Lazy AF - CwC VD Poison Assassin

FORWARD:

I am a casual (read; lazy and unskilled) player who tries to make builds that require as little management as possible. I usually take posted builds and say "How can I make this easier to play." Managing flasks and moving into optimal position during major boss fights is fine, but for general mapping I like a button to move, and a button to kill monsters, and button mash flasks for the map boss. I think this build hits all of the marks of being easy to play while still capable of clearing at least some of the end game content.

Typically Volatile Dead (VD) Assassin is played with Cast on Crit (CoC), however, with the multitude of lingering area effects of Delirium and bosses, I like the ability to maintain damage output while kiting or evading. Poison allows damage scaling of VD without the use of the Scold's Bridle/Cast When Damage Taken mechanic.

I did not expect this build to do very well, but I have cleared Awakener 8, Uber Elder, and 20 Wave Simulacrum. I wouldn't recommend it over a well geared Impale Champion for all around clear and endgame, but I'm using it to grind out some of the challenges, and for that it work's great.


UPDATES/CHANGELOG:


OVERVIEW:

- This build utilises the fire variant of Volkuur's grasp to allow VD to poison. This is the only mechanically defining piece of equipment for the build. Everything else should be considered interchangeable, though I will try to make recommendations for anything I feel is BiS.

- I use both Desecrate and VD linked in the same CwC set up, along with spell cascade.

- Very good map clear (especially for dungeon tile set maps, since the VD orbs will track through doors into each little room). This plays like a cyclone build with extra AOE. Also very good for delirium content since the orbs will track monsters behind you so you don't need to backtrack.

- Build is not meant to tank damage, and any large hit will one shot you. I have several "Vile Reinvigoration" nodes that provide ES regen while mapping. This sustains recovery from any smaller hits, and is more than adequate provided I don't backtrack into some explosion. For bosses, I just circle around them until they expire.

- I used two sets of cluster jewels and went CI for no particular reason other than I already had some channeling jewels and ES body armor that worked for this build.

- As geared, this build is around 40-50 ex, however, I was levelling T14/T15 AW8 with a Martyr of Innocence, Infernal Mantle, and Praxis rings.

ASSASSIN:

- Natural selection with poison ascendancy nodes "Noxious Strike" and "Toxic Delivery". I'm not sure this build would work with any other ascendancy without the poison duration stacking. I did some mapping as a Trickster, which felt fine, but the single target didn't feel so good.


PASTEBIN:
https://pastebin.com/MvQ3GK49


VIDEOS:
Might upload some videos, but this plays like any other CwC VD build.

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GEAR:



GEMS:


Soulrend - Controlled Destruction - GMP - Void Manipulation - Swift Affliction - Empower/ES Leech

- I used GMP full time. I like not having to worry about aiming or the boss moving away from a projectile. Since there is no DoT penalty for GMP, I don't feel the need to boss swap gems.

If you are running a bow:

Soulrend - Controlled Destruction - GMP - Void Manipulation - Swift Affliction - Empower

With a bow, I ran my wither totems in my chest before experimenting with Essence Drain. I liked the totems for the most part because I knew when bosses were done phasing when the totems would start casting. If I had any interest in leveling further I would also consider getting another curse from the tree and adding "Curse on Hit" and "Enfeeble". Again, I was using ED for Uber Elder since it was the one fight where it seemed they were not alive long enough to apply stacks. If you are not using an Impresence, you could use Bane here to apply your curses.

I also like Wither over Blight. The coverage is just better, especially with mobile bosses.


Helm:

-I think Malevolence is an obvious choice, and then whatever you can work in your build depending on your other gears. Again, with the mana reservation cuts, I could get 2x 50% Auras with AotS as long as I use a +3 Enlighten.

The only other links i am using are
-CWDT and Immortal call
-Blasphemy and Despair
-Flame Dash and Faster Casting

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PASSIVES, ASCENDANCY, PANTHEON, and BANDITS:



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS and SIDE NOTES:



Thanks to: Others who have made build guides, trade sites, videos, loot filters, explained mechanics on forums, have done something helpful for someone playing PoE, or if you are just a nice person in general.