Updated for Patch 3.25
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Guide notes |
August 18, 2024 -Updated for Patch 3.25 |
Build overview | |||
Tags: [MELEE] [PHYSICAL] [IMPALE] [LIFE] | |||
Budget: Defenses: |
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Boss DPS: AoE: |
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Cyclone has been one of the most popular Melee builds in the game for a long time now. It's a Channeling Melee Attack that allows you to move while dealing damage to surrounding enemies. This build focuses on expanding the benefits of using it with Warstaves. By using Staves or Maces you're allowed to have your Attacks be supported by Shockwave Support Gem - it's one of the most powerful Support Gems you can link with your Cyclone. Maces generally have low Critical Strike Chance, so it's a better idea to go for Resolute Technique Keysonte while wielding Maces and such. Resolute Technique is actually a great tool for leveling - you don't need to worry about Accuracy Rating nor Critical Strike Chance. To check the guide on the budget/leveling version of this build click this link.
Non-crit builds however can't compare to the Critical Strike-oriented ones - sacrificing this amount of damage is not worth the tradeoff. Staves have actually one of the highest Base Critical Strike Chance out of two-handed Melee Weapons. Unfortunately, there are no Unique Staves you can just buy and be done with looking for a decent weapon (maybe with a few exceptions that will be mentioned later), a good staff can be quite expensive, and there are many mods for this type of build due to its generic nature. Your Maximum Life will be oscillating around 5k, with Enduring Cry as your Warcry to regenerate your Life quickly and Fortify from Overlord Notable from your Large Cluster Jewel. The build requires at least one Large Cluster Jewel, but two is what this build is going with. Slayer is the Ascendancy that is best performing while Leeching - for example, your Life Leech won't be removed while on Full Life.
For the 3.25 update, we've made a lot of changes to the gear and skill setup section to better reflect the modern meta.
You can also check our other Path of Exile builds: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List
Cyclone is one of the smoothest Skills to use - your Movement and Attack Skill are under one button, making this build extremely easy to play, even with just one hand. To jump over obstacles - use Leap Slam. To boost your damage during long fights - use Ancestral Warchief and Ancestral Protector Totems. Use Enduring Cry to regenerate your Life and gain Endurance Charges that will consequently reduce the amount of damage you take and give you some Elemental Resistances.
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PROS |
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CONS |
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It is recommended to follow the Cyclone Slayer Resolute Technique Budget build guide on how to go through the leveling process. Switch to the final version - without Resolute Technique Keystone later in the game, after acquiring the respectable Accuracy rating and Critical Strike Chance. This article is exactly the same regarding Leveling Tips as in the guide listed above.
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Cleave setup | |
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Cleave - very strong AoE Attack which has good base damage and attacks multiple enemies with each swing |
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Melee Physical Damage Support - a great boost to Physical Damage |
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Ruthless Support - every 3rd hit with Cleave will deal much higher damage |
Cyclone setup | |
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Cyclone - the core Attack Skill Gem used in this build. It makes you spin around obliterating enemies |
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Melee Physical Damage Support |
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Pulverise Support - greatly increases your Cyclone's DPS and radius |
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Brutality Support - greatly increases Physical Damage dealt but makes the skill deal only Physical Damage |
Utility Gems | |
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Punishment - the recommended Curse for this build which increases your Melee Damage and Attack Speed |
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Dread Banner - increases your Physical Damage and grants an increased chance to Impale with your Attacks |
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Summon Lightning Golem - increases your Attack Speed |
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Ancestral Warchief - summons a Totem which increases your Melee Damage |
Bandits:
We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points
Leveling Skill Trees:
29 Points Skill Tree
allocate the offensive passives near your starting locations and seek more Maximum Life
64 Points Skill Tree
take Call to Arms and Resolute Technique, passives near the Marauder starting location, and start making your way to the upper side of the tree
Recommended leveling items:
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+(25-35) to Strength (15-25)% increased Global 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 |
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+(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) |
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Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks 5% increased Global 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 |
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+1 to Level of Socketed Strength Gems (80-100)% increased Physical Damage Adds 5 to 10 Physical Damage +(15-30) to Strength Culling Strike |
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+(16-24) to Strength and Dexterity 50% reduced maximum Energy Shield +(30-40)% to Fire Resistance +(30-40)% to Cold Resistance 10% increased Movement Speed when on Full Life +2 to Melee Weapon and Unarmed Attack range 60% increased Melee Damage when on Full Life |
Final Skill Tree:
114 Points Final Skill Tree (does not include Cluster Jewels)
121 Points Path of Building (PoB) link
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in that order:
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 Gruthkul 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%
[DPS] Cyclone setup | |
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Cyclone - your primary DPS skill. Deals massive both single and AoE damage. You can try to get a Vaal Cyclone for an extra burst against Bosses |
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Melee Physical Damage Support - grants very high Melee/Physical DPS bonuses |
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Shockwave Support - Shockwaves are a great DPS enhancement. Tt creates AoE damage around the target. |
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Impale Support - increases your chance to Impale with Attacks which offers one of the highest DPS bonuses for this build |
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Pulverise Support - grants a very high Melee Area DPS bonus and increases the radius of your Cyclone. It can be replaced with the ![]() |
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Brutality Support - grants a very high increase to Physical Damage, but makes supported Skills deal no Chaos or Elemental Damage |
[UTILITY] Automation setup | |
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Automation - Triggers linked Spells for you, saving you buttons to press. |
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Blood Rage - Life Leech, increased Attack Speed, and Frenzy Charges on Kill. The damage is easy to withstand. |
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Berserk - Slowly consumes Rage to increase its effect on you. |
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Phase Run - More Melee Physical Damage, increased Movement Speed, and Phasing. |
[UTILITY] Mana-reserved Spells | |
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Pride - makes enemies receive more Physical Damage, this bonus is amplified the longer your target stays in Melee Range |
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Blood and Sand - allows you to switch between Blood and Sand stances. Use Sand Stance for farming/leveling and Blood Stance against Bosses and tougher rares |
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Determination - more and increased Armour Rating, better Physical Damage mitigation |
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Herald of Purity - Best Herald for pure Physical Damage increase |
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Precision - Aura that grants you Critical Strike-related benefits. At level 1 it reserves little to no mana, while you can still benefit from its minor buffs and Watcher's Eye upgrades |
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Enlighten Support - if your Mana Pool is low with all the Auras enabled, you can use Enlighten Support to reduce the amount of Mana Reserved by them |
[UTILITY] Molten Shell setup | |
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Cast when Damage Taken Support - auto-casts all the supported Utility Skills. You can also add a Curse here - preferably Vulnerability if you can't apply it via Ring affix |
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Molten Shell - Grants a protective shield and extra Physical Damage mitigation based on your Armour. |
[UTILITY] Assassin's Mark setup | |
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Assassin's Mark - Use Assassin's Mark to increase the Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike multiplier. Definitely, the best Curse |
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Mark on Hit Support - applies linked Curse on Hit against Rare and Unique Enemies |
[MOBILITY] Leap Slam setup | |
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Leap Slam - Leap Slam is the recommended Movement Skill for this build |
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Lifetap Support - Leap Slam will cost you no Mana at all thanks to Lifetap |
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Faster Attacks Support - use it to Leap much faster |
[UTILITY] Enduring Cry | |
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Enduring Cry - A Warcry Spell that generates Endurance Charges, grants extra Physical Damage mitigation and instant Life Recovery. it's optional. |
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Below you will find the recommended gear for this build. With a basic understanding of the build and fight mechanic, it should allow you to easily face Shaper on a level 90 character. This is a Crit-based version of this build that utilizes high Physical DPS Staves and standard Life gear. We also have a more budget-friendly Resolute Technique/2H Axe version that can be found here. It's a great build for players who like to tinker with Rare Gear pieces to min-max the damage, which can reach very high levels.
Using this opportunity, we would love to invite you to visit our Path of Exile Marketplace where you can buy cheap PoE Currency in case you can't afford all the items for your character. You can find
Our recommended items will:
Stat priorities on items:
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Min. requirements: 90 maximum Life 80% Total Elemental Resistances Accuracy Rating Optional affixes: Nearby enemies take +#% Physical Damage Intelligence Global Critical Strike Multiplier Spell Suppression Chance |
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+(50-65) to Dexterity 10% reduced Global Physical Damage 16% increased Attack Speed (150-200)% increased Armour and Evasion +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed Mercury Footprints |
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+(20-25) to all Attributes Adds 40 to 60 Physical Damage to Attacks +(100-125)% to Melee Critical Strike Multiplier (100-120)% increased Armour (40-50)% increased Physical Damage taken |
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Min. requirements: 800 Physical DPS 20% increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: Chance to deal Double Damage Increased Critical Strike Chance/Multiplier Accuracy Rating |
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+20% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff (60–90)% increased Unveiled Modifier magnitudes Three Veiled Mods |
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+20% Chance to Block Spell Damage while wielding a Staff +6% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff Adds (135-145) to (160-175) Physical Damage (12-16)% increased Attack Speed (10-20)% increased Critical Strike Chance +1 to Maximum Power Charges 10% chance to gain a Power Charge if you Knock an Enemy Back with Melee Damage |
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Min. requirements: 150 maximum Life Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Armour Chaos Resistance Additional physical Damage Reduction Life Regeneration Additional Critical Strike Chance You can apply an additional Curse Reduced Total Mana Cost of Socketed Attacks |
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(100-150)% increased Armour and Evasion +(80-100) to maximum Life Aspect of the Cat Reserves no Mana +2 seconds to Cat's Stealth Duration Gain up to your maximum number of Frenzy and Power Charges when you gain Cat's Stealth You have Phasing while you have Cat's Stealth |
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Min. requirements: 90 Maximum Life 80% Total Elemental Resistances 35% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently chance to gain Onslaught for 4 seconds on Kill chance to gain Elusive on Critical Strike Freeze and Chill immunity |
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(20-30)% increased Stun Duration on Enemies +(20-40) to Strength (30-40)% more Maximum Physical Attack Damage (40-30)% less Minimum Physical Attack Damage Adds 1 to (15-20) Physical Damage to Attacks +(80-100) to maximum Life Gain 50 Life when you Stun an Enemy |
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Min. requirements: +90 to Maximum Life Added Physical Damage to Attacks Global Critical Strike Multiplier Channelling Skills have -3 to Total Mana Cost (Crafted) Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Attributes Accuracy Pride has Reduced Mana Reservation |
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Has 1 Socket Socketed Support Gems can also Support Skills from Equipped Body Armour +(-30-30)% to Fire Resistance +(-30-30)% to Cold Resistance +(-30-30)% to Lightning Resistance +(-23-23)% to Chaos Resistance |
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Recommended Anointments: Tenacity Ophidian Aim Charisma |
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Min. requirements: +90 to Maximum Life 80% Total Elemental Resistances Channelling Skills have -3 to Total Mana Cost (Crafted) Optional affixes: Global Critical Strike Multiplier Attributes Accuracy Rating Added Physical Damage to Attacks Attack Speed |
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Min. requirements: +90 to Maximum Life 80% Total Elemental Resistances 500 Accuracy Dexterity Optional affixes: Increased Damage while Leeching Attack Speed Added Physical Damage to Attacks Attributes |
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Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Melee/Area/Physical Damage increased Attack Speed Critical Strike Chance Critical Strike Multiplier Attributes |
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(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers> |
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Recommended Affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Feed the Fury 1 Added Passive Skill is Fuel the Fight 1 Added Passive Skill is Martial Prowess 1 Added Passive Skill is Overlord 1 Added Passive Skill is Master the Fundamentals |
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Recommended Affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Titanic Swing 1 Added Passive Skill is Magnifier 1 Added Passive Skill is Basics of Pain 1 Added Passive Skill is Pressure Points |
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+1500 to Armour Adds Knockback to Melee Attacks during Flask effect Knocks Back Enemies in an Area when you use a Flask 75% chance to cause Enemies to Flee on use (7-10)% more Melee Physical Damage during effect |
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40% increased Damage Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (20-40)% increased 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 Flask effect |
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Other suggested Flasks:
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If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below.
Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.