Updated for Patch 3.20
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Guide notes | |||
April 13, 2022 -Build created February 06, 2023 -Updated for Patch 3.20 |
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Build overview | |||
Tags: [MELEE] [ELEMENTAL] [LIFE] | |||
Budget: Defenses: |
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Boss DPS: AoE: |
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Glacial Hammer is one of the first skills you've probably had a chance to experiment with as a Path of Exile player. It's a very simple Melee Strike, but a very effective one - it basically is an attack enhancement. Glacial Hammer has a very high chance to Freeze enemies, increases the effectiveness of Freeze and Chill, has increased Strike Range, and Added Cold Damage. The unique aspect of this skill is its enormous single-target damage, it's possibly the single-best Attack in the game in this category. As of patch 3.17, the skill converts 100% of your Physical Damage to Cold making it even easier to assemble. The build wasn't expected to perform well as a fast mapper, and it definitely isn't one, but it is still at an acceptable level due to the abundance of Frenzy Charges and Shattering mechanics. Patch 3.19 introduced a new, reworked Heatshiver Helmet that massively increases Damage by adding Fire Damage sourced from Cold.
As a Duelist, you're often conditioned to choose a playstyle that offers purely physical damage output. It's because of how easy it is to access the nodes suited for such playstyle from your starting location on the passive skill tree, and because more than often Raider, Berserker, or Inquisitor can execute it better. In this build, we wanted to expand on the dormant single-target potential of Glacial Hammer, so we went with a Slayer. With Bane of Legends and Headsman, the character will be able to kill bosses with ease. Masterful Form will increase its damage after combining it with Arn's Anguish. The Impact is chosen for a better clear speed and damage. The defenses of the build have been more of an afterthought, but luckily for us, it can be easily patched up with tons of Armour, Fortify Buff, and a lot of Life.
You can also find our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List
It's a simple-to-play build: jump using your Leap Slam until you spot any opponents, try to land right in the center of a pack of enemies, swing your weapon a few times using Glacial Hammer, and continue the loop. During boss fights deploy your Ancestral Totems for more Damage and Attack Speed. A level 1 Frost Bomb is better to be cast automatically, it grants a lot of utility bonuses. The Auras you should use are Hatred, Precision, Herald of Ice, Determination, Defiance Banner, Blood and Sand, and Aspect of the Cat. Have constantly enabled Blood Rage too. As your Guard Spell use Molten Shell, and for a Curse - Frostbite.
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PROS |
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CONS |
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Start with a Strike Skill. It can be Glacial Hammer or Frost Blades. It's much easier to invest early on into general Attack Damage rather than a Specific Cold or Elemental one. To be able to fend off a surrounding mob of enemies use Ancestral Call Support, and pick an Attack mastery for extra range. Not long after the first few acts we recommend turning right on your passive skill tree, that's where Cold Attack Damage can be easily found. Allocate the passives near Fervour, these are some of the best ones. You can allocate a Precise Technique, but it requires keeping track of your Health and Accuracy which might be troublesome and slow you down. If you're using Glacial Gammer, seek mostly added to attacks type of Damage.
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Glacial Hammer setup | |
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Glacial Hammer - It's the Strike Skill used for leveling, and then later on as a proper end-game Attack. |
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Ancestral Call Support - Strike Skills target additional enemies for better AoE. |
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Ruthless Support - Every third Attack deals much more Damage. |
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Added Cold Damage Support - Adds Cold Damage to your Attacks. |
various Gems | |
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Ancestral Warchief - A Totem for more Melee Damage. |
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Frostbite - A Curse that lowers Cold Resistance. |
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Blood Rage - Grants you Life Leech, Attack Speed, and a chance for a Frenzy Charge on Kill. |
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Precision - Used for more Accuracy and Critical Strike Chance, it's good with Precise Technique. |
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Hatred - More Cold Damage and Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage is great as you convert 100% of it to Cold already. |
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Herald of Ice - Adds Cold Damage to Attacks and explodes shattered enemies. |
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Leap Slam - A movement Skill, particularly useful during Labirynth trials. |
Bandits:
We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points.
Leveling Skill Trees:
25 Points Skill Tree
Pick Master of the Arena, Art of the Gladiator, and Tribal Fury
62 Points Skill Tree
Allocate more Maximum Life, Reservation Efficiency, Cold Damage, and Elemental Damage nodes
Recommended leveling items:
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Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks Adds (10-15) to (20-25) Chaos Damage to Attacks Regenerate (10-15) Life per second 10% chance to Cause Monsters to Flee |
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(12-20)% increased Rarity of Items found 20% increased Light Radius Adds (18-24) to (32-40) Fire Damage to Attacks +(100-150) to Accuracy Rating +(100-150) to Evasion Rating +20% to Fire Resistance Nearby Enemies are Blinded |
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+(25-35) to Strength +25 to Strength Adds 10 to 20 Physical Damage to Attacks 10% increased maximum Life +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 25% increased Flask Life Recovery rate |
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+(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) |
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40% increased Global Accuracy Rating 100% increased Damage when on Low Life 50% increased Physical Damage Adds 2 to 6 Physical Damage 10% increased Attack Speed +(20-30) to maximum Life +2 Life gained for each Enemy hit by Attacks |
Final Skill Tree:
109 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Unique or Cluster Jewels)
123 Points Path of Building (PoB) link
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in that order:
Pantheon:
Major God: Soul of Solaris: 6% Physical Damage Reduction if 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%
[DPS] Glacial Hammer setup | |
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Glacial Hammer - A Strike Skill that deals a lot of Cold Damage to a single Target. Every third Attack Freezes freezer enemies and deals more damage. |
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Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - Increases the Elemental Damage you deal with Attacks, |
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Ruthless Support - Every third Attack is much more powerful. |
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Ice Bite Support - Increases the Chance to Freeze, the damage you deal to Frozen enemies, and adds a lot of damage per Frenzy Charge. |
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Cold Penetration Support - Your Cold Damage penetrates more of the Cold Resistance. |
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Multistrike Support - Your Strike is repeated with increased Attack Speed. If you can accommodate the 7th Support Gem (from Uul-Netol's Vow) use ![]() |
[UTILITY] Aura setup | |
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Blood and Sand - You can pick between two stances - one for more AoE, and the other one for more Damage. |
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Precision - It's used only to get enough Accuracy for the Precise Technique. You might not need it at all. |
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Defiance Banner - Increases your Armour and Evasion Rating while reducing the Critical Strike chance of nearby opponents. |
[UTILITY] Aura setup | |
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Hatred - You deal more damage and gain extra Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage which is good with damage conversion. |
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Herald of Ice - Adds Cold Damage to your Attacks and makes Shattered enemies explode increasing your clear speed. |
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Determination - Adds and increases Armour for physical mitigation. |
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Enlighten Support - Linked Spells have increased Mana Reservation Efficiency. it's optional. |
[UTILITY] Ancestral Totems setup | |
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Ancestral Warchief - Totem that grants you more Melee Damage. |
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Ancestral Protector - grants you more Attack Speed as it stays active, use the Phantasmal version for more Attack Speed. |
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Multiple Totems Support - Allows you to summon both Totems at the same time. |
[UTILITY] Frost Bomb setup | |
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Frost Bomb - Applies Cold Exposure for reduced Cold Resistance and reduces Life Regeneration rate. Keep it at level 1. |
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Bonechill Support - Enemies in chilling areas created by Frost Bomb will receive more damage. |
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Unbound Ailments Support - Chill lasts longer and is more effective. |
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Cast when Damage Taken - Keep it at level 1 so that the linked Spells will trigger more often. |
[MOBILITY] Leap Slam setup | |
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Leap Slam - A Movement Skill you can use to jump and move faster. |
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Faster Attacks Support - Leap Slam can be used more frequently. |
[UTILITY] Molten Shell | |
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Molten Shell - Guard Spell that reduces the damage you take from hits for a short time, it scales up with your Armour. |
[UTILITY] Blood Rage | |
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Blood Rage - Increases your Life Leech, Attack Speed, and Frenzy Charges. It Drains your Life over time. |
[UTILITY] Frostbite | |
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Frostbite - Best Curse for this build, it lowers Cold Resistance. |
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It's an Attack that converts all of its Physical Damage to Cold. The most efficient way to increase your DPS is to look for added Cold or Physical Damage to Attacks. The character deals no Critical Strikes, but your Accuracy Rating must be higher than your Maximum Life. You will have to look for it on a Helmet, Gloves, Jewels, and Jewelry. To fit in all the Auras, we've used a Mana Reservation Efficiency Cluster Jewel which might be Expensive. To generate Endurance Charges we used Replica Farrul's Fur, one of the most expensive Body Armours. It's the easiest and most elegant way to do so, as the Armour is great on its own. Combined with Arn's Anguish, these charges will grant you more damage instead. Find a way to apply Frostbite on hit, and to cast Aspect of the Cat. The best mods are the ones that scale up your damage with Frenzy Charges.
Stat priorities on items:
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Min. requirements: +70 maximum Life +80% Total Elemental Resistances Accuracy Rating Optional affixes: Nearby enemies take #% Increased Cold Damage Armour Intelligence |
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(80-100)% increased Evasion Rating 60% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance +(20-30)% to Cold Resistance Gain 1% of Cold Damage as Extra Fire Damage per 1% Chill Effect on Enemy Gain 100% of Cold Damage as Extra Fire Damage against Frozen Enemies |
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Helmet enchantment: Glacial Hammer Enchantment |
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Min. requirements: +100 maximum Life +80% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: increased Maximum Life Elemental Resistances You can apply an additional Curse |
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(100-150)% increased Armour and Evasion +(80-100) to maximum Life +2 seconds to Cat's Agility Duration Aspect of the Cat has no Reservation Gain up to your maximum number of Frenzy and Endurance Charges when you gain Cat's Agility You have Onslaught while you have Cat's Agility |
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Min. requirements: around 400 DPS 20% increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: Accuracy Rating increased Damage adds Damage to Attacks |
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15% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold Adds (26-32) to (36-42) Physical Damage Adds (26-32) to (36-42) Cold Damage (8-14)% increased Attack Speed +(40-50)% to Fire Resistance (35-50)% increased Chill Duration on Enemies Attacks with this Weapon deal Double Damage to Chilled Enemies |
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(40-70)% increased Armour and Evasion +(20-40)% to Lightning Resistance 5% increased Movement Speed per Frenzy Charge +1 to Maximum Frenzy Charges 40% reduced Frenzy Charge Duration 25% reduced Light Radius 10% increased Evasion Rating per Frenzy Charge |
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Min. requirements: +100 maximum Life +70% to Total Elemental Resistances 30% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Optional affixes: increased Damage Armour increased Maximum Life |
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(15-25)% increased Stun and Block Recovery +1 to Maximum Endurance Charges +(600-700) to Armour (12-15)% increased maximum Life +(40-60)% to Fire Resistance Modifiers to Minimum Endurance Charges instead apply to Minimum Brutal Charges Maximum Brutal Charges is equal to Maximum Endurance Charges Gain Brutal Charges instead of Endurance Charges |
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Min. requirements: +70 Maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Adds Physical Damage to Attacks Accuracy Rating Attributes increased Area of Effect Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana |
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Has 1 Socket Socketed Support Gems can also Support Skills from your Body Armour +(-30-30)% to Fire Resistance +(-30-30)% to Cold Resistance +(-30-30)% to Lightning Resistance +(-23-23)% to Chaos Resistance |
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Recommended Anointments: Divine Judgement Panopticon |
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Min. requirements: +70 maximum Life +70% to Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: increased Melee or Elemental Damage Non-Channelling Skills have -7 to Total Mana Cost (crafted) Added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge Accuracy Rating increased Attack Speed Added Physical Damage to Attacks Attributes |
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Min. requirements: +70 maximum Life +500 Accuracy Rating Optional affixes: Added Damage to Attacks +1 to Maximum Frenzy Charges Strike Skills target 1 additional nearby Enemy increased Melee Damage increased Attack Speed |
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(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers> |
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Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree | |
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Commanded leadership over (10000-18000) warriors under (Akoya-Kaom-Rakiata) Passives in radius are Conquered by the Karui Historic |
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Allocated Small Passive Skills in Radius grant nothing Grants all bonuses of Unallocated Small Passive Skills in Radius |
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Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Physical/Area/Melee Damage with a one-handed melee weapon Increased Mana Reservation Efficiency increased Global Accuracy Rating Attributes Resistances Attack Speed |
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Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Fuel the Fight 1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart 1 Added Passive Skill is Overlord 1 Added Passive Skill is Martial Prowess 1 Added Passive Skill is Blast-Freeze 1 Added Passive Skill is Blanketed Snow |
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+1500 to Armour Adds Knockback to Melee Attacks during Flask effect Knocks Back Enemies in an Area when you use a Flask 75% chance to cause Enemies to Flee on use (7-10)% more Melee Physical Damage during effect |
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+50% to Cold Resistance 20% less Cold Damage taken (10-15)% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage during Flask effect Gain (10-15)% of Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage during effect 30% chance to Avoid being Chilled during Flask effect 30% chance to Avoid being Frozen during Flask effect |
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+35% to Chaos Resistance 2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect Gain (5-8)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect Gain (5-8)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect |
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Other suggested Flasks:
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If you have any other build requests, please leave that in the comments below.
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