Updated for Patch 3.24
The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo
Guide notes |
May 02, 2024 -Updated for Patch 3.24 |
Build Overview | |||
Tags: [MINION] [PHYSICAL] [BLEED] [LIFE] | |||
Budget: Defenses: |
|
Boss DPS: AoE: |
|
Summon Reaper is one of the most unique Minion Skill Gems, it conjures a powerful Reaper. Reaper of Eviscerating is what we recommend using - this variant forces you to constantly command the Minion, it won't Attack on its own. It's great because the Dash/Ultimate skill it uses is the best part of its whole skill set. Reaper is a Skill designed to be the main damage dealer in any Minion build as it significantly cripples and consumes your other Minions. The Minion has a 50% base chance to cause Bleeding, but it grows to 95% with 20% Gem Quality and Vulnerability Curse on an enemy. We will include Skeletons, not to cause any real damage, but to boost Reaper by granting him various buffs for 25 seconds. Skeletons can be summoned regularly to feed the Reaper. Clear Speed problem can be soothed by equipping Asenath's Gentle Touch Gloves to cause an on-death explosion.
When picking Juggernaut over other classes you're granted an advantage of playing as one of the most durable ascendancies in the game. Almost all the damage here comes from Gems and gear pieces such as two Cold Iron Points and The Tempest Rising Boots added in patch 3.24. For defenses, the build utilizes very high Maximum Life, tons of Armour, Untiring, Unbreakable, Unflinching, and Unstoppable combined with Fourth Vow and Divine Flesh to take almost no damage from Hits. You're able to reach high Life Regeneration, 6 Endurance Charges, and Chaos Resistance capped at over 80%. If you want to be extra stout, allocate Indomitable Resolve via Forbidden Jewels to take 25% less damage on top of all previously-mentioned virtues. This absurd sturdiness completely justifies relatively low damage and not-so-optimal clear speed.
You can also check our other Path of Exile builds right over here Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List
Command the Reaper to progress forward. For boss fights, you can deploy Skeletons before the fight starts to boost your Reaper. Later, use Whirling Blades to dodge attacks. The Attack will always Hit due to the Resolute Technique. For Curses use Temporal Chains from Asenath's Gentle Touch and Vulnerability cast from Skitterobt. For a Guard Spell use Immortal Call. For Auras, we've used Pride, Determination, War Banner, Skitterbots, Aspect of Spider, Flesh and Stone, and temporary Malevolence. You're only able to fit all of them if you have some extra Reservation Efficiency, Enlighten Support, or some specific Notables on the Megalomaniac. That leaves you with no Mana so Eldritch Battery is a must-have.
|
PROS |
|
CONS |
|
Leveling might be difficult, there are no Minion-related nodes nowhere nearby your starting location. Even later on, most of your damage comes from high-level Skill Gems rather than passives or items. There are a few Skills that connect the Minion and Strength-based character archetypes, these are Absolution, Domination Blow, or Herald of Purity. Start with a Ground Slam, and play as a regular Attack Build. You can carry on like this until maps, but to transition into a proper Minion build as early as it's possible, start using Domination Blow at level 28. You can then allocate Gravepact, Retribution, and other such notables for more Minion Damage. Start using Pride and Herald of Purity for more Physical Damage and Minions. These minions are short-lived and depend on you starting the chain reaction to set them all up, so investing in your own Attack Damage is also something to keep an eye on. Reaper requires level 28 and you can start using it alongside your other minions as soon it's possible. Minions Damage over Time should grow over time as you progress through maps.
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Ground Slam setup | |
Ground Slam - A simple AoE Attack that you can use since level 1. | |
Ruthless Support - Increases Damage of every third Attack. | |
Added Fire Damage Support - Adds Fire Damage sourced from Physical Damage. |
Dominating Blow setup | |
Dominating Blow - A Strike Attack that summons a Minion after Killing an opponent or Hitting a unique enemy. These benefit from the same Attack modifiers as you do. | |
Ruthless Support | |
Multistrike Support - The Attack is being repeated resulting in more DPS, even if it deals less damage. | |
Minion Damage Support - Minions deal more Damage and have less Maximum Life. | |
Bloodlust Support - Minions deal more Damage against Bleeding opponents, but cannot inflict Bleeding themselves. Use with Reaper only. | |
Maim Support - Maims on Hit to reduce movement speed and increase Physical Damage received. |
Summon Reaper setup | |
Summon Reaper - Reaper can be used to cause Bleeding and deal a formidable Bleeding Damage, use it much later in the game, it will weaken all your other Minions. | |
Brutality Support - Minion deals more Physical Damage, but can only deal Damage of this type. | |
Chance to Bleed Support - The Chance to cause Bleeding is increased, as is Bleeding Damage itself. | |
Minion Damage Support |
Mana Reservation setup | |
Pride - Nearby enemies take more physical Damage, the effect is doubled after four seconds. | |
Herald of Purity - Grants you more Physical Damage and summons Minions after you Kill or Hit an enemy. |
various Gems | |
Vulnerability - A Curse that makes enemies more vulnerable to Physical Damage and Bleeding. | |
Summon Holy Relic - Use it to regenerate Life for you and your Minions, you can even link it with Minion Life Support to make them more durable. |
Bandits:
you should kill all three Bandits for two additional Skill Points
Leveling Skill Trees:
31 Points Skill Tree
Start with Maximum Life, Minions' Damage, and Resolute Technique Keystone.
68 Points Skill Tree
Head for more Minion Damage nodes, more Maximum Life, and Maximum Endurance Charges
Recommended leveling items:
Le Heup of All - it's one of the best leveling Rings, it grants a lot of Attributes, Damage, and Resistances |
Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks +(10-30) to all Attributes (10-30)% increased Damage (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found +(10-30)% to all Elemental Resistances |
Goldrim - this Helmet offers a lot of Elemental Resistances |
+(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) |
Chober Chaber - It's a very good weapon to put your main damage setup in. It grants damage to you and your Minions. Available at level 40. |
+1 to Level of Socketed Melee Gems +1 to Level of Socketed Minion Gems 20% reduced Strength Requirement (200-220)% increased Physical Damage 25% increased maximum Mana Minions have (20-40)% increased maximum Life 15% increased Skill Effect Duration |
Tabula Rasa - use Tabula for the six, white, linked sockets | |
Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden) Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden) |
Final Skill Tree:
96 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster or Unique Jewels)
123 Points Path of Building (PoB) link
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in that order:
Pantheon:
Major God: Soul of Arakaali: 10% reduced Damage taken from Damage Over Time
Minor God: Soul of Gruthkul: 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%
[DPS] Summon Reaper of Eviscerating setup | |
Summon Reaper of Eviscerating - Summon Reaper of Eviscerating. You have to command it constantly, but its Damage is great. It has high Accuracy, and with Vulnerability, a 95% chance of causing Bleeding, which is enough. | |
Minion Damage Support - It increases Minions' Damage but lowers its Maximum Life. Get the Awakened version. | |
Brutality Support - Linked Skills are restricted to dealing only Physical Damage, which is vastly improved. | |
Deadly Ailments Support - Less Hit Damage, but much more Damage with Ailments, including Bleeding. | |
Melee Physical Damage Support - Use it for more Melee Physical and Bleeding Damage, but lower Attack Speed. Attack Speed is not important anyway. | |
Swift Affliction Support - Swift Affliction grants More Damage over Time and lessens Bleeding Duration. You could replace it with Unbound Ailments - it results in less DPS but the Bleeds now last around 15 seconds which is nice. | |
Volatility Support - If you have Uul-Netol's Vow you can host one more Support Gem. Volatility is great as it increases the Maximum Damage by a lot - you can keep using Reaper's Attack until you get a high roll for a much better Bleed. |
[UTILITY] Whirling Blades Setup | |
Whirling Blades - The movement Ability used to move faster and Maim. | |
Faster Attacks Support - Whirling Blades is now much faster. | |
Momentum Support - It grants you a bit of extra Attack Speed. | |
Maim Support - Enemies Maimed this way take 10% increased Physical Damage. It lets you use Sand Stance if you wish to. |
[UTILITY] Aura setup socketed in The Devouring Diadem |
|
Determination - Grants an additional and increased Armour. | |
Pride - An Aura that affects enemies and causes them to take increased Physical Damage. It's twice as effective after four seconds of continuous exposure. | |
Summon Skitterbots - Skitterbots Chill and Shock nearby opponents increasing your Damage. The Chilling one will be replaced with a Hexing Vulnerability Aura gained via Profane Proxy. | |
Enlighten Support - linked Aura Skills have an increased Mana Reservation Efficiency. You will need one at level 4 if you wish to fit all the Mana-reserving Skills we have listed. |
[UTILITY] Vulnerability socketed in the Left Ring Slot's Profane Proxy |
|
Vulnerability - Cursed enemies are 25% more likely to start Bleeding when Hit. They also take increased Physical Damage. |
[UTILITY] Malevolence setup | |
Malevolence - Allies within its range deal more Damage over Time and have increased Skill Effect Duration. | |
Divine Blessing Support - Malevolence becomes a temporary and more potent Aura. You have the Eldritch Battery and enough ES to cast it. | |
Generosity Support - A Support Gem that makes Malevolence affect only your Minions with increased effectiveness and range. |
[UTILITY] Immortal Call setup | |
Immortal Call - Makes you take less Elemental and Physical Damage. Consumes up to 5 of your Endurance Charges to increase its duration and Physical Damage Reduction. | |
Cast when Damage Taken Support - Immortal Call is cast when enough damage has been taken. |
[UTILITY] Enduring Cry setup | |
Enduring Cry - Generates Endurance Charges, Regenerates Life, and improves the effect of your Endurance Charges by 50% for 2 seconds. | |
Call to Arms Support - Automatically casts Enduring Cry whenever it's possible. |
[UTILITY] Various Gems | |
Flesh and Stone - While in Blood Stance - nearby enemies are Maimed and receive increased Physical Damage. Sand Stance protects you from enemies far away. Stay in Blood Stance so that Maimed enemies will take more Damage because of the effect inherent to this Skill and one Suffix on a Ghastly Abyss Jewel. | |
War Banner - Your Minions have increased Accuracy Rating and nearby enemies take increased Physical Damage. | |
Summon Skeletons - Use Skeletons to feed your Reaper. Skeletons have the best base Cast Speed and you summon 3 of them at once. |
[UTILITY] Aspect of the Spider | |
Aspect of the Spider - Aspect of the Spider applies a stackable debuff to nearby enemies that Hinders them and increases the damage they take. It's the least important Mana-Reserving Skill that also puts some pressure on your Suffixes, so you can give it up if you wish to. |
|
The build does require some more or less expensive unique and rare items. We recommend putting on mostly Unique items and leaving only the Ring to be of Rare rarity. To gain more Damage you will need to increase the Gem Level of Summon Reaper - level 30 is achievable and that's usually where you should stop. Gain some Minion DOT modifiers from Jewelry and Jewels. You should be able to apply two Curses by anointing Whisper of Doom. Gather Armour, Maximum Life, Chaos Resistance, and Elemental Resistances - these are the most basic and common defensive layers, a foundation of your survivability. Rare items are generally cheap, but you can spend a lot on multiple Ghastly Abyss Jewels and Large Cluster Jewels. To fit in all the Mana-reserving Skills you will need one Jewel with 3% Mana Reservation Efficiency.
Our recommended items will:
Stat priorities on items:
|
(Helmet) The Devouring Diadem - Put your three most expensive Mana-reserving Skills here linked with Enlighten. It also switches your Energy Shield to apply to Mana, which is undoubtedly essential to cast any Skills. | |
+1 to Level of Socketed Gems Socketed Gems have 25% increased Reservation Efficiency Trigger Level 15 Feast of Flesh every 5 seconds (180-220)% increased Energy Shield 10% chance for Energy Shield Recharge to start when you use a Skill Eldritch Battery Veiled Suffix |
|
(Weapon) Cold Iron Point - Use two of these. Add to that Level 21 Summon Reaper, Awakened Level 5 Minion Damage Support, and a Corrupted Unique Body Armour to reach Gem Level 30. | |
30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance +3 to Level of all Physical Spell Skill Gems Deal no Elemental Damage |
|
(Body Armour) The Fourth Vow - Combined with Divine Flesh and Unbreakable it's one of the best Armours in the game to mitigate Elemental and Physical Damage. It requires high Chaos Resistance. | |
Physical Damage taken bypasses Energy Shield (150-250)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +(17-29)% to Chaos Resistance Regenerate 3% of Life per second Armour also applies to Chaos Damage taken from Hits |
|
(Boots) The Tempest Rising - Triples your Minion's damage against stationary targets because of how Bleed works. It only works against enemies affected by Elemental Ailments, so you will use a Skitterbot to Shock them. Try to become Bleed-immune - Use Watcher's Eye to become Unaffected by Bleeding or Rare Jewels for a 100% chance to Avoid Bleeding. | |
(80-120)% increased Armour 30% increased Movement Speed (5-25)% increased Duration of Ailments on Enemies Damaging Ailments deal damage (5-25)% faster You and Enemies in your Presence count as moving while affected by Elemental Ailments |
|
(Gloves) Asenath's Gentle Touch - Use these Gloves to Curse opponents with Temporal Chains and to make them explode on death. Remember to extend your Curse limit with Amulet anointment. The main reason behind these Gloves is to improve your clear speed so you can switch them for Pinnacle Bosses. | |
+(20-30) to Intelligence +(60-80) to maximum Life +(60-80) to maximum Mana Curse Enemies with Temporal Chains on Hit, with 40% increased Effect Non-Aura Curses you inflict are not removed from Dying Enemies Enemies near corpses affected by your Curses are Blinded Enemies Killed near corpses affected by your Curses explode, dealing 3% of their Life as Physical Damage |
|
(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves are used only for the most basic defenses like Maximum Life and Resistances, but you can also get some Attributes here - Dexterity and Intelligence will be important. For the Eldritch mod get "Minions deal increased Damage". | |
Min. requirements: +60 to Maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Chaos Resistance Dexterity and Intelligence |
|
(Belt) Darkness Enthroned - The build needs at least five Ghastly Abyss Jewels, equip this Belt for more Abyss Sockets. Ghastly Jewels can be extremely powerful, especially the ones socketed here. | |
Has 1 Abyssal Socket Has 1 Abyssal Socket (50-100)% increased Effect of Socketed Abyss Jewels |
|
(Amulet) Rare Amulet | - You can use a Rare Amulet mainly to increase the Gem Level of Summon Reaper and gain Attributes. Maximum Life and Resistances are also easily obtainable.|
Min. requirements: +50 Maximum Life +70% to Resistances Dexterity and Intelligence Optional affixes: Attributes +1 to Level of all Skill/Physical Skill Gems Mana Reservation Efficiency |
|
(Amulet) Uul-Netol's Vow | - Support Gems are immensely valuable in this build and you don't really need any other Amulet if your Attributes and Resistances are already high enough.|
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 |
|
(Amulet) Defiance of Destiny | - As tanky as the build is against Hits, good Life Recovery is equally as important for survivability. You already have somewhat good Regeneration from Enduring Cry and Untiring, but if that's not enough, get DoD. It instantly Recovers up to 42% of your Life before receiving a Hit.|
(20-30)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +(60-80) to maximum Life +(10-40)% to Fire Resistance +(10-40)% to Cold Resistance +(10-40)% to Lightning Resistance Gain (25-35)% of Missing Unreserved Life before being Hit by an Enemy |
|
Recommended Anointments: Whispers of Doom |
|
(Ring) Rare Rings - Bone Rings can roll a powerful "Minions deal increased Damage" Prefix so keep that in mind. Attributes, Life, and Resistances should be here too. The Aspect of the Spider can be crafted if you have one open Suffix. | |
Min. requirements: +50 Maximum Life +40% to Resistances Dexterity and Intelligence Optional affixes: Minions deal increased Damage Aspect of the Spider (Suffix) |
|
(Ring) Profane Proxy - Put the Vulnerability Curse here. Your Skitterbots should apply it instead of Chilling. It's better to Shock than Chill in our opinion, but this may vary from player to player. | |
Has 1 Socket +3 to Level of Socketed Curse Gems +(20-30)% to Cold Resistance +(20-30)% to Lightning Resistance Left Ring Slot: Your Chilling Skitterbot's Aura applies Socketed Hex Curse instead Right Ring Slot: Your Shocking Skitterbot's Aura applies Socketed Hex Curse instead |
|
(Jewel) Rare Ghastly Abyss Jewels - You will need at least five Ghastly Jewels, these are abundant in Minion modifiers which you should obviously strive for, but if you're missing Attributes or Resistances, you can get them here too. | |
Recommended affixes: Maximum Life Attributes Resistances Minions deal # increased Damage if you've used a Minion Skill Recently Enemies Maimed by you take 5% increased Damage Over Time |
|
(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Used mostly for the increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills Prefix. It's needed to fit in all the Auras. | |
Recommended affixes: Maximum Life Attributes Resistances 2% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills |
|
(Jewel) Amanamu's Gaze - Four Rare Jewels plus this one will grant you +30% Damage over Time Multiplier. Definitely worth acquiring | |
+(5-10) to all Attributes Minions have +6% to Damage over Time Multiplier per Ghastly Eye Jewel affecting you, up to a maximum of +30% |
|
(Jewel) Glorious Vanity - Get the Xibaqua variant for Divine Flesh. Socket it near the Eternal Youth you want to transform - it's where it won't interfere with the build too much. You could also seek a roll that changes Expertise and Ancestral Knowledge into something better like Cult of Chaos or some missing Resistances. | |
Bathed in the blood of (100-8000) sacrificed in the name of (Ahuana-Doryani-Xibaqua) Passives in radius are Conquered by the Vaal Historic |
|
(Jewel) Fortress Covenant - Socket it in a Cluster Jewel to contain its downside. It increases Minion's Damage. | |
Minions deal (35-45)% increased Damage Minions have +(10-12)% Chance to Block Attack Damage Minions have +(10-12)% Chance to Block Spell Damage Notable Passive Skills in Radius are Transformed to instead grant: Minions take 20% increased Damage |
|
(Jewel) Megalomaniac - Since Maximum Chaos Resistance is so important, we recommend Born of Chaos or Antivenom - you can find them in small Cluster Jewels, but Megalomaniac can get you both. Blessed, Rot-Resistant, Uncompromising, Militarism, Exploit Weakness, Master of Command, and many other Notables can also be extremely useful in this build. | |
Adds 4 Passive Skills Added Small Passive Skills grant Nothing <3 Random notable mods> |
|
(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - Look for Determination modifiers for extra durability and Malevolence's Bleed Immunity. | |
(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 - Large Cluster Jewel can be used to gain more Jewel Sockets and for minor bonuses to Minions' Damage or extra Attributes/Resistance via small nodes. It quickly adds up, so using two of these with 12 passives each is definitely a wise option. | |
Recommended affixes: Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +#% to Chaos Resistance Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +# to Dexterity or Intelligence Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +# to Maximum Life Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect |
|
(Jewel) Progenesis - Great for mitigating large Hits, and even better with good Life Recovery. We recommend getting one if you use Defiance of Destiny. | |
+35% to Chaos Resistance (20-10)% reduced Charges per use (-35-35)% increased Duration When Hit during effect, 25% of Life loss from Damage taken occurs over 4 seconds instead |
|
Other suggested Flasks:
|
|
|
If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.
Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.