Kinetic Blast of Clustering
Dexterity and Mana-stacking
Whisperer Build

Updated for Patch 3.25

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Whisperer ascendancy for a Ranger is perfectly adapted to make use of Wand Attack Skills. It's also a class that will greatly benefit from Mana-Stacking. There are two abilities that are tailored to fit this archetype - Kinetic Blast of Clustering and Power Siphon of the Archmage. The "an infinite pursuit" passive grants one Maximum Mana per one Dexterity, but causes Intelligence to grant no Mana at all, which is a great exchange rate since we didn't plan to gain any more Intelligence that is required. You'll be able to reach as much Maximum Mana as contemporary Mana-stacking Hierophant builds this way. The two Transfigured versions of Wand Attacks we've mentioned have built-in Mana scaling - they deal added damage equal to a fraction of your total Maximum Mana. That's where all your damage comes from. Mana also plays the role of a protective shield after allocating Mind over Matter and putting the Arcane Cloak on. All you need now is a rapid Mana Recovery tool. In case of Attacks, you can simply go for the Mana Leech from Clever Thief notable and its instant Leech mastery.

The Physical Damage of Kinetic Blast will be Converted to Elemental Damage. Kinetic Blast of Clustering deals area damage in a pattern around the target you're firing at, and it does so on Impact. To fix it, you will allocate the "have you forgotten?" passive and sling tornadoes. Your Projectiles will always Fork, meaning there will be twice as many explosions. Then, after you link KB with Returning Projectiles, these will explode once again at your location. Projectiles explode in Impact, meaning each time they Hit something (with Fork they do it twice), and if they return to you, given you're standing on top of an enemy, as you should. Combine it with a Power Siphon of the Archmage linked to Focused Ballistas to reach very high single-target damage. You can further boost it with "wait a little" for Rage and "there is more" for 4 Power and 4 Frenzy Charges.

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1. Gameplay

Use Kinetic Blast to slay most of the monsters. If the opponent is particularly tough, place down the Power Siphon Ballistas, activate Sigil of Power, and stand on top of the enemy you want to have killed. Keep in mind that Tornado, Sniper's Mark, and Arcane Cloak will periodically or conditionally boost your damage big time. To move faster use Shield Charge. Blood Rage, Clarity, Vitality, and Precision should be up constantly.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

We recommend starting as a Classic Bow Elemental Damage starter build. It's a proven method that fits the ranger archetype. After finishing the first lab take advantage of Frenzy and Power Charges to enhance your damage. Then, take the passive for an additional Fork. The question of switching to Wands and Mana-stacking/Dex-stacking depends entirely on your gear. The default Bow starter build will carry you to yellow or even red maps; then, you'll need to start putting on the gear we've listed below. Begin with a good Wand and a Helmet since these are the most expensive.

Bandits:

Two Additional Passive Skill Points seem like the best option for this build

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

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

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. there is more
2. have you forgotten?
3. an infinite pursuit
4. wait a little

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

Minor God: Soul of Abberath: 60% less Duration of Ignite on You; 10% increased Movement Speed while on Burning Ground, Unaffected by Burning Ground

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Kinetic Blast setup
	Kinetic Blast of Clustering - A Wand Attack. This version deals added Physical Damage based on your Maximum Mana, the bread and butter of this build.
	Returning Projectiles Support - Projectiles Return back to you for additional explosions at your location.
	Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - More Elemental Damage with Attacks. You will deal mostly Elemental Damage.
	Physical to Lightning Support - Converts 50% of Physical Damage to Lightning and adds a bit more on top of that. The remaining Physical Damage can be Converted with Items or a Cold Mastery.
	Sacred Wisps Support - Summons Wisps, which are quite similar to Mirage Archers in their function. They trigger more Projectiles and more explosions.
	Increased Critical Damage Support - You need a high Crit Chance to benefit from increased Critical Damage, but it's the best-in-slot Gem if you meet this condition.

[DPS] Power Siphon setup
	Power Siphon of the Archmage - A supplementary damage source to be used in tough fights. It too scales with Mana and [increases to] Spell Damage.
	Ballista Totem Support - Turns a Ranged Attack into a Totem Skill.
	Focused Ballista Support - Ballista has a much higher Attack Rate.
	Increased Critical Damage Support

[UTILITY] Sigil of Power & Arcane Cloak setup
	Sigil of Power - Place down the sigil and spend Mana while inside of it for Added Lightning Damage.
	Arcane Cloak - Consumes most of your Mana to form a defensive layer that absorbs damage. It also instantly triggers all the features that benefit from spending a lot of Mana.
	Automation - Arcane Cloak is Triggered whenever it's possible.
	More Duration Support - More Duration for Arcane Cloak and Sigil of Power.

[UTILITY] Sniper's Mark setup
	Sniper's Mark - Although Kinetic Blast's Projectiles cannot Split, it's still the best Mark as it increases the Projectile Damage taken.
	Mark on Hit Support - Mark is Triggered automatically against Unique and Rare enemies.

[UTILITY] Spellslinger setup
	Spellslinger - Linked Spells are Triggered whenever you Attack with a Wand. They Reserve Mana so we'll use just one such Spell.
	Tornado - Your Projectiles can interact with Tornado, which results in a much better clear speed and damage, as they Fork from it.

[MOBILITY] Shield Charge setup
	Shield Charge - A boost to your mobility, if you plan to travel in a straight line.
	Faster Attacks Support - Faster charging with Shield Charge.

[UTILITY] other gems
	Clarity - Clarity Regenerates Mana.
	Vitality - Vitality Regenerates Life.
	Precision - Precision adds Accuracy and increases Crit Chance. These three Auras Reserve almost no Mana.
	Blood Rage - Life Leech and increased Attack Speed. The skill drains your Life. If you have Indigon, this, or other unimportant Gem, may be replaced with Berserk.

5. Gear Setup

Your priority is Dexterity, from which you will source Maximum Mana - this stat alone is important too. Dexterity will also provide you with Spell Suppression Chance via Magebane. Mana translates directly into damage (via the transfigured Skills you're using) and life pool (via Arcane Cloak and Mind over Matter), so accumulating it is your main priority. Normally, in such builds, you would want to stack Intelligence, but with "an infinite pursuit", Intelligence grants no Mana. Your Dexterity, however, reclaims this feature and makes it twice as efficient. That's why this build works so well. To get more damage, look for Attack Speed, Elemental Damage (Lightning and Cold), increased Spell Damage (it affects the Attack Damage of your main damaging skills at 200%; it makes the Indigon great), Critical Strike Multiplier, Critical Strike Chance, and Elemental Penetration. Your defensive stats are pretty much only Maximum Life, maybe a bit of Evasion and Spell Suppression if it ain't capped with Magebane and Dexterity alone. Be sure you have enough Attributes, Accuracy, and Crit Chance. To Convert the remaining Physical Damage to Cold (or Lightning) look for Conversion mods on Gloves. Converting all of it is detrimental (you want to cause Bleeding to benefit from Cornered Prey notable and its Mastery, and that requires any Physical Damage), so you may settle on the allocated Cold Mastery for just 40% Conversion.

(Helmet) Mind of the Council - A lot more Maximum Mana and Lightning Damage. Be sure you have some kind of Shock protection and good Mana Recovery.

(230-260)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(15-20) to maximum Energy Shield (20-30)% increased maximum Mana 10% chance to Shock +20% chance to be Shocked 30% of Lightning Damage is taken from Mana before Life Attack Skills have Added Lightning Damage equal to 6% of maximum Mana Lose 3% of Mana when you use an Attack Skill

(Helmet) Fractal Thoughts - Critical Strike Multiplier, damage, and a lot of Dexterity if your Strength is higher than Intelligence. It's comparable to Mind of the Council.

(140-180)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(25-40)% to Critical Strike Multiplier if Dexterity is higher than Intelligence 15% increased Dexterity if Strength is higher than Intelligence 1% increased Elemental Damage per 10 Dexterity +2 to Maximum Life per 10 Intelligence

(Helmet) Indigon - The best, and most expensive, Helmet. It's a major boost to your damage, but it requires some tinkering - lowering the Mana cost and enhancing the Mana gained.

(150-180)% increased Energy Shield (6-10)% increased maximum Mana Recover (8-10)% of Life when you use a Mana Flask Non-instant Mana Recovery from Flasks is also Recovered as Life (50-60)% increased Cost of Skills for each 200 total Mana Spent Recently (20-25)% increased Spell Damage for each 200 total Mana you have Spent Recently, up to 2000%

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - Here look for Maximum Life, Resistances, and Dexterity. Maximum Mana is native only to bases with Energy Shield, but it can be crafted. For the Eldritch mods, get the Physical-to-Elemental Damage shift and Crit Multiplier for Attacks.

Min. requirements: +100 maximum Life +45 Dexterity Maximum Mana Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances ​increased Dexterity (Elder/Redeemer Suffix) increased maximum Mana (Shaper/Crusader Prefix)

(Weapon) Rare Wand - Look for a Wand with high base Crit Chance and high base Attack Speed. Imbued Wands have Attack Speed, Prophecy Wands have Crit Chance. Here, get Maximum Mana, increased Spell Damage, and Attack Speed or Crit mods.

Min. requirements: 12% increased Attack Speed +100 to maximum Mana 100% increased Spell Damage Optional affixes: Global Critical Strike Multiplier Physical Damage as Extra Cold or Lightning Damage (Redeemer/Crusader Prefix) Dexterity (crafted) Grants # Life per Enemy Hit Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate #% Elemental Resistances (Hunter/Veiled/crafted)

(Off-hand) Rare Shield - Intelligence-Shields can roll increased Spell Damage and Mana, making them good. Other Shields will have Attack Speed and Dexterity - also good. In both circumstances, you'll probably need Resistances and Maximum Life.

Min. requirements: +90 to maximum Life +40% Elemental Resistances Maximum Mana (crafted) Optional affixes: increased Spell Damage Dexterity Attack Speed

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves, besides the usual Resistances, Maximum Life, Maximum Mana, And Dexterity, can give you Attack Speed and Damage Conversion. Just be careful and don't Convert all your Physical Damage. For the Eldritch mods, seek Damage Conversion and Chance to Intimidate.

Min. requirements: +90 maximum Life +60 maximum Mana +45 Dexterity Optional affixes: Attack Speed Elemental Resistances increased Damage with Hits against Chilled enemies (Incursion Suffix) 40% of Physical Damage Converted to Cold Damage

(Gloves) Doedre's Tenure - 100% increased Spell Damage is a solid damage boost with no drawback.

+(20-50) to Intelligence 100% increased Spell Damage (25-15)% reduced Cast Speed

(Boots) Rare Boots - Boots will supply you with Maximum Life, Movement Speed, Resistances, Dexterity, and Maximum Mana. For the Eldritch mods look for Action Speed and chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments.

Min. requirements: +90 maximum Life +45 Dexterity 25% increased Movement Speed Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Maximum Mana (crafted)

(Belt) Rare Belt - Prioritize Maximum Life, Maximum Mana, increased Elemental Attack Damage, and Resistances. If you can afford a high-end Belt, get one that increases your Dexterity.

Min. requirements: +100 maximum Life +40% to Total Elemental Resistances 40% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills Optional affixes: Chaos Resistance Maximum Mana Dexterity (crafted) increased Attributes (Elder/Hunter Suffix)

(Belt) Cyclopean Coil - It's an intermediary Belt, but if all your Resistances are fixed, you may as well use it until you can afford something better.

+(25-40) to maximum Life +(60-80) to maximum Life (5-15)% increased Attributes Cannot be Frozen if Dexterity is higher than Intelligence Cannot be Ignited if Strength is higher than Dexterity Cannot be Shocked if Intelligence is higher than Strength 1% increased Damage per 5 of your lowest Attribute

(Amulet) Astramentis - It has tons of Attributes, even Intelligence and Strength that are very much required. Remember that Skill Gems and Items impose high Attribute requirements.

+(10-16) to all Attributes +(80-100) to all Attributes -4 Physical Damage taken from Attack Hits

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - If you want to outclass Astramentis it will cost you a lot. There are many useful mods to be found on a Rare Amulet, but focus on Dexterity, increased Dexterity, Maximum Life, Maximum Mana, and Crit Multiplier. Redeemer Amulets can roll some of the best affixes.

Min. requirements: +45 Dexterity Elemental Resistances +60 to Maximum Life Optional affixes: Attributes Maximum Mana Global Critical Strike Multiplier 1% increased Damage per 15 Dexterity (Shaper/Redeemer Prefix) increased Dexterity (Redeemer Suffix)

Recommended Anointments: Prodigal Perfection

(Ring) Rare Rings - You'll use two Rare Rings. Here, seek Mana, Life, Attributes, and Resistances. Same things as you searched for before.

Min. requirements: +60 to Maximum Life +60 to Maximum Mana 80% total Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes, Dexterity increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

(Jewel) Brutal Restraint - Its main role is to get you more Dexterity. Socket it near the Fervour notable.

Denoted service of (500-8000) dekhara in the akhara of (Asenath-Balbala-Nasima) Passives in radius are Conquered by the Maraketh Historic

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Mana, Life, Attributes, Resistances, and Critical Strike Multiplier. Maybe Attack Speed.

Recommended affixes: Maximum Life Maximum Mana Attributes Resistances Attack Speed Critical Strike Multiplier

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - You're sporting Clarity, Vitality, and Precision. Almost all Clarity mods are very desirable, Vitality has Life on Hit, and Precision may roll excellent damage enhancements. If you need more Mana Recovery, look for Clarity's mana recovery boons like Mana on Hit or chance to gain Mana on skill use.

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

(Jewel) The Light of Meaning - This Jewel may be a source of even more Dexterity, but it's not as good as Brutal Restraint. Still, swap their positions if you lack other Attributes.

Passive Skills in Radius also grant +2 to all Attributes

(Jewel) Ancestral Vision - Your Suppression Chance is supposed to be capped at 100%. This Jewel, combined with an additional Chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments should render you, more or less, immune to Elemental Ailments other than these from ground effects.

+(5-10) to Dexterity Modifiers to Chance to Suppress Spell Damage also apply to Chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments at 50% of their Value

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - Scintillating Idea is the best notable to be found on Large Cluster Jewels. Lightning Damage Cluster Jewels may roll other fine notables, but enriching small nodes with Dexterity and Mana will be equally wise.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Scintillating Idea 1 Added Passive Skill is Thunderstruck 1 Added Passive Skill is Widespread Destruction 1 Added Passive Skill is Paralysis 1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart

Other suggested Flasks and Tinctures: Life Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal Silver Flask with reduced Effect of Curses on you Jade Flask with increased Evasion Rating Quicksilver Flask with increased Movement Speed 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.