Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Gratuitous Violence, Jagged Technique, War of Attrition, and the two Attack Speed/Block Chance nodes because the other ascendancies aren't useful for this build. Take as many of the nearby increased damage over time, increased damage over time with bow skills, increased accuracy/critical strike chance, increased bow damage, and increased physical damage nodes as you can and make sure to pick up both Bleeding Masteries for a 100% chance to cause Bleeding on hit. The Mana Mastery is also important for 12% increased mana reservation efficiency which allows you to use the recommended reservation skills. A Stormshroud jewel makes Shock avoidance apply to all elemental ailments and is recommended for 100% elemental ailment avoidance with the recommended boots. Make sure and take as many of the nearby life percent nodes as you can for survival. Note: The skill tree above is updated for the new season (3.25).

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Defensive Layers

This builds greatest defense is its strong clear and single target damage that works even when you are not continuously attacking. This means that this Bleed build has great mobility because it allows you to Puncture a boss or Split Arrow adds and then move out of the way to avoid danger. Gladiators also have a low block chance increase from their ascendancy nodes.​

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Gems

 

Weapon (6-link)

Split Arrow

Awakened Vicious Projectile Support

Awakened Swift Affliction Support

Awakened Brutality Support

Cruelty Support

Volatility Support

 

Armour (6-link)

Puncture

Awakened Brutality Support

Awakened Swift Affliction Support

Awakened Deadly Ailments Support

Awakened Vicious Projectiles Support

Volatility Support

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Helmet (4-link)

Manaforged Arrows Support

Frenzy

Power Charge On Critical Support

Dash

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Gloves (4-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

Summon Ice Golem

Minion Life Support

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Boots (4-link)

Grace

Summon Skitterbots

Herald of Purity

Enlighten Support

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Reservation Skills

Grace is the best defensive aura for this build and gives very high evasion. Summon Skitterbots is used to Shock and Chill enemies which gives increased damage and slows enemies. Herald of Purity is selected to increase your physical damage and summons four extra targets for enemies to attack. Aspect of the Cat is free with the Farrul's Fur body armour and gives Frenzy and Power charge generation, increased critical strike chance, increased attack speed, and a chance to avoid all damage. Herald of Purity should be used once you have the Mana Mastery for 12% increased mana reservation efficiency and a level 4 Enlighten Support to lower the mana reservation cost of your skills.

 

Gem Notes​​​​​​

1. Steelskin is the recommended guard skill for this build because Immortal Call requires you to use potions more often and Molten Shell requires very high armour to be effective.

2. Split Arrow of Splitting deals significantly higher damage than Split Arrow in low mob density areas. However Split Arrow is much safer because you can fire 14 arrows offscreen without having to aim and it's better for high mob density areas.

3. Volatility Support was added in 3.23 and increases the maximum damage of your attacks which gives stronger Bleeds.

4. The charge up Snipe skill from the unique Assailum helmet isn't recommended because it often misses after being charged (especially when bosses are moving), hits weaker enemies in front of bosses, and lowers your multi-target Bleed damage.

5. Summon Ice Golem increases your critical strike chance and accuracy and provides an additional target for enemies.

6. If you would prefer to play a fast paced melee Duelist build that deals high damage while teleporting through enemies you can also check out the Impale Flicker Strike Champion Guide here Impale Flicker Strike Champion Guide.

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Equipment

 

Weapon

Rare Physical Bleed Bow

Look for the highest physical damage bow you can find with optional modifiers like damage over time multiplier for Bleeding, increased Bleeding damage, and increased physical damage over time multiplier.

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Quiver

Rare Quiver

Look for high life, damage over time multiplier with attack skills, increased bleed damage, increased damage with bow skills, added physical damage to attacks, and resistances.

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Armour

Farrul's Fur

Gives up to 100 life, Phasing, Frenzy and Power Charge generation, and free Aspect of the Cat. The Frenzy charge generation from this armour increases your damage over time multiplier by 4% per Frenzy charge and makes Bleed deal damage 4% faster per Frenzy charge with the recommended Usurper's Penance helmet. You will also gain Power charges and Aspect of the Cat.

Belly of the Beast

The budget option gives up to 40% increased life, 15% increased elemental resistances, and 50% increased life flask recovery rate. You can upgrade to a Belly of the Beast with an increased damage corruption once you have enough currency.

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Helmet

Usurper's Penance

Gives 15% chance to cause Bleeding, 4% damage over time multiplier for Bleeding per Frenzy charge, Bleeding deals damage 4% faster per Frenzy charge, and up to a 30% chance to gain a Frenzy charge on critical strikes at close range.

 

Belt

Stygian Vise

Look for high life, life percent, resistances, increased damage, and an abyssal socket. You should also use Fertile Catalysts on the belt to increase its life bonus.

Abyss Jewel

Look for an abyss jewel with high life, increased accuracy, increased damage over time while wielding a two handed weapon, and optionally increased global critical strike chance.

 

Gloves

Rare Apothecary's Gloves

Apothecary's Gloves have up to an 18% increased damage over time implicit modifier. Look for Apothecary Gloves with high life, resistances, physical damage over time multiplier, optionally increased damage over time, and add increased damage during any flask effect at the crafting bench.

 

Boots

Rare Boots

Look for high life, chance to avoid being Shocked, resistances, chance to gain Onslaught on kill, and increased movement speed. You should also use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors to roll Bleeding you inflict deals damage faster and a chance to avoid being Shocked which gives 100% elemental ailment avoidance with a Stormshroud jewel socketed in your tree. You can craft these boots by getting a tier one chaos resistance fracture (golden modifier that appears above the line that cant be changed) and roll Deafening Essences of Torment for Shock avoidance until you get high life and resistances. After that you can craft chance to gain Onslaught on kill and increased movement speed at the crafting bench for a great pair of boots.

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Amulet

Rare Amulet

Look for high attributes, high life, increased damage over time multiplier, resistances, and add the combined increased projectile damage and increased projectile speed modifier at the crafting bench. You should use Fertile Catalysts to increase its life.

Carnage Heart

The budget amulet gives up to 56 to all attributes, 20% to all resistances, 2% physical damage leeched as life, 50% increased recovery from life leech, and 40% increased damage while leeching.

 

Rings

Rare Vulnerability Ring

Look for Vulnerability on hit, high life, strength, resistances, and increased damage. You should use Fertile Catalysts on both of your rings to increase their life bonuses.

Rare Aspect of the Cat Ring

Look for high life, increased attributes, Aspect of the Cat, resistances, optionally mana leech, and craft reduced mana cost.

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Utility Flasks

Bottled Faith

Gives 40% increased damage, 150% increased critical strike chance, and 10% increased damage to enemies on consecrated ground. Use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever you hit a rare or unique enemy.

Diamond Flask (legacy is better)

Gives 100% increased critical strike chance and can have 60% increased critical strike chance as a second modifier. The legacy version can be better. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask when it has full charges.

Rumi's Concoction (legacy is better)

Gives 1500 armour, 12% chance to block attacks, and 6% chance to block spells. The legacy version is better and gives higher block chances. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Note: You can get Bleeding immunity from the Armour and Evasion Mastery and Corrupted Blood immunity from the Resistance Mastery which means you don't need to use a Bleeding/Corrupted Blood removal flask.

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Anointment

You should anoint your amulet with Overcharged for a chance to generate Endurance, Power, or Frenzy Charges on kills at Cassia with a Clear Oil, Opalescent Oil, and Silver Oil.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 40% Increased Split Arrow Damage

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

Feet: 120% Increased Critical Strike Chance if You Haven't Crit Recently

Belt: Enemies Maimed By You Take 8% Increased Damage Over Time

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Bandits

The best bandit to help in Act 2 is Alira because she gives 15% to all elemental resistances which allows you to focus more on damage from your equipment. If you don't need the resistances you can also kill all three bandits for 1 passive skill point.

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Pantheon

Soul of Solaris is the best major Pantheon power and gives 6% reduced physical damage taken when only one enemy is present, a 20% chance to take 50% less area damage, 8% reduced elemental damage taken if you haven't been hit recently, take no extra damage from critical strikes if you've been hit with a critical strike recently, and a 50% chance to avoid elemental ailments from critical strikes. Soul of Ryslatha is the best minor power and gives 60% increased life recovery from flasks at low life, life flask charges every 3 seconds if you haven't used a life flask recently, and enemies you hit have 50% reduced life regeneration.

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Leveling Gear

 

Weapon

Silverbranch

Silverbranch is a great level one bow with +1 to socketed bow gems, increased attack speed, accuracy, and mana on kill.

Roth's Reach

Requires level 18 and has high physical damage, 80% increased elemental damage with attacks, and skills chain +2 times.

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Quiver

Craghead

Craghead can be used at level four and has 7-14 added physical damage and 25% reduced projectile speed.

Hyrri's Bite

Requires level 12 and gives strength, dexterity, intelligence, attack speed, area of effect, and adds cold damage to attacks.

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Armour

Tabula Rasa

A level one chest armour that has six white linked sockets so that you can link any color gems together which allows you to deal much higher damage at an earlier level. You can also get a Tabula Rasa with a high increased damage corruption which also requires level one for fairly cheap from the trade site.

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Helmet

Goldrim

Goldrim is a level one resistance helmet with 40% to all elemental resistances that has 10% increased rarity of items found.

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Gloves

Lochtonial Caress

Level one gloves that have 15% increased attack speed, 15% increased cast speed, and a 15% chance to generate an Endurance, Power, or Frenzy Charge on kill.

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Boots

Wondertrap

These boots can be equipped at level 9 and give up to 30 strength, 30 dexterity, 30 intelligence, and 25% movement speed. 

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Amulet

Kurai Ward

A level five amulet that gives up to 30 strength, 30 dexterity, 100 accuracy, and 30% increased projectile damage.

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Rings

Perandus Signets

You can use two Perandus Signet rings at level one which each give up to 65% mana regeneration, 65 mana, 2% increased intelligence for each unique item equipped, and 2% increased experience gained.

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Flasks

Quicksilver Flask

This flask can be used at level four for 40% increased movement speed and can have increased movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Silver Flask

This flask gives Onslaught which increases your attack speed, cast speed, and movement speed as early as level 27. It can also have increased movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Bottled Faith (use a Sulphur Flask for 40% increased damage if you can't afford Bottled Faith)

This endgame flask requires level 27 and gives 40% increased damage, creates consecrated ground, increases enemies damage taken by 10% on consecrated ground, and gives 150% increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground.

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Leveling Gems

Split Arrow which is your endgame skill can be equipped at level one. Precision is the best offensive low level aura and can be used once you reach level 10 for increased critical strike chance and accuracy. Vitality is the best defensive aura for leveling by far and can be used as early as level 10. Make sure and pick up a Steelskin gem once you are level four for a defensive guard skill. Dash also requires level four and should be used as your travel skill at early levels.

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Upgrades

The Carnage Heart amulet is the budget amulet for this build and can be used once you reach level 20 for up to 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. At level 32 you can also upgrade your bow to Death's Harp. You can later upgrade to Death's Opus which requires level 48 for high critical strike modifiers and two additional arrows. Two Praxis rings are also great once you reach level 22 to lower the cost of all skills by up to 16 which allows you to use utility flasks in the place of mana flasks. Many of the items in the leveling section above last until the midgame where better items will become available.

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That's all for the Split Arrow Bleed Guide! For more about Path of Exile you can view the endgame guide here Endgame Guide.

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