Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Nature's Adrenaline, Nature's Boon, Master Alchemist, and Master Toxicist. You should take the increased chaos damage over time multiplier, increased damage over time, and damage over time multiplier for poisons nodes to increase your damage. You will also need the Flask Masteries to maintain life flask charges because Poisonous Concoction expends flask charges to deal more damage. A Watcher's Eye jewel is recommended for increased life, increased energy shield, increased mana, up to 22% damage over time multiplier while affected by Malevolence, damaging ailments inflict damage up to 15% faster while affected by Malevolence, and optionally Bleeding immunity while affected by Malevolence. The Light of Meaning jewel is important in the blue circle in the image above for 6% increased chaos damage for each passive in its radius. The Reservation Mastery and Mana Mastery should also be taken for increased mana reservation efficiency which allows you to use the recommended reservation skills. Make sure and take plenty of the nearby life percent nodes on the tree for survival. Note: The skill tree and build ratings have been updated for the new season (3.28).

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Defensive Layers

When you kill an enemy during a flask effect your poison damage will spread to all nearby enemies with the Master Toxicist ascendancy. With the Nature's Boon ascendancy flasks gain three charges every three seconds and you gain a 20% chance to not expend a flask charge when using your potions. And with the Master's Alchemist ascendancy you remove elemental ailments when you use a flask and you have a 50% chance to not expend flask charges when a potion is used. This build also has the strong defensive advantage of using a ranged attack with a shield.

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Gems

 

No Weapon (0-link)

(Poisonous Concoction doesn't use a weapon)

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Shield (3-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

More Duration Support

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Armour (6-link)

Poisonous Concoction

Greater Volley Support

Awakened Greater Multiple Projectiles Support

Awakened Void Manipulation Support

Awakened Vicious Projectile Support

Awakened Unbound Ailment Support

Note: Awakened gems can be replaced with the normal support gems for seasonal play.

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Helmet (4-link)

Grace

Malevolence

Discipline

Enlighten Support

 

Gloves (4-link)

Wither

Spell Totem Support

Multiples Totems Support

More Duration Support

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Boots (4-link)

Summon Flame Golem

Minion Life Support

Culling Strike Support

Flame Dash

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Reservation Skills

Grace and Discipline are the best defensive aura for this build and give very high evasion, energy shield, and increased energy shield recharge rate. Malevolence is the best offensive aura and it gives high increased damage over time and increased skill effect duration. Discipline can be used once you have the increased mana reservation efficiency from the Reservation Mastery and Mana Mastery 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. Wither Totems are used with Spell Totem Support to give a 6% increase to your chaos damage that stacks up to 15 times.

3. Summon Flame Golem gives a damage increase, 2% life recovery on Culling Strike, kills enemies at 10% life remaining with Culling Strike Support, and provides an extra target for enemies to attack.

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Equipment

 

No Weapon

(Poisonous Concoction doesn't use a weapon)

 

Shield

Licosidae

This shield is the best offensive shield for this build because it gives hits can't be evaded which allows you to skip the accuracy nodes and focus on damage in other areas on the skill tree.

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Armour

Dendrobate

Gives socketed gems are supported by level 10 Chance To Poison, up to 25% increased elemental resistances, 100% increased poison damage if you have 300 dexterity, and 25% increased poison duration if you have 150 intelligence. You can also eventually upgrade to a Dendrobate with a +2 to level of projectile skill gems corruption for a little more currency.

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Helmet

Rare Helmet

Look for high life, nearby enemies have lower chaos resistance, attributes, resistances, and optionally +2 to level of socketed AoE gems. You can also add +1 to level of socketed AoE gems/10% increased area of effect at the crafting bench.

The Broken Crown (budget)

An extreme budget option that gives up to 15 to all attributes, 20% increased damage on low life, and 61% chaos resistance.

 

Belt

Stygian Vise

Look for high life, increased life percent, resistances, strength, increased chaos 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, energy shield, increased attack speed, and increased chaos damage for attacks.

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Gloves

Rare Apothecary's Gloves

Apothecary's Gloves have an 18% increased damage over time implicit. Look for high life, increased damage over time, chaos damage over time multiplier, attack speed, a resistance, and add projectiles pierce an additional target at the crafting bench.

 

Boots

Rare Two-Toned Boots

Look for high life, resistances, Tailwind, Elusive, chance to gain Onslaught on kill, and increased movement speed.

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Amulet

Rare Chaos Skill Level Amulet

Look for +1 to level of all chaos skill gems, high life, energy shield, attributes, and chaos damage over time multiplier. You should also use Fertile Catalysts on the amulet to increase its life bonus.

Carnage Heart

This extreme budget amulet has up to 56 to all attributes, 20% increased elemental resistances, and increased damage while leeching. You can also use Intrinsic Catalysts on Carnage Heart to increase its attribute bonus.

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Rings 

Rare Despair Ring

Look for a ring with the Despair curse on hit, high life, strength, energy shield, increased chaos damage, and resistances. You can also use Fertile Catalysts on both of your rings to increase their life bonuses and reduced mana costs.

Rare Chaos Damage Ring

Look for life, strength, energy shield, resistances, increased chaos damage, and add reduced mana cost at the crafting bench.

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Utility Flasks

Bottled Faith

Gives 40% increased damage, consecrated ground, consecrated ground has triple radius, up to 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 chance to block attacks, and 6% chance to block spells. 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.

Diamond Flask

Gives 100% increased critical strike chance. 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're Bleeding.

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Anointment

You should anoint your amulet with Profane Chemistry for life flasks gain 1 charge every 3 seconds, 30% increased life recovery from flasks, and 7% increased life at Cassia using a Verdant Oil, Black Oil, and Silver Oil. This anointment is used after the changes to Poisonous Concoction that increased flask charges consumed based on how many projectiles you have.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 24% Increased Explosive Concoction Area Of Effect

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

Feet: 16% Increased Attack Speed if You Have Killed Recently

Belt: Enemies Withered By You Have -6% to All Resistances

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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

A great level one bow with +1 to level of socketed bow gems, increased attack speed, increased 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

This quiver requires level 4 and gives 7-14 added physical damage with 25% reduced projectile speed.

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Armour

Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa is a great level one body armour that has six white linked sockets which allows you to link any color gems together inside of it 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

An excellent level one resistance helmet with up to 40% to all elemental resistances and 10% increased rarity of items found.

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Gloves

Lochtonial Caress

These great level one gloves give up to 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

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

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Rings

Perandus Signets

Two Perandus Signet rings can be used at level one for mana regeneration which 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 for 40% increased movement speed which helps speed up the leveling process and it can also have increased attack speed or increased movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs on this flask 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 it can have increased attack speed or increased movement speed as a second modifier. You should use Instilling Orbs on this 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 a 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 up to 150% increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground. You should use Instilling Orbs on this flask until you automatically use the flask whenever you hit a rare or unique enemy.

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Leveling Gems

Caustic Arrow should be used at level one and you can use Volley Support at level four. Vitality is the best defensive aura for leveling by far and can be used as early as level 10. Poisonous Concoction which is your endgame skill should be switched to once you can easily maintain your flask charges. You should pick up a Steelskin gem once you're 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 to 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. You can also upgrade to two Praxis rings at level 22 to lower the mana costs of all of your skills by 16 which allows you to use utility flasks in the place of mana flasks. 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 this PoE guide! You can view more Path of Exile guides in the menu at the top of this page. Best of luck!​