Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Gathering Winds, Ricochet, 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 highly recommended for up to 6% energy shield, 6% 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 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 should also be taken for a chance to generate an Endurance, Power, or Frenzy charge on kill. The Reservation Mastery is very important for increased mana reservation efficiency so that you can use the recommended reservation skills. Cluster jewels should also be used 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 the Resistance Mastery doesn't need to be allocated. Make sure and take plenty of the nearby energy shield related nodes on the tree for survival.

 

Defensive Layers

The Wind Ward ascendancy will make you take 3% 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)

Flame Dash

Sigil of Power

Clarity

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Shield (3-link)

Summon Lightning Golem

Minion Life Support

Elemental Army Support

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Armour (6-link)

Power Siphon

Sacred Wisps Support (new)

Damage On Full Life Support

Awakened Added Lightning Damage Support

Awakened Lightning Penetration Support

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)

Steelskin

Empower Support

Enduring Cry

Call To Arms

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Reservation Skills

Grace and Discipline are the best defensive auras for this build because they give very high evasion, energy shield, and increased energy shield recharge rate. You should use Wrath as your offensive aura to greatly increase 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, 50% increased reservation efficiency for Grace from a Sublime Form notable small cluster jewel, 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 armor to be effective.

2. Power Siphon changed in 3.23 by making Barrage Support attack multiple nearby targets instead of attacking in a line for single target damage. Barrage Support was replaced with Faster Attacks Support in 3.23 and is now replaced with an even better support gem with the new Sacred Wisps Support in 3.24.

3. Enduring Cry now casts instantly with the new Call To Arms gem and is used to generate Endurance charges which reduce your physical damage taken and increase your elemental resistances.

4. Damage On Full Life Support will always be active on one life energy shield builds which makes it a strong support gem.

5. Summon Lightning Golem gives increased attack speed, an aura that increases your lightning damage, lightning exposure with Elemental Army 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

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 and/or a +1 to Maximum Power Charges corruption. 

 

Belt

Synthesized Intelligence Stack Belt

This belt can have a 15% increased intelligence implicit, high intelligence, high strength, resistances, and increased elemental damage with attack skills. You should also use 20 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 20 Intrinsic Catalysts to increase its attribute bonus.

 

Gloves

Rare 6-Link Energy Shield Gloves

Look for Faster Attacks Support/increased attack speed and Faster Projectiles Support/faster 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, 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 strong 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 115 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 20 Intrinsic Catalysts on the ring to increase its 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. You should use 20 Intrinsic Catalysts to increase its intelligence bonus.

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Cluster Jewels

You should use a large cluster jewel with three damage notables, a medium cluster jewel with Aerodynamics for projectiles pierce an additional enemy, 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.

Dying Sun (legacy is better)

Gives two extra projectiles, up to 20% increased area of effect, 50% to fire resistance, and 20% reduced fire damage taken. The legacy version is better and has a longer duration. 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.

Silver Flask

Gives Onslaught which increases your attack speed, cast speed, and movement speed. Look to roll Bleeding and Corrupted Blood immunity 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 during Act 2 for this build is Alira because she gives 15% increased elemental resistances, 20% increased critical strike multiplier, and 5 mana regeneration per second which are all very beneficial.

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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 recommended on energy shield builds because you will have a maximum life of one 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 and 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. You should switch to the higher damage Ice Shot with Volley Support at level four and optionally switch to Lightning Arrow and Lesser Multiple Projectile Support at level 12. Make sure to 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

Astramentis is the recommended amulet for the build and can be equipped as early as level 20. Death's Harp can be used as a leveling bow at level 32 and 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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