Spectral Helix
Gladiator/Aul Bloodline Build

Updated for Patch 3.27

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

The Grey Wind Axe grows in power the more Maximum Life you have. It adds flat Fire Damage per Maximum Life. At 20k Life, that is expected to reach, that's up to 2400 Fire Damage on a one-handed weapon, which is twice the number you can hope to get on two-handers. You can increase it with Ratphit Globe, which increases your Spell Damage per Maximum Life. To harness the increase of Spell Damage in an Attack build of this type, you'll need the Crown of Eyes, which also empowers this bonus by a half. We will go about accumulating Maximum Life with The Apostate and The Untouched Soul. It requires items high in Energy Shield and with lots of empty red sockets. It would be wise to take advantage of these empty sockets with Precursor's Release of Aul Bloodline, which prevents Action Speed from falling below 100%, grants Stun immunity, and causes Critical Strikes you take to deal no Critical Damage.

The best Attack to use is probably Spectral Helix because it's not as reliant on Attack Speed as most Attacks, which we can't afford, and it's good right out the bag; you don't need to specialise further to make it work. It fires a Projectile that spirals out and hits enemies as it does so. You can probably get away with other choices, like Crushing Fist, Rage Vortex, or Frozen Legion, so don't hesitate to try them out if Spectral Helix is not up your alley. Our choice of ascendancy is Gladiator because of its incredible Block branch. You can reach over 75% Chance to Block Spells and Attacks, which grows to around 95% when accounting for the element of Luck. A more damage-oriented version of this build could be suited for a Berserker, but we won't delve into it. Combined with the high Maximum Life, the build is extremely durable, and its only weakness is uncontrollable Damage over Time, so be sure you have a way to stop Bleeding and avoid ground effects.

1. Gameplay

Spectral Helix kills anything. Try to stay close to the opponent to get the most damage out of it. You can boost it by casting Flammability. Leap Slam is linked with Fortify, so remember to use it now and then, even when you don't need to close the gap. Your passive skill is Purity of Elements.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

We recommend starting as the Retaliation Gladiator. It's a build that uses Eviscerate and will take advantage of the first two ascendancy passives you take to reach extremely high Block Chance. You may also blast through the campaign with something akin to a Hollow Palm Dex-stacker. Anyhow, start transitioning into this version at around level 80, since you need passive skill points to get enough Life and Block Chance to make this build stand on its own two legs.

Bandits:

An additional Passive Skill Point seems like the best option for this build, but if you have a spare point, help Oak for additional Maximum Life.

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

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

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Determined Survivor
2. More than Skill
3. Precursor's Release
4. War of Attrition

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Arakaali: 10% reduced Damage taken from Damage Over Time; Debuffs on you expire 20% faster

Minor God: Soul of Abberath: 60% less Duration of Ignite on You; 10% increased Movement Speed while on Burning Ground, Unaffected by Burning Ground

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Spectral Helix setup
	Spectral Helix - A Projectile Attack that spirals out. You can use almost any other similar Attack, but Spectral Helix has one of the highest damage outputs, and it doesn't straightforwardly scale up with Attack Speed, which we don't have a lot of.
	Elemental Damage with Attack Support - More Elemental Damage with Attacks.
	Faster Attacks Support - Increased Attack Speed, which this build lacks.
	Fire Penetration Support - Damage penetrates a large portion of Fire Resistance. Use the Awakened version at level 5 to inflict Exposure - good if you have trouble with Rage sustain.
	Cruelty Support - More Damage with Hits via Cruelty buff.
	Combustion Support - More Fire Damage and reduced Fire Resistance of enemies Ignited by it.

[UTILITY] Reservation setup
	Purity of Elements - Immunity to all Elemental Ailments and additional Elemental Resistances.
	Eternal Blessing Support - Since Purity of Elements is your sole Aura, link it with Eternal Blessing to have it for free.

[UTILITY] Flammability
	Flammability - A Hex Curse that lowers Fire Resistance.

[MOBILITY] Leap Slam
	Leap Slam - The Movement ability that you can use with an Axe.
	Fortify Support - Leap Slam Fortifies on Hit, so that you take less Damage per stack of this buff.
	Faster Attacks Support - Optional. Leaving a red socket empty will grant additional Maximum Life.

5. Gear Setup

All Damage comes from Maximum Life. It gets you flat Fire Damage via the Weapon and increased damage via the Helmet and Shield combo. Life also improves your survivability. There is really no point in shifting your focus from it once you have capped your Resistances and gained enough Attributes. Be sure you have a high Block Chance and some way to mitigate Physical Damage. Fire Penetration is scarce, and so is Attack Speed, but if there is an option to get them on items, we'll mention it. The 3.27 patch allows Grafting, so be sure you have two Grafts, each with increased Maximum Life.

(Helmet) Crown of Eyes - Increases to Spell Damage from Rathpith Globe will now affect the Attacks executed with The Grey Wind.

+(300-350) to Accuracy Rating (120-150)% increased Energy Shield -30% to Fire Resistance (0.4-0.8)% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life (0.2-0.4)% of Attack Damage Leeched as Mana Increases and Reductions to Spell Damage also apply to Attacks at 150% of their value

(Body Armour) The Apostate - It's the best way to go about accumulating Maximum Life. It requires gear pieces high in Energy Shield.

Has no Attribute Requirements or Energy Shield (Hidden) +(30-50) to Strength +(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances Gain Maximum Life instead of Maximum Energy Shield from Equipped Armour Items

(Weapon) The Grey Wind - Grey Wind adds Damage based on Maximum Life, resulting in a weapon with absurdly high Flat Fire Damage. The DoT aspect of it is not pursued.

(30-50)% increased Fire Damage Attacks with this Weapon have Added Fire Damage equal to (8-12)% of Player's Maximum Life Each Rage also grants +2% to Fire Damage Over Time Multiplier Nearby Enemies have Fire Exposure while at maximum Rage +(-5-5) to Maximum Rage

(Off-hand) Rathpith Globe - It increases Spell Damage by 5% per 100 Maximum Life, which is later converted to Attack Damage with Crown of Eyes.

(10-15)% Chance to Block Spell Damage (120-160)% increased Energy Shield 10% increased maximum Life Sacrifice 10% of your Life when you Use or Trigger a Spell Skill 5% increased Spell Critical Strike Chance per 100 Player Maximum Life 5% increased Spell Damage per 100 Player Maximum Life

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - High in Energy Shield or ES mixed with Maximum Life. For Suffixes, go for Dexterity and some Resistances. For the Eldritch mods, try to get Attack Speed or Rage on Hit and chance to Maim on Hit. Fire Exposure is already gained from a Support Gem or the Axe.

Min. requirements: +100 to Maximum Life 200 Energy Shield 40% total Elemental Resistance Optional affixes: Dexterity Life Regeneration Chaos Resistance

(Boots) Rare Boots - Boots need to increase your Movement Speed and get you a lot of Energy Shield, which leaves no space for Maximum Life. Then, look for Resistances and Attributes. For Eldritch mods, get Action Speed or Chaos Resistance with Life Regeneration Rate.

Min. requirements: 200 Energy Shield 40% total Elemental Resistance +30% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Life Regeneration Chaos Resistance

(Belt) Rare Belt - You will need a Belt with a lot of Maximum Life, increased Maximum Life via Hunter's mod, and Resistances or Attributes, preferably Strength, to bolster Maximum Life.

Min. requirements: +140 to Maximum Life increased maximum Life (Hunter Prefix) 40% total Elemental Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes Chaos Resistance

(Amulet) The Untouched Soul - All your Items that have their Sockets empty, which are Boots, Helmet, and Gloves, should have them colored Red to gain additional Maximum Life from The Untouched Soul. Increase the Quality of this Amulet with Fertile Catalysts.

(12-20)% increased Rarity of Items found +40 to maximum Life for each Empty Red Socket on any Equipped Item +225 to Accuracy Rating for each Empty Green Socket on any Equipped Item +40 to maximum Mana for each Empty Blue Socket on any Equipped Item +18% to all Elemental Resistances for each Empty White Socket on any Equipped Item

Recommended Anointments: Tenacity Cruel Preparation

(Ring) Rare Rings - We recommend Vermilion Rings with as much Maximum Life as you can afford. Other modifiers, like ones for increased Elemental Damage with Attacks, are not particularly good.

Min. requirements: +120 to Maximum Life Elemental or Chaos Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes increased Elemental Damage with Attacks

(Jewel) Dissolution of the Flesh - Dissolution of the Flesh grants up to 30% more Life. It causes your Life to be reserved when you take damage, so try to avoid receiving it with Block Chance and immunity to degen.

Removes all Energy Shield Life that would be lost by taking Damage is instead Reserved until you take no Damage to Life for 2 seconds (20-30)% more Maximum Life

(Jewel) Foulborn The Red Dream - Foulborn Red Dream increases your Maximum Life; be sure to socket it near Diamond Skin and Barbarism, and tattoo Fire Res on the Strength nodes.

Gain (6-10)% of Fire Damage as Extra Chaos Damage Passives granting Fire Resistance or all Elemental increased Maximum Life at 75% of its value

(Jewel) Sublime Vision - You run only Purity of Elements, so Sublime Vision will be a great addition. It grants Maximum Resistances and increases the effect of the Aura.

+3% to all maximum Elemental Resistances while affected by Purity of Elements Aura Skills other than Purity of Elements are Disabled Auras from your Skills have (20-40)% increased Effect on you

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - It's common to pair Magic Jewels with The Adorned, but that works with Voices and a bit different Skill Tree; we're using only two of them, so it doesn't make sense. Instead, add Block Chance or Attack Speed.

Recommended affixes: increased Maximum Life Attributes Resistances increased Attack Speed while Holding a Shield Chance to Block Attack Damage Chance to Block Spell Damage

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - All Purity of Elements mods on a Watcher's Eye are good, and we're not exaggerating. That's a true claim.

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

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - Attack Damage while Holding a Shield Large Cluster Jewels have some good notables, but their increases to damage are clearly not optimal. Instead, go for Block Chance and Maximum Life here.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Fuel the Fight 1 Added Passive Skill is Martial Prowess 1 Added Passive Skill is Gladiator's Fortitude 1 Added Passive Skill is Prodigious Defence 1 Added Passive Skill is Riot Queller

Other suggested Flasks and Tinctures: Silver Flask with reduced Effect of Curses on you Quicksilver Flask with increased Movement Speed Prismatic Tincture with Elemental Penetration Life Flask with immunity to Corrupted Blood Sulphur Flask with crafted Life Regeneration

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.