Purifying Flame
Miner Saboteur build - Low-Life/ES version

Updated for Patch 3.14

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Estimated budget: high

This particular guide is a continuation of the more budget-oriented version of it, you can find it here: Purifying Flame Miner Saboteur Build (Life Version)

Our previous Purifying Flame Miner Sabouteru build - as good as it is - could always be a bit better. After you accumulated some currency you might consider upgrading your Life-based version to an ES-based version of it. The benefits are: being Low Life and reaping the benefits of Pain Attunement, significantly more DPS, and higher defenses.

The concept of this build is to throw Mines that explode and create damaging shockwaves in the Consecrated Ground area. Each mine creates a Consecrated Ground on explosion so the result is a huge area rapidly pulsating with damage. Saboteur's ascendancy synergizes really well with mines, so it's an obvious choice - it grants solid defensive and offensive options. Consecrated Ground acts as both - offensive and defensive tool for this playstyle. It grants Health Regeneration (ES with Zealot's Oath) for players standing on it, and with Purifying Flame it also damages enemies.

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Best PoE Builds by Odealo

1. Gameplay

If you ever played Mine build previously you know the drill. You place and detonate mines as you go. In this particular case - while using Purifying Flame Mines you also try to stay on Consecrated Ground, which is not a challenge - with Bottled Faith Unique Flask your wholes screen should be constantly covered in it. Mapping is really smooth, single-target damage is reliable and over-the-top. Really enjoyable build overall.

This video was recorded on a level 92 Saboteur on Standard League with dual-Zealotry Watcher's Eye, Crown of the Inward Eye, and a random Fire Spell Damage "trigger" Wand. Nothing fancy really, and allowed us to farm most of the content (just because we didn't really attempt all there is, and killed everything that we did)

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

To get to the point where you can play as Energy Shield Purifying Flame Miner Saboteur, you have to level as Life Purifying Flame Miner Saboteur. Our large collection of builds has you covered, click this link to read a detailed guide on leveling with Purifying Mine Saboteur. Everything in section 3 - leveling stays the same. Items, Bandits, and recipes. 

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

112 Points Final Skill Tree
112 Points PoB Pastebin link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Bomb Specialist
2. Pyromaniac
3. Born in the Shadows
4. Explosives Expert

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 Garukhan for +5% chance to Evade Attack Hits if you've taken a Savage Hit Recently

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Purifying Flame Mines
	Purifying Flame - The main Active Skill of this build. All of its damage will be converted into FIre Damage. This spell will be turned into a Mine skill
	Trap and Mine Damage Support - clear choice, provides a ton of damage at a cost of Mine Throwing Speed
	Minefield Support - More mines equal to more damage
	High-Impact Mine Support - a more powerful version of Blastchain Mine support, it has a chance of dealing double damage
	Inspiration Support - this Support Gem helps you with Mana Costs of Skills and grants Critical Strike Chance and Elemental Damage
	Combustion Support - more Fire Damage, grants Chance to Ignite

[UTILITY] Immortal Call and Void Sphere
	Immortal Call - A brief reduction of taken damage, one of the best Guard Spells you can pick, keep at level 1
	Cast when Damage Taken - Linked Spells will cast on their own, keep at level 1
	Increased Duration Support - increases the duration of linked Spells
	Void Sphere - applies Hindered Debuff on enemies, making them move slower

[UTILITY] Auras (Prism Guardian)
	Anger - Aura for more Fire Damage, not the best one but you can afford to have more Auras than normally - you will Reserve your Life
	Zealotry - grants more Critical Strike Chance and creates Consecrated Ground against stronger enemies
	Vaal Discipline - prevents Energy Shield recharge being delayed by damage, use defensively

[UTILITY] Auras
	Herald of Ash - Your most important Aura, boost your DPS by a lot
	Summon Skitterbots - Good Aura to use with Mines, increases their damage
	Herald of Purity - Gives you a lot of Physical Damage, one of the best Heralds to use when dealing Physical Damage
	Enlighten Support - Reduces the Mana Reservation Cost of Linked Gems

[UTILITY] Flame Dash
	Arcane Surge Support - use a level 8 Arcane Support - each cast of Flame Dash grants you increased Spell Damage, Cast Speed, and Mana Regen
	Increased Duration Support - longer duration for Arcane Surge
	Flame Dash - the recommended mobility Skill for this build. It allows you to progress faster through Maps and avoid heavy damage
	Second Wind Support - allows for more dashes in a rapid succession

[UTILITY] Gems in your "Trigger Wand" (socketed in your Wand)
	Wave of Conviction - Applies Fire Exposure on enemies, making them take more fire damage
	Frost Shield - Defensive Spell that gives you Critical Strike Chance as well
	Flammability - a Curse that makes enemies take more Fire Damage by lowering their Fire Resistance and increasing the chance to Ignite them with Hits

5. Gear Setup

Acquiring the necessary gear is certainly more expensive than for the Life version of this build. The price of some of the mandatory Unique items is extraordinarily high and finding rare pieces of equipment is not as cheap as one would expect. Focus on getting as much ES as possible, but don't disregard Life - increases in Maximum life will also affect your Energy Shield.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start killing endgame bosses successfully

(Helmet) Crown of the Inward Eye - this item gives you a lot of ES, Armour, Maximum Life, Mana, and Global ES. More than that, Transfiguration of Soul and Mind Increases your Damage as you gain more Maximum ES and Mana.

333% increased Armour and Energy Shield (9-21)% increased maximum Life, Mana and Global Energy Shield Transfiguration of Soul Transfiguration of Body Transfiguration of Mind

Helmet enchantments: Purifying Flame deals 40% increased Damage Consecrated Ground from Purifying Flame applies 9% increased Damage taken to Enemies

(Weapon) Rare Wand - this is the gear slot where you look for damage, the most beneficial will be the plain and simple increases to the type of damage you're dealing

Min. requirements: Increased Spell Damage Increased Fire Damage Adds Fire Damage to Spells Increased Critical Strike Chance for Spells Trigger Socketed Spells when you use a Skill, with a 8-second cooldown Optional affixes: +1 to Level of all Spell Skill Gems

(Shield) Prism Guardian - This allows you to reserve life for your Mana-Reserving skills, it even grants a discount on it. Use this item to put your Aura gems here, reserve more than half of your HP so you'll be Low Life.

+12% to all Elemental Resistances +2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems Socketed Gems have Blood Magic Socketed Gems have 25% reduced Mana Reservation +(20-30) to Dexterity +25% to all Elemental Resistances

(Body Armour) Shavronne's Wrappings - Provides you with a lot of Energy Shield and neutralizes the danger of being killed by Chaos Damage. Other mods present here are very welcome as well.

(3-10)% increased Spell Damage (100-150)% increased Energy Shield 10% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge +(30-40)% to Lightning Resistance Reflects 1 to 250 Lightning Damage to Melee Attackers Chaos Damage does not bypass Energy Shield

(Boots) Rare Boots - Looks for ES and Elemental Resistances, additionally try to get as much Movement Speed as possible, 30% or more being the goal. Tailwind is one of the most priced and rare mods in this slot, plan for it at the late stages of the game.

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 70% Total Elemental Resistances 30% Movement Speed Optional affixes: You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently

Boot enchantment: 10% Chance to Dodge Attack Hits if you've taken a Critical Strike Recently 70% increased Mana Regeneration Rate if you've cast a Spell Recently

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - again, always a solid pick overall. Look for high defensive stats

Min. requirements: Maximum Energy Shield 70% Total Elemental Resistances Increased Maximum Energy Shield Optional affixes: additional Physical to Fire damage conversion

(Belt) Rare Belt - one of the best options for this build. Try to get as much Energy Shield as possible and some extra Resistances

Min. requirements: Maximum Energy Shield Increased Energy Shield Increased Fire Damage Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Attributes Global Physical Damage/Elemental Damage

(Amulet) Presence of Chayula - An Expensive Unique Amulet with absolutely amazing defences. The fact that you cannot be Stunned and 60% to Chaos Resistance are more than enough to deem it one of the essentials for this build.

+(10-16) to all Attributes 30% increased Rarity of Items found +60% to Chaos Resistance Cannot be Stunned 20% of Maximum Life Converted to Energy Shield

Recommended Anointments: Efficient Explosives Champion of the Cause

(Ring) Rare Rings - basically look for high bonus ES and Resistances. If needed also get Attributes here. You can craft Reduced Mana Cost for Non-Channeling Skills or Increased Damage

Min. requirements: 70 maximum ES 70% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Critical Strike Multiplier Attributes Non-channeling Skills have -# to Total Mana Cost

(Ring) Circle of Anguish - Unique Synthesis Item - gives random Implicit Synthesis Mods. The reason these Rings are so good is its Herald of Ash effect - aim for increased Buff Effect and Increased Fire Damage while affected by this buff. It can be really expensive

+(20-30)% to Fire Resistance <One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers> +(20-30) to Strength Adds (20-25) to (26-35) Fire Damage +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance <Two Random Herald of Ash modifier>

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - it's good to have one as long as you’re using an Aura, You're using a couple, so look for the one with Zealotry or Anger related mods

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

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - they should provide extra ES and Damage bonuses

Recommended affixes: maximum ES Critical Strike Multiplier Increased Mine Throwing Speed Optional affixes: Spell Damage/Area Damage

(Jewel) Abyss Jewel - try to get affixes improving your defences and grating you attributes.

Recommended affixes: maximum ES Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Chance to gain Onslaught on Kill Chance to Hinder enemies on Spell Hits

(Flask) Bottled Faith - the best Utility Flask for most of the builds in the game. Consecrated Ground is an extra effect that cannot be overestimated.

Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (30-50)% increased Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius +(1-2)% to Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Effect Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies

(Flask) Cinderswallow Urn - one of the best Utility Flask in the game which grants amazing Life/Mana/ES Recovery on Kills and Onslaught buff, try to get Reduced Mana Cost of Skills during Flask Effect

Onslaught Recharges 1 Charge when you Consume an Ignited corpse Enemies Ignited by you during Flask Effect take 10% increased Damage Recover (1-3)% of Life when you Kill an Enemy during Flask Effect Recover (1-3)% of Mana when you Kill an Enemy during Flask Effect Recover (1-3)% of Energy Shield when you Kill an Enemy during Flask Effect Veiled Suffix

Other suggested Flasks: Experimenter's Quartz Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleeding) Experimenter's Quicksilver Flask of Warding (Curse Immunity) or Enduring Eternal Mana Flask of Warding (Curse immunity) Ample Diamond Flask of Heat (Freeze Immunity) It is important to have mods to remove Bleeding, Freeze, and Curses on your non-unique flasks. The best way to get it is through Einhar’s Beastcrafting

If you have any feedback about this build or suggestions for the next one, please let us know in the comments below! We are always glad to make all kinds of build guides, from end-game monsters to beginner-friendly and budget builds just as this Purifying Flame Miner Saboteur!

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