Vortex/Cold Snap
Energy Shield/Chaos Inoculation
Cold Damage Over Time Occultist build

Updated for Patch 3.9

The Best Crafty Guides by Odealo

Estimated budget: mediocre

Betrayal League and Patch 3.5 introduced a completely new type of Damage over Time effects - Cold Damage over Time Spells. This new addition brought Vortex and Cold Snap (that were up to this point almost completely useless) to the highest Tier, making them contenders for being the best Boss killer skills in the game. Great Damage and Area of Cold DoT combined with an enormous amount of Energy Shield thanks to Occultist Ascendancy makes this build perfect for killing all the Bosses in the game, including Shaper and Uber Elder. Regeneration and a massive pool of Energy Shield make this build one of the tankiest in the game as well.

You can also check our other Path of Exile builds: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

Our main skill for both clearing maps and bosses is Vortex. It is an instant cast skill, which means that we can cast it while running, without interrupting movement. The second most important skill is Cold Snap/Vaal Cold Snap, which is great to use against rare monsters and Bosses for more damage and for Maps clearing because it provides us with Frenzy Charges, which increases both Cast and Movement Speed. It will also apply Bonechill, which increases all our Cold Damage over Time and Chill Effect.

0:06 Tier 14 Crimson Temple 0:34 Tier 13 Colosseum 1:03 Tier 14 Palace 1:36 Tier 15 Shaped Belfry This video was recorded on a level 89 Occultist using Cerberus Limb, Solstice Vigil, and Rare Gear. I have decided to skip Elemental Equilibrium and self-casting Storm Brand/Orb of Storms. Instead, I took a CwDT+Lightning Golem setup. It made it less complex to play for the purpose of this video since I do not own a Crafted Sceptre to trigger those Spells. The video was recorded pre 3.9, we may update it eventually though you can assume Boss fights will be longer

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

For leveling, we are going to use Freezing Pulse, before we can switch Vortex at level 28. During leveling, it's recommended to use Life Gear, before you switch to full Energy Shield because it's easier to regenerate with Life Flasks. If you have enough gear with Energy Shield to make your play comfortable, you can do the switch at any time.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Freezing Pulse setup
	Freezing Pulse - one of the first available spells in PoE
	Added Cold Damage Support - adds a lot of Cold Damage
	Lesser Multiple Projectiles Support - boosts the number of supported skills' projectiles

Vortex setup
	Vortex - this will be your main skill throughout the game. Use it from level 28
	Controlled Destruction Support - grants a lot of Spell Damage at the cost of Critical Strike Chance
	Elemental Focus Support - a great boost to Elemental Damage
	Efficacy Support - will boost your Cold Damage, Damage over Time and Vortex duration

Utility Gems
	Flame Dash - your main Movement Skill
	Enfeeble - perfect Curse for our build, reducing Cursed enemies' damage and chance to hit. Preferably linked to Blasphemy so it acts as Aura
	Discipline - grants additional Energy Shield

Bandits:

We recommend killing all Bandits for two additional Passive Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

32 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Arcane Focus 2) Breath of Rime 3) Unnatural Calm

66 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Arcanist's Dominion 2) Written in Blood 3) Arcane Swiftness 4) Fingers of Frost

Recommended leveling items:

Goldrim - one of the best leveling helmets in Path of Exile, will fix your Elemental Resistances during leveling
+(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)

Doedre's Tenure - powerful leveling gloves, providing a lot of Energy Shield and Spell Damage
(50-60)% increased Spell Damage +20 to Intelligence 15% reduced Cast Speed +32 to maximum Energy Shield

Le Heup of All - these Rings provide everything - Attributes, Damage, and Resistances. Perfect choice for the entire leveling process

(10-30)% increased Damage +(10-30) to all Attributes (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found +(10-30)% to all Elemental Resistances

Lifesprig - great leveling Wand, which provides both Spell Damage and Cast Speed. It's recommended to socket your Spells in them as the increased Level of Socketed Gems is a huge damage boost. It's recommended to dual-wield them
(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:

115 Points Final Skill Tree
115 Points Path of Building(PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Void Beacon
2. Frigid Wake
3. Profane Bloom
4. Malediction

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] Vortex
	Vortex - your primary skill for both clear speed and Boss fights
	Controlled Destruction Support - grants a lot of Spell Damage at the cost of Critical Strike Chance
	Elemental Focus Support - a great boost to Elemental Damage
	Efficacy Support - will boost your Cold Damage, Damage over Time and Vortex duration
	Swift Affliction Support - increases Damage over Time
	Hypothermia Support - grants high bonus Damage against Chilled enemies

[CURSE] Temporal Chains Auras
	Blasphemy - it will use our Curses as Auras, automatically applying them to nearby enemies
	Temporal Chains - cursed enemies have less Attack and Movement speed

[DPS] Vaal Cold Snap (socketed in Rime Gaze)
	Vaal Cold Snap - insane Damage boost against Bosses
	Efficacy Support
	Bonechill Support - increases Effect of Chill and Cold Damage over Time
	Hypothermia Support

[UTILITY] Immortal Call setup
	Cast when Damage Taken Support - will auto-cast supported spells after a certain amount of damage is taken by the player. Do not upgrade it above level 1
	Immortal Call - grants brief Physical Damage immunity. Keep this Gem at level 3
	Increased Duration Support - will extend the duration of Immortal Call

[MOBILITY/AURA] Flame Dash + Vaal Discipline setup
	Flame Dash - great Movement ability
	Faster Casting Support  - faster movement with Flame Dash
	Arcane Surge Support  - after casting Flame Dash it will grant Arcane Surge buff, which increases Spell Damage. Keep the Gem at level 6

[UTILITY] Frost Bomb + Storm Brand + Orb of Storms setup Use this setup in a weapon with crafted property "Trigger a Socketed Spell when You Use a Skill" or cast manually
	Frost Bomb - apples Cold Exposure to targets, reducing their Cold Resistance
	Storm Brand - triggers Elemental Equilibrium
	Orb of Storms - same as above

[UTILITY] Aura
	Malevolence - increases your Damage over Time and Skill Effect Duration

[UTILITY] Golem
	Summon Lightning Golem - Lightning Golem increases your Cast Speed so you can also use it if you have empty Sockets
	Cast when Damage Taken Support

5. Gear Setup

This Vortex build is not an expensive build. Below you will find all the recommended gear. If you would like to have the end-game items also added here please let us know in the comments below. 

The recommended items from our list will:

1. Help you cap your Elemental Resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS and Life to start mapping successfully

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - this is one of the best choices, it grants both Resistances and a lot of Energy Shield

Min. requirements: 300 Energy Shield 35% to Fire Resistance 35% to Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Nearby Enemies have -9% to Cold Resistance

(Helmet) Rime Gaze - the best option when it comes to raw DPS

Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Concentrated Effect 30% increased Cold Damage (180-200)% increased Energy Shield 50% reduced Energy Shield Recharge Rate +(40-60) to maximum Mana +(16-22)% to Cold Damage over Time Multiplier

Helmet enchantments: Vortex has increased Cooldown Recovery Speed

(Weapon) Cerberus Limb - it's a great, budget option which provides high DPS and Energy Shield Bonuses

24% increased Elemental Damage (70-100)% increased Spell Damage (15-20)% increased Cast Speed 0.5% of Spell Damage Leeched as Life if Equipped Shield has at least 30% Chance to Block +1 to Maximum Energy Shield per 5 Armour on Equipped Shield +5 to Armour per 5 Evasion Rating on Equipped Shield +20 to Evasion Rating per 5 Maximum Energy Shield on Equipped Shield

(Shield) Rare Shield - if you decided to use Cerberus Limb this shield is the way to go. Try to get one with the highest Armour, for the highest Energy Shield Boost

Min. requirements: 2500 Armour 60% Total Elemental Resistances

(Weapon) Rare Sceptre - with the right affixes this is definitely the best weapon for this build

Min. requirements: Trigger a Socketed Spell when you Use a Skill 70% Increased Spell/Cold Damage Optional affixes: Cold Damage over Time Multiplier

(Shield) Rare Energy Shield - our go-to shield if we are using Rare Sceptre

Min. requirements: 300 Energy Shield 50% Spell Damage Optional affixes: Resistances Cast Speed

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - definitely the only option for Energy Shield build

Min. requirements: 650 Energy Shield 25% Fire Resistance 25% Cold Resistance 25% Lightning Resistance Optional affixes: Dexterity

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - good alternative for more survivability

Min. requirements: 15% Increased Maximum Energy Shield 15% increased Spell Damage 30 Maximum Energy Shield 45 Strength Optional affixes: Attributes

(Amulet) Solstice Vigil - best in the slot for this build, not only reduces the Mana Reservation of Temporal Chains but on top of that grants Shaper's Presence boost which increases the duration of Effects by 50% (like Vaal Discipline or Immortal Call)

+(10-16) to all Attributes (20-25)% increased Damage +(50-70) to maximum Life (2-3) Mana Regenerated per second Temporal Chains has 100% reduced Mana Reservation Gain Shaper's Presence for 10 seconds when you kill a Rare or Unique Enemy

(Ring) Rare Opal Ring - more expensive, but definitely the best option for this build. One with Fire, the other with Cold Resistance

Min. requirements: 40 Maximum Energy Shield 12% to all Elemental Resistances 29% to Fire Resistance/Cold Resistance Optional affixes: Strength/Dexterity Cold Damage

(Boots) Rare Energy Shield Boots - get a pair with the highest maximum Energy Shield and Movement Speed bonuses you can afford

Min. requirements: 150 Energy Shield 20% increased Movement Speed 29% Fire Resistance 29% Lightning Resistance 29% Cold Resistance

Boots enchantment: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently

(Belt) Rare Crystal Belt

Min. requirements: 100 Maximum Energy Shield 22% Fire Resistance 22% Lightning Resistance 22% Cold Resistance Optional affixes: Increased Energy Shield from Body Armour Strength

(Belt) Bated Breath - a great and budget option. Grants decent damage buff and high Energy Shield bonus

+(9-20) to maximum Energy Shield +(15-25) to Intelligence 10% increased Damage +(20-30) to maximum Energy Shield 20% increased maximum Energy Shield 50% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate

(Gloves) Rare Energy Shield Gloves - as much Energy Shield as possible and additional Dexterity for attribute requirements

Min. requirements: 150 Energy Shield 40 Dexterity 29% Lightning resistance 29% Cold resistance Optional affixes: Crafted Strength

(Jewels) Rare Jewels

Recommended affixes: increased Maximum Energy Shield increased Spell/Cold/DoT Damage Optional affixes: increased Cold Damage over Time Multiplier

(Jewels) Abyss Jewels - your priority is maximum Energy Shield and flat Added Damage to Spells

Recommended affixes: Maximum Energy Shield added Elemental Damage to Spells Optional affixes: Strength and Dexterity

(Flask) Witchfire Brew - Increases Damage over Time for both Cold Snap and Vortex. It also grants us the second Curse which increases Damage over Time taken by enemies

50% increased Charges used (25-40)% increased Damage Over Time during Flask Effect Grants Level 21 Despair Curse Aura during Flask Effect

Suggested Flasks: Ample Sulphur Flask of Dousing (immunity to Ignite) Experimenter's Quartz Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleeding) Experimenter's Basalt Flask of Warding (Curse Immunity) Experimenter's Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline (increased Movement Speed)

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.