Explosive Shot/Explosive Grenades
Deadeye Build

Updated for Path of Exile 2 Early Access

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The build revolves around Explosive Shots whcih detonate Explosive Grenades. Currently, one of the strongest combinations of Skills in the game to deal with bosses and for mapping alike. Explosive Shot can pack a punch, but it's a Detonator Skill too, meaning one can use it ot Detonate Grenades. It's very efficient since these Grenades take way too long to Detonate. It's still a one-button playstyle for 99% of the time. Grenades are launched not by you, but by the Mirage Deadeye from the Deadeye's ascendancy skill tree. It fires a linked Projectile Attack for you. We do have other types of Grenades ready to use if the opponents puts on a fight, but these Grenades are rarely needed. Explosive Shot and Explosive Grenade deal Fire Damage, which is converted from Physical. That's why you need Physical Damage on your weapon. We plan to convert this Fire Damage to Lightning (with Valako's Vice), because Lightning Damage inflicts Shock, and Lightning Damage passives are much more plentiful in the part of the Skill Tree where we plan to settle.

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. Mirage Deadeye, we already mentioned above. This effect pairs 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, and those that do will have to put up with over 20k of Evasion and a very high Deflection Rating. You're also sporting some Energy Shield with Ghost Dance to recover it. Life Recovery is inconsequential since you rarely get Hit; a Flask is enough.

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1. Gameplay

Use Explosive Shot to deal with all kinds of enemies running around the map. Your Mirage Deadeye will fire Grenades from time to time, which can be detonated. If the enemy is too tough to deal with this way, fire Grenades yourself. Against the most difficult enemies, cast Voltaic Mark and use Emergency Reload to boost your DPS. Your passive Skills are Wind Dancer, Herald of Thunder, and Ghost Dance.

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.
	Rapid Attacks
	Elemental Armament

[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
	Multishot

[UTILITY] other gems
	Herald of Ice - Improves your clear speed if you can effectively freeze enemies.

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 import the build into PoB: Passive Tree

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in this order:

1. Mirage Deadeye
2. Gathering Winds
3. Point Blank
4. Endless munitions

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Explosive Shot setup
	Explosive Shot - It deals mostly Lightning Damage, which will Shock. It loads only one or two Bolts per clip, but in turn, its damage and AoE are high. This setup will keep you mobile while upholding the skill's role as a clearing and ailment-inflicting tool.
	Ajurn's Medal
	Ratha's Assault
	Multishot
	Magnified Area
	Elemental Armament

[DPS] Explosive Grenade setup
	Explosive Grenade - A Grenade that can be detonated with an Explosive Shot. This setup you will use against bosses and rares.
	Payload
	Multishot
	Elemental Armament
	Deliberation
	Lightning Attunement

[DPS] Mirage Deadeye setup
	Mirage Deadeye - A Skill obtainable from the ascendancy tree. Upon firing any Projectile, it manifests to use the Attack linked to it.
	Explosive Grenade - Automated Explosive Grenades. This setup is very similar to the one you fire manually.
	Multishot
	Elemental Armament
	Cooldown Recovery
	Prolonged Duration

[UTILITY] Herald of Thunder setup
	Herald of Thunder - It's a big help when clearing - it fires a Lightning Bolt upon enemies you hit after killing a Shocked enemy. It will deal Lightning Damage.
	Elemental Armament
	Elemental Focus
	Magnified Area
	Longshot
	Lightning Attunement

[UTILITY] Gas Grenade setup
	Gas Grenade - Another Grenade that you can detonate with Explosive Shot, once your other Grenades are on Cooldown.
	Payload
	Elemental Armament
	Magnified Area
	Close Combat

[UTILITY] Wind Dancer setup
	Wind Dancer - Grants more Evasion, but breaks after getting hit with a Melee Attack. It hits nearby enemies upon breaking.
	Precision
	Cannibalism
	Clarity

[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. You'll use it only against bosses.
	Eternal Mark
	Mark of Siphoning

[UTILITY] Ghost Dance
	Ghost Dance - Recovers ES when Hit, and consumes Ghost Shrouds, which it accumulates over time, to do so. The best tool to recover Energy Shield if your Evasion Rating is high.

6. Gear Setup

Prioritize Physical DPS on your Weapons. It will all be Converted later to Fire and then to Lightning via Gloves. Getting two Crossbows, one for Explosive Shot and another one for Grenades, 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. Your sole defensive layer, besides Maximum Life and Resistances, of course, is high Evasion. Energy Shield should be added later on, since you can get more ES than Life from Items. We have it only on a Helmet, so it's not much. Sticking with Evasion has its own virtues. Attributes will be important too - a bit over 100 intelligence, with more than 150 Dexterity and Strength. You won't need any extra Spirit, but around 50 of it will definitely help for tier 2 Support Gems.

(Weapon) Rare Crossbow - Look for a basic Crossbow with high Physical DPS and modifiers for added and increased Elemental Damage. It should also have Level of All Projectile Skills. Gemini Crossbow is the best. Critical Hit mods are premium.

Min. requirements: increased Physical Damage increased Elemental Damage with Attacks +4 to Level of all Projectile Skills Optional affixes: Added Physical Damage Added Elemental Damage

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - We recommend a Helmet with Energy Shield only. On your Amulet, you will anoint the Subterfuge Mask that grants you Evasion sourced from ES on this Helmet.

Min. requirements: 400 Energy Shield +40% total Elemental Resistance Optional affixes: increased Critical Hit Chance Accuracy Rating Gain Deflection Rating equal to #% of Evasion Rating

(Gloves) Valako's Vice - Valako's Vice Gloves convert all Fire Damage to Lightning, so that you can benefit from Shock instead of Ignite, which is not good at all.

(50-100)% increased Armour and Evasion (5-10)% increased Attack Speed +(20-30) to Strength +(20-30) to Dexterity +(30-50)% to Lightning Resistance 100% of Fire damage Converted to Lightning damage

(Boots) Rare Boots - The mod that's unique to Boots is Movement Speed, you can score a lot of it here. Don't bother with ES here, just Maximum Life and Resistances.

Min. requirements: 30% increased Movement Speed +100 to Maximum Life Elemental and Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes Deflection Rating

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - Critical Strike modifiers and Gem Level of Projectile Skills can be found here. Spirit, Maximum Life, Attributes, and Resistances are of lesser priority on a high-end Amulet.

Min. requirements: +120 to Maximum Life +4 to Level of all Projectile Skills Elemental and Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Accuracy increased maximum Life Spirit Attributes Critical Hit Chance Anointment: Subterfuge Mask

(Ring) Rare Ring - Rings are particularly useful in Attack Build, as they can roll Added Elemental/Physical Damage to Attacks or increased Elemental Damage. Prioritize Maximum Life and Resistances after that is settled.

Min. requirements: +100 Maximum Life Adds # Physical Damage to Attacks Elemental and Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes increased Lightning Damage increased Mana Regeneration Rate

(Belt) Rare Belt - Here, look mainly for the Maximum Life, Resistances, and Strength. Other stats are not so important. Headhunter would be a much better choice.

Min. requirements: +100 to Maximum Life +50 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. Then go for Deflection Rating. Spirit is a Prefix too, and you can get it here.

Min. requirements: +150 to Maximum Life 1500 Evasion Rating Optional affixes: Deflection Rating Spirit Elemental and Chaos Resistance

(Body Armour) Hyrri's Ire - It has rather high Evasion, some damage, Dexterity, and Resistances, but what's more important, it doubles your Evasion. Good if you have high Evasion from the Skill Tree and other items.

(30-40)% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold (200-250)% increased Evasion Rating Gain (15-25)% of Damage as Extra Cold Damage +(30-40) to Dexterity 25% increased Freeze Duration on Enemies Evasion Rating is doubled if you have not been Hit Recently

(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 or Lightning Damage chance to apply Shock increased Magnitude of Shock you inflict

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.