Scourge Arrow/Toxic Rain
Pathfinder build

Updated for Patch 3.5

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Estimated budget: medium

Patch 3.4 introduced new interesting Chaos/Bow skills - Scourge Arrow and Toxic Rain. At the same time, the Pathfinder class was redesigned, which now grants very high Poison and Chaos Damage bonuses from Attack skills, making it one of the most powerful classes in Path of Exile. While there are plenty of users running around with Toxic Rain, it's the Scourge Arrow to apparently provides much higher single-target DPS when used correctly. 

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1. Gameplay

This Scourge Arrow/Toxic Rain Pathfinder is a typical ranged build. You should focus on slowing down enemies with Toxic Rain, which immobilizes them while Vaal Blight is active and taking them out with Scourge Arrow released at 5 charges for maximum damage. Charging Scourge Arrow should take less than 2 seconds, and just 1 hit will take out anything except for Bosses. The damage it deals is simply terrific. For defenses, this build provides approximately 5,000 Life, Mind over Matter with high Mana Regeneration and Mana Leech, as well as additional Evasion and Dodge Chance.

0:06 Tier 13 Ghetto 0:30 Tier 15 Reef 0:57 Tier 16 Forge of the Phoenix 1:10 Tier 9 Elder 1:23 Tier 16 Lair of the Hydra 1:35 Tier 16 Maze of the Minotaur 1:45 Tier 16 Pit of the Chimera 1:57 Apex of Sacrifice This video was recorded on a level 87 Pathfinder. The total budget was below 10 Exalted Orbs on Delve Softcore. Build also felt so smooth I completely forgot to use Vaal Blight

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Leveling this character is very easy. If you can afford a 4-linked Quill Rain that shouldn't cost more than 2 Chaos Orbs, it will be a smooth ride starting from level 5. Quill Rain provides the highest bonus Attack Speed in the entire game, and the damage reduction does not affect ailments you inflict with Attacks or Caustic Arrow's Damage over Time. You can focus on increasing your Movement Speed and defenses, while Caustic Arrow's Mirage Archer will clear everything for you. You can use this setup until level 66 when you can start using Lioneye's Glare and other higher level gear.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Caustic Arrow setup
	Caustic Arrow - one of the best skills for leveling which can be supported by Mirage Archer as of Patch 3.4. This combination allows you to run around the area while Mirage Archer spreads the Caustic Cloud for you providing insane clear speed with no effort
	Mirage Archer Support - when you hit with supported skill a Mirage Archer is summoned that used Caustic Arrow with slightly reduced Attack Speed and Damage
	Void Manipulation Support - increases Chaos Damage dealt by supported skills
	Vicious Projectiles Support - increases Caustic Arrow's Damage over Time

Toxic Rain setup
	Toxic Rain - Toxic Rain is used to slow down enemies, apply Withered, and deal additional damage
	Withered Touch Support - grants a chance to apply Withered on hit, which increases Chaos Damage taken
	Vicious Projectiles Support
	Increased Area of Effect Support

Utility Gems
	Herald of Agony - new Herald Skill which increases your Chance to Poison and Poison Damage
	Lightning Golem - grants increased Attack and Cast Speed
	Blink Arrow - Movement Skill used in this build

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

29 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Finesse 2) Heart of Oak 3) Herbalism 4) Heavy Draw 5) Deadly Draw

59 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Fatal Toxins 2) Toxic Strikes 3) Revenge of the Haunted 4) Blood Siphon 5) Blood Drinker

Recommended leveling items:

Blackheart - one of the best leveling Rings for this build
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

Quill Rain - the best leveling weapon for this build
100% increased Physical Damage +(10-20) to Dexterity 100% increased Attack Speed +(25-50) to Accuracy Rating +2 Mana gained for each Enemy hit by Attacks (50-100)% increased Projectile Speed 40% less Weapon Damage

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. Nature's Reprisal
2. Master Toxicist
3. Nature's Adrenaline
4. Nature's Boon

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Arakaali 5% reduced Damage taken from Damage Over Time, 10% chance to Avoid Lightning Damage when Hit

Minor God: Soul of Gruthkul 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Scourge Arrow
	Scourge Arrow - is a new channeled Bow skill that should be released always at 5 stacks. It deals moderate "on Hit" damage and insane Poison Damage from all the smaller arrows that are shot from the Spore Pods
	Added Chaos Damage Support - adds flat Chaos Damage to supported skills
	Void Manipulation Support - increases Chaos Damage at the cost of reduced Elemental Damage
	Deadly Ailments Support - increases the Damage from Ailments inflicted by supported skills
	Unbound Ailments Support - increases the Damage from Ailments inflicted by supported skills
	Vile Toxins Support - increases the damage for every stack of Poison the enemy has

[DPS/UTILITY] Toxic Rain
	Toxic Rain - Toxic Rain is used mainly to slow down enemies. With Vaal Blight active any enemy hit will be immobilized, making it an extremely powerful tool in your arsenal
	Withering Touch Support - grants a chance to apply the Withered debuff on Hit, increases Chaos Damage taken by affected enemies
	Faster Attacks Support
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - increases the number of Toxic Rain's projectiles, hence increasing the number of Withered Stacks you can apply with each hit
	Culling Strike Support - will make Toxic Rain instantly kill enemies below 10% Life
	Increased Area of Effect Support

[UTILITY] Golem
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts supported spells when you take a certain amount of damage
	Lightning Golem - Lightning Golem increases your Attack and Cast Speed

[MOBILITY] Blink Arrow
	Blink Arrow - movement skill which can be used with Bows

[UTILITY] Herald of Agony
	Herald of Agony - mandatory skill for this build. It grants a higher Chance to Poison and increased Poison Damage

[UTILITY] Immortal Call and Vaal Haste
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-cats support spells. Keep this Gem at level 1
	Immortal Call - grants brief immunity to Physical Damage. Do not upgrade it above level 3
	Vaal Haste - provides a Vaal Aura which grants increased Attack Speed and Movement Speed for a brief duration. Depending on your gear you can use Haste regular Aura as well
	Increased Duration Support

[UTILITY] Vaal Blight
	Vaal Blight - Vaal Blight increases Chaos Damage taken by affected enemies and slows them down
	Increased Duration Support

5. Gear Setup

Below you will find all the recommended gear for this build. The entire budget of this build is approximately 30 Exalted Orbs, which is not the cheapest but should provide over 2,000,000 Shaper DPS when fully buffed. This should allow you to farm any Boss in the game if you are familiar with the fight's mechanics. If you would like to cut your expenses, you can use a 4 or 5-linked setup for your Toxic Rain, as it's mainly used as a supporting skill, and both Culling Strike and Increased Area of Effect Gems are optional. 

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Our recommended items will:

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

(Helmet) Starkonja's Head - one of the best Helmets for this build. It only lacks Elemental Resistances, but still provides a terrific defensive utility

50% reduced Damage when on Low Life +(50-70) to Dexterity 10% increased Attack Speed 25% increased Global Critical Strike Chance (100-130)% increased Evasion Rating +(80-100) to maximum Life 150% increased Global Evasion Rating when on Low Life

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - preferably Evasion-based

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 40 maximum Mana 25% Fire Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance 25% Cold Resistance

Helmet enchantment: Scourge Arrow deals 40% increased Damage Scourge Arrow creates an additional spore pod at Maximum Stages

(Body Armour) Cloak of Defiance - this is the recommended Armour for this build, as it adds up an additional solid layer of defense

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) (110-150)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield +(100-150) to maximum Mana 1% of Mana Regenerated per second 10% of Damage is taken from Mana before Life Mind Over Matter

(Weapon) Lioneye's Glare - the best in the slot. It grants high DPS, additional Mana (which is extremely important with Mind over Matter) and makes your Attacks never miss

(20-24)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills (150-175)% increased Physical Damage Adds (6-12) to (20-32) Physical Damage (10-20)% increased Attack Speed +(80-100) to maximum Mana Hits can't be Evaded Far Shot

(Weapon) Drillneck  - a very powerful Quiver for this build, which greatly increases the damage you deal with ailments and Hits against enemies your projectiles pierce

Arrows Pierce an additional Target (8-12)% increased Attack Speed +350 to Evasion Rating +(40-50) to maximum Life Adds (10-14) to (19-24) Physical Damage to Bow Attacks Arrows deal 50% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments to Targets they Pierce

(Boots) Rare Boots - with high defensive stats, Life, and Movement Speed bonus

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 30 Dexterity 30 Intelligence 25% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Chaos Resistance Elemental Resistances

Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently Adds 120 to 180 Chaos Damage if you've taken a Critical Strike Recently

(Belt) Rare Belt

Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 35% Fire Resistance 35% Lightning Resistance 35% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: Physical Damage Flask Life Recovery Rate

(Amulet) Rare Amulet

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life added min. 9 Physical Damage to Attacks 15 All Attributes 10% All Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Mana Regeneration Rate maximum Mana

(Ring) Rare Rings

Min. requirements: Adds min. 7 Physical Damage to Attacks 60 maximum Life 35 maximum Mana 28% Fire Resistance 28% Cold Resistance 28% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana

(Gloves) Tombfist - mandatory Gloves for this build. 1 Abyss Socket is enough, and you should input a Searching Eye Jewel in it. It should grant Onslaught on Kill, and it will also make your Attacks slow down enemies by additional 30%

Has 1-2 Abyssal Sockets (6-10)% increased Attack Speed (4-6)% increased maximum Life With a Murderous Eye Jewel Socketed, Intimidate Enemies for 4 seconds on Hit with Attacks With a Searching Eye Jewel Socketed, Maim Enemies for 4 seconds on Hit with Attacks

Glove enchantment: Commandment of Force Commandment of Frost

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

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Damage over Time Optional affixes: Attributes increased Attack Speed with Bows

(Jewels) Abyss Jewels - Searching Eye Jewel is required in the Tombfist, allowing you to immobilize all monsters with Toxic Rain

Recommended affixes: maximum Life added Physical Damage to Attacks/Bow Attacks a chance to grant Onslaught on Kill

(Jewels) Coralito's Signature - this Flask grants the highest Poison Damage bonuses out of all Flasks in the game

Your Critical Strike Chance is Lucky Take 30 Chaos Damage per Second during Flask effect 25% chance to Poison on Hit during Flask effect Your Critical Strikes do not deal extra Damage during Flask effect (50-75)% increased Duration of Poisons you inflict during Flask effect Grants Perfect Agony during Flask effect

(Flask) Sin's Rebirth - grant Unholy Might buff which adds additional Chaos Damage based on your weapons Physical DPS

100% increased Evasion Rating Creates a Smoke Cloud on Use Gain Unholy Might during Flask Effect Immunity to Ignite during Flask effect Removes Burning on use

(Flask) Dying Sun - increases the number of your Projectiles and Area of Effect (greatly increases Scourge Arrow's and Toxic Rain's DPS and AoE)

+50% to Fire Resistance +6% to maximum Fire Resistance (-10-10)% increased Charges used (15-25)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect

(Flask) Witchfire Brew - grants increased Damage over Time and provides Despair Aura, which is extremely important as we don't include this Curse in the Gem setups

100% increased Evasion Rating Creates a Smoke Cloud on Use 50% increased Charges used (25-40)% increased Damage Over Time during Flask Effect Grants Level 21 Despair Curse Aura during Flask Effect

Other suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleeding)

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