Incinerate of Venting
Elementalist Build

Updated for Patch 3.24

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Incinerate has never been a popular skill as it requires one to stand still to deal damage, which in a game like this translates to poor clear speed. During boss fights you also must dodge most of their telegraphed attacks, meaning you have to stop dealing damage for a bit and move. We've tried to work around these problems with the new Incinerate of Venting - this Spell deals more damage the longer you cast it compared to the original version, but no longer releases a wave when you stop. It's at its maximum potency after Channelling for a long while, but if you manage to do so, the damage is extremely high, so it's worth a second look.

The build needs to be tanky and to do so we've deployed the combination of Aegis Aurora and Chaos Inoculation combined with high Armour and capped Block Chance for both Spells and Attacks. This will instantly Recover a big portion of your total life pool most of the time you get hit with anything. Add to that high ES Regeneration from VIle Bastion and Zealot's Oath, with instant Life Recovery gained from a Leech Mastery to regain a lot of Energy Shield on top of that gained via Aegis Aurora. That's not all in the survivability department. Divine Shield will provide a massive ES Regen boost against Physical Damage, while the Incandescent Heart, Amour and Energy Shield Mastery, and maybe a lucky Corruptions of some of your cheap Unique items will shift a big portion of incoming Physical and Elemental Damage to be taken as Chaos, which you're immune to. Three or even four Rapid Infucion Notables from a medium Cluster Jewel will increase the effect of Infusion from Infused Channelling on you, which makes you take less damage. Nature's Patience from Natural Affinity will make you take even less damage with its Grasping Vines. You're also using Enfeeble to cause enemies to deal less damage. That's all on top of your 4 to 5k of Energy Shield.

The damage in this build comes mostly from the long exposure to Incinerate, Incinerate Gem Level, and generic increases to Spell and Fire Damage. It's a Crit build and the Critical Strike Chance is quite high. Cast Speed is important to gain Incinerate's Stages faster. For the Ascendancy you could go for the Chieftain with its Valako and Ramako, but here we've selected Elementalist. It specializes in Elemental Damage with the Mastermind of Discord and Heart of Destruction. Shaper of Storms is here for the Shock Conflux and potent Shock effect, while the Bastion of the Elements shall protect you from Elemental Damage.

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1. Gameplay

You have to stop at every pack of enemies and Incinerate them. When facing a tough enemy put a Brand on him that will activate three of your Curses. The other two Curses are cast as you take damage. The same goes for Molten Shell. Infernal Cry is also activated automatically with Cal to Arms. It's important here for most of your Spells to be Triggered Automatically so as to not disrupt your Channelling. Only Sigil of Power and Flame Dash are here to be cast by you. Your Auras are Discipline, Determination, Zealotry, and Tempest Shield.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Follow our Witch Leveling Guide using Ignite. Starting with Incinerate may seem like a good idea, but you will hit a brick wall when mapping. The build has to be very sturdy as it requires you to stand still to deal damage and it is often unachievable without specific items or on a budget. Switch to this version around level 80, after already gathering all the required Unique items.

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

94 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Unique or Cluster Jewels)
120 Points Path of Building (PoB) link
 

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Shaper of Storms
2. Mastermind of Discord
3. Heart of Destruction
4. Bastion of Elements

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of the Brine King: You cannot be Stunned if you've been Stunned or Blocked a Stunning Hit in the past 2 seconds (if Stun and Freeze-immune, Solaris)

Minor God: Soul of Tukohama: 3% additional Physical Damage Reduction per second you've been stationary, up to a maximum of 9%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Incinerate of Venting setup
	Incinerate of Venting - A Channelling Spell that deals Fire Damage with Hits. This transfigured version is capable of higher damage the longer you Channel it but doesn't release a wave, encouraging continuous casting.
	Infused Channelling Support - Makes you deal more and take less damage when Channelling.
	Arcane Surge Support - Arcane Surge is used for increased Cast Speed and Mana Regeneration, Linked Spell deals more damage while you have the Arcane Surge.
	Increased Critical Damage Support - Increases Critical Strike Multiplier.
	Inspiration Support - Increases Elemental Damage, Critical Stike Chance, and lowers Mana Cost of Skill.
	Empower Support - Adds extra Gem Levels to Incinerate for more damage.

[UTILITY] Auras setup
	Zealotry - Grants more Spell Damage and increases Spell Critical Strike Chance
	Determination - Adds and increases Armour to take less Physical Damage from Hits.
	Tempest Shield - It's used for its additional Spell Block Chance, which is required with Aegis Aurora.
	Enlighten Support - Linked Skills Reserve less Mana.

[UTILITY] Arcanist Brand setup
	Arcanist Brand - It will cast Linked Spells while attached to an enemy.
	Assassin's Mark - Increases Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike Multiplier against Marked enemy.
	Flammability - A Curse that lowers Fire Resistance.
	Elemental Weakness - Lowers all types of Elemental Resistances, including Fire.

[UTILITY] CwDT setup
	Cast when Damage Taken - It will Trigger linked Spells after taking enough damage.
	Enfeeble - Enemies Cursed with Enfeeble will deal less damage.
	Punishment - Opponents on Low Life will receive 60% increased damage.
	Molten Shell - A Guard Spell that absorbs most of the incoming damage for some time.

[MOBILITY] Flame Dash setup
	Flame Dash - A simple Movement Spell to dodge attacks and move around faster.
	Faster Casting Support - Increases Cast Speed for Flame Dash and Sigil of Power.
	Sigil of Power - As you spend Mana inside the circle it grows in potency. Enemies inside the sigil deal less damage. It adds some Lightning Damage to Spells and Attacks.

[UTILITY] Warcry setup
	Infernal Cry - Covers enemies in Ash causing them to take increased Fire Damage. They also move slower.
	Call to Arms Support - It Triggers Infernal Cry automatically as soon as it's cooled down.
	Inspiration Support - Infernal Cry costs less Mana.

[UTILITY] Discipline socketed in Vivinsect
	Vaal Discipline - It grants additional ES and ES Recharge Rate. The Vaal variant can be triggered when dealing with bosses.

5. Gear Setup

It's a pretty basic build - it needs Spell Gem Level, Cast Speed, Spell Fire Damage, and Critical Strike modifiers. A Rare Wand will be very influential, and a good one can be quite expensive. Your Unique items are a well-known combination of Aegis Aurora and Incandescent Heart. It's especially good in this Chaos Inoculation build with high Armour. There are more Unique items that are simply best-in-slot, leaving you only with a few Rares - a Weapon, Helmet, Gloves, and a Belt. There you will need to find Resistances and Energy Shield. The build should be sturdy enough to allow you to stand still for long enough to reach the 14th stage of Incinerate to deal the most damage.

The recommended items from our list will:

1. Help you cap your Elemental Resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS and Life to start mapping successfully

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - Look for Energy Shield and Resistances. With ES Mastery for increased ES from a Helmet, it's especially valuable. For the Eldritch mods try to get increased Cast Speed and a portion of Physical Damage taken as Chaos.

Min. requirements: 300 Energy Shield +80% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Mana Reservation Efficiency Attributes

(Weapon) Rare Wand - On a Wand seek extra Gem Levels for the Incinerate with increased Spell and Fire Damage. Cast Speed and Critical Strike mods are too beneficial.

Min. requirements: 90% increased Fire/Spell Damage +1 to Level of all Fire Spell Skill Gems Optional affixes: increased Cast Speed increased Fire/Spell Damage +1 to Level of all Spell Skill Gems Spell Critical Strike Multiplier Spell Critical Strike Chance

(Shield) Aegis Aurora - Aegis grants instant Energy Shield Recovery on Block which in turn makes you very durable against Hits. It requires high Armour and Block Chance.

(300-400)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +10% to all Elemental Resistances +5% to maximum Cold Resistance +6% Chance to Block Recover Energy Shield equal to 2% of Armour when you Block (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

(Body Armour) Incandescent Heart - Used mostly to shift incoming Physical Damage to be taken as Chaos, and to gain a bit of extra Chaos Damage.

(220-240)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +(80-90) to maximum Life (0.8-1)% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life Gain (10-20)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage 25% of Elemental Damage from Hits taken as Chaos Damage (20-30)% increased Light Radius Light Radius is based on Energy Shield instead of Life

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves are used for extra Energy Shield and Elemental Resistances, there's not much to look for here. For Eldritch mods get Chance to Unnerve and Fire Exposure on Hit if you don't have Master of Fire Notable from a Cluster Jewel. If you do - increased effect of your Marks.

Min. requirements: 100 Energy Shield +80% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Life Regeneration Intelligence

(Boots) Ralakesh's Impatience - All of the Charges are of use and you won't be able to get them easily. These Boots are the most sound option in this case.

+(15-25)% to Cold Resistance +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance Count as having maximum number of Endurance Charges Count as having maximum number of Frenzy Charges Count as having maximum number of Power Charges

(Amulet) Replica Dragonfang's Flight - The +3 Levels to Incinerate make this Amulet by far the best option. It even has Resistances, Reservation Efficiency, and Reduced Attribute Requirements which definitely helps too.

+(10-16) to all Attributes +3 to Level of all <Random Skill> Gems +(5-10)% to all Elemental Resistances (5-10)% increased Reservation Efficiency of Skills Items and Gems have (10-5)% reduced Attribute Requirements

Recommended Anointments: Charisma

(Ring) Anathema - You want to apply at least 3 Curses, or even 5 in our case. Use Anathema to extend the Maximum Curse Limit to 5 after allocating 2 additional Maximum Power Charges from the Skill Tree.

+(15-25) to maximum Energy Shield +(30-40) to Intelligence (10-15)% increased Cast Speed (10-20)% chance to gain a Power Charge when you Cast a Curse Spell Your Curse Limit is equal to your maximum Power Charges

(Ring) Vivinsect - You can socket your Discipline here. It will then grant you more Energy Shield. The Life Regeneration will affect your ES with Zealot's Oath. Reduction to the Mana Cost of Skills is good as well, it affects Channelling Skills - try to Corrupt your cheap Uniques.

Has 1 Socket +5 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems Socketed Gems have 20% reduced Reservation Efficiency +(15-25) to all Attributes Regenerate 15 Life per second for each Uncorrupted Item Equipped -2 to Total Mana Cost of Skills for each Corrupted Item Equipped Veiled Suffix

(Belt) Rare Belt - You can use a Crystal Belt or Stygian Vise. It can grant you Armour, Energy Shield, and Resistances. We recommend one with a Crusader's Influence for increased Spell Damage during Flask Effect and increased Critical Strike Chance against Shocked enemies.

Min. requirements: 80 Maximum Energy Shield +80% Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Strength increased Spell Damage during any Flask Effect Armour increased Critical Strike Chance against Shocked Enemies

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - Use one Spell of Fire Large Cluster Jewel with notables for increased Fire Damage. Master of Fire may be especially useful - it applies Fire Exposure to nearby foes.

Recommended Passives: 1 Added Passive Skill is Master of Fire 1 Added Passive Skill is Smoking Remains 1 Added Passive Skill is Widespread Destruction 1 Added Passive Skill is Cremator 1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart

(Jewel) Medium Cluster Jewel - There are Medium Cluster Jewels aimed at improving Channelling Skills. Use two or three of such Jewels. Rapid Infusion may be the best notable available here.

Recommended Passives: 1 Added Passive Skill is Rapid Infusion 1 Added Passive Skill is Vital Focus 1 Added Passive Skill is Precise Focus Resistances

(Jewel) Natural Affinity - Nature's Patience makes you deal more and take less damage when standing still. It reaches its maximum potency after 5 seconds.

Adds Nature's Patience

(Jewel) Thread of Hope - Thread of Hope with a Large Ring socketed near Overcharge will let you allocate Divine Shield, Glancing Blows, and Light of Divinity.

Radius: Large Only affects Passives in (Small-Very Large) Ring Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree -(20-10)% to all Elemental Resistances

(Jewel) Intuitive Leap - You may socket it near Instability to allocate Instability, Deep Thoughts, and Mystic Bulwark.

Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree

(Jewel) Forbidden Flame & Flesh - VIle Bastion Regenerates a lot of Energy Shield and grants you Stun Immunity, which is mandatory in this build.

Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh Allocates <Random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - You're looking for Cast Speed or Elemental Penetration as a Zealotry modifier. Your other Aura is Determination.

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

(Flask) Bottled Faith - Critical Strike Chance will be needed. It also increases Damage.

40% increased Damage Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (30-15)% reduced Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies (100-150)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Effect

(Flask) Taste of Hate - Yo can redirect more of the incoming Physical Damage to be taken as Cold - it's a very powerful defensive tool.

+40% to Cold Resistance +5% to maximum Cold Resistance (10-15)% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage during Effect Gain (10-15)% of Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage during effect 30% chance to Avoid being Chilled during Effect 30% chance to Avoid being Frozen during Effect

Suggested Rare Flasks: Life Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal Silver Flask with increased Cast Speed Granite Flask with increased Armour Diamond Flask with increased Critical Strike Chance

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.