Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Gathering Winds, Far Shot, Endless Munitions, and Focal Point. The Chaos Inoculation node in the upper right of the tree makes this an energy shield build and is required for this build. You should stack intelligence as high as you can within reason because this is an intelligence stacking build. A Watcher's Eye jewel is recommended for increased energy shield, increased mana, 30 energy shield per enemy hit while affected by Discipline, 60% increased lightning damage while affected by Wrath, and optionally damage penetrates 10% lightning resistance while affected by Wrath. An Energy From Within jewel is helpful in the upper blue circle in the image for a large energy shield increase and a Fertile Mind jewel can be used in the lower blue circle for a large intelligence increase. The Reservation Mastery is important for increased mana reservation efficiency so that you can use the recommended reservation skills. Try and get Corrupted Blood immunity on one of your jewels so that you don't need to take the Resistance Mastery for Corrupted Blood immunity because it primarily gives chaos resistances and this build is immune to chaos damage. The Ghost Dance node near the far right of the tree is helpful because it makes you recover a large amount of energy shield when you are hit. Nearby is the Evasion Mastery node which increases your evasion based on how much intelligence you have. This is an energy shield build so make sure and take a healthy amount of the nearby energy shield related nodes for survival. Note: The skill tree above has been updated for the new season (3.25).​

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Defensive Layers

Because of the high amount of projectiles that return on this build a Watcher's Eye with energy shield on hit goes a long way. With the Atziri's Reflection unique shield you will also have curse immunity. This build paths through the Witch tree which has a high number of energy shield nodes. It's also an intelligence stack build which greatly increases your energy shield.

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Gems

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Weapon (3-link)

Sniper's Mark

Mark on Hit

Sigil of Power

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Shield (3-link)

Cold Snap (keep at level one)

Cast When Damage Taken Support (keep at level one to trigger more frequently)

Power Charge On Critical Support

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Armour (6-link)

Kinetic Bolt of Fragmentation

Sacred Wisps Support (new)

Damage On Full Life Support

Returning Projectiles Support

Awakened Added Lightning Damage Support

Awakened Elemental Damage With Attacks Support

 

Helmet (4-link)

Grace

Wrath

Discipline

Enlighten Support

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Gloves (4-link)

Summon Lightning Golem

Minion Life Support

Culling Strike Support

Elemental Army Support

 

Boots (4-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

More Duration Support

Flame Dash

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Reservation Skills

Grace and Discipline are the best defensive auras for this build because they give very high evasion, added energy shield, and increased energy shield recharge rate. You should use Wrath as your offensive aura with this build because it greatly increases your lightning damage. Wrath can be used once you have the increased mana reservation efficiency from the Mana Mastery, increased mana reservation efficiency from the Reservation Mastery, and a level four Enlighten Support to lower the mana reservation costs of your skills.

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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. Kinetic Bolt of Fragmentation shotguns enemies which means all projectiles can hit a single enemy. Projectiles will split on hit when using Sniper's Mark and then return with Returning Projectiles Support.

3. Damage On Full Life Support will always be active with the Chaos Inoculation node taken because it makes this build a one life energy shield build. This makes Damage On Full Life Support a strong damage support gem option.

4. Cold Snap generates Frenzy charges when enemies die in its skill effect area and generates Power charges when it's linked to Power Charge On Critical Support. It will also automatically cast when you take damage with Cast When Damage Taken Support. Keep Cold Snap and Cast When Damage Taken Support at level one to trigger more frequently.

5. Summon Lightning Golem gives attack speed, an added lightning damage aura, lightning exposure with Elemental Army Support, kills enemies with 10% life with Culling Strike Support, and provides an extra target for enemies to attack.

6. If you think you would prefer an intelligence stacking Kinetic Blast/Power Siphon build you can also check out the Kinetic Blast/Power Siphon Deadeye Guide which can be found here Intelligence Stacking Kinetic Blast Deadeye Guide.

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Equipment

 

Weapon

Rare Imbued Wand

Look for a rare Imbued Wand with adds 1-6 lightning damage to attacks with this weapon per 10 intelligence, 1% increased spell damage per 16 intelligence, added lightning damage, increased attack speed, and increased critical strike chance. The increased spell damage is converted to attack damage with the recommended helmet. You can also add 1% increased attack speed per 8% quality at the Horticrafting Station which can be added to your hideout.

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Shield

Atziri's Reflection

Gives up to 60 intelligence, 30% increased elemental resistances, 20% increased effect of your curses, hex reflection, curse immunity, and high energy shield and evasion. You can optionally look for a good corruption but it's very expensive.

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Armour

Rare Energy Shield Chest

Look for a rare energy shield chest with high percent intelligence, intelligence, attributes %, and very high energy shield. This armour is highly recommended over Replica Hyrri's Ire for energy shield because this is an intelligence stacking build.

 

Helmet

Crown of Eyes

Gives up to 350 accuracy, 0.8% attack damage leeched as life, 0.4% attack damage leeched as mana, -30% to fire resistance, and most importantly it gives increases and reductions in spell damage also apply to attacks at 150% of their value. You should also eventually look for a +2 to level of socketed AoE or aura gems corruption. 

 

Belt

Rare Synthesized Intelligence Stack Belt

This belt can have a 15% increased intelligence implicit, high intelligence, strength, energy shield, resistances, and increased elemental damage with attack skills. You should also use Intrinsic Catalysts on the belt to increase its attribute bonus.

Cyclopean Coil

The budget option gives up to 15% increased attributes, 120 life, cannot be Shocked if intelligence is higher than strength, and 1% increased damage per 5 of your lowest attribute. You should also use Intrinsic Catalysts to increase its attribute bonus.

 

Gloves

Rare Energy Shield Gloves

Look for high intelligence, high energy shield, an elemental resistance, and add the combined +1 to level of socketed projectile gems/projectiles pierce an additional target at the crafting bench. You should also use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors on the gloves until you roll lightning exposure on hit and increased attack speed.

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Boots

Rare Energy Shield Boots

Look for tier one intelligence, high energy shield, resistances, Onslaught on kill, movement speed, and use Eldritch Ichors and Eldritch Embers to roll a chance to avoid elemental ailments and a chance to avoid being Ignited.

Rare Intelligence Stack Boots

The high end option is excellent boots with the 1-6 added lightning damage per 10 intelligence modifier but these boots can be extremely expensive. You can also look for these boots with high intelligence, high energy shield, and resistances.

 

Amulet

Astramentis

Gives up to 116 to all attributes which allows you to reach attribute requirements and gives a huge damage increase from intelligence. You should also use Intrinsic Catalysts on the amulet to increase its attribute bonus.

 

Rings

Rare Conductivity Ring

Look for a ring with the Conductivity curse on hit, high intelligence, energy shield, added lightning damage, increased lightning damage, and resistances. You should use Intrinsic Catalysts on both of your rings to increase their intelligence bonus.

Rare Intelligence Ring

Look for high intelligence, energy shield, added lightning damage, increased lightning damage, resistances, and optionally added lightning damage against Shocked enemies.

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Tattoo (Standard Only)

Honoured Tattoo of the Tuatara

These tattoos can replace small dexterity nodes to give four to all attributes per tattoo which increases your intelligence.

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Utility Flasks

Bottled Faith

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

Rumi's Concoction (legacy is better)

Gives 1500 armour, 12% increased attack block, and 6% increased spell block. The legacy version has much higher block chances. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Silver Flask

Gives Onslaught for single target encounters which increases your attack speed and movement speed and can have up to a 35% chance to gain a flask charge on critical strike and 17% increased attack speed. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Diamond Flask

Gives 100% increased critical strike chance and can have up to a 35% chance to gain a flask charge on critical strike and 17% increased attack speed. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask when it has full charges.

Jade Flask

Gives 1500 evasion. Look to roll Bleeding and Corrupted Blood immunity during effect and use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever you are Bleeding.

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Anointment

Your amulet should be anointed with Whispers of Doom which gives an additional curse at Cassia using three Golden Oils.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: Steelskin Buff Can Take 45% Increased Amount Of Damage

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

Feet: Adds 1-160 Lightning Damage If You Haven't Killed Recently

Belt: 30% Increased Accuracy While You Have Onslaught 

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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 the Brine King is the best major Pantheon power for energy shield builds because it gives Freeze immunity, 50% reduced effects of Chill on you, stun immunity if you've received a stunning hit in the past 2 seconds, and 30% increased stun and block recovery. Soul of the Brine King is important because this build is a one life energy shield build with the Chaos Inoculation node and your Freeze and Chill threshold is normally based off your maximum life. Soul of Abberath is the best minor Pantheon power to help maintain energy shield because it gives 60% less Ignite duration on you, 10% increased movement speed on burning ground, and makes you unaffected by burning ground.

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Leveling Gear

 

Weapon

Lifesprigs

You can use two level one Lifesprigs that each give 40% increased spell damage, +1 to level of socketed spell gems, increased cast speed, life, mana, and life regeneration.

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Armour

Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa is a level one chest armour with six white linked sockets. This allows you to link any color gems together for much higher damage at an earlier level. You can also look for 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

A great level one resistance helmet with up to 40% increased elemental resistances and 10% increased rarity of items found.

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Gloves

Lochtonial Caress

These excellent level one gloves give up to 15% increased attack speed, 15% increased cast speed, and give a 15% chance to generate an Endurance, Power, or Frenzy charge on kill.

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Boots

Wondertrap

Wondertrap 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

The 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

Two Perandus Signets

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

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Flasks

Quicksilver Flask

This flask can be used at level four and gives 40% increased movement speed which helps speed up the leveling process. This flask can also have increased attack speed or movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Silver Flask

This flask gives Onslaught which gives increased attack speed, cast speed, and movement speed as early as level 27 and can have increased attack speed or 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, consecrated ground, increases enemies damage taken by 10% on consecrated ground, and gives 150% increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use it whenever you hit a rare or unique enemy.

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Leveling Gems

Kinetic Bolt of Fragmentation can start being used 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. Steelskin should be used as your guard skill once you are level four and have 16 strength. Dash also requires level four and should be used as your travel skill at early levels.

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Upgrades

You can upgrade your weapons to Ashcallers at level 12 for increased spell damage, high added fire damage, a 10% chance to cover enemies in Ash on hit, and a chance to summon Level 10 Raging Spirit on kills. The Carnage Heart amulet can also be equipped once you reach level 20 for up 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. You can also benefit from upgrading to two Praxis rings at level 22 to reduce the mana cost of all skills by up to 16. Many of the items in the leveling section above last all the way until the midgame where better items will become available.

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That's all for the Kinetic Bolt of Fragmentation Guide! For more on PoE you can view the endgame guide here Endgame Guide.

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