Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Gathering Winds, Far Shot, Endless Munitions, and Wind Ward. 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 with this build because it increases the damage of Kinetic Blast and as an added bonus it increases your energy shield. 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. A Fertile Mind jewel is important in the bottom blue circle in the image above to give up to 24 intelligence and to convert nearby dexterity nodes to intelligence nodes and an Energy From Within jewel is helpful in the upper blue circle in the image for a large energy shield increase. The Charge Mastery can give a 12% chance to generate an Endurance, Power, or Frenzy charge on kill. The Reservation Mastery is also important for increased mana reservation efficiency so that you can use the recommended reservation skills. Cluster jewels should be used with this build and are explained in the cluster jewel section later in the guide. Also try and get Corrupted Blood immunity on one of your jewels so that you don't need to take the Resistance Mastery because it gives chaos resistances and this build is immune to chaos damage. This is an energy shield build so make sure and take plenty of the nearby energy shield related nodes for survival. Note: The above skill tree image is up to date and accurate for the new season (3.25).​

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Defensive Layers

The Wind Ward ascendancy will make you take 4% less damage per stack of Gale Force. With the Atziri's Reflection unique shield you will also have curse immunity. This build paths through the Scion and Witch tree which have a very high amount of energy shield related nodes. It's also an intelligence stacking build which also greatly increases your energy shield.

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Gems

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Weapon (3-link)

Sigil of Power

Clarity

Flame Dash

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Shield (3-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support​

More Duration Support

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Armour (6-link)

Power Siphon (optionally Elemental Hit of the Spectrum which is explained in the gem notes section)

Sacred Wisps Support (new)

Damage On Full Life Support

Awakened Added Lightning Damage Support

Awakened Lightning Penetration Support (replace with Barrage Support if you use Elemental Hit of the Spectrum)

Awakened Elemental Damage With Attacks Support

 

Helmet (4-link)

Grace

Wrath

Discipline

Enlighten Support

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Gloves (6-link)

Kinetic Blast

Sacred Wisps Support (new)

Awakened Greater Multiple Projectile Support

Awakened Elemental Damage With Attacks Support

Faster Attacks Support (built into gloves)

Faster Projectiles Support (built into gloves)

 

Boots (4-link)

Summon Lightning Golem

Minion Life Support

Elemental Army Support

Culling Strike Support

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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. Clarity gives mana regeneration and is important for the high mana cost of Kinetic Blast. Wrath can be used once you have the increased mana reservation efficiency from the Mana Mastery, increased mana reservation efficiency from the Reservation Mastery, increased reservation efficiency for Grace from a Sublime Form notable small cluster jewel, and a level 4 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. Power Siphon was changed in 3.23 by making Power Siphon with Barrage Support attack multiple nearby targets instead of in a line. Barrage Support is now replaced with a very strong support gem with the new Sacred Wisps Support in 3.24.

3. You can use Elemental Hit of the Spectrum instead of Power Siphon, replace Discipline with Summon Skitterbots, and change Lightning Penetration Support with Barrage Support for higher single target damage at the cost of losing Discipline. Elemental Hit of the Spectrum requires a The Interrogation jewel so that you can inflict five elemental ailments on enemies instead of three. This is because Elemental Hit of the Spectrum gives 15% more damage per elemental ailment on enemies.

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

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

6. If you think you would prefer a strength stacking Kinetic Blast/Power Siphon life build you can also check out the Kinetic Blast/Power Siphon Berserker Guide which can be found here Strength Stacking Kinetic Blast Berserker Guide.

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Equipment

 

Weapon

Rare Imbued Wand

Look for a rare Imbued Wand that has 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.

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Shield

Atziri's Reflection

Has up to 60 intelligence, 30% increased elemental resistances, 20% increased effect of your curses, hex reflection, curse immunity, and high energy shield and evasion.

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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.

 

Helmet

Rare Intelligence Stack Energy Shield Helmet

Look for intelligence, intelligence percent, very high energy shield, and resistances. You can also optionally go for the +2 to socketed AoE gems modifier. Crown of Eyes is no longer needed for "increases and reductions in spell damage also apply to attacks at 150% of the value" because you get the modifier with 200% instead of 150% from the Kinetic Blast gem as of 3.25.

 

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 6-Link Energy Shield Gloves

Rare Fingerless Silk Gloves are preferred because they have an implicit (which is the modifier above the line on items) that gives up to 16% increased spell damage. Look for level 20 Faster Attacks Support/increased attack speed and Faster Projectiles Support/increased projectile speed built into the gloves, increased critical strike multiplier for socketed gems, high intelligence, high energy shield, and add +1 to level of socketed projectile gems/projectiles pierce an additional target at the crafting bench.

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Boots

Rare Energy Shield Boots

Look for tier one intelligence, high energy shield, resistances, Onslaught on kill, increased 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 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 20 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 can also optionally look for added lightning damage against Shocked enemies. 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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Cluster Jewels

You should use a large cluster jewel with three damage notables, a Megalomaniac medium cluster jewel with Daring Ideas for attack mana leech (so that you recover mana on attacks) and other beneficial notables like Aerodynamics for projectiles pierce an additional enemy and Opportunistic Fusilade for wand critical strike chance, and a small cluster with Sublime Form which gives increased mana reservation efficiency for Grace.

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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 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 Arcing Blows which gives 30% increased lightning damage and damage with weapons penetrates 8% lightning resistance with attacks at Cassia using a Clear Oil, Clear Oil, and Silver Oil.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 15% Increased Power Siphon Attack Speed

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

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

Belt: Enemies Blinded By You Have 30% Reduced Critical Strike Chance

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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 on the tree 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

Silverbranch

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

Roth's Reach

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

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Quiver

Craghead

Craghead is a level four quiver that gives up to 7-14 added physical damage and 25% reduced projectile speed.

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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

Galvanic Arrow is the best elemental bow skill to use at level one because it has multiple projectiles without a support gem. 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. You should switch to Ice Shot with Volley Support once you are level four and optionally switch to Lightning Arrow and Lesser Multiple Projectile Support at level 12. Make sure and pick up a Steelskin gem once you've reached level four and have 16 strength 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 can be equipped at level 20 for up 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. Death's Harp is a great leveling bow at level 32 that has high critical strike modifiers and an additional arrow. At level 44 you can upgrade to a Death's Opus bow which has high critical strike modifiers and gives two additional arrows. 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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And that's all for the Kinetic Blast Guide! For more about Path of Exile you can view the endgame guide here Endgame Guide.

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