Is there anyone who can create a better leveling guide for acts like 1-6? The leveling guide on this guide is very lackluster. I have been running test builds but cant decide do I go heave skeles and zombies + SRS or instead of zombies do I go Spectres + skeles and SRS while leveling zombies on backend etc.
So if you have been running some tests for this guide specifically please let me know your strategy and fastest skills and gems you have been taking to level with.
This is roughly what I did with my new SSF Necro for the last 1-2 weeks. I skipped Skeletons entirely, and went SRS+Zombies for Act 1-5 before eventually moving to Zombie+Spectres+Golem.
Get Enduring Bond first, followed by Sacrifice and Gravepact. This boosts DPS for a much smoother levelling experience.
GEMS
With 3L only:
2B-1R:Raise Zombie - Melee Physical Damage Support - Minion Damage Support 3B:Summon Raging Spirit - Minion Damage Support - Infernal Legion Support
In Act 3 after getting Raise Spectre (get a Stygian Silverback from Act 2 The Riverways for frenzy charges):
3B:Raise Spectre - Feeding Frenzy Support - Minion Speed Support
With 4L & Act 3 Gems:
3B-1R:Raise Zombie - Melee Physical Damage Support - Minion Damage Support - Minion Speed Support 4B:Summon Raging Spirit - Minion Damage Support - Minion Speed Support - Infernal Legion Support 3B-1R:Raise Spectre - Feeding Frenzy Support - Minion Speed Support - Melee Physical Damage Support
With 4L & Act 4 Gems:
2B-2R:Raise Zombie - Melee Physical Damage Support - Minion Damage Support - Multistrike Support 2B-1R:Summon Carrion Golem - Melee Physical Damage Support - Feeding Frenzy Support 3B-1R:Raise Spectre - Melee Physical Damage Support - Minion Damage Support - Minion Speed Support 3B-1R:Summon Raging Spirit - Minion Speed Support - Pride - Purity of Elements
For additional life leech/sustain (useful before getting Meginord's Vise and/or The Baron):
2B-1G-1R:Cyclone - Life Gain on Hit Support - Cast While Channelling Support - Flesh Offering
25 March 2020: RANGED SPECTRES SETUP: Super fun and versatile gameplay! And Yes, that is Al-Hezmin getting SMOKED in 2 seconds again in 3.10, with just 11 zombies: https://youtu.be/2dz8Rf7fE_I
Welcome to the FASTEST, the STRONGEST, and the TANKIEST summoner in the history of POE (no, that is not an exaggeration).
DPS: Over 1 million DPS per zombie (upwards of 2 million per zombie... multiply that by 15 or so zombies. You can also throw on an extra 12 Skeletons doing another 1 million DPS each if you wish). TANKY: Over 10,000 eHP (upwards of 25,000 eHP) SPEED: Over 200% movespeed (upwards of 300%)
Not only that, but this build is probably the most VERSATILE summoner in the history of POE. The core build runs with Zombies as the main source of DPS, but we can easily run Skeletons, Spectres, Golems and Holy Relic to demolish all content. There are so many cool variations you can do with this build while still creaming all content, you can enjoy this from league-start to league-end.
30 Dec 2019: King of All Summoners Build Discussion Video... PLUS SOME CRAZY SHIT HAPPENING FROM 47:40 ONWARDS:https://youtu.be/FDxcrhKkuoc
The above video in green has lots of info about this build. Note that this video was done at start of Metamorph league and the build has drastically improved since then... so know that the DPS is far greater than that shown here. For examples see more recent videos below this sticky:
29 Jan 2020:THE ULTIMATE FUN SETUP! 6L Zombies, 5L Ranged Spectres, 4L Holy Relic, all buffed by 7 Auras, and Headhunter Shenadigans: https://youtu.be/bp9VBV1FJpE
23 Jan 2020:NEW BUILD SETUP and showcase: This is a "Balanced" version giving 7 Auras.. yes, 7!! Also discuss Aura options as well as Lethal Pride vs Elegant Hubris: https://youtu.be/RGSwUc8e6kg
Overall I'm pretty satisfied with the Patch Notes.
I mean, we were still pretty OP compared to every other build in the game so it makes sense to punch us in the balls where it hurts.
But you know what? We have balls of steel. So we ain't going nowhere.
There are basically 3 things that builds try to achieve in POE:
1) DPS
2) Tankiness
3) Speed
ALL other builds in the game fall short on one of those metrics.
We have been the only build in the history of the game to be at the top level of all 3 of those metrics.
So it makes sense to hit us on one of them.
We mostly got hit in the Tankiness department with a couple hits.
Nerfs:
1) Shaper's Touch Nerf. Shaper's Touch now grants +1 maximum mana per 4 Strength (from 2 maximum mana per 4 Strength), and 1% increased Energy Shield per 10 Strength (from 2% increased Energy Shield per 10 Strength). You can use a Divine Orb on existing versions if you feel it is unethical to have that much Mana and Energy Shield (because it is).
As Bex said what we had was pretty unethical ;)
This just means we will have less ES than before. Shaper's will still be best in slot I believe.
This can also be partly offset by simply running Discipline if you want to be more tanky.
Bone Barrier ascendancy. Bone Barrier no longer grants Elemental Resistances per minion. Increased Life and Energy Shield Recovery per minion is now 2% (from 3%), capping out at 20% (from 30%).
Commander of Darkness now grants you and nearby allies +30% to all Elemental Resistances (from 20%).
No longer get elemental resistances. So depending on your ability to cap elemental resistances you can either go Bone Barrier or Commander of Darkness. This should pose no issues.
Spirit Offering No longer grants a portion of the minion's maximum life as Energy Shield.
Now grants +20% to Chaos Resistance at gem level 1, up to +30% at gem level 20.
This is probably the biggest nerf to us considering we use Mistress of Sacrifice for the ES gain. All in all, we're just going to have to get used to playing without it.
The +30% Chaos resistance is AWESOME though making capping chaos res easier.
Zombies Nerf The number of maximum raised zombies you can have at gem level 20 is now 6 (from 7).
I'm not sure exactly how it affects zombies at higher levels (eg level 30 we were targetiing previously... but I am assuming we now need a level higher?)
Skeletons Nerf Damage dealt by minions at all gem levels has been lowered by approximately 40%. This change isn't visible on the gem as it is a property of the minion itself, and does not affect Skeleton Mages or any other non-basic Skeleton minions summoned by Vaal Summon Skeletons.
The number of maximum summoned skeletons you can have at gem level 20 is now 7 (from 8).
This will hurt us mostly during leveling as we don't use Skellies in end-game (unless you want to).
Feeding Frenzy Now gives minions from supported skills 25% chance to grant Feeding Frenzy to you on hit at gem level 1, up to 44% at gem level 20 (previously 25% at all gem levels).
No longer causes minions from supported skills to deal more damage while you have Feeding Frenzy.
No issues here. Just link FF with a golem and we're good. I have been running this setup for the past few weeks and I actually prefer it. Just use Minion Damage (more DPS) or Minion Speed (more speed) as 6th link in zombie setup.
Baron Nerf The Baron: Now grants 10 to 20% increased minion maximum Life (from 20%), +1 to maximum number of Raised Zombies per 500 Strength (from 300) and with at least 1000 Strength, 1.5 to 2% of Damage dealt by your Raised Zombies is leeched to you as Life (from 2%). Using a Divine Orb will update existing versions of this item to these new values.
This will hit you hard depending on how much you liked stacking strength.
Personally, I have always run at just over 1000 strength so this doesn't worry me too much. But if you were stacking strength beyond 1500 you will probably feel it more in terms of a loss of DPS (less Zombies).
For those stacking strength to just above 1000 like me, we now have 2 less zombies (1 less from Baron and 1 less from gem levels). This DPS loss can be made up for by swapping out FF in 6th link for Minion Damage (as an example). So no issues there.
For those stacking strength above 1500, you will lose 3+ zombies (2 less from Baron and 1 less from gem levels). Again, this can be somewhat mitigated from swapping out FF. But as you can see, the more strength you were previously stacking, the more DPS loss you will feel due to less zombies.
Overall, I think the Baron is still best in slot. BUT, helmets can roll +1 to zombies so that is an option to get a +3gem helm with +1 zombies and some other cool stats if going for just 1000 strength (as the difference now is just 1 zombie).
Buffs: Raised Zombies now use animations we created for Path of Exile 2.
Zombie behaviour while idle and near the player is now less chaotic.
My life is complete.
Conclusion:
Potentially invest a little more into minion defence if they die more frequently.
Perhaps swap Bone Barrier to Commander of Darkness if struggling to get resistances.
We lose a bit of both DPS and Tankiness but overall we should still be very strong.
Overall, those going Geofri's/Tanky version will feel it the most due to Baron nerfs.
Those playing with Saqawals and Victarios will feel it but less so.
For those wearing speed belts and boots (ie Speed version), you have the luxury of changing those into a proper belt and boots for more DPS and Tankiness if you want to to offset some of the nerfs.
There will definitely be some testing to do come 3.10 to see how things feel and exactly what setup works best.
Overall, I think it was a fair nerf and we are set to still be one of (if not still) the strongest build in the game! And I'm sure once we get into the game and start playing around with things and improving upon it we'll only get better.
It's reminiscent of 3.9, everyone thinking there was no hope... but I AWLAYS GOT YOUR BACK GUYS! Don't ever forget it.
In 3.9 we came out bigger and stronger than ever. And get this, I played all of 3.9 with no Awakened Multistrike or Awakened Melee Physical Damage. Just getting those 2 things will pretty much offset any DPS loss from fewer zombies.
Oh mannn.... I'm excited!
Bring it on!
Introduction
Welcome to the FASTEST, the STRONGEST, and the TANKIEST summoner in the history of POE!
This build OUTPERFORMS every dedicated Spectre build there is (and we are not even a dedicated spectre build). Example: https://youtu.be/ldZZ_FmDLCs
This build OUTPERFORMS every dedicated Golem build there is (and we are not even a dedicated golem build) Example: https://youtu.be/MEImsLQKbMg
This build is the FASTEST SUMMONER in the history of POE. We reach over 200% MOVEMENT SPEED consistently and can get over 300% movement speed if you want to go all out on speed. Example: https://youtu.be/WA046CFs7Mk
This build is EXTREMELY VERSATILE to suit any playstyle. See Alternate Setups for some fun suggestions.
This build is INSANELY SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE. There is no crazy crafting required or massive 10+ exalt gear like other builds. It's built around uniques that everyone can easily access and replicate. You can do all content without clicking any buttons. Examples:
- Minotaur run using just a quicksilver flask: https://youtu.be/DE3Kcx_jfGM
Every flask, every skill you use, ever golem, every aura, every curse are OPTIONAL. We do all content WITHOUT THEM so you can put in whatever you like to suit your playstyle.
Here's the FASTEST UBER ELDER KILL IN HISTORY PLAYING WITH ONE HAND (no flasks, no skill bar, and no chest armour to show you are super tanky even if you were to use nothing or a tabula):
Don't let the OP'ness of this build put you off. Yes, it can be your LEAGUE STARTER as unlike other build guides that require a crazy piece of gear, all items are relatively cheap to get started (see budget gear) and can be upgraded along the way.
Enjoy!
Pro's and Con's
Pros: The Greatest Summoner Build in the History of POE
Fast clear
Fast farming
Easy Sirus
Easy Shaper
Easy Uber Elder
Easy all content 90 minions doing everything for you
Minimal buttons
Can play POE while watching Netflix
Can play POE with one hand (mouse only)
Feels as smooth as butter
Versatile, can go more offensive or defensive with easy gem/gear swap to suit any playstyle
All map mods (except Phys reflect)
Cheap (can do T15 on a few chaos... simply upgrade your gear as you progress)
Extremely high damage (Fastest Uber Elder kill in the history of POE)
Tanky (15000+ life, overcapped resistances, physical mitigation, leech, defensive minions, fortify, meat shield, and more.. and of course, extremely fast)... just watch me absorb a Shaper Beam in the Uber Elder gif at the top.
With late game setup you will reach over 15,000 eHP!!
Never die
Cons People will get jealous of how you can farm three times as much currency as them and take down all content so easily on such a cheap starting build without pressing buttons
World Records:
Uber Elder using a weapon only. As of writing, I believe I am still the only player in the history of the game to have achieved this:https://youtu.be/l3P3cTQL_qA
There are various options of setups (did I mention that this is one of the most versatile builds?). Use these as a starting point and then as you learn the build and how it all works, flex it to suit your own style!:
3.10 BUDGET STARTER SETUP
Yes, you can comfortably farm T16s on a budget with this build.
Ignore gem levels in the setup. You do NOT need level 21 gems etc.. just get a level 1 gem and start leveling it up as you go. Same with Enlighten, just start leveling one and get it to level 3. If you can't run all auras (which you won't be able to initially), simply drop Flesh and Stone.
An alternative to the chest below is a Geoffri's Sanctuary chest.
This is a solid all-round choice that most people transition to after starting with the Budget Setup. It doesn't have the Speed or DPS of the SPEED FARMING or RANGED SPECTRES versions, but it's the safest way to level to 100 if that's what you want to do.
For Thread of Hope, allocate Ravenous Horde and Cruel Preparation.
For the Bottom Left jewel, that is my Elegant Hubris giving me 240% increased minion damage. So ignore the Skull Cracking pathing. Your Elegant Hubris or Lethal Pride will be unique to you. See the FAQ on Lethal Pride/Elegant Hubris if you don't know what I am talking about.
3.10 DUAL WAND + DUAL OFFERINGS SETUP
Ok guys so you wanna just run around without cycloning and just watch everything die around you?
You wanna run with two wands? Why? Because your a WITCH and that's what witches use.
And you wanna run with not one, but TWO OFFERINGS (or THREE if you REALLY want)?
I got your back!
Just grab yourself this baby:
And also a trigger wand:
and then just watch your offerings get auto-triggered as you just run through and around packs while things melt around you. And YES, we take Mistress of Sacrifice with this setup so YOU also get the benefit of the offerings. YES, you CAN run all three offerings at the same time.
For Thread of Hope, allocate Ravenous Horde and Cruel Preparation.
For the Bottom Left jewel, that is my Elegant Hubris giving me 240% increased minion damage. So ignore the Skull Cracking pathing. Your Elegant Hubris or Lethal Pride will be unique to you. See the FAQ on Lethal Pride/Elegant Hubris if you don't know what I am talking about.
Enjoy!
3.10 CLUSTER STACKING SETUP
This is courtesy of Elorathiel who has been vigorously testing out Cluster Jewels with this build and has come across a winning combination that provides massive minion life (they will never die) and massive DPS!
I've been asked by some to drop a small build guide in the thread when it's finalized so here goes:
Let me preface this guide by saying that you don't have to have my gear. I understand that my gear may not be obtainable for everybody, at least not immediately. The gear is not GG but it is fairly expensive to players not involved in crafting/selling. I have several friends running this build with lesser gear. It's working just fine.
My friend Adriano447 and I put this together when we were discussing whether it might be able to take my single cluster area HUGE ZOMBIE build and possible do two large clusters for even bigger zombies. The build is very tight on points. Expect to have most of your points at 97/98. It depends on your Lethal Pride rolls.
This is NOT strictly a dual wand build. I am using dual wands, yes. I prefer them. However, the passive tree will work just fine with a typical zombie 2H weapon. Simply change the skill gems around to match your preferences. You could even use a Bow/Quiver if you want and manually cast Offerings. It doesn't matter.
This is a very powerful endgame build. Those of you who don't like your minions to die, ever. This is for you. My minions are nigh unkillable. The video below shows minion health (32 zombie, 28 AG, 26 Golem):
Wand crafting:
Brunowa has already added my wand crafting guide to the first post. Check it out.
Quick note about trigger wands:
Trigger wands trigger a socketed ability when you cast any ability. They are cast in order, from top to bottom. If you need something to go off first, place it at the top of the wand. I like my Phase Run up there. But others may like Desecrate up top with Spirit offering following it to ensure they have Spirit Offering up as soon as possible.
Please use the normal builds to level. This is an end game build. Whether you are new or not to the game and necromancers, please use the existing build guide to level up your necromancer. When you hit about 85 or so, you can start thinking about migrating to this build. The large clusters are expensive (for good reason) and have a level restriction. And yes, they are essential to the build. All of them.
If you have any questions, I'm available in game. Keep in mind, I'm a player like you and I might be busy. Please don't take offense. I will get to you.
3.10 SPEED FARMING SETUP (WHAT I MOSTLY PLAY WITH)
So you like clearing maps faster than those Ranger guys with bows?
And you still like having the fastest boss killing capability in the game?
And you like farming Conquerors and Sirus faster than any other build in the game while making shitloads of $$$?
This build PUMPS Auras to the MAX while zooming around with a speed belt, flesh offering, and phase run (and haste)!
Dread Banner, Haste, Vaal Haste, Pride, Purity of Elements, Flesh & Stone + Maim, Aspect of the Avian, and Clarity if you wish. Yes that's right... up to 8 AURAS getting buffed like crazy.
Definitely my favourite setup (along with ranged spectres) as it's Hella fun demolishing everything so quickly and easily. It is a bit more squishy than other variants but still packs 5000 hp and 1000 es.
For Thread of Hope, allocate Ravenous Horde and Cruel Preparation.
For the Bottom Left jewel, that is my Elegant Hubris giving me 240% increased minion damage. So ignore the Skull Cracking pathing. Your Elegant Hubris or Lethal Pride will be unique to you. See the FAQ on Lethal Pride/Elegant Hubris if you don't know what I am talking about.
P.S. This is the setup where I do my 1 or 2 second Conqueror Kills. Hands down the FASTEST and HIGHEST DPS out of any summoner in the game, and perhaps any build in the game (except for meme builds that have no defence).
Best in slot Bow and Quiver because of speed AND bonus quiver stats:
3.10 RANGED SPECTRES SETUP (SPECTACULARLY FUN)
So you wanna shoot massive beams or balls or missiles out at enemies?
And you like clearing fast and wide and demolishing all content?
And you still like killing Conquerors in 2 seconds?
This setup incorporates Ranged Spectres in a Hungry Loop ring. There are a shitload of different ranged spectres to choose from to mix up your gameplay. My favourite is Frost Sentinels found in Act 8 - Lunaris Temple.
Note in the video above I simply swapped in Minion Damage on Al-Hezmin purely to see how fast I could kill him. Leaving in Minion Speed will make the fight last about 2.5 seconds instead of 2 seconds :P
Note you can go much FASTER but it takes more balancing of stats. Use a Speed Belt for 36% movespeed and use a bow and quiver for another 20% movespeed. This is what I actually run with, but have added the setup in this section because it is easier to gear.
For Thread of Hope, allocate Ravenous Horde and Cruel Preparation.
For the Bottom Left jewel, that is my Elegant Hubris giving me 240% increased minion damage. So ignore the Skull Cracking pathing. Your Elegant Hubris or Lethal Pride will be unique to you. See the FAQ on Lethal Pride/Elegant Hubris if you don't know what I am talking about.
Best in slot Bow and Quiver because of speed AND bonus quiver stats:
Enjoy!
Gear Detailed:
NOTE: IGNORE GEM SETUPS IN THIS SECTION... use the above Setups for gem selection.
Weapon:
Rare crafted weapon is best. See Weapon Crafting Guide section on how to do this.
Queen's Escape is a great option giving good movement speed for minions.
Femurs of the Saints is the best budget version for DPS.
Mon'treguls Grasp is less DPS but is cheaper and can be used with a shield, allowing for more defence such as resistances, life, and energy shield.
A Chaber Cairn can also be used. I killed Uber Elder on a 5L Chaber Cairn pretty easily so that's another cheap option.
Armour:
Geofri's is the most tanky of the chests. It provides a massive about of defence from strength stacking. We get great ES and resistances.
Victario's is great for speed farming. It provides a massive boost to auras if you are running that setup, enabling you to do a tonne of DPS with your zombies and speed farm through maps easily.
Saqawal's provides a balance with more defence than Victario's (but less than Geofri's), and more offence then Geofri's (but less than Victario's).
Rare Astral Plate is great for overall defence. Life, resistances, armour, and an extra zombie and skeleton. Doesn't provide as much eHP as Geofris but is a good option if Geofri's is too expensive.
Tabula is great for getting started but you will want to upgrade to a 5L of one of the above chests at high tier maps because you will have no defence with a tabula.
Other options include the "The Queen's Hunger" for extra zombie/skeleton, free offerings, good life/ES, or "Saqawal's Nest" for increased attributes, reduced mana reservation, and aspect of the avian buff.
If you want to use ranged spectres, just swap in a Tabula or get any BBBGGR chestpiece. See Spectres section for more details on this setup. Alternatively you can put ranged spectres into gloves on a 4L.
Helmet:
Just great for zombies and all minion builds in general...
Gloves:
Shaper's Touch gives us a huge amount of ES and is best in slot, particularly when coupled with Geofri's Sanctuary.
Triad Grip's are for converting your damage to chaos damage. This allows you to scale chaos damage through Spirit Offering, Withering Touch, Withering Step, and Despair curse. It's a fun playstyle but overall slightly weaker than pure Physical.
Meginord's Vise is a budget item to get +100 strength to help us get to 1000 strength for Baron leech bonus
Boots:
Alberon's Warpath boots are great for giving us massive strength which we get benefit from all of The Baron, Geofri's Sanctuary, and Shaper's Touch.
Seven-League Steps are perfect for Speed Farming. Throw them on when you are not bossing.
Rare boots are great for helping with resistances. Get ones with strength, resistances, and 30% movement speed.
Stampede's are a cool alternative which you can annoint. This provides less movespeed, less strength, and no resistances, but it is a relaxing playstyle simply cycloning through packs as long as you can get your strength and resistances elsewhere.
Belt:
Rare belt gives us massive strength which we benefit from The Baron, Shaper's Touch, and Geofri's Sanctuary.
Headhunter gives us great strength, plus all the fun and cool mods for mixing up gameplay.
String of Servitude is best in slot for speed mapping. My favourite belt in the whole game.
Cyclopean Coil is a cheap way of getting 15% increase attributes and more strength. Can also give freeze immunity if you get your stats right.
Soul Tether provides awesome defence. The 2% damage leech we get from Baron helmet pairs perfectly with this belt, giving us a constant supply of life and ES leech.
Umbilicus Immortal is just awesome fun for smashing through bosses as fast as possible. This is more a gimmick and a fun item than for every day use.
Amulet:
Astramentis gives strength for Baron bonuses. Also helps with dex/int stats for gems such as Haste.
Aul's gives some strength, but also Pride reserves no mana, so it's a free damage aura! This is a great option if you are not strugglign with strength or dexterity elsewhere.
Rare amulet gives a lot of strength and can help with resistances.
Oils
- Anoint Death Attunement
Rings:
Rare rings give strength, life, resists.
Hungry Loop is an option to get another 5 link. This makes capping resistances harder but it can be done. You can add your 5L skeletons here or even a 5L ranged spectre setup which is insanely fun.
Flasks:
3.10 Weapon Craft Guide
Wands
Buy As many Prime Alchemical Resonators as you can afford (say 5 or 10). Buy the same amount of these fossils:
Jagged/Corroded/Shuddering/Metallic.
Buy ilevel 72 convoking wands, if you want best chance at making something good.
Buy ilevel 84 convoking wands if you want to make a GG wand but have less chance of making something good.
Scour the bases if they aren't white.
Smash the resonators into the plain bases. If you get 1/1. You win. If you don't like the one you receive, if you are blessed to receive one, sell it and use the proceeds to make some more until you are happy.
Good luck!
Two-Handed Mace/Staff
There are a few options for crafting weapons (I am currently using the second one with fortify):
They all work great... craft one like below or simply buy one on the market.
Here is a simple guide for the staff:
1) Buy the base that has (or goto Alva's temple to try drop it):
+1 to level of socketed gems; and
Minions have x% increased damage
Minions have x% chance to deal double damage
You will probably get something like this:
I had the above with another prefix "Adds x% fire damage".
2) Use an Orb of Annulemt to hopefully annul off the prefix you don't want. As in the above, I used an orb and had a 1 in 4 chance to remove ""Adds x% fire damage"". I was lucky and got it.
3) If your suffix remaining is good, you can craft from here. If not you may want to remove it. In the case above, I would want to remove "reduced attributes" because it's worth nothing and I would rather exalt slam something good down the track.
So I would craft "Prefixes cannot be changed".
4) Scour the Staff. This leaves only the prefixes we want: +1 gems and the minion mods.
5) Craft "Can have 3 additional mods"
6) Craft "+2 Socketed Support Gems"
7) Craft "Minion Attack/Cast Speed"
That will end you up with this:
For the Fortify route which gives 20% More Damage, you need to do the following:
1) Buy an Elder 2h Mace or Sword.
2) Scour it
3) Orb of Transumation to make it a magic item.
4) Use orbs of Alternations until you land either:
+1 to Level of Socketed Gems; OR
Socketed gems are supported by Level 1 Fortify
5) Use an Orb of Augmentation to try add the other mods you need.
6) Use a Regal Orb to try add the other mods you need.
7) If you don't get +1 Socketed Gems AND fortify, scour the weaopon and go back to 1).
8) If you have _1 Socketed Gems AND either fortify or onslaught, congrats!
9) You are now at Step 3 in the Staff example above.. progress from there.
Spectres and Animated Guardian
Spectres:
We get 4 Spectres with our build (you need a level 21 Raise Spectre gem to get the fourth).
Offensive options: Carnage Chieftain: Gives frenzy charges to all of your minions (Act 7 Ashen Fields)
Host Chieftain: Gives power charges to all of your minions (Act 7 Ashen Fields)
Mervail's Retainer: Curses enemies with Vulnerability (in maps with mod "Area is inhabited by Sea Witches and their Spawn")
Defensive options: Ruins Hellion: Taunts enemies giving extra damage and less damage taken (Act 8 The Quay)
Diabolist: Curses enemies with Enfeeble (Act 1 Upper Prison).
Undying Evangelist: Has a proximity shields and defends the army (Act 3 The Sceptre of God).
When running Melee Spectres, my recommendation is to ALWAYS have at least 1 Carnage and 1 Host Chieftains. Then take your pick of one or two of the other options.
Ranged options:
- Flame Sentinals (Act 8 Solaris Temple)
- Solar Guards (Act 8 Solaris Temple)
- Goatman Fire-Raiser (Act 6 Prisoner's Gate)
- Frost Sentinel (act 8 Lunaris Concourse)
Ranged options are great for clearing and just really fun in general. Support your Raise Spectre gem with Greater Multiple Projectiles, Faster Projectiles, and Spell Echo. For a 5th link (ie Hungry Loop) add Empower Level 3.
Animated Guardian:
The only mandatory item for your AG is a Kingmaker (weapon). Everything else is totally up to you. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Helmet: Mask of the Stitched Demon
Chest: Crafted chest with "Gain 10% of Maximum Life as Extra Maximum Energy Shield"
Gloves: Southbound
Boots: Victarios Flight
Budget version:
Weapon: Dying Breath
Helmet: Leer Cast
Chest: Belly of the Beast or Bloodbond or Ambush Charge or Gruthkels Pelt
Gloves: Southbound
Boots: Victarios Flight
WARNING: if your Animated Guardian dies you also lose all the gear you equipped on him. To prevent this I would recommend not using him until your gem level is 19 (more HP). AG is not essential, you can kill everything in the game without him, but it's a very nice quality of life.
People have mentioned that their AG has died in the Hall of Grandmasters as well as Acid Cavern maps, so perhaps turn him off for those maps.
Bandits & Ascendency & Pantheon
Bandits: Kill All
Ascendancy order: Mindless Aggression - Unnatural Strength - Commander of Darkness - Mistress of Sacrifice.
Pantheon: Major: Soul of Solaris. Minor: Soul of Shakari
Would be grateful if someone could have a quick look over my build and advise me of any amendments to improve survivability!
My damage is OK, but not stellar (565k/zombie according to POB) but I feel very squishy.
I run 10 zombies, 4 spectres (2 host, 2 chieftain), 2 golems (stone, carrion) and an AG (kingmaker) for general play but throw in a few skellies/vaal army when needed. I have discipline, purity of elements and flesh & stone up constantly (with AG buffs). Res's are capped (chaos +36%) but life/ES is low (3600/2800) and I have regular "WTF killed me??" moments where I die so fast I don't even have time to hit the flask key/vaal molten shell.
I like delve, but I'm having trouble with survival even at level 170, especially stuff that freezes me (and the 10% xp loss at lvl 93 is painful to recover!)
Not sure if the issue is not killing stuff quickly enough before it kills me or just my low life/ES making me too glass cannon (probably both).
Is it worth losing Dread Banner? I always have it up but as my minions do all the attacking it never gains stages so don't think I'm getting much benefit. Also rarely use desecrate while playing, is their a better gem to stick in my boots?
Any suggestions/advice would be most welcome.
Last edited by esseyekay on Jun 13, 2020, 6:06:22 AM
Any helpful advice on how to kill Sirus with this build specifically?
Even after removing all the watchstones from the atlas it seems almost impossible to even scratch him. My issue isn't that the zombies die, they somehow don't really have a big enough time window to damage him properly.
So I just run around like a chicken and try to dodge the clusterfuck Sirus is throwing at me and my undead bros do...nothing!
Ps. honestly this boss fight needs a major overhaul. It's just plain bad design-wise imho.
Any helpful advice on how to kill Sirus with this build specifically?
Even after removing all the watchstones from the atlas it seems almost impossible to even scratch him. My issue isn't that the zombies die, they somehow don't really have a big enough time window to damage him properly.
So I just run around like a chicken and try to dodge the clusterfuck Sirus is throwing at me and my undead bros do...nothing!
Ps. honestly this boss fight needs a major overhaul. It's just plain bad design-wise imho.
For all boss fights I replace Minion Damage Support with Deathmark Support, It helps a lot to keep zombies on the boss.
I was reading a crafting guide for a Staff, and I have few things to say/ask:
Guide starts like this:
"
Here is a simple guide for the staff:
1) Buy the base that has (or goto Alva's temple to try drop it):
+1 to level of socketed gems; and
Minions have x% increased damage
Minions have x% chance to deal double damage
You will probably get something like this:
First, guide needs to be more clear (there are ppl here who are not 'pros' :)
So we need a Staff with two modes, one which is a HYBRID one (consist of 2 lines):
+1 to level of socketed gems (this is one mode)
&
Minions have x% increased damage
Minions have x% chance to deal double damage
^ this is 2nd mode
^ THAT needs to be clear.
Next: I see that Staff linked is from 'standard', so after I checked at poedb(tw) site, I see that range for 'minion have x% increased damage' goes from 85–94%. Did ggg 'nerfed' that mode some time ago, since linked staff from the first post shows 105% of inc dmg for minions?
^ if ggg nerfed the mode values, it would be good if OP update a guide with a fresh linked staff (for instance from Delirum) so that someone don't get headache while thinking why he can't roll higher value than 94%.
Next thing: Guide sais: 'Buy the base that has (or goto Alva's temple to try drop it)'
It should be clear which incursion room in Alva's temple can drop such staff (with these 2 required modes).
If I'm correct, you need to upgrade incurion room 'Hatchery' to 'Hybridisation Chamber'
^ That should be mentioned in the guide.
Currently, price for a Staff with these 2 mods are 40+ exalts, which is a lot for most players.
question: if we get a staff with only:
Minions have x% increased damage
Minions have x% chance to deal double damage
...but without '+1 to level of socketed gems', is that staff... in general... useless? I'm asking because, as I said, staves with both modes are quite expensive. And at the top of that, we would have to use an annulment orb and hope it will remove the mods we don't need. So... if the wrong mode gets removed, we just wasted a lot of currency for a staff which is 'now' broken. Correct?
EDIT:
I've checked again and from what I see ONLY WARstaff can roll '+1 to level of socketed gems'. Common staff cannot.
I'm wondering how can we force RNG to give us that +1 mode that we need.
I guess... we buy or get from Alva's Temple, a MAGIC (blue) warstaff, which only has this hyrid mode:
Minions have x% increased damage
Minions have x% chance to deal double damage
^ that mode is a prefix.
We need to put another prefix: '+1 to level of socketed gems'. BUT...
Magic item can have only 1 prefix and 1 suffix. So we would use an augment orb to get some random suffix. After that, we regal it, and we will probably get another useless mode (prefix or suffix).
At this point I'm thinking what could be the best thing to do. Because we probalby have 2 modes (out of 3) that we don't need.
Can someone write (^ continue) a guide for when we only get 'minion' mode from Alva's Temple (or from trade) at a magic Staff, and how we proceed from there? Its 'easy' when you get +1 mode as well, but these 2 modes are quite expensive.
EDIT 2:
Another thought:
If we get to the point where we have a rare warstaff with only 1 prefix which is that 'minion' mode that we need, and also have 2 useless suffixes, we can bench-craft: 'Cannot roll Attack Modifiers', which is also a suffix. That way, since the item can have max of 3 suffixes (and 3 prefixes), if we exalt slam that warstaff, we can for sure roll some prefix which doesn't have an 'attack' tag attached to it.
The issue is that we can roll a bunch of other useless prefix mods which we don't need. So, after we get (another) useless prefix mode...I don't know how to go from there. (Probably buy another warstaff?)
But 'cannot roll attack modefiers' cost 1 ex and we also 'exalt slam' whle tryign to roll that +1 mode, so that crafting can be again expensive until we roll what we need.
Whatever way Im trying to think, there seams I can't make sure that I don't lose that 'minion' prefix mode, while I'm trying to get that +1 prefix to roll as well.
Can someone put a proper guide (if there is such) for a situation where we don't have a staff with both required modes (minion and +1), but only a 'minion mode'.
Thanks and sorry for a long post. Just wanted to share my thoughts while I was thinking how to craft this staff. (probably the newbish way, but as I said, not all players here are pros) :)
Last edited by drunkydragon on Jun 14, 2020, 7:39:03 PM
In the tanky set up Withering Step, Convocation, Desecrate and Spirit Offering are linked with each other but they really don't do any combo, right? We activate each of them one by one as needed. So you guys take off the auras from your hotkeys in order to fit all the skills into it? I'm on ps4, the skill limit is 12 on the controler, guess it's the same problem on pc with the hot keys.
