Power Siphon of Archmage Ballistas
Hierophant Build

Created for Patch 3.24

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Archmage is a feature typically associated with Spell Caster builds, however with the implementation of the Power Siphon of the Archmage, it can also be utilized for an Attack Build in a unique and interesting fashion. Power Siphon is a very popular Wand Attack, and this transfigured version has added base Lightning Damage based on your Maximum Mana, which can easily add around 1000 flat damage boosting its' potential DPS significantly. 

Since your main goal is to stack Mana, we can easily incorporate Indigon into this build, and convert the Spell Damage bonuses to apply to Attacks with Wands via Wand Mastery. The obvious choice for a build based on Mana is the Hierophant class, and to push this build to its maximum potential, we can use Power Siphon with Ballistas. Totem playstyle can cover all the imperfections in defenses, and provide extra Damage and Mana recovery through Hierophant's Ascendency Passives, but also, consecutive Attacks will not cost any additional Mana, which could be devastating with capped Indigon buffs.

All around this is a well-balanced Totem build with surprisingly high single-target DPS, and solid clear speed thanks to extra Pierce on your projectiles. It should be also possible to build in on a relatively low budget, it is mainly based on inexpensive Uniques, though both the price and maximum power ceiling is set high. 

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1. Gameplay

This build is a typical Totem build, where you summon your Totems ahead of you in the direction you are moving, hoping to kill enemies before they even appear on your screen. Indigon buffs are triggered automatically by Arcane Cloak linked with Automation, and with it casting additional Totems with increased Mana Cost will add extra layers to it. You are also going to use Frenzy, which doesn't deal much damage on its' own but can grant you extra Frenzy Charges and trigger other utility Spells like for example your Hexes or Marks. You should also use Enduring Cry with Call to Arms, which grants you additional bonuses based on your Endurance Charges, increasing your Life Recovery and Physical damage mitigation.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

We don't recommend leveling a Templar with Bows unless you have access to all the powerful low-level Uniques. It's best to just play it as a Caster build with extra Totems to supplement your DPS. You can check our comprehensive Guide on leveling a Templar using Totems in the following article: Templar Leveling Guide for PoE using Totems or check the basic Skill setup and Passive Tree recommendations below.

Bandits:

Killing all Bandits for 2 bonus Skill Points is the best option, although you can help Alira to get Resistance, Mana Regeneration, and Critical Strike Multiplier boost in the early game. 

Leveling Skill Trees:
38 Points Passive Tree

Just follow the route to Ancestral Bond on the left, taking all the Spell/Elemental Damage and Life nodes on the way. After Ancestral Bond just go to the Witch's side of the Tree for more Elemental Overload and other Fire/Spell DPS nodes

75 Points Passive Tree
Pick up even more Life, Mana, and Spell Damage. A bit of Cast Speed will make a noticeable difference too. 

[DPS] Holy Flame Totem
	Holy Flame Totem - one of the most basic Totem Spells in the game which deals base Physical Damage partly converted to Fire. Initially it offers supplementary damage, but after Ancestral Bond, you should focus mainly on adding extra Supports here
	Added Fire Damage Support - grants additional Fire Damage based on Physical Damage, offering one of the highest boosts for Holy Flame Totem
	Faster Casting Support - increases the Cast Speed of your Totems, and hence, their DPS
	Elemental Focus Support - offers high boost to Elemental Damage, but makes your Totem unable to inflict Ignite or other Elemental Ailments
	Multiple Totems Support - one of the core Support Gems for Totems, which increases the Maximum number of Totems you can use, slightly reducing their DPS

[DPS] Explosive Trap
	Explosive Trap - a Trap Spell that, just like Totems, deals base Physical Damage converted to Fire, hence, benefits from the same Gems and Passives. You will be unable to deal damage yourself when you get Ancestral Bond, but this does not apply to Traps
	Added Fire Damage Support - grants additional Fire Damage based on Physical Damage
	Charged Traps Support - allows you to generate Power and Frenzy Charges via Traps, increasing your overall DPS
	Combustion Support - increases Fire Spell Damage of your Traps and their chance to Ignite. This Gem also causes Ignites to apply a strong debuff, reducing the target's Fire Resistance

[DPS] Utility Gems
	Flame Dash - a basic Movement Spell that allows you to quickly teleport forward. You can also use Frostblink, whichever you prefer
	Herald of Ash - increases Fire Spell Damage of your Traps and Totems
	Clarity - an Aura that grants additional Mana Regeneration which is extremely important on lower levels

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

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

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in the order:

1. Pursuit of Faith
2. Ritual of Awakening 
3. Conviction of Power
4. Divine Guidance

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Arakaali: 10% reduced Damage taken from Damage Over Time; 20% increased Recovery rate of Life and Energy Shield if you've stopped taking Damage Over Time Recently, Debuffs on you expire 20% faster, +40% Chaos Resistance against Damage Over Time

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] Power Siphon of Archmage
	Power Siphon of the Archmage - your primary DPS Attack that will be used by Ballista Totems, and will deal significantly more Damage by scaling your Mana and Indigon buffs
	Ballista Totem Support - turns linked Attacks into Ballistas, allowing you to use Power Siphon via Totems which is the main concept of this build
	Returning Projectiles Support - all the Projectiles fired by Ballistas will return to you. This increases both your clear speed with extra area coverage, but also your Boss DPS since they can hit the same target again
	Awakened Lightning Penetration Support - offers very high bonus Lightning DPS, making it the most powerful non-mandatory Support Gems here
	Awakened Elemental Damage with Attacks Support - grants high bonus Elemental Damage, but also makes your Totem unaffected by Ele Reflect, allowing you to ignore this Map modifier
	Increased Critical Damage Support - grants you a large amount of Critical Strike Multiplier.

[UTILITY] Frenzy
	Frenzy - another Wand Attack that can be used to trigger various on-hit effects. In our case, we want to generate Frenzy Charges and trigger Conductivity Curse on hit
	Conductivity - the best Curse for this build which will be triggered automatically by your Frenzy Attacks. Conductivity reduces the target's Lightning Resistance
	Cast on Critical Strike Support - allows you to trigger the linked Spell on Crits with Frenzy. In this case, it's the Conductivity Hex
	Faster Attacks Support - increases the Attack Speed of your Frenzy, just making it more convenient to use

[UTILITY] Arcane Cloak
	Arcane Cloak - one of the most important utility Spells in this build. It costs nearly 70% of your current Mana, granting you extra Lightning Damage and a protective Shield based on the amount of Mana spent. What's most important, is that all the Mana spent will contribute instantly to your Indigon buff
	Automation - causes Arcane Cloak to be triggered automatically whenever off cooldown
	Enhance Support - this expensive Support Gem can be used optionally here to increase the buff effect granted by Arcane Cloak

[UTILITY] Enduring Cry
	Enduring Cry - a very good defensive War Cry that can be triggered automatically by the Call to Arms Gem. It offers swift Life Recovery and extra Physical Damage mitigation based on your Endurance Charges, which you have always a four of
	Call to Arms Support - automatically triggers linked Warcries

[UTILITY] Blessing setup
	Purity of Elements - a defensive Aura that boosts all your Elemental Resistances, and makes you immune to all Elemental Ailments
	Eternal Blessing Support - allows you to use linked Aura without the regular reservation cost, however, you can't use any other Spells that reserve Mana

[UTILITY] Flame Dash
	Flame Dash - the recommended Movement Spell for this build which allows you to quickly progress through areas or avoid big incoming hits by teleporting instantly to safety

[UTILITY] Sniper's Mark
	Sniper's Mark - if you have enough Dexterity, Sniper's Mark may offer higher DPS bonuses than a regular Hex, so it would be advised to use it instead. It can also be triggered automatically by Mark on Hit Support
	Mark on Hit Support - triggers your Sniper's Mark automatically with Frenzy hits

[UTILITY] Summon Lightning Golem
	Summon Lightning Golem - since you have empty Sockets, you can also use a Golem Skill to offer extra DPS stats. Both Ice Golem and Lightning Golem will benefit this build, but in most cases, Lightning will be better
	Cast when Stunned Support - allows you to automatically resummon your Golem whenever you are stunned

[UTILITY] Sigil of Power
	Sigil of Power - creates a mark on the ground that improves your Damage and weakens your Enemies. You will have to spend Mana while standing in the circle to empower it

5. Gear Setup

This build requires several Unique Items to work properly, but only Indigon is mandatory. All the other ones can be replaced with random Rares with similar desired stats, but reaching the level of Mana offered by listed Uniqued can multiply the required budget big time. Most of the recommended Uniques are inexpensive and easy to obtain, but it becomes tricky if you want to play this build on SSF game mode, which is not recommended. 

(Helmet) Indigon - a build-defining Helmet that offers tons of Spell Damage bonuses based on Mana Spent recently. This can easily quickly reach 2000% increased Spell Damage, further converted to Attack Damage via Wand Mastery

(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%

(Weapon) Piscator's Vigil - one of the best weapons for this build, surpassed only by meta-crafted Wands with perfect stats, making it the go-to option for the majority of users

(33–37)% increased Spell Damage No Physical Damage (10–18)% increased Attack Speed (20–30)% increased Critical Strike Chance +(340–400) to Accuracy Rating Attacks with this Weapon have (100–115)% increased Elemental Damage Damage with Weapons Penetrates 5% Elemental Resistances

Recommended enchantments:  Increased Elemental Damage per %Quality Increased Accuracy Rating per %Quality

(Weapon) Rare Wand - you can alternatively use a Rare Wand with bonus Mana and Lightning Attack Damage bonuses, but ones that surpass Piscator's Vigil can be priced in dozens of Divines

Min. requirements: 80% increased Spell Damage 150 Maximum Mana 12% Increased Attack Speed 30% Global Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Accuracy Rating Critical Strike Chance Added Lightning Damage to Attacks

(Shield) Perepiteia - an inexpensive Shield that can grant you a high bonus Mana and all relevant stats nearly for free. If you want, you can seek a piece with valuable Synethesised mods, though this can further increase the value of this Shield

<Three random synthesis implicit modifiers> +(1-3) to Level of Socketed Lightning Gems Triggers Level 20 Lightning Aegis when Equipped (1-20)% increased Attack Speed (1-20)% increased Cast Speed (300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(1-75) to maximum Mana (1-20)% increased Movement Speed

(Shield) Rare Shield - you can also look for a generic Rare Shield with all the relevant stats like Life, Mana, Spell Damage, or missing Attributes and Resistances. You could try using an experimented base like Heat-attuned Tower Shield for a chance to Scorch enemies on block, but that's an unnecessary luxury in this case

Min. requirements: 80 Maximum Life 60 Maximum Mana 60% Increased Spell Damage Optional affixes: Resistances Attributes

(Body Armour) Cloak of Defiance - one of the best Armours for this build that offers a very high Maximum Mana and Mana Regeneration Rate. The base defensive stats like Energy Shield and Evasion are also valuable in this build. It can be replaced with random Rares with Mana or other armors since Mind over Matter can be also allocated directly on the Tree

(300-400)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(100-150) to maximum Mana Regenerate 1% of Mana per second Mind Over Matter

(Body Armour) Loreweave - a decent Armour with various useful stats. If you decide to use it, just make sure to find a piece with high Mana, Elemental Damage, and Maximum Possible Resistances as the defensive part of this item is the most impactful

Has 6 Sockets +(8-24) to all Attributes Adds (4-10) to (14-36) Physical Damage to Attacks (20-60)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance +(15-50) to maximum Energy Shield +(20-60) to maximum Life +(20-50) to maximum Mana (6-30)% increased Rarity of Items found (15-50)% increased Elemental Damage Your Maximum Resistances are (76-78)%

(Amulet) Atziri's Foible - this Amulet greatly improves your maximum Mana and your Mana Recovery. It also lowers your Attribute Requirements, which is quite useful. You should allocate Watchtowers on it, to boost the effectiveness of your Ballista Totems

(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +100 to maximum Mana (16-24)% increased maximum Mana (80-100)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate Items and Gems have 25% reduced Attribute Requirements

Recommended anoint:  Watchtowers

(Boots) Rare Boots - use a pair of Rare Boots that boost your Life, Mana, Movement Speed, and Resistance. There aren't many other useful stats other than Exarch and Eater implicit, so get a pair with those, or without other influences

Min. requirements: 30% Movement Speed +70 to maximum Life +50 to maximum Mana +50% total Resistance Optional affixes: Drops Brittle/Scorched Ground while Moving Action Speed

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - on your Gloves, you should seek the usual Life, Mana Combo, but it's also very important to find additional Accuracy here and craft the extra Pierce from both crafted mod and Implicits

Min. requirements: +70 to maximum Life +50 to maximum Mana 500 Accuracy Rating Projectiles Pierce and Additional Target (both implicit and explicit mods if possible) Optional affixes: % increased Attack Speed % chance to Intimidate Enemies on Hit

(Belt) Rare Belt - on your Belt you should aim for high maximum Life, Mana, and Resistance bonuses. Flask modifiers are also very useful to have. use Stygian Vise to get an additional Abyss Jewel Socket

Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life +60 to maximum Mana 90% total Resistances Optional affixes: % increased Flask Charges gained % reduced Flask Charged used

(Belt) The Tides of Time - the best in slot Item which offers massive Mana and Life Flask Recovery bonuses. The Flask charges are also generated at a reasonable level, making it particularly valuable versus Bosses where you can't rely on regular charge generation from slaying enemies

+(260-320) to Armour and Evasion Rating 100% increased Life Recovery from Flasks 100% increased Mana Recovery from Flasks Flasks applied to you have 25% increased Effect Life Flasks gain (0-3) Charges every 3 seconds Mana Flasks gain (0-3) Charges every 3 seconds Utility Flasks gain (0-3) Charges every 3 seconds

(Ring) Rare Ring - on your regular Rare Rings you should mainly focus on Life, Mana and its Regeneration, and Chaos Resistances. Elemental Resistance, Accuracy Rating, and Dexterity can also be useful.

Min. requirements: +50 to Maximum Life +50 to Maximum Mana 70% total Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes Accuracy Rating Mana Regeneration Rate Critical Strike Multiplier

(Jewel) Brutal Restraint - it can be socketed on top of the Tree above the Witch's starting location to grant tons of needed Dexterity and other Projectile/Attack-related bonuses from additional Passive Effects. It's also recommended to get the Alchemist's Genius buff, even more so if using the Tides of Time Belt

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

(Jewel) Healthy Mind - you can use this Jewel to greatly improve your Mana, at the cost of lowering your Life. It can be used if you have vastly more Life than Mana, otherwise it might lower your survivability.  It should be socketed near Scion's starting point, where you can allocate extra small life nodes near Constitution

(15-20)% increased maximum Mana Increases and Reductions to Life in Radius are Transformed to apply to Mana at 200% of their value

(Jewel) Abyss Jewel - the extra Ayss Jewel socketed in your Belt can be used to improve your maximum Life and Mana. It can also provide a lot of useful modifiers like Accuracy Rating, Attack Speed, Critical Strike Multiplier, or chance to Blind enemies on Attacks

Min. requirements: +30 to maximum Life +20 to maximum Mana Optional affixes: % chance to blind enemies on Hit with Attacks Global Critical Strike Multiplier Attack Speed Elemental and Chaos Resistance Attributes

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - on your Rare Jewels you should try to get bonuses to your maximum Life and Mana. It can also boost your Attack Speed, Accuracy Rating, or Critical Strike Multiplier.

Recommended affixes: Global Critical Strike Multiplier % increased Attack Speed % increased maximum Life % increased maximum Mana Elemental Resistances Attributes

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewels - there are some extremely powerful mods on Cluster Jewels for Lightning/Mana builds. It's recommended to use one of those Jewels for the bonuses, but also additional Jewel Sockets that can be very useful later on

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Disorienting Display 1 Added Passive Skill is Scintillating Idea 1 Added Passive Skill is Storm Drinker

(Jewel) Impossible Escape - it's heavily recommended to get the Iron Reflexes variant of this Jewel, which will allow you to allocate Pantopticoon and Ironwood Passives without having to connect to the lower part of the Tree (which is generally impossible without it)

Passive in Radius of <Keystone> can be Allocated without being connected to your tree

(Flask) Bottled Faith - This flask will greatly improve your Damage and Critical Strike Chance against Enemies standing on the Consecrated Ground. You can enhance it to Trigger when you Hit a Rare Enemy so it's always up when you fight tougher targets

(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

Other suggested Flasks: Catalyzed Mana Flask with Bleed removal Quicksilver Flask with Movement Speed bonus Diamond Flask with extra Crit bonus Silver Flask with additional Attack Speed bonus All the specific affixes on Rare Flasks can be changed for one another, and the best prefix in terms of Flask up time will be the "Flagellant's" one

If you have any other build requests please leave that 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.