Updated for Patch 3.6
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Estimated budget: medium
Guide notes |
March 8, 2019 -Build created March 10, 2019 -Added gameplay video |
Saboteur is one of the most popular Ascendencies in Path of Exile for quite some time now. It is both extremely powerful end-game class, as well as, works exceptionally well as a League Starter. With the recent changes to Ice Traps in Patch 3.6, this is our top recommendation for the upcoming Synthesis League. While it may not be the best Trap overall, it surely is something most people didn't play already, making it a very interesting choice. Ice Traps damage was nearly doubled in Patch 3.6 which should give it insane burst damage.
You can find our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List
As a Trapper, you throw Traps that trigger when approached; which basically makes it feel like regular self-casted Spells when you throw them directly at your enemies. While the mechanic itself may not feel extremely convenient to play, it is more than rewarding. Traps allow you to dish out insane burst DPS in the end-game as you can plant them all shortly before the fights begin, for example in between Shaper and Atziri's phases. The only real issue for this build is Mana Management, as you have to spam your Traps as a Shadow class which does not normally utilize Intelligence and Mana Passive Skills. The build is based on high Critical Strike Chance & Multiplier and Spell Damage because Ice Trap has the "Spell" tag. For the defenses, you should easily reach about 4,500 Life, so with the Dodge Chance and Saboteur's blind, it feels like a very tough build as well.
0:06 Tier 16 Maze of the Minotaur |
|
PROS |
|
CONS |
|
Leveling as a Trapper is very easy. Traps deal an insane amount of damage starting from early levels, and you can get Deerstalker boots which grant very high bonus Movement Speed, Trap Throwing Speed, and allow a second five-linked setup right after you reach level 22. It's crucial that you invest in some Mana/Mana Regeneration gear like Praxis Rings or Atziri's Foible amulet, as this most likely be your biggest issue during leveling. You can also omit Crit. Chance and Multiplier on lower levels, as most of the Passives and items that will make it efficient, will be available for you at higher levels.
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Fire Trap | |
![]() |
Fire Trap - grants decent Fire Damage to enemies in an area. This is the first Trap available in Path of Exile |
![]() |
Multiple Traps Support - makes you throw two additional Traps with each cast |
Ice Trap | |
![]() |
Ice Trap - the primary Trap used in this build. You can socket it when you reach level 28 |
![]() |
Controlled Destruction Support - greatly increases Spell Damage at the cost of reduces Critical Strike |
![]() |
Trap and Mine Damage Support - grants high DPS bonuses to both Traps and Mines |
![]() |
Multiple Traps Support |
Utility Gems | |
![]() |
Stone Golem - increases your Life Regeneration which is a very useful defensive bonus |
![]() |
Clarity - grants increased Mana Regeneration Rate |
![]() |
Herald of Ice - grants added Cold Damage to your Spells and also causes AoE explosions for better clear speed |
Bandits:
We recommend helping Alira for increased Crit. Multiplier and Elemental Resistances
Leveling Skill Trees:
35 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Trickery 2) Blood Siphon 3) Blood Drinker 4) Clever Construction 5) High Explosives
61 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Master Sapper 2) Acrobatics 3) Doomcast 4) Snowforged
Recommended leveling items:
![]() |
|
(8-12)% increased Spell Damage +1 to Level of Socketed Spell Gems (20-28)% increased Spell Damage (5-8)% increased Cast Speed +(15-20) to maximum Life +(15-20) to maximum Mana Regenerate (6-8) Life over 1 second when you Cast a Spell |
![]() |
|
+(20-25) to maximum Mana +(30-60) to maximum Mana (3-6) Mana Regenerated per second -(8-4) to Mana Cost of Skills 8% of Damage taken gained as Mana over 4 seconds when Hit |
![]() |
|
Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 11 Trap (160-200)% increased Evasion Rating +(35-45) to maximum Life (14-18)% increased Trap Throwing Speed 15% increased Movement Speed 15% increased Movement Speed for 9 seconds on Throwing a Trap |
![]() |
|
+(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) |
Final Skill Tree:
116 Points Final Skill Tree
116 Points Path of Building(PoB) link
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in that order:
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%
[DPS] Ice Trap | |
![]() |
Ice Trap - your main Spell. It throws a Trap that when triggered deals massive AoE damage |
![]() |
Mine and Trap Damage support |
![]() |
Controlled Destruction Support |
![]() |
Cluster Traps Support - increases the maximum number of Traps that you can throw |
![]() |
Cold Penetration Support - makes supported Spells ignore some of the monster's resistance to Cold Damage |
![]() |
Concentrated Effect Support - grants increased Area Damage and the cost of reducing the radius |
[DPS] Cold Snap Trap (in Shaper Gloves with Trap Support) |
|
![]() |
Cold Snap - deals high Cold Damage over Time and applies an extremely powerful Chill effect which further increases your Damage against your targets with the Bonechill Support Gem |
![]() |
Mine and Trap Damage support |
![]() |
Bonechill Support - greatly increases the effectiveness of Chill and the damage against affected enemies based on the Chill effect |
![]() |
Hypothermia Support - increases the damage of supported skills against Chilled enemies, and increases the effectiveness of Chill applied by supported skills |
[UTILITY] Enfeeble/Immortal Call setup | |
![]() |
Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts supported Spells after a certain amount of damage is taken. Keep this Gem at level 5 |
![]() |
Immortal Call - grants brief immunity to Physical Damage. Keep it at level 7 |
![]() |
Increased Duration Support - increases the duration of supported Spells |
![]() |
Enfeeble - recommended Curse for this build. It grants high defensive utility and will be auto-cast by the CwDT Gem if you do not upgrade it above level 8 |
[MOBILITY] Flame Dash | |
![]() |
Flame Dash - mobility Spell which can be used for this build. In this setup, it will also grant Arcane Surge buff for increased Spell Damage and Mana Regeneration Rate |
![]() |
Faster Casting Support - increases the Cast Speed of Flame Dash (and its Mana cost) |
![]() |
Arcane Surge Support - grants the Arcane Surge buff after you spend the specified amount of Mana on supported Spell. If kept at level 7, it will trigger with every cast of Flame Dash |
![]() |
Frost Bomb - AoE Spell which applies Cold Exposure to affected enemies (reducing their Cold Resistance) |
[UTILITY] Portal | |
![]() |
Portal - creates a town portal when cast. Optional, but since we have an empty socket it's a decent pick |
[UTILITY] Lightning Golem | |
![]() |
Summon Lightning Golem - grants increased Attack and Cast Speed |
![]() |
Cast when Damage Taken Support |
[UTILITY] Herald of Ice | |
![]() |
Herald of Ice - grants added Cold Damage to Spells and causes AoE explosions |
![]() |
Onslaught Support - Herald's of Ice explosions will have a chance to grant Onslaught buff which increases your Attack, Cast, and Movement Speed |
[UTILITY] Zealotry | |
![]() |
Zealotry - a new Aura which grants increased Spell Critical Strike Chance and Spell Damage. Also gives you a chance to create Consecrated Ground when you Hit a Rare of Unique enemy |
|
Below you will find all the recommended gear for this Ice Trapper build. There are several Unique and Shaper/Elder items with powerful affixes that makes this build truly shine so we recommend getting all the items listed. Overall this build shouldn't cost a lot, but the new Veiled, Master-crafted and Synthesised items may make this build even better, so we encourage you to experiment with it.
At this point, we would love to invite you to visit our PoE Currency Marketplace where you can buy cheap PoE Currency. All offers on Odealo are user-posted, and you are buying Orbs and Unique items from regular players for real cash.
We can guarantee that the items listed by us will:
Stat priorities on items:
|
![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance 30% Cold Resistance 30 Strength Optional affixes: Nearby enemies have reduced Cold Resistance (Delve) Added Cold Damage to Spells (Shaper) |
|
Helmet enchantment: 40% increased Ice Trap Damage Ice Trap Damage Penetrates 10% Cold Resistance |
|
![]() |
|
3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (140-170)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(60-90) to maximum Life (10-15)% increased Cooldown Recovery Speed for throwing Traps 15% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge when your Trap is triggered by an Enemy 30% chance to gain Phasing for 4 seconds when your Trap is triggered by an Enemy Recover 100 Life when your Trap is triggered by an Enemy Recover 50 Energy Shield when your Trap is triggered by an Enemy |
|
|
|
Min. requirements: 60% Spell Damage 100% Critical Strike Chance for Spells 20% Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Added Cold Damage to Spells |
|
![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 60% Spell Damage 90% Critical Strike Chance for Spells 90 maximum Life Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances |
|
![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 30 Strength 25% increased Movement Speed 35% Fire Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance |
|
Boot enchantment: Adds 45 to 68 Cold Damage if you've been Hit Recently 10% Chance to Dodge Attack Hits if you've taken a Critical Strike Recently |
|
![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 25% Fire Resistance 25% Cold Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance |
|
![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 25% Global Critical Strike Chance 25% Global Critical Strike Multiplier 20% Cold/Spell Damage Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Attributes |
|
![]() |
|
+(20-30) to Dexterity (20-30)% increased Cold Damage +(35-40)% to Cold Resistance Chill Enemy for 1 second when Hit, reducing their Action Speed by 30% Blind Chilled Enemies on Hit Damage Penetrates 20% Cold Resistance against Chilled Enemies |
|
![]() ![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 15% Spell/Cold Damage Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Attributes maximum Mana increased Mana Regeneration Rate Critical Strike Chance |
|
![]() |
|
Min. requirements: 75 maximum Life 30% Lightning Resistance Socketed Gems are Supported by level # Trap Skills which Throw Traps throw up to 1 additional Trap |
|
Glove enchantment: Commandment of Frost |
|
![]() |
|
Recommended affixes: maximum Life added Cold Damage to Spells added Cold Damage to Spells while holding a Shield Optional affixes: increased Critical Strike Multiplier |
|
![]() |
|
Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Trap/Cold/Area/Spell Damage Optional affixes: increased Critical Strike Multiplier (preferably Multiplier with Elemental Skills which can roll higher values) |
|
![]() |
|
+35% to all Elemental Resistances During Flask Effect, 10% reduced Damage taken of each Element for which your Uncapped Elemental Resistance is lowest During Flask Effect, Damage Penetrates (10-15)% Resistance of each Element for which your Uncapped Elemental Resistance is highest |
|
![]() |
|
Creates Consecrated Ground on Use36% increased Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius +2% to Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Effect Enemies on Consecrated Ground you create during Effect take 10% increased damage |
|
Other suggested Flasks:
|
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
We hope you end up building a character you will be truly satisfied with after reading this guide. Let us know if you have any feedback and suggestions regarding this build. If so, leave those in the comments below. We will appreciate everything that leads us to improve our guides.
Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.