Winter Orb
Occultist Build

Updated for Patch 3.22

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Winter Orb is one of the best mapping skills for a Cold Damage Caster. Occultist enhances the build by providing Power Charges, Increases Area of Effect, and Increases Cold Damage -  these three elements will be one of the most important parts of the build, they elevate the damage by a huge amount. This Build uses Badge of the Brotherhood, which is the most expensive Unique Item in this build. With 2 Void Batteries, all additional Maximum Power Charges from the skill tree, and after the first ascension, your Number of Maximum Power Charges will be equal to 9. In order to gain that many Frenzy Charges you'll need a Chance to gain Frenzy Charge on Hit on Body Armour - a Redeemer's Suffix.

You'll also need Elusive - for movement speed and a chance to avoid hits, Badge of the Brotherhood Increases its effect making it really good. With Life at around 4k and ES equal to give or take half of that, the build is relatively safe. By allocating Corrupted Soul we gain even more ES, but it requires leech on both - Life and ES. Your characters - due to its ascendancy - will be immune to all cold-related ailments: freeze and chill

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

1. Gameplay

One of the fastest clearing builds in the game, with Winter Orb you won't have to aim at enemies, just occasionally stop and channel the Ability for a second. Single target damage is good, the build is focused on clear speed but the damage is more than enough to deal with all types of content the game has to offer. Defensive capabilities are dependent on having good rare items - usually capping your Elemental Resistances and having much Life on them is enough, but there are few mods that are absolutely mandatory.

This video was recorded on a level 94 Occultist on Standard League. The build runs very smoothly, with tons of damage clear speed, and mobility

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Equip wands with Increased Spell Damage and any spell that's available from the start, such as Storm Mine or Frostbolt, later switch to Winter Orb and try to mimic the final build. Invest in Tabula to go through the leveling process as fast as it's possible. Even without some really important mods and items, the game will be somewhat playable but meeting the requirements presented as obligatory will make the build as good as it should be in the later stage of the game. 

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Winter Orb setup
	Winter Orb - Use Winter Orb as soon as your previous Spell is not sufficient. There is no rush - it all depends on your items when you switch. Remember to use Cold Spell after you invest in Cold Damage on the tree.
	Controlled Destruction Support - great increase in damage
	Lesser Multiple Projectiles Support - increases your clearing speed
	Inspiration Support - reduces the mana cost of skill

Flame Dash setup
	Flame Dash - one of the best Mobility Skill
	Faster Casting Support - faster Casting for Flame Dash

Arcanis Brand setup
	Arcanist Brand - attaches to an enemy and activates linked spells, useful when dealing with bosses
	Frost Bomb - Frost Bomb applies cold exposure to enemies reducing their resistance to Cold Damage
	Frostbite - a curse that lowers enemy Cold Resistance

Bandits:

Killing all three Bandits for a couple of extra Passive Skill Points is a good choice, but Helping Alira is beneficial too if you need Mana Regeneration Rate, Elemental Resistances, and Critical Strike Multiplier.

Leveling Skill Trees:

29 Points Skill Tree
Go immediately for the Cold Damage Cluster using the path presented here

62 Points Skill Tree
Take all the Aditional Maximum Power Charges and Disciple of the Forbidden, and invest in offensive and defensive nodes as you go

Recommended leveling items:

Le Heup of All - One of the best leveling rings due to its Elemental Resistances and Attributes

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 - Grat leveling Helmet, again thanks to its Resistances, price, and availability

+(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)

Tabula Rasa - One of the items which makes leveling much easier, it's also one of the cheapest and definitely worth its price.

Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden) Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)

Storm Prison - Start with this Wand - it synergizes really well with Your Power Charges - the core part of this build.

(11-15)% increased Spell Damage (40-60)% increased Physical Damage Adds 1 to (35-45) Lightning Damage (15-25)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate +1 to Maximum Power Charges (25-35)% chance to gain a Power Charge on Kill

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

86 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels nor Thread of Hope)
123 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Forbidden Power
2. Void Beacon
3. Frigid Wake
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 Abberath: 60% less Duration of Ignite on You

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Winter Orb setup
	Winter Orb - auto-targeting enemies with Projectiles makes mapping a really comfortable experience. You need to channel it for a moment and then progress fast while the Orb kills enemies all around you
	Power Charge on Critical Strike Support - more damage per Power Charge
	Inspiration Support - for Less Mana Cost and more damage
	Added Cold Damage Support - adds Cold Damage to your Projectiles increasing your damage. After acquiring the Unique Amulet, switch it to  Ice Bite Support.
	Infused Channeling Support - great offensive and defensive choice for any Channeling Skill
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - upgrades your clearing speed

[DPS] Vortex setup
	Vortex - This should be your move button, It creates a zone dealing Cold Damage over Time which also Explodes
	Bonechill Support - enemies Hit by Vortex take much more Cold Damage from all sources
	Inspiration Support - It's optional

[UTILITY] Immortal Call and Vall Righteous Fire setup
	Immortal Call - Guard Spell, used to avoid incoming damage. Best to use it at level 1 for more frequent casts
	Vaal Righteous Fire -  upon activation provides your character with more Spell Damage, use one with Divergent Quality for more Spell Damage
	Increased Duration Support - used to make linked Skills last longer
	Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call will be cast after taking a specified amount of damage. Do not upgrade this Gem above level 1 for the best efficiency

[MOBILITY] Dash setup
	Flame Dash - Mobility Skill to rapidly teleport from one place to another
	Arcane Surge Support - keep it at level 7 for more Spell Damage and Mana Regeneration Rate

[UTILITY] Arcanist Brand setup
	Arcanist Brand - Brand that triggers linked to it Spells - Curse and Frost Bomb
	Frost Bomb - Frost Bomb applies cold exposure to enemies reducing their resistance to Cold Damage
	Sniper's Mark - Curse that makes your enemies take more damage from projectiles and grants you Flask Charges

[UTILITY] Mana-reserving setup
	Hatred - an aura that makes you deal more Cold Damage
	Herald of Ice - Herald-type skill that makes you deal increased Cold Damage and adds Cold Damage to Skills while also shattering Frozen enemies.
	Enlighten Support - increases Mana Reservation Efficiency for linked Spells
	Zealotry - More Spell Damage and more Spell Critical Strike Chance

[UTILITY] Mana-reserving setup
	Determination - Use it for more and increased Armour. With the removal of Mana Reservation Efficiency Mastery, it will be hard to keep it so to fit it you will need to adjust the whole build a bit. That's why it is no longer recommended.
	Defiance Banner - Increases your Armour, Evasion, and reduced Critical Strike Chance for nearby enemies. If you need more unreserved mana, don't use it.
	Enlighten Support

[UTILITY] Frostbite
	Frostbite - This Curse reduces Cold Resistance, it should be applied automatically via Ring's Affix

5. Gear Setup

This build's source of power is its gear, so it's really important to get it right. In this section, you'll find all the guidance on which mods are important, which uniques are necessary, and what to look for when looking for items.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances at 75%
2. Provide you with enough DPS, Life, and ES to start mapping

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - You need to find Blizzard Crown as a base for your  Helmet, it's good to have +1 to max Power Charges on it but don't focus on that until your defenses are fine.

Min. requirements: 70 Maximum Life 80% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: +1 to Maximum Power Charges Nearby Enemies have -#% to Cold Resistance Chaos Resistance

Helmet enchantments: Winter Orb has +2 Maximum Stages

(Weapon) Void Battery - You'll need two of these. Since you're using many Power Charges it'll increase your damage by something close to 200% each. It additionally grants more Maximum Power Charges, Cast Speed, and Global Critical Strike Chance.

(36-40)% increased Spell Damage 80% reduced Spell Damage (10-20)% increased Cast Speed (50-65)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance +(40-50) to maximum Mana +1 to Maximum Power Charges 25% increased Spell Damage per Power Charge

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - A 10% chance to gain Frenzy Charge on Hit is the most important mod for you since this will be the only reliable way to gain 9 or 10 on them instantly. Look for Maximum Life and Elemental Resistances

Min. requirements: 10% chance to gain Frenzy Charge on Hit 100 Maximum Life Gain 10% of Maximum Life as Extra Maximum Energy Shield (crafted) Optional affixes: Enemies you Kill have a #% chance to Explode, dealing a tenth of their Maximum You can apply an Additional Curse Elemental and Chaos Resistances

(Boots) Rare Boots - It's really important to have a chance for Elusive on Critical Strike. Besides that look for Maximum Life, Movement Speed, and Elemental Resistances

Min. requirements: 10% chance to gain Elusive on Critical Strike 70 Maximum Life 30% Increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently Elemental and Chaos Resistances chance to gain Onslaught for 4 seconds on Kill

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

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - nothing too fancy, just a bunch of Resistances and Maximum Life

Min. requirements: 80 Maximum Life 80% Total Elemental Resistances Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Maximum Energy Shield Attributes Increased Damage with Hits against Chilled enemies

(Belt) Rare Belt - Look for a solid Stygian Vise with high defensive stats and Strength

Min. requirements: 100 Maximum Life 90% Total Elemental Resistances Strength Optional affixes: Attributes increased Cold or Elemental Damage increased Damage with Hits against Chilled Enemies

(Amulet) Badge of the Brotherhood - The most expensive Unique in this build. It is however essential. Your Maximum Frenzy Charges will be now equal to your Maximum Power Charges which is great for the presented type of build.

+(16-24) to Dexterity and Intelligence (7-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate of Travel Skills per Frenzy Charge (7-10)% increased Effect of Elusive on you per Power Charge (20-25)% chance to lose a Frenzy Charge when you use a Travel Skill (20-25)% chance to lose a Power Charge when you gain Elusive Your Maximum Frenzy Charges is equal to your Maximum Power Charges

Recommended Anointments: Disciple of the Slaughter Charisma

(Ring) Rare Ring - Find a ring that Curses enemies with Frostbite or Elemental Weakness on Hit, preferably Frostbite. It should grant you Attributes, Maximum Life, Resistances, or added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge.

Min. requirements: Curses enemies with Frostbite on Hit, with #% increased Effect 60 Maximum Life 90% Total Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Chaos Resistances Added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge Cold Damage Leeched as Life Attributes

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - they should provide extra Life and Damage or Attributes. you can look for crit. multi with elemental or cold skills too which can roll higher numbers

Recommended affixes: Global Critical Strike Chance or Multiplier Maximum Life Optional affixes: Elemental Resistances Increased Cold/Spell/Area Damage Attributes

(Jewel) Glorious Vanity - a must-have Jewel if you want to benefit from Corrupted Soul Passive which Doryani's version provides

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) Watcher's Eye - one of the best Jewels for this build. It can offer tons of useful bonuses to Hatred and Zealotry users, and you are going to use both of those Auras in this build

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers> Recommended Aura modifiers: Critical Strikes Penetrate (8-10)% of Enemy Elemental Resistances while affected by Zealotry Adds (58-70) to (88-104) Cold Damage while affected by Hatred Damage Penetrates (10-15)% Cold Resistance while affected by Hatred

(Jewel) Thread of Hope - allows you to pick up several very useful Passives including Heart of Ice, Arcane Focus, Essence Surge, and Mental Rapidity without having it connect to your Tree. You need one with a "Large Ring" on it

Only affects Passives in <size> Ring Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree -(20-10)% to all Elemental Resistances

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewels - This build uses two Cold Damage-based Large Cluster Jewels. Look for the Notables Listed Here. You'll need Doryani's Lesson for Leech and Blast-Freeze to Freeze your enemies.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Blanketed Snow 1 Added Passive Skill is Blast-Freeze 1 Added Passive Skill is Doryani's Lesson 1 Added Passive Skill is Disorienting Display 1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart

(Jewel) Medium Cluster Jewels - Look for Vast Power and Magnifier, you desperately need Area of Effect increases which at the same time boost your single-target DPS

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Magnifier 1 Added Passive Skill is Vast Power 1 Added Passive Skill is Pressure Points 1 Added Passive Skill is Quick Gateway

(Flask) Bottled Faith - One of the best Flasks in the game, it is not required but it's good to have one

40% increased Damage Creates Consecrated Ground on Use (30-15)% reduced Duration Consecrated Ground created by this Flask has Tripled Radius Consecrated Ground created during Effect applies (7-10)% increased Damage taken to Enemies (100-150)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground during Flask effect

(Flask) Dying Sun - for more AoE and more Projectiles, mandatory Flask

+50% to Fire Resistance 20% less Fire Damage taken (125-150)% increased Charges per use (40-60)% reduced Duration (10-20)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - Aim for the maximum roll on Extra Elemental Damage as Chaos Damage

+35% to Chaos Resistance 2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect Gain (5-8)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect Gain (5-8)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

Other suggested Flasks: Experimenter's Diamond Flask of Staunching (immunity to Bleeding) Experimenter's Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline (increased Movement Speed)

If you have any other build requests please leave them 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.