[3.8] CI Mjolner CoC Ball Lightning Scion - up to 5M Shaper DPS, 10k ES, 5k+ ES recovery/s

2019/09/22
2019/7/15 Added a guide to make talismans.
2019/7/13 Added leveling guide, bandits/pantheon and some videos.
2019/7/12 Updated some item/ascendancy choice according to the feedback from the community. The original build is moved to "old build" section. Please note that the original build is strong enough to do any content in the game, including deathless Uber Elder. So don't worry too much if you are using it.

Uber Elder fight [deathless] https://youtu.be/a8oBfSVOo7U
Maze of the Minotaur map (T16) https://youtu.be/Xo24GZZ1Fdo
Delve (depth 392) https://youtu.be/lJlHWBfwcSQ

Offensively, this build tries to trigger as many ball lightnings as possible. We have two ball lightning setups for this: cyclone/CoC setup in 6-linked chest armor and another setup in 3-linked Mjolner. Cyclone was selected because it gives us a huge attack speed boost (300% more AS). With these setups, we can trigger more than 10 ball lightnings per second.

Defensively, we go to CI. With proper gears and passive tree, we can reach 10k ES. In order to gain good sustain during combat, we use Watcher's eye with an "ES on hit" mod. Because ball lightning has a very high hit frequency (150 ms/hit), we can gain an insane amount of ES from this unique jewel alone. Let's say, our ball lightning hits 13 times per cast and we cast 10 ball lightnings per second. This corresponds to 136 hits per second (cyclone hits 6 times/s), hence 4000 ES recovery/s. On top of that, we use energy shield leech and ES regeneration from consecrated ground. With all of these combined, we achieve 5000+ES recovery/s against a single target, and the recovery becomes even more if multiple enemies are around you.

To equip Mjolner, we need 412 strength and 300 intelligence. The 300 int requirement is easy to achieve because we go to the northern part of the passive tree. On the other hand, the 412 str requirement is much more difficult to achieve. To reach 412 str, we use three uniques: Efficient Training, Unnatural Instinct, and Lethal Pride. Efficient training gives us around 100 str. Lethal Pride is a new unique jewel, which adds +2/+4 str to normal nodes in radius. We use this jewel in combination with Unnatural Instinct to get around 100 str. With these setups, it should be easy for us to reach 412 str. You can also use "Utmost Might" anointment on your amulet to get strength.

To make a good use of 400+ str, we use Shaper's touch. This gives us more than 80% increased maximum ES, as well as 800-1000 accuracy rating, which is necessary to achieve high hit chance.

For uniques, we use Mjolner, Shaper's Touch, Doryani's Delusion, and Mark of the Shaper.
Mjolner and Shaper's touch are very cheap, so look for good corrupted mods. Recommended corrupted mods are "xx% chance to fortify on melee hit" for Mjolner, and "attacks have xx% critical strike chance" or "spells have xx% critical strike chance" for Shaper's Touch. If you can't afford fortify-on-hit Mjolner, see "old build" section. To color these corrupted items, use "at least one green socket" crafting.

Doryani's Delusion is the recommended boots because it has a good balance between offence and defense. Make sure that you pick the one with added LIGHTNING damage. Alternatively, you can also use Sin Trek if you need extra dex from boots.

Mark of the Shaper is the best ring in this build because our weapon doesn't have any spell damage mods. Before you hit level 80, use any rare ring with a decent +ES mod.



Rare body armour, helmet and shield should have high ES and elemental resistances. For helmet, I recommend "nearby enemies have -9% lightning resistances" mod and "ball lightning deals 40% increased damage" enchant. This helmet can be crafted by dense + metallic fossils. Rare shields should have at least 200 ES and some resistances. If possible, try to get some spell damage and critical strike chance for spells to boost your damage output.

3.8 Update Helmet enchant is unfortunately very expensive this league.


For jewelry, look for ES, elemental resists and strength.

Crystal belt is the best base for our belt, and it should have at least +40 maximum ES explicit and elemental resistances to cap your resists. If possible, try to get high strength here. Before you hit level 79, use any rare belt with enough elemental resistances. If your resistances are capped, you can also use Bated Breath to boost your ES.

Because we are using Mark of the Shaper, we have to use a rare Elder ring. Look for something that gives ES, strength and elemental resistances. It is a good idea to have an empty suffix here so that you can beastcraft the "aspect of the spider" mod. If not, craft it somewhere else.

For amulet, a "+ All attributes" mod is highly recommended because this is the most efficient way to get dex. (If you can't find an amulet with an "all attributes" mod, use Sin Trek). If possible, get some offensive mods here. Tier 3 talismans with an implicit "12-15% increased attributes" are very strong, as they not only give you a huge ES but also allows you to reach 412 str requirement without using Efficient Training jewel. This means that you can use an extra rare jewel to increase your damage. If you don't have enough passive points or good gear to reach 412 strength requirement even with Efficient Training, use Astramentis. This unique amulet alone solves all the problems associated with attribute requirements. This amulet is also a very strong leveling item.

3.8 Update
Recommended anointment for amulet is Utmost Might (a lot of strength). If you want to min-max this build, consider Tranquility, which gives you roughly 16% more damage!!

Use of a T3 talisman is not necessary to do any content in this game, so prioritize other items!


You absolutely need Watcher's Eye with an "ES on hit" mod for this build. The other Zealotry mod "increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground" is optional, but it gives you a huge DPS boost. This kind of WE was fairy cheap (2-4 ex) before I wrote this guide, but now it's much more expensive :(

Lethal Pride is a cheap unique jewel (3.8: not cheap anymore), and when combined with Unnatural Instinct, it gives you more than 100 strength. Extra mods on notable nodes are not really necessary, although they can be very powerful. If possible, look for notable mods "1% of life regenerated per second", "5% chance to deal double damage", "5% chance to gain an endurance charge on kill", "+20 to strength", or "5% increased strength". Unnatural Instinct used to be a very expensive jewel, but due to the indirect nerf it costs about 2 ex now. Lethal Pride and Unnatural Instinct should be placed near the scion's starting point. Take a look at the image below. Lethal Pride is placed on the left, Unnatural Instinct on the right. Place Efficient Training near the "Instability" notable node. Make sure that you choose Lethal Pride with a "under Kiloava" mod so that you can replace EE keystone with "double block chance" keystone.


Rare jewels should have critical strike multiplier and increased maximum energy shield mods. "increased lightning damage" and "increased spell damage" mods are fine, but critical strike multiplier mods are better. It is also a good idea to get some resistances if you need them.



For flasks, use something that gives you damage and movement speed. Wise Oak is chosen because we don't have a lot of lightning penetration. Make sure that your uncapped lightning resistance is the highest. Diamond flask is the best flask in any crit-based builds. Silver flask gives you attack speed and movement speed, both of which are very good for this build. Make sure that your attacks per second does not exceed 6.0/s during flask effect, because attacking faster than Mjolner and CoC cooldown (0.15 s) will result in a DPS loss. Quick silver flask is a must in any cyclone build, and you want the "increased movement speed during flask effect" mod here. The last flask slot is open to your creativity, use anything you like. These flasks should have bleed immunity, freeze immunity and curse immunity suffixes.

6-link setup
cyclone-cast on critical strike-ball lightning-increased critical strike-slower projectile-elemental focus
If you haven't got ES leech from the passive tree yet, use energy leech instead of elemental focus.
3-link setup in Mjolner
ball lightning-slower projectile-elemental focus (or energy leech)
3-link setup in a rare shield
phase run-increased duration, flame dash
This setup is up to your personal preference, use anything you prefer.
4-link setup
cast when damage taken (level 1)-immortal call (level 3) -wave of conviction (level 7)-ice golem (level 3)
precision (low level)-zealotry-discipline-enlighten (level 4)
In order to use aspect of the spider on top of these auras, we need level 4 enlighten support. Zealotry is much better than wrath because it creates consecrated ground, which in turn increases our critical strike chance. We can use Watcher's eye to further increase our critical strike chance.

vortex-arcane surge-curse on hit-conductivity (or assassin's mark)
The idea here is to use an instant cast spell to proc arcane surge. This is important because you can cast an instant spell like vortex while cycloning. This makes our game play much smoother. We also link curse on hit-conductivity to reduce lightning resistance of tough enemies. Keep in mind that only the initial hit of vortex can inflict a curse. When you are low level and don't have high critical strike chance, use assassin's mark instead of conductivity.

assassin + gladiator
Assassin ascendancy gives you a lot of crit chance and good movement speed buff. The other ascendancy is gladiator, which grant us block chance. Furthermore, choosing gladiator gives us an easy access to attack speed nodes, which are otherwise hard to reach.

I recommend you start this build at level 68, when you can equip vaal regalia. Feel free to get one or two "+30 str" notables if you need strength. Because you use Shaper's touch, 30 strength gives you 6% increased maximum ES, which is decent for 1 point.

level 68 passive tree
https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/3.8.1/AAAABAABAQJfAwQNfBEPEVAVUBhWHNwdFCeDJ6ko-ilPLKYsvy0fLag3gzsNPAVMs1BCUw5TNVfJXGtfamDeZlRmnmh0bRlwUn6vf8aCm4LHhEiFe4fWidOMNox2jRmPGo9Gj_qQ1pMnlKCVIJeVl_SYrZuhnjyf36KjpAymMqbrpwinK6f4qHKsmK7_sVu3Mbc4t9a4k7mTvoDAZsHFwfPDCcNt0B_Q0NWm2E3ZX9pi21ndjOAS42Lr7uv17BjsOO_r8h31-vfX-ej60g==

level 89 passive tree
https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/3.8.1/AAAABAABAQJfAwQNfA_EEQ8RUBVQGFYc3B0UJ4MnqSj6KU8spiy_LR8tqC9vN4M7DTt8PAVEJUlRTLNQQlMOUzVXyVxrXzlfamDeZlRmnmh0ahtryG0ZcFJwu36vf8aCHoKbgseESIV7h9aJ04w2jHaNGY5kjxqPRo_6kNaTJ5SglSCXlZf0mK2bLZuhnjyf36KjpAymMqbrpwinK6f4qHKsmK7_r3ywq7Fbtvq3Mbc4t9a4k7jKuZO-gL6nwGbBxcHzwwnDbdAf0NDVptdK2E3ZE9lf2mLbWd2M3ePgEuNi6-7r9ewY7Djv6_DV8h305vX69333pvfB99f56PrS_rM=

level 95 passive tree
https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/3.8.1/AAAABAABAQJfAwQNfA_EEQ8RUBVQGFYc3B0UJ4MnqSj6KU8spiy_LR8tqC9vL9o3gzsNO3w8BUQlSU9JUUyzUEJTDlM1V8lca185X2pg3mZUZp5odGoba8htGXBScLt-r3_Ggh6Cm4LHhEiFe4fWidOMNox2jRmOZI8aj0aP-pDWkyeUoJUgly2XlZf0mK2bLZuhnjyf36EvoqOkDKYypuunCKcrp_iocqyYrv-vfLCrsVu2-rcxtzi31riTuMq5k7yqvoC-ir6nwGbBxcHzwwnDbdAf0NDVptdK2E3ZE9lf2mLbWd2M3ePgEuNi6-7r9ewY7Djv6_DV8h305vX69333pvfB99f56PrS_rM=

pastebin https://pastebin.com/Gm4xVUVQ
note:
1) You should place Efficient Training on the socket near "Instability" unless you got enough strength from your gear.
2) It seems that PoB doesn't consider "100% increased critical strike chance" effect against enemies on consecrated ground. Therefore, this effect was manually added in Lethal Pride jewel.

Bandits: Help Alira.
Pantheon: Lunaris & Abberath, this is up to your preference.

Gear

Skill Gems

Passive Tree

-Against stationary enemies, try to hit them at the edge of your cyclone. This way you can maximize the number of hits per cast of ball lightning.
-If you want to run ele reflect maps, replace elemental focus support in Mjolner with increased critical strikes support. I managed to achieve deathless Uber Aztiri this way. Still, I recommend you reroll ele reflect mod whenever possible.
-If you want to run "no regen" maps, use an Elder ring with a crafted mod of "-7 to total mana cost of skills" to make cyclone cost 0 mana.

If you can't afford fortify-on-hit Mjolner, choose champion ascendancy instead of gladiator. This way you can fortify on hit. This choice has better DPS but lower defense. I feel that our damage is more than enough, so extra block chance from gladiator is more valuable than pure DPS increase from champion.

What is a talisman?

How can I get talismans?


How to Transform Your Amulet into a Talisman