Updated for Patch 3.9
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Estimated budget: medium
Guide notes |
January 5, 2020 -Build created |
Patch 3.9 introduced several new Ballista/Totem Skills which offer completely new and unique playstyle. We have decided to try out the Shrapnel Ballista which ended up being one of the hardest hitting Skills in Path of Exile. It deals simply absurd damage against Bosses and Metamorphs but lacking clear speed that you can be used to as a Bow-user. We called this a "Shotgun" build, as Shrapnel Balistas bear a close resemblance to it, offering MASSIVE damage in close range, but is relatively slow, and ineffective against faraway targets.
At the same time, this build offers insane defenses thanks to permanent Fortify and very high Armour Rating, allowing you to stay in the close range most of the time and farm any content in the game.
You can also check our other PoE builds right here: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List
This is is a Totem build that requires you to place your Totems in melee range for massive damage thanks to Point Blank and Arborix bonuses. Also, Shrapnel Ballistas can hit the same enemy with multiple projectiles, so close-range is where it truly shines. We call this "Shotgun" build since it actually only works in close-range. Shrapnel Ballistas will not even try to hit enemies on the edges of your screen, making it rather slow during leveling and farming Maps. It's the Boss damage that makes this build interesting. It fits the current content perfectly, where Bosses are harder than before.
This video was recorded on a level 91 Champion on Standard using Arborix and Lioneye's Vision Chestpiece. The tooltip DPS was around 15k but it has nothing to do with the actual DPS of your character. It's extremely hard to accurately calculate Shrapnel Ballista's DPS with Impale and Pride |
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PROS |
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CONS |
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Leveling is the slowest part of this build. Not only Shrapnel Ballistas (if you decide to level up using them) have rather slow clear speed, but also you won't get many Bow/DPS nodes early on. You should try completing the first Lab as soon as possible to get the extra added damage from Master of Metal, which will be a game-changer at that point. However, this build makes up for slow clear speed, with amazing defensive capabilities. On top of Ballistas (both Shrapnel and Siege Ballistas will work), you should use another attack for some extra DPS. We recommend using Split Arrow for higher DPS and decent AoE or Ensnaring Arrow for more utility and to level up the Gem that you will be eventually using in your final build.
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Spit Arrow setup | |
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Split Arrow - one of the first Bow Attacks that you will find in the Path of Exile. It now has flat added Physical Damage at all levels making it a great choice for early levels |
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Mirage Archer Support - allows you to progress through campaign while Mirage Archer uses Split Arrow to take down enemies |
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Vicious Projectiles Support - increases Physical Damage dealt by Projectiles |
Shrapnel Ballista setup | |
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Shrapnel Ballista - one of the first Ballista Skills available after you reach level 4. It has very high Damage in close-range, offering amazing single-target DPS. If you feel like you need faster progression, you can use Siege Ballista during the leveling phase instead |
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Lesser Multiple Projectiles Support - great choice of Support Gem if you need faster pack clearing when leveling |
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Vicious Projectiles Support |
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Brutality Support - grants more Physical Damage dealt with Supported Skills |
Utility Gems | |
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Summon Lightning Golem - the recommended Golem for this build which increases your Attack and Cast Speed |
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Herald of Purity - grants added Physical Damage to your Attacks |
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Dread Banner - grants you increased chance to Impale |
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Clarity - even a low-level Clarity will make a big difference on lower levels |
Bandits:
We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passive Points
Leveling Skill Trees:
32 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Bravery 2) Fury Bolts 3) Surveillance - Panopticon - Ironwood 4) Point Blank
62 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Far Sight 2) Thick Skin 3) Watchtowers 4) Herbalism
Recommended leveling items:
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+(25-35) to Strength +25 to Strength Adds 5 to 15 Physical Damage to Attacks 10% increased maximum Life +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 25% increased Flask Life Recovery rate |
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+15 to Dexterity +15 to Intelligence (100-150)% increased Evasion Rating 5% increased Movement Speed (5-10)% of Damage taken gained as Mana over 4 seconds when Hit 10% increased Movement Speed 10% increased Movement Speed for you and nearby Allies |
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+(20-30) to Dexterity +(20-30) to Strength +100 to Accuracy Rating 30% increased Projectile Speed 10% increased Movement Speed 30% increased Projectile Damage |
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+1 to Level of Socketed Bow Gems (80-100)% increased Physical Damage 10% increased Attack Speed +10 Mana gained on Kill +30 to Accuracy Rating |
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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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Final Skill Tree:
116 Points Final Skill Tree
116 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] Shrapnel Ballista | |
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Shrapnel Ballista - the primary source of DPS in this build. Shrapnel Ballistas deal massive Physical Damage in close-range, and if you calculate multiple Projectiles hitting the same target with 100% Chance to Impale, we are talking about millions DPS |
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Brutality Support - grants the highest DPS bonus to Shrapnel Ballistas |
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Maim Support - increases Physical Damage dealt, and Maim enemies - slowing them down and increasing Physical Damage they take |
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Vicious Projectiles Support - increases your Projectile Physical Damage |
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Impale Support - increases the effect of Impale which adds a ton of extra damage. You can also use Slower Projectiles for higher DPS bonus, but it will reduce the effective range of your Projectiles |
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Increased Critical Strikes Support - increases your chance to Critically Hit with Shrapnel Ballistas. If you have hard times getting the Blue Socket on your Chest, you can also replace it with Chance to Bleed Support |
[UTILITY] Ensnaring Arrow setup | |
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Ensnaring Arrow - used to apply debuffs and your Curse. It will deal a moderate amount of damage, just enough to get you some extra Life and Mana Leeched |
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Greater Multiple Projectiles - increases the number of Ensnaring Arrow's Projectiles |
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Curse on Hit Support - will cause Ensnaring Arrow to apply your linked Curse |
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Assassin's Mark - the recommended Curse for this build which generates Power Charges and increases your chance to Critically Hit enemies |
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Maim Support |
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Faster Attacks Support - since you don't have much Attack Speed from other sources, this makes using Ensnaring Arrow much smoother |
[UTILITY] Auras | |
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Precision - grants increased Crit. Chance and Accuracy Rating. It can be used at low levels (1-4) so that it doesn't Reserve too much Mana but that will depend on your actual Items |
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Flesh and Stone - Aura Spell which will increase your DPS while in Blood Stance |
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Pride - the best DPS Aura for this build which increases in effect as you stay in close-range to your enemy. It also makes it possible to use Watcher's Eye which increases the maximum number of Impale stacks on your enemy |
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Enlighten Support - reduces the amount of Mana Reserved by Supported Skills |
[UTILITY] Molten Shell | |
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Cast when Damage Taken Support - will trigger Molten Shell when you take enough damage for the Gem's threshold |
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Molten Shell - grants extra Armour Rating and a very potent protective Shield based on it |
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Increased Duration Support - increases the duration of both Vaal effects |
[UTILITY] Golem setup | |
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Cast when Damage Taken Support - will automatically resummon your Golem after you take a certain amount of damage |
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Summon Lightning Golem - grants increased Attack and Cast Speed |
[UTILITY] Golem setup | |
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Cast when Damage Taken Support - will automatically resummon your Golem after you take a certain amount of damage |
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Summon Lightning Golem - grants increased Attack and Cast Speed |
[UTILITY] Dread Banner | |
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Dread Banner - increases the effect of your Impale, and its effect |
[MOBILITY] Dash | |
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Dash - the recommended Movement Skill which will slightly increase your mobility |
[UTILITY] Blood Rage | |
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Blood Rage - grants you increased Attack Speed, Life Leech, and generates Frenzy Charges when you kill enemies |
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Below you will find the recommended gear for our Shrapnel Ballista "Shotgun" Champion build. The only item that you shouldn't go without is the Arborix Bow. Obviously, this build will work with any high Physical DPS Bow, but without Arborix you would need to find an alternative way to increase the number of your Projectiles - most likely via Greater Multiple Support Gem, which will reduce your DPS output. All other Items in this build can be Rares with appropriate stats.
The recommended items from our list will:
Stat priorities on items:
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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 |
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Min. requirements: 70 Maximum Life 35 Dexterity Nearby enemies take 9% Increased Physical Damage Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances |
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Helmet enchantment: Shrapnel Ballista has 30% increased Projectile Speed |
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Adds (95-115) to (240-265) Physical Damage (60-100)% increased Evasion Rating Bow Attacks fire 2 additional Arrows Every 16 seconds you gain Iron Reflexes for 8 seconds 30% more Damage with Arrow Hits at Close Range while you have Iron Reflexes 30% increased Attack, Cast and Movement Speed while you do not have Iron Reflexes You have Far Shot while you do not have Iron Reflexes |
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Min. requirements: 80 Maximum Life 30% Global Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Global Critical Strike Chance Added Physical Damage to Attacks Accuracy Rating Elemental Resistances |
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Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 15 Pierce (200-250)% increased Armour +(60-100) to maximum Life 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana +160 Dexterity Requirement Enemy Projectiles Pierce you |
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Min. requirements: 70 maximum Life 70% Total Elemental Resistances 30% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Strength |
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Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently 18% reduced Mana Cost of Skills if you've been Hit Recently |
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Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 100% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Armour Rating Maximum Mana |
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Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 50 Intelligence 28% Global Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances added Physical Damage to Attacks |
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Recommended Anointments:
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Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 70% All Elemental Resistances Non-channelling skills have -# to Total Mana Cost Optional affixes: added Physical Damage to Attacks |
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Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 400 Accuracy Rating 35 Dexterity Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Added Physical Damage to Attacks |
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(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana Impales you inflict last 2 additional Hits while using Pride |
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Recommended affixes: maximum Life added Physical Damage to Attacks/Bow Attacks increased Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Chance to grants Onslaught for 4 seconds on kill |
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Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life increased Damage with Bows/Projectile Damage increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier Optional affixes: Attributes |
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+50% to Fire Resistance 20% less Fire Damage taken (-10-10)% increased Charges used Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect (15-25)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect |
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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.