Lacerate "Budget-Slicer"
Bleed Gladiator build

Updated for Patch 3.6

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Estimated budget: very low

Gladiator is a typical sword & board type of character which offers very solid defenses regardless of your equipment. Thanks to Passive skills that increase your Block Chance, Gladiator is a perfect character to level up in new Leagues and/or play in the SSF mode. This build has solid DPS but you will feel the lack of extra burst when facing higher tier content and Bosses. However, with the upcoming changes to Melee in Patch 3.7, we expect this build to also offer a smooth transition into the late game. This guide will give you a rough idea of how this build works, and possibly you will find it to be a solid base for you build in the close future. 

We have decided to build this Gladiator on The Bringer of Rain, in order to drastically cut cost. A fully geared character that can clear Maps up to Tier 15 with ease will cost just a few Exalted Orbs, making it one of the cheapest builds for low and mid-tier farming. The Bringer of Rain is a unique Helmet which offers a 7-link setup for a just a few Chaos Orbs but makes you unable to use a Body Armour. With it missing, you lose a bunch of valuable defensive stats which are compensated by Gladiator's high chance to Block and Armour Rating.

You can check our other Path of Exile builds right here

1. Gameplay

Lacerate Gladiator is a typical Melee character. It utilizes one-handed Axe and Shield to slices through enemies. Lacerate attacks twice with your main-hand weapon creating two waves of force. Enemies right in front of you can be hit by both waves simultaneously, receiving full damage. Lacerate also deals more damage against bleeding targets. This build uses the Resolute Technique Passive, which saves you a lot of effort (and money) to reach enough Accuracy Rating on your gear to efficiently kill your enemies. While it is an insane damage buff up to mid-tier Maps, it limits your maximum possible DPS by making you unable to Critically Strike.

0:06 Tier 14 Caldera 0:30 Tier 14 Ivory Temple 1:12 Tier 14 Shrine 2:04 Tier 16 Maze of the Minotaur This video was recorded on a level 91 Gladiator on Standard mode with a total budget of approximately 3 Exalted Orbs

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Leveling with Gladiator is a very easy task. You should have enough defenses just from following the recommended Passive Skill Trees and upgrading your gear with self-found stuff once in a while. Your main priority should be increasing your DPS output by upgrading the weapon (aim for one-handed Axes with the highest base Physical DPS) and getting equipment with flat Added Physical Damage to Attacks, and increases to Attack Speed. Below you will find several useful unique items that will greatly boost you during the leveling phase. 

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Lacerate setup
	Lacerate - primary Attack used in this build. It is recommended to upgrade it at the same time you level up your character
	Melee Physical Damage Support - primary Support Gem for any Melee/Physical build
	Multistrike Support - makes you attack two more times with a greatly increased Attack Speed and slightly reduced damage
	Maim Support - Maims enemies, which increases the Physical Damage they take and slows them down

Shield Charge setup
	Shield Charge - your primary mobility skill
	Faster Attacks Support - increases your movement speed with Shield Charge

Utility gems
	Ancestral Warchief - allows you to create a Totem which increases your Melee Damage
	Vulnerability - the recommended Curse for this build
	Summon Lightning Golem - grants increased Attack and Cast Speed
	Herald of Ash - grants added Fire Damage to your Attacks based on your Physical DPS. It also causes AoE explosions for extra clear speed

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the bandits for two additional Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

32 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Art of the Gladiator 2) Master of the Arena 3) Defiance 4) Retaliation 5) small Mana and Life Leech

61 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Bloodless 2) Resolute Technique 3) Slaughter 4) Cleaving 5) Devotion

Recommended leveling items:

Blackheart - one of the best leveling Rings for melee classes
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 - extremely powerful Belt which equipped on level 8 will serve you for hours. You can easily keep it until you reach low-level Maps
+(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

Crest of Perandus - the best low-level Shield which grants very high bonus Life
Chance to Block: 31% Evasion: 51 +(60-80) to maximum Life (5-7.5) Life Regenerated per second +30% to Lightning Resistance 0.6% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life +5% Chance to Block

Relentless Fury - has very high base Physical DPS and also grants Culling Strike, Onslaught, and Life Leech. Truly the best pick for its' level
(60-80)% increased Physical Damage Adds (3-5) to (7-10) Physical Damage 2% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life Culling Strike You gain Onslaught for 3 seconds on Culling Strike Cannot be Chilled while you have Onslaught
Goldrim - the best leveling Helmet in the game. It grants very high All Elemental Resistances bonuses, which makes it very useful until the early mapping phase
+(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)

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. Painforged
2. Violent Retaliation
3. Blood in the Eyes
4. Versatile Combatant

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 Shakari 5% reduced chaos damage taken 25% reduced chaos damage over time taken while in a caustic cloud

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Lacerate (in The Bringer of Rain)
	Lacerate - your primary DPS skill. It's a swift Melee/AoE attack
	Multistrike Support - makes your attacks repeat two additional times with greatly increased speed
	Maim Support - increases Physical Damage and Maims enemies on Hit
	Ruthless Support - every third hit with supported skill deals greatly increased damage
Support Gems granted by The Bringer of Rain:
	Faster Attacks Support - grants increased Attack Speed with supported skills
	Blind Support - grants a chance to Blind enemies on Hit
	Melee Physical Damage Support - increases Melee Physical Damage of supported skills

[UTILITY] Reckoning/Ancestral Warchief (in The Surrenderer)
	Ancestral Warchief - summons a Totem which increases your Melee Damage
	Melee Physical Damage Support
	Culling Strike Support - makes supported skills instantly kill enemies below 10% Life
	Reckoning - counter-attack skill which is granted by The Surrenderer shield. If you don't have it yet, just keep the other three Gems as listed above

[UTILITY] Curse
	Vulnerability - the recommended Curse for this build. If you manage to get the Impresence Amulet, you can use it as an Aura around you. Otherwise, link it to a low-level Cast when Damage Taken Gem
	Blasphemy Support - makes supported Curses work as an Aura around your character

[MOBILITY] Leap Slam setup
	Leap Slam - recommended Movement skill used in this build. You can also use Shield Charge which is faster, but won't allow you to jump over cliffs and other obstacles
	Faster Attacks Support
	Fortify Support - melee hits with Leap Slam will grant the Fortify buff

[UTILITY] Hatred and Herald of Purity
	Hatred - an Aura which grants high bonus Cold Damage based on your Physical DPS
	Herald of Purity - adds additional Physical Damage to your Attacks

[UTILITY] Various utility Gems
	Cast when Damage Taken Support  - auto-casts all the supported spells whenever you take a certain amount of damage. Keep this Gem at level 10
	Blood Rage - grants increased Attack Speed, Frenzy Charge generation, and Life Leech. Use level 13 of the Blood Rage Gem
	Summon Lightning Golem - grants increases Attack and Cast Speed. Do not upgrade this Gem above level 12
	Phase Run - makes you less visible to enemies for a short duration, and after you take any action it increases your Melee Damage. Keep this Gem at level 12

5. Gear Setup

Below you will find all the recommended items for this build. Keep in mind that this build is very straightforward and ALL the items listed below can be replaced with random Rares. If you decide not to use The Bringer of Rain just use a Body Armour that increases your Life and Elemental Resistances like Belly of the Beast(highest bonus Life), Carcass Jack(extra DPS), Daresso's Defiance(Onslaught buff) or similar. 

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully

(Helmet) The Bringer of Rain - a build-defining item which grants cheap seven-links for our primary DPS setup

Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 18 Melee Physical Damage Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 18 Faster Attacks Socketed Gems are supported by Level 18 Blind 6% Chance to Block Attack Damage Adds 20 to 30 Physical Damage to Attacks (200-300)% increased Armour and Evasion +(200-220) to maximum Life 20% chance to gain an Endurance Charge when you Block Can't use Chest armour Extra gore

Helmet enchantment: Lacerate deals (14-18) to (20-25) added Physical Damage against Bleeding Enemies 40% increased Lacerate Damage

(Weapon) Jack, the Axe - a decent pick for the weapon slot. Grants increased Life Leech

(90-110)% increased Physical Damage Adds (11-14) to (18-23) Physical Damage (10-15)% increased Attack Speed 2% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life 50% reduced Life Leeched per second 25% chance to cause Bleeding on Hit

(Weapon) Soul Taker - a very good choice with high base Attack Speed and very decent DPS. You shouldn't have any problems with your Mana Management, but it will surely be useful on no-Leech Maps

(100-140)% increased Physical Damage Adds 10 to 20 Physical Damage (20-25)% increased Attack Speed +(20-25)% to Cold Resistance Insufficient Mana doesn't prevent your Melee Attacks Your Physical Damage can Chill

(Weapon) Rare Axe - can be potentially the best in the slot with high base Physical DPS, however, it will be also the most expensive option

Min. requirements: 380 Physical DPS 1.6 Attack Speed Optional affixes: Increased Damage with Bleeding Added Elemental Damage to Attacks

(Shield) The Surrender - one of the best Shields for this build. It grants very high defensive utility and the Reckoning skill for some extra DPS

Chance to Block: 30% Armour: (1305 to 1513) Grants Level 30 Reckoning Skill (130-170)% increased Armour +(65-80) to maximum Life Recover 250 Life when you Block +6% Chance to Block +1500 Armour if you've Blocked Recently

(Shield) Lioneye’s Remorse - solid and budget-friendly option. It grants very high bonus Life but no Elemental Resistances and no offensive utility

Chance to Block: 30% Armour: (1494 to 1727)  (200-250)% increased Armour 20% increased Stun and Block Recovery +(160-180) to maximum Life 5% reduced Movement Speed -25 Physical Damage taken from Projectile Attacks +5% Chance to Block

(Boots) Rare Boots - just aim for high defensive stats and preferably use a Strength base for extra Armour Rating

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 25% Movement Speed 40% Cold Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes High Armour Rating

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

(Belt) Belt of the Deceiver - solid and inexpensive option. It can be also used during the leveling process

(25-35) to Strength (15-25)% increased Physical Damage You take 30% reduced Extra Damage from Critical Strikes +(30-40) to maximum Life +(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances Nearby Enemies are Intimidated

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - using a rare amulet will require you to switch from Vulnerability Aura to a low-level Cast when Damage Taken Curse application

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life Adds min. 15 Physical Damage to Attacks Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Attributes

(Amulet) Impresence (Physical) - one of the best options for this build. It also makes the gameplay much smoother with the free Curse/Aura

+(10-16) to all Attributes Adds (12-16) to (20-25) Physical Damage +(400-500) to Armour +(50-70) to maximum Life (30-40)% increased Stun and Block Recovery 100% reduced Vulnerability Mana Reservation Gain Maddening Presence for 10 seconds when you Kill a Rare or Unique Enemy

(Ring) Rare Rings

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 60% Total Elemental Resistances Adds min. 9 Physical Damage to Attacks Optional affixes: Attributes

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - preferably Spiked Gloves for extra Melee Damage. Other than that, you aim for high defensive stats

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life Added min. 7 Physical Damage to Attacks Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances increased Melee Damage

(Gloves) Haemophilia - very good and inexpensive option for the Gloves slot. Haemophilia grants extra AoE by making slain enemies explode (similar to Gratuitous Violence Passive)

25% increased Damage over Time +(20-30) to Strength Attacks have 25% chance to cause Bleeding (25-40)% increased Attack Damage against Bleeding Enemies Bleeding Enemies you Kill Explode, dealing 5% of their Maximum Life as Physical Damage 25% reduced Bleeding Duration

(Jewels) Rare Jewels - these should provide extra Life and bonus damage

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Generic/Physical/Melee Damage Optional affixes: increased Attack Speed /Attack Speed while holding a Shield increased Armour

(Jewels) Rare Abyss Jewels - Abyss Jewels should provide more DPS at the same price

Recommended affixes: maximum Life Added Physical Damage to Attacks Added Physical Damage to Axe Attacks Optional affixes: increased Damage if you have killed recently chance to gain Onslaught on kill for 4 seconds

(Flask) Lion's Roar - grants very high bonus Damage and Armour making it one of the best utility Flasks for this build

+3000 to Armour Adds Knockback to Melee Attacks during Flask effect 75% chance to cause Enemies to Flee on use (20-25)% more Melee Physical Damage during effect Knocks Back Enemies in an Area when you use a Flask

(Flask) Rumi’s Concoction - increases your Block Chance, however, you can't have two Granite Flasks active at once so you have to pick between Rumi's and Lion's Roar

+3000 to Armour (14-20)% Chance to Block during Flask effect (6-10)% Chance to Block Spells during Flask effect

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - one of the best Flasks in Path of Exile which greatly increases your DPS and grants extra Life Leech

+35% to Chaos Resistance 2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect Gain (15-20)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect Gain (10-15)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

(Flask) Taste of Hate - grants high DPS bonus and an amazing defensive utility by converting some of the Physical Damage you receive to Cold Damage

+50% to Cold Resistance 20% less Cold Damage taken 20% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage during Flask effect Gain (15-20)% 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

Other suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (bleeding immunity) Experimenter's Silver Flask of Adrenaline (increased Movement Speed)

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We will appreciate any feedback or comments that can help us improve our guides for you!

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