[3.12] Memoria's Penance Brand Assassin [All content, Video Guide included]

We are using Penance brand which is a physical brand that converts 50% of the physical damage to lightning. We then convert the remaining 50% to lightning and then convert that lightning to cold to increase our survivability. We scale the damage with power charges and cluster jewels to increase damage, range and activation frequency. Adding Explosive chest onto that and we've got really nice clear and single target.

https://pastebin.com/krbKV4Tp
You will need PoB Community fork to get it to work: https://github.com/PathOfBuildingCommunity/PathOfBuilding/releases

Ascendancy

Opportunistic -> Mistwalker -> Unstable Infusion -> Deadly Infusion

Bandits
Help Alira for crit multi and res


Pantheons
Major - Up to you, typically Solaris vs single-target and Lunaris for clear
Minor - I'm using Gruthul for clear and Ryslatha for bosses for the flask charges

Weapons


Other Options
Rare with these mods:
+1 to lightning/all spell skill gems
Ele/lightning/cold dmg as extra chaos
Spell/Lightning Damage/cold damage
Flat added lightning damage/cold damage
Critical strike chance/Multiplier

Helm


Mods to look for on rare
Life
Res
+1 to Maximum Power Charge
-cold res to nearby enemies
Resist
Enchant: Cast speed/Area damage to penance brand or Wrath reduced reservation.

For budget version go with Life and resist.

Body Armour


Other options
Rare 6L with Life & Resist, Frenzy is optional. If you don't have frenzy on chest get Cold Snap into your Cast when Damage Taken setup.

Gloves


Mods to look for
Life
Resist
Phys converted to lightning (or open suffix to craft it)

Belt


Mods to look for
Life
Res
Lightning/ele/cold dmg

Other Options
Replica Soul Tether - If you can sacrifice res on your belt, cheap option instead of Glorious Vanity.

Boots


Mods to look for
Life
Res
MS
Tailwind

Amulet


Other Options
Badge of the Brotherhood (Expensive, fast)

Mods to look for on rare
Life
Crit multi
+1 int/lightning skill gem
Lightning damage
Spell Damage
Damage per power charge


Rings


Jewels
Life
Crit multi
Resist
Spell/area/elemental dmg

Glorious Vanity - Place either below Pain attunement or Mind over Matter. Gives Corrupted Soul (20% of max life as extra ES + 50% of non-chaos damage taken bypasses ES).

Cluster Jewels
Large: Cold and/or Lightning cluster with Any of the following mods: Blanketed Snow, Doryani's Lesson, Snowstorm, Vengeful Commander, Prismatic Heart, Widespread Destruction
Medium: Grand Design + Remarkable on 3 of them, Grand Design + Holy Conquest on the last one. For more single target and less clear, go with Grand Design + Brand Loyalty.
Small: Chaos res with anti-venom if needed, else Life with Fettle or Sublime Sensation/Towering Threat.

Flasks

Penance Brand - Concentrated Effect - Swiftbrand Support - Power Charge on Crit - Controlled Destruction - Inspiration

Enlighten (Lvl 4) - Herald of Ice -Herald of Ash - Wrath

If you can't afford lvl 4, get lvl 3 and get Sovereignty on the tree

Brand Recall - Arcane Surge - Flame Dash - Second Wind

Hextouch - Frostbite - Wave of Conviction or Frost Bomb

If you get Awakened Hextouch then add Elemental Weakness as 4th link

Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call - Vaal Righteous Fire - Increased Duration

Portal - Lightning Golem - Vaal Grace

I prefer leveling with Storm brand and later Spellslinger. Leveling trees can be find in the PoB.

Leveling Gear

Tabula Rasa, Goldrim, Lochtonial Caress, Wanderlust, Le Heup of all, Lifesprig, Axiom Perpeteum, Sacrificial Heart, Karui Ward (MS only)

Rare wand with spell/elemental damage, spell crit/multi, added flat dmg.

Leveling Gem Links
Start with Freezing Pulse - Onslaught - Added Lightning Damage
If you have tabula, get Added Cold damage and Arcane Surge.

At lvl 12: Storm Brand - Added Lightning Damage - Added Cold Damage - Onslaught - Arcane Surge - Faster Casting

At league start we'll get Storm brand at Act 3 Siosa, use Freezing pulse or any other spell of your choice.

At lvl 18: Storm Brand - Elemental Focus - Controlled Destruction - Added Lightning Damage - Faster Casting - Onslaught (Can be moved to Orb of storms instead)

At lvl 21 Get 4L Lightning spire as well for additional single-target damage: Lightning Spire Trap - Added Lightning Damage - Trap and Mine Damage - Controlled Destruction

Remember to get Herald of Thunder.

In Act 3 (Around lvl 24) you can get Spellslinger and get Arc + Ball lightning:
Ball Lightning - Elemental Focus - Spellslinger - Added Lightning Damage
Arc - Increased Critical Strikes - Spellslinger - Added Lightning Damage
Can be triggered with normal attacks or Frenzy linked to Faster Attacks.

Storm brand is an option if you prefer not to use Spellslinger. Swap out Faster Casting & Onslaught for Lightning pen & Conc effect