Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Master Toxicist, Nature's Boon, Nature's Reprisal, and Nature's Adrenaline. Take the increased chaos damage over time nodes, increased damage over time nodes, increased chaos damage, and increased poison damage nodes. The Charge Mastery with Overcharged is important because it gives a chance to generate a Frenzy, Endurance, or Power charge on kill. The Clever Thief node should also be taken for 1% life leech and 1% mana leech and works with all types of attack damage. You should also take the Mana Mastery for increased mana reservation efficiency which allows you to use the recommended reservation skills. A large cluster jewel is important on the middle right side of the tree which is explained in the cluster jewel section later in the guide. Make sure and take a healthy amount of the nearby life percent nodes for survival.

​

Defensive Layers

Scourge Arrow is a great poison bow skill that allows you to charge a high damage poison attack and then move each time it's shot which is great for your mobility and survival. 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 will gain three charges every three seconds and you will have a 20% chance to not expend a flask charge when using your potions.

​

Gems

 

Weapon (6-link)

Siege Ballista

Withering Touch Support

Multiple Totem Support

Awakened Greater Multiple Projectile Support

Faster Attacks Support

Maim Support

 

Armour (6-link)

Scourge Arrow (Scourge Arrow of Menace can be used for faster damage against groups of enemies)

Awakened Swift Affliction Support

Awakened Deadly Ailment Support

Awakened Void Manipulation Support

Awakened Vicious Projectile Support

Awakened Unbound Ailment Support

 

Helmet (4-link)

Grace

Herald of Agony

Withering Touch Support

Enlighten Support

 

Gloves (4-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

Withering Step

Flame Dash

​

Boots (4-link)

Summon Flame Golem

Minion Life Support

Culling Strike Support

Clarity

​

Reservation Skills

Grace is the best defensive aura for this build and gives very high evasion. Clarity is needed for the high mana cost of Scourge Arrow. Herald of Agony is used to increase your poison damage, gives a 20% chance to poison enemies, applies Wither, and gives an extra target for enemies to attack. Herald of Agony can be used once you have the increased mana reservation efficiency from the Mana Mastery, some mana on your equipment or the tree, and a level 4 Enlighten Support to reduce 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 armor to be effective.

2. Siege Ballista is used as a secondary attack for tough enemies and is used to apply Wither with Withering Touch Support which increases your chaos damage by 6% stacking up to 15 times and Maim which increases your physical damage.

3. Withering Step applies Phasing and Wither to enemies which increases your chaos damage by 6% stacking up to 15 times and triggers Elusive which increases your movement speed and gives a chance to dodge attacks and spells.

4. Summon Flame Golem gives a 20% damage increase, 2% life recovery on Culling Strike, kills enemies at 10% life with Culling Strike Support, and provides an extra target for enemies to attack.

5. Scourge Arrow is one of the strongest poison bow build in the game but if you think you would prefer to try a very strong normal bow build the Tornado Shot Deadeye Guide can be viewed here Tornado Shot Deadeye.

​

Equipment

 

Weapon

Darkscorn

Gives a 20% chance for poisons inflicted by this weapon to deal 300% damage, converts 25% of physical damage to chaos damage, and converts 25% physical damage taken from hits to chaos damage.

​

Quiver

Rare Damage Over Time Quiver

Look for high life, damage over time multiplier with attack skills, chaos damage over time multiplier with attack skills, increased attack speed, and increased damage with bow skills.

​

Armour

Dendrobate

Has 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 upgrade to a Dendrobate with an increased damage corruption for a little more currency.

​

Helmet

Devoto's Devotion

Gain 16% increased attack speed, 10% reduced physical damage, 65 dexterity, 20% increased movement speed, 25% chaos resistance, and high defensive stats. You should also eventually go for a +2 to level of aura gems or aoe gems corruption.

The Broken Crown

A budget option that gives 15 to all stats, 20% increased damage when on low life, and 61% chaos resistance.

 

Belt

Stygian Vise

Look for high life, life percent, resistances, strength, increased chaos damage, and an abyssal socket. You should use 20 Fertile Catalysts on the belt to increase its life bonus.

Abyss Jewel

Look for an abyss jewel with high life, increased damage over time while wielding a two handed weapon, and attack speed.

​

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, Onslaught on kill, Tailwind, Elusive, and movement speed.

​

Amulet

Impresence

Has up to 16 to all attributes, 40% increased damage over time, added chaos damage, 70 life, 23% chaos resistance, and Maddening Presence when you kill a rare or unique enemy which reduces enemies' action speed and damage by 10%. You can use 20 Fertile Catalysts on the amulet to increase its life bonus.

​

Rings 

Rare Despair Ring

Look for a ring with Despair on hit, high life, strength, resistances, and crafted reduced mana cost. You can use Fertile Catalysts on both of your rings to increase the life bonuses and reduced mana costs.

Rare Chaos Damage Ring

Look for a ring with high life, strength, resistances, increased chaos damage, and crafted reduced mana cost.

​

Cluster Jewel

Large Cluster Jewel

A well rolled Large Cluster Jewel is very important for the damage of Scourge Arrow. Look for a large cluster jewel with small passive skills grant 12% increased chaos damage, small passives also grant 2% attack and cast speed with chaos skills which reduces the charge time of Scourge Arrow, Overwhelming Malice which gives a 10% chance to gain Unholy Might (100% physical damage converted to chaos damage and a 25% chance to inflict Wither) on critical strikes, Unholy Grace which gives 30% increased chaos damage and 10% increased attack speed, and Unwaveringly Evil which gives 30% increased chaos damage and makes chaos skills ignore stuns. Poison builds aren't always meta so you may be able to find the jewel at a very good price but if not you can sacrifice the 2% attack speed with chaos skills and still have an excellent jewel.

​

Utility Flasks

Bottled Faith

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

Dying Sun (legacy is better)

Gives two extra arrows, 20% increased area of effect, 50% fire resistance, and reduces fire damage taken by 20%. The legacy version has a longer duration. Use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask when 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 are Bleeding.

​

Anointment

You should anoint your amulet with Heart of Darkness for 27% increased chaos damage and 7% chaos resistance penetration at Cassia using an Azure Oil, Azure Oil, and Opalescent Oil.

​

Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 40% Increased Scourge Arrow Damage

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

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

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

​

Bandits

The best bandit to help in Act 2 for this build is Alira because she gives 15% to all elemental resistances, 20% increased critical strike multiplier, and 5 mana regeneration per second. If your last two nodes in your tree are better than 15% to all elemental resistances and 5 mana regeneration per second you should instead kill all three bandits for two skill points.

​

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 Abberath is the best minor power to help maintain energy shield and gives 60% less Ignite duration on you, makes you unaffected by burning ground, and gives 10% increased movement speed on burning ground.

​

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

Gives high physical damage, 80% increased elemental damage with attacks, skills chain +2 times, and requires level eighteen.

​

Quiver

Craghead

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

​

Armour

Tabula Rasa

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

​

Helmet

Goldrim

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

​

Gloves

Lochtonial Caress

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

​

Boots

Wondertrap

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

​

Amulet

Kurai Ward

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

​

Rings

Perandus Signets

Two Perandus Signets can be used 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.

​

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, creates consecrated ground, increases enemies damage taken by 10% on consecrated ground, and gives 150% increased critical strike chance against enemies on consecrated ground.

​

Leveling Gems

Caustic Arrow should be used at level one and you can add Volley Support at level four. Scourge Arrow which is your endgame skill should be switched to at level 28. Make sure to pick up a Steelskin gem once you've reached level four and have 16 strength for a defensive guard skill. Dash requires level four and should be used as your travel skill at early levels.

​

Upgrades

The Carnage Heart unique amulet can be equipped at level 20 and can be used for its 56 to all attributes and 20% increase to all elemental resistances. Death's Harp is an excellent upgrade to Roth's Reach at level 32 that has strong critical strike modifiers and an extra arrow. You can later upgrade to Death's Opus at level 44 for two additional arrows. You can also benefit from upgrading to two Praxis rings at level 22 to reduce the mana costs of all skills by up to 16 which allows you to use utility flasks in the place of mana flasks. Many of the above items last until the midgame where better items will become available.

​

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

​