Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity
Elementalist Build

Updated for Patch 3.29

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Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity is a unique Channelling Spell that unleashes increasingly powerful pulses of Lightning Damage, rewarding you for maintaining the channel. This version is built around the unique interaction between Coiling Whispers, Duskdawn and Unholy Trinity Support, rapidly consuming Souls from cursed enemies to gain massive Cast Speed and accelerate the build to incredible levels. The result is a fast-paced caster with exceptional Boss Damage and smooth Endgame Mapping.

Elementalist is the perfect Ascendancy for this setup, providing powerful Shock scaling, Cast Speed, and defensive utility through Golems. While Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity naturally excels at dealing massive burst Damage with its empowered pulses, the build's true power comes from maintaining maximum Souls throughout a Map, dramatically increasing its overall Damage.

Coiling Whispers, Duskdawn and Unholy Trinity form the foundation of the build. We rapidly generate Souls by applying a very short Temporal Chains with Hextouch and Less Duration, causing the curse to expire almost instantly as we move through packs. Unholy Trinity completely offsets Coiling Whispers' curse drawback, while Duskdawn's Chaos conversion allows us to maintain full Trinity Resonance.

Once fully assembled, the build offers an incredibly satisfying Endgame Mapping experience. After building up your Souls at the start of a Map, Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity tears through enemies with overwhelming Damage, while the build's exceptional Critical Strike and Elemental scaling make it equally effective against Pinnacle Bosses.

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

At the start of each Map, use your Movement Skill linked to Hextouch, Temporal Chains, and Less Duration to quickly consume Souls with Coiling Whispers. Once fully stacked, channel Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity to tear through enemies. Against Bosses, simply maintain the channel to unleash its devastating empowered pulses.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Lightning Tendrils is an excellent leveling Skill and can comfortably carry you through the Campaign and early Maps. During the early game, focus on a standard Lightning Spell setup, taking advantage of Elementalist's powerful Shock, Cast Speed, and Area of Effect bonuses while gradually assembling the Gear required for the final version of the build.

Once Coiling Whispers and Duskdawn become available, you can transition into the Endgame setup. From there, complete the Soul generation engine with Hextouch, Temporal Chains, and Less Duration, allowing Coiling Whispers to rapidly consume Souls and unlock the build's full Mapping and Bossing potential.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Kinetic Bolt setup
	Lightning Tendrils - your main leveling Skill, dealing powerful Lightning Damage while clearing packs and defeating Bosses.
	Arcane Surge - grants increased Spell Damage, Cast Speed, and Mana Regeneration after spending enough Mana.
	Added Lightning Damage - adds Flat Lightning Damage to Lightning Tendrils, significantly improving its early-game Damage.
	Controlled Destruction - provides a large More Spell Damage multiplier, making it one of the strongest support Gems while leveling.

Orb of Storms setup
	Orb of Storms - creates a stationary orb that repeatedly strikes nearby enemies with Lightning Damage, providing extra Damage against tougher targets.
	Overcharge - greatly increases the Shock effect inflicted by Orb of Storms, making enemies take more Damage.
	Added Lightning Damage - adds Flat Lightning Damage to Orb of Storms, improving both its Damage and Shock application.

Recommended leveling items:

Le Heup of All - one of the best leveling rings due to its Elemental Resistances and Attributes

Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks +(10-30) to all Attributes (10-30)% increased Damage (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found +(10-30)% to all Elemental Resistances

Goldrim - great leveling Helmet, again thanks to its Resistances, price, and availability

+(30-50) to Evasion Rating 10% increased Rarity of Items found +(30-40)% to all Elemental Resistances Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers

Xirgil's Crank - +1 level of all Spell Skills and a lot of Spell Damage, nice entry staff

+15% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff (60—80)% increased Spell Damage +(70—150) to maximum Energy Shield +1 to Level of all Spell Skill Gems Reflects 1 to 150 Lightning Damage to Melee Attackers (25—35)% chance for Energy Shield Recharge to start when you Block

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for the extra Passive Point.

Leveling Skill Trees:
40 Points Passive Tree
Pick Lightning nodes as fast as possible.

90 Points Passive Tree
Start of the maps. After swapping to staff, take staff nodes and 2 staff masteries. It's also a moment to look for attack and spell Block Chance.

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

103 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels nor Timeless Jewels)
121 Points Path of Building (PoB) link (full uniques 2 clusters)

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Liege of the Primordial
2. Shaper of Winter
3. Shaper of Flames
4. Bastion of Elements

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Solaris: 6% additional Physical Damage Reduction while there is only one nearby Enemy

Minor God: Soul of Tukohama: 3% additional Physical Damage Reduction per second you've been stationary, up to a maximum of 9%, Regenerate 2% of Life per second while stationary.

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity setup
	Lightning Tendrils of Eccentricity - our main Damage Skill, unleashing increasingly powerful Lightning pulses while channeling. Every 5th Pulse is a Critical Strike.
	Unholy Trinity - allows our Damage to ignore enemy Elemental Resistances after building full Trinity Resonance.
	Infused Channelling - grants a powerful More Damage multiplier while channeling and provides additional Damage Reduction.
	Controlled Destruction - provides a powerful More Spell Damage multiplier, significantly increasing the Damage dealt by our Spells.
	Arcane Surge - grants increased Spell Damage and Mana Regeneration after spending enough Mana, providing a useful offensive boost alongside improved Mana Sustain.
	Inspiration - reduces the Mana Cost of Lightning Tendrils while granting increased Critical Strike Chance and Elemental Damage.

[UTILITY] Curse setup
	Temporal Chains - is applied through Frostblink to enemies, allowing Coiling Whispers to quickly consume their Souls when the Curse expires.
	Hextouch - automatically applies Temporal Chains to enemies hit by Frostblink.
	Less Duration - greatly reduces the duration of Temporal Chains, causing it to expire almost instantly and generate Souls much faster.
	Frostblink of Wintry Blast - serves as our Movement Skill while rapidly applying and expiring Temporal Chains to fuel Coiling Whispers.

[UTILITY] Convocation setup
	Convocation - recalls our minions to our location, keeping their buffs active and ensuring they stay close during combat.
	Automation - automatically triggers Convocation, removing the need to cast it manually

[UTILITY] Life-reserving setup
	Arctic Armour - provides additional protection against Physical and Fire Damage while channeling Lightning Tendrils.
	Clarity - grants Mana Regeneration, helping sustain our Mana while continuously channeling.
	Arrogance - causes Clarity to reserve Life instead of Mana, making it easier to fit alongside our other Auras and ensuring we stay low-life.

[UTILITY] Mana-reserving setup
	Purity of Elements - grants a large amount of Elemental Resistances and complete immunity to all Elemental Ailments.
	Discipline - provides a substantial bonus to Maximum Energy Shield, greatly improving our survivability.

[UTILITY] Minions setup
	Raise Spectre - summons Spectres that provide powerful utility buffs for the build.
	Meat Shield - makes our minions more durable and keeps them close to us.
	Minion Life - greatly increases the survivability of our minions, helping maintain their buffs.

[UTILITY] Golems setup
	Lightning Golem - grants increased Cast Speed, significantly improving the channeling speed of Lightning Tendrils.
	Flame Golem - provides increased Damage and AoE, boosting our overall DPS.
	Stone Golem - grants Life Regeneration and Global Defenses.

[UTILITY] Sigil of Power setup
	Sigil of Power - place it in an Unset Ring if you have one available. It provides a useful Damage boost against tougher enemies, but can be safely omitted if you don't have a spare socket.

[UTILITY] Righteous Fire of Arcane Devotion setup
	Righteous Fire of Arcane Devotion - grants a substantial Cast Speed bonus at the cost of draining Mana instead of Life, making it a powerful offensive buff for Lightning Tendrils.

5. Gear Setup

This build scales its Damage through Critical Strikes, Cast Speed, Mana, and Energy Shield, making well-crafted Rare Items just as important as its core Uniques. Coiling Whispers and Duskdawn define the Endgame setup, while your Rare Gear should provide Energy Shield, Mana, Armour, and other defensive stats to maximise the benefits of Tranquility.

(Weapon) Duskdawn - the core Weapon of the build, providing massive Spell Damage and Critical Strike Multiplier while converting part of our Elemental Damage into Chaos Damage to fully enable Unholy Trinity.

+(20—30)% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff (60—80)% increased Spell Critical Strike Chance Gain (10—20)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage +1% to Critical Strike Multiplier per 1% Chance to Block Attack Damage +60% to Critical Strike Multiplier if you've dealt a Non-Critical Strike Recently (120—150)% increased Spell Damage if you've dealt a Critical Strike Recently

(Ring) Coiling Whisper - the Unique Item that defines the build. It consumes Souls as your Hex expires, granting massive Cast Speed and enabling the build's signature Soul-stacking mechanic.

(25—50)% reduced Area of Effect of Hex Skills Targets are Unaffected by your Hexes When 90% of your Hex's Duration Expires on an Enemy, Eat 1 Soul per Enemy Power

(Amulet) Marylene's Fallacy - provides an enormous amount of Critical Strike Multiplier and grants Culling Strike on Critical Hits. Every 5th Pulse of Lightning Tendrils is a guaranteed Critical Strike.

+(80—120) to Accuracy Rating +(210—240)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier +(80—100) to Evasion Rating (10—15)% increased Light Radius 40% less Critical Strike Chance Critical Strikes have Culling Strike

Recommended Anointments: Tranquility

(Ring) Rare Ring - should grant Aspect of the Spider, while also providing Mana Regeneration and reduced Mana Cost for Channeling Skills to comfortably sustain Lightning Tendrils. Look for Strength, Resistances, and +Level of Socketed Gems as valuable options.

Min. requirements: Grants level 20 Aspect of the Spider Skill 40+ to Strength 50% increased Mana Regeneration Rate Channeling Skills have -3 to total Mana Cost Optional affixes: Elemental and Chaos Resistances +# to level of Socketed Gem

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - defensive slot that should provide high Energy Shield, Mana Cost Efficiency, and Mana Reservation Efficiency. Use it to cap your Resistances while adding Attributes wherever needed.

Min. requirements: 250+ Energy Shield 80% Total Elemental Resistances 25% Chaos Resistances 20% increased Mana Cost Efficiency 7% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills Optional affixes: Attributes

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - your main defensive item, providing a large amount of Energy Shield and Armour alongside valuable modifiers such as additional Physical Damage Reduction, Flask Charge generation, and increased Discipline Aura Effect.

Min. requirements: 400+ Energy Shield 6% additional Physical Damage Reduction Flasks gain a Charge every 3 seconds Discipline has 20% increased Aura Effect Optional affixes: Attributes Elemental and Chaos Resistances

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - should provide high Armour/Energy Shield and Resistances, while a Lightning Exposure on Hit Implicit offers a valuable Damage increase against tougher enemies.

Min. requirements: 80% Total Elemental Resistances 130+ Energy Shield Optional affixes: Attributes Lightning Exposure on hit Implicit

(Belt) Rare Belt - use a Crusader Influenced Belt with high Energy Shield, increased Maximum Energy Shield, and increased Flask Charges gained. Strength, Resistances, and increased Lightning Damage are excellent additional modifiers.

Min. requirements: 40+ to Maximum Energy Shield 40% Total Elemental Resistances 12%+ increased Maximum Energy Shield 30% increased Flask Charges gained Optional affixes: Attributes 25% increased Lighning Damage

(Boots) Rare Boots - aim for high Movement Speed, Energy Shield, and enough Resistances to cap your defenses. Attributes are always welcome, while increased Effect of Non-Damaging Ailments is an excellent offensive upgrade for stronger Shocks and can be obtained through Unveiled Mechanic.

Min. requirements: 30% increased Movement Speed 80% Total Elemental Resistances 100+ Energy Shield Optional affixes: Attributes 35% increased Effect of Non-Damaging Ailments

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - you'll need one 8 passives Spell Damage cluster with these three Passive Skills.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Arcane Adept 1 Added Passive Skill is Burden Projection 1 Added Passive Skill is Essence Rush

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - you'll need one 8 passives Lightning Damage cluster with these three Passive Skills.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Doryani's Lesson 1 Added Passive Skill is Overshock 1 Added Passive Skill is Thunderstruck

(Jewel) Natural Affinity - it adds the keystone Nature's Patience to your skill tree which gives us Grasping Vines while standing still, which we do a lot when Channelling. Additionally, every stack of Grasping Vines gives us 2% chance to deal Double Damage and 1% less Damage taken.

Adds Nature's Patience

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - the Gain Energy Shield per Enemy Hit while affected by Discipline modifier is one of the build's most important defensive layers, providing exceptional Energy Shield recovery while channeling Lightning Tendrils. The second modifier can be any useful Discipline, Clarity, or Purity of Elements bonus, but even a Watcher's Eye with only the Energy Shield on Hit mod is an extremely powerful upgrade.

(4—6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4—6)% increased maximum Life (4—6)% increased maximum Mana Gain (20—30) Energy Shield per Enemy Hit while affected by Discipline

(Jewel) Brutal Restraint - used to gain powerful The Traitor keystone that allows our flasks to be active all the time. Also there are many valuable seeds, so look for one that best complements your Gear and defenses.

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

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - focus on Critical Strike Multiplier for Spells, Lightning Skills, or Elemental Skills, alongside Cast Speed, Maximum Energy Shield, and any missing Attributes to further improve both your Damage and survivability.

Recommended affixes: #% to Critical Strike Multiplier for Spell Damage #% to Critical Strike Multiplier with Lightning Skills #% to Critical Strike Multiplier with Elemental Skills Attributes % increased Maximum Energy Shield % increased Cast Speed

(Jewel) Abyss Jewels - get as much Flat Spell Lightning and Chaos, alongside Critical Strike Multiplier

Recommended affixes: % to Global Critical Strike Multiplier # to # Added Spell Chaos Damage while wielding a Two Handed Weapon # to # Added Spell Lightning Damage while wielding a Two Handed Weapon % increased Cast Speed if you've dealt a Critical Strike Recently

(Flask) Coruscating Elixir - the build is designed to maintain 100% Flask Uptime, ensuring this Flask is always active. Its modifier preventing Chaos Damage from bypassing Energy Shield is one of our strongest defensive layers, making it an essential part of the build.

25% increased Duration Chaos Damage taken does not bypass Energy Shield during effect Removes all but one Life on use Removed life is Regenerated as Energy Shield over 2 seconds

(Flask) Oriath's End - provides powerful explosions that significantly improve Clear Speed. It's an excellent quality-of-life upgrade, but the build functions perfectly well without it.

(20—40)% increased Charge Recovery Enemies you Kill during Effect have a (20—30)% chance to Explode, dealing a tenth of their maximum Life as Damage of a Random Element

Other suggested Flasks: Topaz Flask with Chance to Avoid Stun Sapphire Flask with crafted Regenerate 3% of Life per second during Effect Remember to use only 4 flasks because of The Traitor keystone.

If you have any other build requests please leave them in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.

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