Triple Herald
Blade Vortex Elementalist
Starter build

Updated for Patch 3.5

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Estimated budget: low

Along with the Elementalist Ascendancy Class changes in Patch 3.2, Herald skills became much more useful. As a Witch Elementalist character, you can use all three Heralds at once. Thanks to Ascendancy Passives, Heralds will have increased efficiency, reduced Mana Reservation, and grant amazing Elemental Damage Penetration (25% to each element, for every active Herald of that element). Elementalist might not have become the top class in Path of Exile, but earned some new fans in Patch 3.2, and opened up several interesting build options, including this Blade Vortex Triple Herald Elementalist build.

You can also find our other Path of Exile builds right over here: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

Triple Herald Elementalist is a melee spellcaster build, that revolves around the Blade Vortex Spell. Blade Vortex summons ethereal blades around the caster that deal Physical Spell Damage in the radius. A maximum of 20 blades can be summoned at once, and each increased the damage, damage with ailments and chance to hit. Blade Vortex is further amplified by three Heralds and with increased Crit. Chance, you will be instantly Freezing, Shocking and Igniting enemies on your path. On the other hand, high Life, and the Freeze mechanic are the core defensive layers of this build. 

0:06 Tier 15 Summit 0:40 Tier 14 Basilica 1:11 Tier 14 Sunken City 1:46 Tier 16 Guardian of the Hydra 2:18 Tier 16 Guardian of the Chimera This video was recorded on a level 92 Elementalist on the Betrayal League. This character is using two Rare Daggers, Inpulsa's Broken Heart, and Starkonja's Head with Blade Vortex increased duration enchantment

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Leveling a Witch character is one of the easiest of its' kind. You get early access to powerful AoE spells, Spell Damage nodes, and you can summon durable Zombies to aid you on your adventure. Also, since this is a Life-based build, you do not need to adjust your Skill Tree in any way during leveling, and you will save up all the Passive Refund Points.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Freezing Pulse setup
	Freezing Pulse - projectile based-spell that has 100% chance to pierce, making it very good for the leveling phase
	Faster Casting Support
	Arcane Surge Support - grants Spell Damage, and Mana Regeneration Rate bonuses after spending a certain amount of Mana on supported spells
	Added Cold Damage Support - grants additional Cold Damage to your Spells

Firestorm setup
	Firestorm - one of the best leveling AoE spells
	Elemental Focus Support - dramatically increases Elemental Damage of supported skills
	Increased Area of Effect Support - provides increased AoE for clearing areas
	Spell Echo Support - makes supported spell repeat additional time with significantly increased Cast Speed

Utility Gems
	Elemental Weakness - the recommended Curse for this build during leveling phase
	Herald of Ice - grants added Cold Damage to your Spells and causes AoE explosions
	Clarity - provides increased Mana Regeneration rate
	Flame Dash - your mobility skill for the early levels. You should be using wands during, and Whirling Blades won't work with them

Bandits:

Killing all bandits for two additional Passives Points, or you can help Alira for the extra Crit. Multiplier

Leveling Skill Trees:

31 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Occultist's Dominion 2) Heart and Souls 3) Discipline and Training 4) Light of Divinity 5) Devotion

56 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Blast Radius 2) Cruel Preparation 3) Potency of Will 4) Constitution

Recommended leveling items:

Praxis - one of the best spellcaster's leveling ring in Path of Exile
+(20-25) to maximum Mana +(30-60) to maximum Mana (3-6) Mana Regenerated per second -(8-4) to Total Mana Cost of Skills 8% of Damage taken gained as Mana over 4 seconds when Hit

Goldrim - the best leveling unique helmet in Path of Exile. Will cover up all your Elemental Resistances needs till level 50+
+(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)

Wurm's Molt - provides decent Life and Attribute bonuses
+(25-40) to maximum Life +(20-30) to Strength +(20-30) to Intelligence +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana

Lifesprig - one of the most popular Witch's leveling wand. Is perfect to socket your Firestorm setup in it, for the additional Gem level
(8-12)% increased Spell Damage +1 to Level of Socketed Spell Gems (20-28)% increased Spell Damage (5-8)% increased Cast Speed +(15-20) to maximum Life +(15-20) to maximum Mana Regenerate (6-8) Life over 1 second when you Cast a Spell

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

114 Points Skill Tree
114 Points Path of Building(PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Pendulum of Destruction
2. Mastermind of Discord
3. Shaper of Desolation
4. Beacon of Ruin

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%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Blade Vortex
	Blade Vortex - you should summon several blades before approaching enemy packs. Try to adjust to the current difficulty tier and see what's required to kill monsters on your first contact
	Spell Echo Support - makes supported spells repeat with significantly increased Cast Speed
	Controlled Destruction Support - even though this Gem reduces Crit. Chance, it still provides one of the highest DPS bonuses out there
	Physical to Lightning Support - required Gem for full damage conversion
	Increased Critical Strikes Support - increases BV's Critical Strike Chance
	Hypothermia Support - greatly increases your damage with Hits against chilled enemies

[UTILITY] Triple Herald setup
	Herald of Ice - grants added Cold Damage and causes AoE explosions
	Herald of Thunder - grants added Lightning Damage
	Herald of Ash - gives added Fire Damage based on Blade Vortex's Physical Damage. Also causes enemies to Ignite for 25% of overkill damage
	Enlighten Support - reduces Mana Reservation of the supported Herald Skills

[MOBILITY] Whirling Blades setup
	Whirling Blades - your primary movement skill. Is one of the fastest movement skills in Path of Exile, but requires you to use a dagger
	Faster Attacks Support - grants speedier mobility with Whirling Blades
	Fortify Support - hits with WB will grant you the Fortify buff, that reduces your damage taken

[UTILITY] Frost Bomb
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - will auto-cast Vortex. Keep this Gem at level 1
	Frost Bomb - Frost Bomb is an area/duration spell that will reduce affected enemies resistance to Cold damage. Keep this Gem at level 10
	Bonechill Support - increases the effectiveness of Chill effect on affected enemies and the Cold Damage they take

[UTILITY] Orb of Storms/Arcane Surge
	Orb of Storms - used mainly for the Arcane Surge buff, and Blind as an extra layer of defense
	Arcane Surge Support - grants increased Spell Damage and Mana Regeneration Rate. You need to match this gem's level to the current Mana cost of Orb of Storms, to proc the buff with every cast
	Chain Support - will make Orb of Storms hit enemies even slightly offscreen, with a chance to blind them
	Blind Support - grants a chance to blind enemies on hit

[UTILITY] Immortal Call/Golem setup
	Immortal Call - grants brief Physical Damage immunity
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - will auto-cast supported spells after a certain amount of damage is taken by your character
	Increased Duration Support - increased the duration of Immortal Call buff
	Ice Golem - recommended Golem for this build. Is auto-cast by CwDT Support Gem as well

[CURSE] Assassin's Mark
	Assassin's Mark - recommended Curse for this build. It's advised to have it as the "Curse Enemies with Level 8 Assassin's Mark on Hit" Shaped mod on one of your Rings. If you can't afford or find one, just take an Unset ring and manually cast the curse versus Bosses and rare monsters

5. Gear Setup

Our Triple Herald Blade Vortex Elementalist was designed to be a fully viable League Starter build. That's why we are presenting all the items for the budget-friendly variation of this build. End-game items including Shaped weapons, Inpulsa's Broken Heart have also been included on the list. 

At this point, we would love to invite you to visit our Path of Exile Marketplace where you can buy cheap POE Orbs.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully
3. Save you at least a couple of hours since it's all planned out for you!

(Helmet) Starkonja's Head - the best in slot item for this build. It usually doesn't cost much and is perfect for both very high defensive utility, and the increased Critical Strike Chance it provides. It also helps you get the Dexterity needed for Blade Vortex's requirements

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 - may be easier to find and obtain for more casual players

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 28% Fire Resistance 28% Lightning Resistance 28% Cold Resistance

Helmet enchantments: 40% increased Blade Vortex Spell Damage 30% increased Blade Vortex Duration

(Weapon) Rare Spell Damage Dagger  - with added Elemental Damage to Spells, Crit. Chance, Multiplier, and Spell Damage

Min. requirements: 75 increased Global Critical Strike Chance 15% increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier 40% increased Spell Damage 10% increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: added Elemental Damage to Spells added % of your Physical Damage as Elemental Damage (Shaped mods)

(Weapon) Rare Spell Damage Sceptre - with similar stats to daggers. Keep in mind you need a dagger to be able to use Whirling Blades

Min. requirements: 75 increased Global Critical Strike Chance 15% increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier 40% increased Spell/Elemental Damage 10% increased Attack Speed Optional affixes: added Elemental Damage to Spells added % of your Physical Damage as Elemental Damage (Shaped mods)

(Weapon) Doryani's Catalyst - also a solid pick which might be easier to get early in a new League or Event

32% increased Elemental Damage Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Elemental Proliferation Adds (65-85) to (100-160) Physical Damage (11-15)% increased Attack Speed (6-10)% increased Cast Speed (30-40)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance 0.2% of Elemental Damage Leeched as Life (80-100)% increased Elemental Damage

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - should be your first pick when you start mapping. Try to get a cheap fix or six-linked Body Armour from the market, and craft at least 90 Life and whatever Elemental Resistances you can get. A decent piece may cost you as low as 40 Chaos Orbs for six links

Min. requirements: 90 maximum Life 50% mixed total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Attributes

(Body Armour) Inpulsa's Broken Heart - this is the recommended Body Armour for the end-game content. It provides the highest DPS bonuses available for this build

3% reduced Movement Speed (Hidden) +(60-80) to maximum Life (20-50)% increased Damage if you have Shocked an Enemy Recently (25-40)% increased Effect of Shock Unaffected by Shock Shocked Enemies you Kill Explode, dealing (5-10)% of their Maximum Life as Lightning Damage which cannot Shock

(Boots) Rare Boots - with high stats and at least 20% increased Movement Speed

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance 20% Cold Resistance 20% increased Movement Speed

Boot enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently 0.6% of Damage Leeched as Life and Mana if you've Killed Recently Adds 45 to 68 Cold Damage if you've been Hit Recently

(Belt) Rare Belt - preferably a Rustic Sash base for the additional Physical Damage bonus

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance 30% Lightning Resistance 30% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: increased Physical Damage

(Belt) Rare Stygian Vise - will be the best in the slot. Look for similar stats as Leather Belt, and be prepared it might be several times more expensive

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 30% Fire Resistance 30% Lightning Resistance 30% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: increased Physical Damage

(Amulet) Rare Life/Res. amulet - recommended amulet for this build

Min. requirements: 80 maximum Life 15% All Elemental Resistances 30% increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier 20% increased Global Critical Strike Chance Optional affixes: Spell Damage Attributes

(Ring) Rare Life/Res. Ring - with Opal Ring as the best possible base rings

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life 20% Fire Resistance 20% Cold Resistance 20% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: increased Elemental Damage increased Global Critical Strike Chance Attributes

(Ring) Rare Life/Curse Ring

Min. requirements: 60 maximum Life Curse Enemies with Level 8 Assassin's Mark on Hit Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Global Critical Strike Chance & Multiplier

(Gloves) Hrimsorrow - mandatory item for the Elemental Damage conversion

+(20-30) to Strength Adds (5-7) to (13-15) Cold Damage to Spells and Attacks +(40-50) to Evasion Rating +(20-30)% to Cold Resistance 50% of Physical Damage Converted to Cold Damage Reflects 10 Cold Damage to Melee Attackers

(Jewels) Rare jewels - all jewels should provide extra Life and at least one Damage amplification affix

Recommended affixes: % increased maximum Life % increased Generic/Physical/Elemental/Area/Spell Damage Optional affixes: % increased Global Critical Strike Chance % increased Global Critical Strike Multiplier % increased Cast Speed

(Jewels) Abyss jewels - with bonus Life and added Elemental Damage to Spells

Recommended affixes: maximum Life added Elemental Damage to Spells Optional affixes: Global Critical Strike Multiplier Cast Speed

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - grants increased damage and Life Leech

2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect Gain (15-20)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect Gain (10-15)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

(Flask) Taste of Hate - grants amazing Physical Damage mitigation, and extra Cold Damage. Sadly, it's not exactly a budget-friendly Flask. Just use a Life or Quicksilver Flask if you can't afford it

+50% to Cold Resistance +6% to maximum Cold Resistance 20% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage during Flask effect Gain (15-20)% of Physical Damage as Extra Cold Damage during effect 30% chance to Avoid being Chilled during Flask effect 30% chance to Avoid being Frozen during Flask effect

Other suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (bleeding immunity) Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Heat (freeze and chill immunity) Experimenter's Diamond Flask of Reflexes (increased Evasion)

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.