Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Chain Reaction, Pyromaniac, Explosives Expert, and Born in the Shadows. The Coated Shrapnel jewel should be used in the blue circle above in standard to cause your traps to poison enemies and adds high physical damage to your traps. The Charge Mastery with Overcharged is also important for a chance to generate an Endurance, Frenzy, or Power charge on kill. Ghost Dance can be taken as a strong defensive node that regenerates a high amount of energy shield when hit. The Reservation Mastery and Mana Mastery should also be taken for increased mana reservation efficiency which allows you to use another reservation skill. Make sure and take as many of the increased life percent nodes as you can for survival.

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Defensive Layers

The Born in the Shadows ascendancy blinds nearby enemies and reduces your damage taken from blinded enemies by 15%. Summon Skitterbots also Chills and Shocks enemies which lowers their action speed, increases the damage taken of enemies, increases your critical strike chance, and gives elemental resistance penetration with the Explosives Expert ascendancy. Tinkerskin which is the recommended body armour has high life and energy shield recovery every time a trap is sprung. This build also has the defensive advantage of casting traps from a distance with a shield which improves your survival. 

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Gems

 

Weapon (3-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

Dread Banner

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Shield (3-link)

Cold Snap (keep at a low level)

Power Charge On Critical Support

Cast When Damage Taken Support (keep at level one so it triggers more often)

 

Armour (6-link)

Exsanguinate (Exsanguinate of Transmission can be used for clearing large groups of enemies)

Trap Support

Trap and Mine Damage Support

Cluster Trap Support

Empower Support

Awakened Brutality Support

 

Helmet (4-link)

Summon Flame Golem

Minion Life Support

Culling Strike Support

Flame Dash

 

Gloves (5-link)

Seismic Trap

Awakened Brutality Support

Advanced Trap Support

Increased Critical Damage Support

Trap and Mine Damage Support (built into gloves)

 

Boots (4-link)

Grace

Summon Skitterbots

Herald of Purity

Enlighten Support

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Reservation Skills

Grace is the best defensive aura for this build and gives very high evasion. Summon Skitterbots is used to Chill and Shock enemies which lowers their action speed and increases their damage taken. Herald of Purity is selected for increased physical damage and gives up to four extra targets for enemies to attack. Dread Banner should also be used to lower the accuracy of nearby enemies. You can start using Herald of Purity once you have the increased mana reservation efficiency from the Mana Mastery, increased mana reservation efficiency from the Reservation Mastery, the combined life and mana nodes in the Witch area of the tree, and a leveled 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 armor to be effective.

2. Exsanguinate of Transmission traps can be used for clearing large groups of enemies and works similar to Exsanguinate traps with Chain Support except it gains a chain once for every level.

3. Cold Snap is used to give a 25% chance to generate a Frenzy charge when an enemy dies in its skill effect area.

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. The Seismic Trap and Exsanguinate Trap Saboteur is one of the best trap build in the game currently but if you would prefer a Shadow with a bow skill playstyle you can also check out the Toxic Rain Trickster Guide here Toxic Rain Trickster.

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Equipment

 

Weapon

Rare Spell Dagger

This option can technically be better than Cold Iron Point. It can have +1 to level of all physical spell skill gems, high spell damage, increased critical strike chance for spells, and increased global critical strike multiplier. If you can afford it you can also look for +1 to level of all spell skill gems but it needs other great modifiers to make it better than Cold Iron Point. You should add 1% increased area of effect per 4% quality to your weapon at the Horticrafting Station which can be added to your hideout.

Cold Iron Point

This budget unique weapon gives +3 to all physical spell skill gems with an increased global critical strike chance implicit at the cost of dealing no elemental damage.

 

Shield

Rare Physical Spell Shield

Look for very high life, +1 to all physical spell skill gems, increased spell damage, increased critical strike chance for spells, resistances, and you can optionally add a 5% chance to deal double damage at the crafting bench.

Lioneye's Remorse

The budget option gives up to 210 life and very high armor especially if you get the legacy version in the standard league.

 

Armour

Tinkerskin

This armour is needed for its 100 life recovery and 50 energy shield recovery every time a trap is sprung with Exsanguinate traps because Exsanguinate has a life cost instead of a mana cost. It also gives up to 15% cooldown recovery for Seismic Trap and gives Frenzy charges and Phasing when using traps. You should also upgrade to a Tinkerskin with a +2 to level of socketed trap and mine gems corruption once you have enough currency.

 

Helmet

Rare Helmet

Look for high life, high strength, high resistances, optionally damage taken as an element, and +1 or +2 to level of all AoE gems which also gives increased area of effect. You should also use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors to roll increased spell damage and increased critical strike chance with spells.

 

Belt

Stygian Vise

Look for high life, life percent, resistances, an abyssal socket, and you can optionally add increased cooldown recovery at the crafting bench. You should also use 20 Fertile Catalysts on the belt to increase its life bonus.

Abyss Jewel

Look for an abyss jewel with high life, energy shield, critical strike multiplier, and added physical damage to spells.

 

Gloves

Rare Five-link Trap Gloves

Look for gloves with level 20 Trap and Mine Damage Support built into the gloves which also comes with an increased trap damage modifier. These gloves can have high life, increased critical strike multiplier for socketed skills, and high resistances.

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Boots

Rare Boots

Look for high life, strength, resistances, movement speed, and optionally spell suppression. Tailwind and Onslaught don't trigger with traps. You should use Eldritch Embers and Eldritch Ichors to roll a chance to avoid elemental ailments and a chance to avoid being Frozen. You will already be immune to Shock and Ignite from your ascendancies.

 

Amulet

Rare Amulet

Look for an amulet with very high attributes, high life, +1 to level of all physical skill gems, increased critical strike chance, and increased critical strike multiplier. You should also use 20 Fertile Catalysts on your amulet to increase its life bonus.

Carnage Heart

This amulet is the budget option for up to 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. You can use 20 Prismatic Catalysts to increase its resistances or 20 Intrinsic Catalysts to increase its attribute bonus.

 

Rings

Rare Vulnerability Ring

Look for Vulnerability on hit, high life, high strength, and resistances. You should also use Fertile Catalysts on both of your rings to increase their life bonuses.

Rare Ring

Look for high life, energy shield, increased critical strike chance, resistances, and increased global physical damage.

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Tattoo (Standard Only)

Honoured Tattoo of the Warlord

This tattoo can replace a 30 strength node on the tree to give +1 to Level of All Strength Skill Gems.

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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 enemies take 10% increased damage on consecrated ground. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Rumi's Concoction (legacy is better)

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

Diamond Flask

Gain 100% increased critical strike chance. Try and 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

You should anoint your amulet with Cannibalistic Rite for 30% increased damage with skills that cost life, 10% reduced life cost of skills, and recover 2% life on kill if you've spent life recently at Cassia using a Teal Oil, Azure Oil, and Azure Oil.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 40% Increased Exsanguinate Damage

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

Feet: 120% Increased Critical Strike Chance if You Haven't Crit Recently

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

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Bandits

The best bandit to choose in Act 2 for critical strike builds is Alira because she gives 15% increased elemental resistances, 20% increased critical strike multiplier, and 5 mana regeneration per second.

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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

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

A great level one offensive chest armour that has six white linked sockets. Any color skill gems and support gems can be linked together inside of it which allows you to 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.

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Helmet

Goldrim

A strong 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 level one gloves give 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

Wondertrap 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

Tear of Purity

This amulet gives level 10 Purity of Elements, up to 20 to all attributes, 40 to life, 30 intelligence, and 10% increased elemental resistances. The Purity of Elements aura can greatly increase your elemental resistances for a 50% mana reservation cost.

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Rings

Perandus Signets

You can use two 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 for 40% increased movement speed and can have increased 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.

Silver Flask

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

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Leveling Gems

Explosive Trap of Shrapnel or Explosive Trap if you can't afford Explosive Trap of Shrapnel are the best starter traps and can be used as early as level one. Exsanguinate which is your endgame skill can be switched to with Trap Support once you are level 12. Make sure and pick up a Steelskin gem once you reach 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.

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Upgrades

You can upgrade your wands to two Ashcallers at level 12 for increased spell damage, high added fire damage to spells, a 10% chance to cover enemies in Ash on hit, and a chance to summon Level 10 Raging Spirits on kills. Carnage Heart is the budget amulet for this build and can be equipped as early as level 20 for up to 56 to all attributes and 20% increased elemental resistances. You may also benefit from upgrading to two Praxis ring 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 items in the leveling section above last all the way to the midgame where better items will become available.

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That's all for this Seismic Trap/Exsanguinate Trap Guide! For more on PoE you can view another guide here Endgame Guide.

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