past 6 seconds.

[UTILITY] Herald of Thunder setup
	Herald of Thunder - Converts 100% of Physical Damage to Lightning. It's also a big help when clearing - it fires a Lightning Bolt upon enemies you hit after killing a Shocked enemy. It will deal mainly Lightning Damage and Freeze.
	Innervate - Adds 35% of Damage as Lightning Damage for 3 seconds on killing a Shocked enemy with Supported Skills. Herald of Thunder has a much better range than Explosive Shot, so it will slay enemies rather often.
	Lightning Mastery - Increases the Gem Level of Herald of Thunder.
	Ice Bite - Adds 35% of Damage as Cold Damage for 3 seconds on Freezing an enemy with Herald of Thunder. With The Three Dragons, Lightning Damage is able to Freeze.
	Execute -  40% more Damage against enemies below 35% of Maximum Life.
	Glaciation - 50% more Freeze Buildup.

[UTILITY] Herald of Ice setup
	Herald of Ice - Converts 100% of Physical Damage to Cold. Upon killing a Forozen enemy it explodes with Cold Damage, which Ignites.
	Magnified Effect - increased AoE for the Shattering explosions.
	Cold Mastery - Increases the Gem Level of Herald of Ice.
	Immolate - Adds 30% of Damage as extra Fire Damage against Ignited enemies, which the skill does.
	Cold Penetration - Additional Penetration for Cold Damage.
	Longshot - More Damage against enemies far from you.

[UTILITY] Wind Dancer setup
	Wind Dancer - Grants more Evasion, but breaks after getting hit with a Melee Attack. It hits nearby enemies upon breaking.
	Blind - Blinds enemies on hit, which underlines your Evasion.
	Maim - Maims enemies, reducing their Movement Speed and Evasion.

[UTILITY] Voltaic Mark setup
	Voltaic Mark - Marked enemy is easier to Shock, which has an increased Effect on them. The damaging part is not important as long as the skill is not automated - you'll use it only against bosses.
	Persistence - Voltaic Mark lasts longer.

[UTILITY] Herald of Ash setup
	Herald of Ash - Its passive effect, which Converts 100% of Physical Damage to Fire, is crucial, since Fire Damage Shocks, thus enabling Shockburst Round's pulse. Killed enemies spread Ignite on death.
	Fire Mastery - Increases the Gem Level of Herald of Ash.

[UTILITY] Emergency Reload setup
	Emergency Reload - Use it to instantly reload your Crossbow and empower the next clip. Good with Fresh Clip Support on your Shockburst Rounds.
	Premeditation - Emergency Reload grants more damage.

[UTILITY] Overwhelming Presence setup
	Overwhelming Presence - Enemies have reduced Elemental Ailment Threshold.

6. Gear Setup

Prioritize Physical DPS on your Weapons. It will all be Converted later to multiple other Elemental Damage types. Getting two Crossbows, one for Explosive Shot and another one for Shockburst Rounds, is recommended, but don't rush it, good Crossbows are expensive after all. They're both very similar, although Dyad Crossbows are better with Explosive Shots as they can accommodate an additional Bolt. Projectile Damage is not very important, Shockburst's pulse and Explosive Shot's explosions are not Projectiles. Your sole defensive layer, besides Maximum Life and Resistances, of course, is high Evasion. Attributes will be important too - a bit over 100 intelligence with more than 200 Dexterity and Strength. You will need 150 Spirit to host all 5 Buff Skills listed, as each costs 30 Spirit.

(Weapon) Rare Crossbow - Look for a basic Crossbow with high Physical DPS and modifiers for added and increased Elemental Damage.

Min. requirements: increased Physical Damage increased Elemental Damage with Attacks increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: Added Physical Damage Added Fire Damage Attributes

(Helmet) The Three Dragons - Even with three Heralds on, your main damage type with Explosive Shot is Fire. This Helmet will cause it to Shock with ease. You can then use Shockburst Rounds, which will Freeze bosses, as it deals a lot of Lightning Damage.

(40-60)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(10-20)% to all Elemental Resistances Fire Damage from Hits Contributes to Shock Chance instead of Ignite Chance and Magnitude Cold Damage from Hits Contributes to Ignite Chance and Magnitude instead of Chill Magnitude Lightning Damage from Hits Contributes to Freeze Buildup instead of Shock Chance

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves occupy a valuable item slot, since they can roll mods for Attack Speed and flat Damage of all types to Attacks.

Min. requirements: Maximum Life Added Physical Damage increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: Elemental and Chaos Resistance Attributes Added Elemental Damage

(Boots) Rare Boots - The mod that's unique to Boots is Movement Speed, you can score a lot of it here.

Min. requirements: increased Movement Speed Maximum Life Elemental and Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - Amulet offers Spirit, which is hard to get. Attributes and other fundamental stats can be found here too.

Min. requirements: Maximum Life Elemental and Chaos Resistance Spirit Attributes Optional affixes: Accuracy increased maximum Life

(Ring) Rare Ring - Rings are particularly useful in Attack Build, as they can roll Added Elemental/Physical Damage to Attacks or increased Elemental Damage.

Min. requirements: Maximum Life Added Physical Damage Elemental and Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes increased Fire Damage increased Mana Regeneration Rate

(Belt) Rare Belt - Here, look mainly for the Maximum Life, Resistances, and Strength. Other stats are not so important.

Min. requirements: Maximum Life Strength Elemental and Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Charm Slots

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - Body Armour offers a lot of Maximum Life and Evasion - focus on these Prefixes. Spirit is a Prefix too, that's why we recommend getting it from Amulet rather than Body Armour.

Min. requirements: Maximum Life Evasion Rating Optional affixes: Attributes Spirit Elemental and Chaos Resistance

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Look for damage modifiers listed below. Chance to Shock and Shock Duration will help against tough bosses.

Optional affixes: increased Attack Damage increased Damage with Hits against Rare and Unique Enemies increased Damage with Crossbows increased Elemental Damage chance to apply Shock Shock Duration increased Attack Speed with Crossbows

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.