Impaling Tornado Shot
Champion build

Updated for Patch 3.8

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Estimated budget: medium

Tornado Shot is the most popular Bow Attack Skill in the game. By utilizing Chain, Mirage Archer, and increasing your Projectile count, Tornado Shot is second to none in terms of clear speed and Map farming. Most Tornado Shot builds are known for great mobility and insane farming potential, however, they tend to be rather Squishy and expensive when it comes to dealing with end-game Bosses. This Impaling Tornado Shot Champion was designed to break up with this image, and show you one of the tankiest and most powerful Tornado Shot builds in the game. On a very accessible budget, you get to face-tank most content with end-game Bosses melting in seconds. Yes, this build is slightly slower than your usual Tornado Shot Rangers, but if you prefer undisturbed gameplay experience instead of grinding hundreds of Maps on a daily basis, this is a build definitely for you.

You can find our other Path of Exile builds right here The Best PoE Builds by Odealo

1. Gameplay

This is a classic Ranged/Bow build where you progress through Maps with Tornado Shot clearing everything on your way to the Boss Room. Mirage Archer helps you progress faster by taking down additional enemies while you run. This build deals pure Physical Damage to maximize the effectiveness of Impale, which saves a portion of your Physical Damage dealt and adds it to your next Attacks. That DPS bonus is hard to calculate by available means, but with Champion's Ascendancy Class which benefits from it the most, you get to take down Bosses in a few seconds. Make sure to stay in Melee Range though, you get massive bonuses from Point Blank and Arborix Bows as well. For the defenses, this build utilizes high Life Pool (between 5.5 - 6k Life), permanent Fortify with 45% increased Effect, and around 25k Armour Rating for massive Physical Damage mitigation. As you can assume, this allows you to freely tank most of the Bosses, and there is hardly anything in the game that can one-shot you. The only downside to this build is Leech, which is quite small as you only have one small Mana Leech Node, and Life Leech comes from Blood Rage only. 

0:06 Tier 16 Pit of the Chimera 0:24 Tier 16 Lair of the Hydra 0:40 Tier 16 Maze of the Minotaur 1:02 Tier 16 Forge of the Phoenix 1:25 Tier 17 Shaper This video was recorded on a level 91 Champion on Standard

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Leveling a Bow-character is quite easy and fast, however, as a Champion you get significantly fewer bonuses to Bow Damage early on. This is somewhat compensated after you finish the first Labyrinth and take Master of Metal which is among the most effective leveling Passives in the game. You should primarily focus on optimizing your DPS by adding extra Physical Damage to Attacks and Attack Speed, as you will have significantly more defensive Passives available, so staying alive shouldn't be problematic.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Split Arrow setup
	Split Arrow - one of the first Bow Attacks which shoots several Arrows by default and offers decent clear speed
	Chance to Bleed Support - adds high bonus Physical Damage to Supported Attacks
	Vicious Projectiles Support - increases the Physical Damage of your Projectiles and the Bleeding it inflicts
	Mirage Archer Support - creates a spectral companion on your back that will use the Split Arrow with slightly reduced Attack Speed while you are leveling

Tornado Shot setup
	Tornado Shot - offers much higher Damage and AoE when compared to Split Arrow. It is also one of the core Attacks used in this build so obviously you will want to change it at level 28
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - one of the best Support Gems for Tornado Shot. Since all projectiles from Tornado Shot can hit the same target, it greatly increases single-target DPS
	Vicious Projectiles Support
	Chance to Bleed Support
	Mirage Archer Support

Utility Gems
	Summon Ice Golem - it's the recommended Golem for this build which increases your Accuracy Rating and Crit. Chance
	Vulnerability - if you need some extra DPS against Bosses, using Vulnerability is a good idea. Later on, we will be using a different Curse though
	Herald of Purity - adds extra Physical Damage to your Attacks
	Dash - the recommended Movement Skill which increases your mobility

Bandits:

We recommend killing all bandits for the additional 2 Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

29 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Bravery 2) Fury Bolts 3) Golem's Blood 4) Point Blank 5) Thick Skin

65 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Master Fletcher 2) Lethality 3) Herbalism 4) Heartseeker 5) Swift Skewering

Recommended leveling items:

Blackheart - one of the best physical DPS leveling ring which grants very high bonus Damage on lower levels
Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks 5% increased Physical Damage Adds 1 to 3 Chaos Damage to Attacks +(20-30) to maximum Life (2-4) Life Regenerated per second 10% chance to Cause Monsters to Flee

Meginord's Girdle - an excellent Belt that grants high DPS and Life bonuses for a very low price
+(25-35) to Strength Adds 5 to 15 Physical Damage to Attacks +25 to Strength 10% increased maximum Life +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 25% increased Flask Life Recovery rate

Karui Ward - the best leveling Amulet for majority of Bow Builds in Path of Exile
+(20-30) to Dexterity +(20-30) to Strength +100 to Accuracy Rating 30% increased Projectile Speed 10% increased Movement Speed 30% increased Projectile Damage

Death's Opus - one of the most powerful leveling bows in the Path of Exile. It costs quite a bit, but you should be able to use it all the way until Maps
(30-50)% increased Critical Strike Chance (100-125)% increased Physical Damage Adds (10-20) to (30-35) Physical Damage 10% increased Attack Speed +100% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier 2 additional Arrows

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

115 Points Final Skill Tree
115 Points Path of Building(PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Master of Metal
2. Unstoppable Hero
3. Fortitude
4. Inspirational

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%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Tornado Shot (general usage, AoE)
	Tornado Shot - one of the best Skills in Path of Exile for clearing and farming, it also deals enough damage to take down any Boss, but for that purpose, we will be using Barrage which is listed below
	Mirage Archer Support - creates a Spectral Archer on your back which will use Tornado Shot with lower Attack Speed. It should be kept up at all times, even when you are taking on Bosses with Barrage
	Brutality Support - greatly increases Physical Damage by makes Supported Skills unable to deal Elemental or Chaos Damage
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - increases the number of Tornado Shot's Projectiles greatly increasing your clear speed and DPS
	Impale Support - grants increased chance to Impale with each Hit and increases the effect of Impale
	Maim Support - can only be included if you have the seventh link in Elder Bow which gives you the Vicious Projectiles Support Gem

[DPS] Barrage (single-target DPS)
	Barrage - the best possible Bow Attack for single target DPS. Also aiming is quite easy as we are going for Close Melee Range at all times
	Vicious Projectiles Support
	Brutality Support
	Slower Projectiles Support - reduces Barrage Projectile's Speed, but greatly increases the DPS
	Impale Support
	Maim Support - increases Physical Damage and Maims enemies on Hit

[CURSE] Assassin's Mark (granted by Shaper Ring)
	Assassin's Mark - gives us greatly increased Crit. Chance and generates Power Charges

[Mobility] Dash
	Dash - the recommended Mobility Skill. It gives you a quick way to avoid Attacks and Spells, and thanks to Fleet Food Passive, it also grants additional bonuses

[UTILITY] Auras
	Pride - increases Physical Damage taken by nearby enemies
	Flesh and Stone - should be used in Blood Stance to increased Damage taken by affected enemies
	Precision - used at low level to slightly boosting your Accuracy Rating and Crit. Chance. You may as well keep this Gem at level 1 to not Reserve too much Mana - just upgrade it to a level you feel comfortable with
	Enlighten Support - reduces Mana Reservation cost of Supported Spells. Has to be level 2 or higher

[UTILITY] Dread Banner and Blood Rage
	Dread Banner - grants increased Chance to Impale and the effectiveness of your Impale. It also reduces the Accuracy of nearby enemies
	Blood Rage - grants increased Attack Speed, Life Leech, and generates Frenzy Charges
	Enhance Support - increases the buffs granted by Blood Rage and Dread Banner

[UTILITY] Golem and Molten Shell
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts Supported Spells after you take a certain amount of damage. Should be used at level 10
	Summon Ice Golem - grants increased Accuracy Rating and Critical Strike Chance. Use Gem level 12
	Molten Shell - grants increased Armour and a protective shield based on 20% of your Total Armour Rating. Do not upgrade this Gem above level 15
	Increased Duration Support

5. Gear Setup

Below you will find all the recommended gear for our Impaling Tornado Shot Champion. All of the items in this build can be replaced with random Rares, however, picking up Arborix is highly advised since this build is heavily oriented on fighting in Melee Range. 

We are also delighted to invite you to visit our Path of Exile marketplace where you can buy PoE Currency with real cash.

The recommended items from our list will:

1. Help you cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS and Life to start mapping successfully
3. You will save at least a couple of hours since all the item requirements are listed

(Helmet) Starkonja's Head - one of the best options for the Helmet slot. It grants high DPS bonuses and very high defensive Utility by greatly increasing our Evasion Rating which is fully converted to Armour

50% reduced Damage when on Low Life +(50-70) to Dexterity 10% increased Attack Speed 25% increased Global Critical Strike Chance (100-130)% increased Evasion Rating +(80-100) to maximum Life 150% increased Global Evasion Rating when on Low Life

(Helmet) Devoto's Devotion - another decent option which works best if you aim at farming Maps faster

10% reduced Physical Damage +(50-65) to Dexterity 16% increased Attack Speed (150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed Mercury Footprints

Helmet enchantments: Tornado Shot fires an additional secondary Projectile Barrage fires an additional Projectile

(Weapon) Arborix - the BiS option in the Weapon slot. It grants very high bonus damage while attacking enemies in close range

Adds (95-115) to (240-265) Physical Damage (60-100)% increased Evasion Rating Bow Attacks fire 2 additional Arrows Every 16 seconds you gain Iron Reflexes for 8 seconds 30% more Damage with Arrow Hits at Close Range while you have Iron Reflexes 30% increased Attack, Cast and Movement Speed while you do not have Iron Reflexes You have Far Shot while you do not have Iron Reflexes

(Quiver) Rigwald's Quills - another BiS Option. It makes your projectiles Fork which greatly increases clearing speed with Tornado Shot. You can replace Rigald's Quills with any Rare that grants Life and Physical Projectile Damage until you can afford it

(20-30)% increased Global Accuracy Rating -10% to Fire Resistance +(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance +7 Life gained for each Enemy hit by your Attacks 20% reduced Projectile Speed (30-50)% increased Projectile Damage Projectiles Fork

(Body Armour) Daresso's Defiance - another very solid option. It helps us gain Onslaught buff with increased effect, and generates Endurance Charges for some additional defense

(160-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(60-90) to maximum Life (0.4-0.6)% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life 6% chance to Dodge Attack Hits You lose all Endurance Charges when Hit You gain an Endurance Charge on Kill You gain Onslaught for 5 seconds per Endurance Charge when Hit (60-100)% increased Onslaught Effect

(Boots) Rare Boots - get a pair with the highest maximum defensive stats and high Movement Speed

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 25% increased Movement Speed 70% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: High Armour Rating Chaos Resistance

Boot enchantments: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently

(Belt) Rare Belt - Stygian Vise with appropriate stats will be your best choice

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 25% Fire Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance 25% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: Maximum Life% (Elder Belt) Increased Damage (Crafting Bench)

(Belt) The Nomad - grants insane DPS bonus but has limited defensive utility

(20-30)% increased Stun Duration on Enemies +(40-50) to Strength +(40-50) to Dexterity (25-40)% increased Global Physical Damage 50% increased Flask Charges gained +(20-25)% to all Elemental Resistances while you have at least 200 Strength (40-50)% increased Projectile Attack Damage while you have at least 200 Dexterity

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - we need to get some extra DPS here with extra Life

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 30 Intelligence 30% Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Physical Damage Leeched as Mana Added Physical Damage to Attacks

(Ring) Rare Ring - should Cap your Resistances, and possibly grant some additional DPS. You should also get one Shaper Ring with Assassin's Mark Curse - this may be expensive will all the stats, but extra Life and some other useful affixes on it, shouldn't cost a fortune

Min. requirements: 50 maximum Life Curse Enemies with level # Assassin's Mark on Hit 35 Intelligence Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Added Physical Damage to Attacks

(Ring) Mark of the Elder - grants very high bonus Attack Damage if you have an Elder Ring in your other Ring slot

Adds (3-4) to (10-14) Physical Damage to Attacks 20% chance to Trigger Level 20 Tentacle Whip on Kill Adds (26-32) to (42-48) Cold Damage to Attacks (6-10)% increased maximum Energy Shield (6-10)% increased maximum Life (60-80)% increased Attack Damage if your other Ring is a Shaper Item Cannot be Stunned by Attacks if your other Ring is an Elder Item

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - primarily focus defensive Stats here

Min. requirements: 65 maximum Life 25% Fire resistance 25% Lightning resistance 25% Cold resistance Optional affixes: Added Physical Damage to Attacks High Armour Rating

(Jewels) Lioneye's Fall - you can socket it right next to Point Blonk to grant us the nearby Axe/Mace Passives. This is optional, and if you are yet to get Lioneye's Fall, just pick other Bow nodes like for example Master Fletcher or Fury Bolts

Melee and Melee Weapon Type modifiers in Radius are Transformed to Bow Modifiers

(Jewels) Watcher's Eye - the Jewel which increases the maximum number of Impale stacks you can apply is monstrous in this build. It will cost a couple of Exalted Orbs though

Recommended affixes: Impales you inflict last 2 additional Hits while using Pride

(Jewels) Rare Jewels - these should provide extra Life and Damage Bonuses

Recommended affixes: maximum Life Generic/Bow/Projectile Damage Critical Strike Multiplier

(Flask) Dying Sun - the best Utility Flask for this build which greatly increases your clear speed and grants very high DPS bonus to Barrage

+50% to Fire Resistance +6% to maximum Fire Resistance (-10-10)% increased Charges used (15-25)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect

(Flask) Bottled Faith - grants high bonus Crit. Chance and Life Regeneration making it exceptionally good Flask for us. However, it's quite expensive and you initially may need to get a standard Sulphur Flask instead

40% increased Damage Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (30-50)% increased Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius +(1-2)% to Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Effect Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies

Suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleed) Ample Quicksilver Flask of Heat (Freeze immunity) Experimenter's Diamond Flask of Warding (Curse immunity)

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.