Important Tree Nodes

The best ascendancy order is Crave the Slaughter, Rite of Ruin, Aspect of Carnage, and Defy Pain. You should stack strength on this build because it greatly increases the damage of Kinetic Blast. The Reservation Mastery and Mana Mastery are important for increased mana reservation efficiency which allows you to use the recommended reservation skills. The Impale Mastery that works with one hand weapons can complete your 100% chance to Impale enemies. A Watcher's Eye jewel is recommended for increased life, increased energy shield, increased mana, added cold damage while affected by Hatred, increased critical strike chance while affected by Hatred, and optionally 15% spell suppression while affected by Grace. You can get Bleeding immunity from the Armour and Evasion Mastery with a helmet with armour as its highest defensive stat. You should also get Corrupted Blood immunity from a corrupted jewel or the Resistance Mastery. Having Bleeding and Corrupted Blood immunity from the tree allows you to use a damage flask in the place of a Bleeding and Corrupted Blood removal flask. You should also use a large cluster jewel with three damage notables that include Opportunistic Fusilade and Martial Prowess with small passives also grant strength. You should also use a small cluster jewel with Sublime Form for increased mana reservation efficiency for Grace. The Iron Grip node is also important because it makes increased melee damage from strength also apply to projectile damage. The combined life and reduced mana cost nodes should also be taken because they allow you to use a damage increasing reservation skill instead of the Clarity aura for mana regeneration. This is a life build so make sure and take plenty of the nearby life percent nodes in the skill tree for survival. Note: The build ratings and skill tree have been updated for the new season (3.28).

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Defensive Layers

You can have very high life on this build because it's a strength stacking build and strength increases your life. The Defy Pain ascendancy is recommended for Defiance which heals you before you're hit which is helpful defensively. The recommended Iron Fortress body armour also gives a 1% chance to block attack damage per 50 strength and this build also uses a shield.

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Gems

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Weapon (3-link)

Ice Golem

Minion Life Support

Flame Dash

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Shield (3-link)

Cold Snap (keep at level one to trigger more frequently)

Cast When Damage Taken Support (keep at level one so Cold Snap triggers more frequently)

Power Charge on Critical Support

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Armour (6-link)

Power Siphon

Impale Support

Increased Critical Strikes Support

Increased Critical Damage Support

Awakened Vicious Projectiles Support

Sacred Wisps Support

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

 

Helmet (4-link)

Grace

Hatred

Herald of Purity

Enlighten Support

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Gloves (6-link)

Kinetic Blast

Sacred Wisps Support

Awakened Greater Multiple Projectile Support

Awakened Vicious Projectiles Support

Faster Attacks Support (built into gloves)

Faster Projectiles Support (built into gloves)

 

Boots (4-link)

Steelskin

Empower Support

More Duration Support

Vaal Haste

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Reservation Skills

Grace is the best defensive aura for this build and gives very high evasion. Hatred is the best offensive aura for this build and gives physical damage as extra cold damage and increased cold damage. Herald of Purity gives increased physical damage and summons four extra targets for enemies to attack. You should use Hatred once you have the increased reservation efficiency from the Reservation Mastery, increased reservation efficiency from the Mana Mastery, increased mana reservation efficiency for Grace from a Sublime Form 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. With the changes in 3.23 Power Siphon with Barrage Support no longer casts in a line, it spreads out to multiple enemies, but because this build is a physical damage build Impale Support was a strong replacement support gem. Sacred Wisps was also added in 3.24 and is now one of the strongest support gems for wander builds.

3. Cold Snap generates Frenzy charges when enemies die in its skill effect area, casts when damage is taken with Cast When Damage Taken Support, and generates Power charges when it's linked to Power Charge on Critical Support.

4. Summon Ice Golem gives increased critical strike chance and accuracy and provides an extra target for enemies to attack.​

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Equipment

 

Weapon

Rare Imbued Wand

Look for a rare Imbued Wand with very high physical damage. You can also use Tempering Orbs on rare weapons for a low chance at getting an increased physical modifiers enchantment but doing this sometimes reforges the sockets on the weapon.

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Shield

Strength Synthesised Shield

Look for a shield with a 6% increased strength synthesis and roll tier one strength, high life, high attack speed, block chance, and resistances. Deafening Essences of Rage can be used to guarantee the tier one strength modifier on a synthesised shield.

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Armour

The Iron Fortress

Gives 1% chance to block attack damage per 50 strength, strength's damage bonus instead applies 3% increased melee physical damage per 10 strength (which is converted to projectile damage with the Iron Grip node on the skill tree), up to 120 strength, chance to block spell damage is unlucky, and 10% reduced movement speed.

 

Helmet

Rare Strength Stack Helmet

Look for gain accuracy rating equal to your strength, 1% increased critical strike chance per 10 strength, high life, resistances, and optionally +2 to level of socketed AoE gems. Look for an armour base strength stacking helmet so that you can get Bleeding immunity from the Armour and Evasion Mastery.

Black Sun Crest

The budget option has up to 15% increased strength, 15% increased dexterity, 15% increased intelligence, +1 to level of socketed gems, and it can also have a +2 to level of socketed AoE gems corruption for fairly cheap.

 

Belt

Synthesised Strength Stack Belt

This belt can have a 15% increased strength implicit, high strength, high life, and resistances. You should use Intrinsic Catalysts on the belt to increase its attribute bonus.

Cyclopean Coil (budget)

The budget option gives up to 15% increased attributes, 120 life, cannot be Ignited if strength is higher than dexterity, cannot be frozen if dexterity is higher than intelligence, and 1% increased damage per 5 of your lowest attribute. You can also use Intrinsic Catalysts on the belt to increase its attribute bonus.

 

Gloves

Rare 6-Link Gloves

Look for Faster Attacks Support/increased attack speed and Faster Projectiles Support/increased projectile speed built into the gloves with modifiers like 70% increased critical strike multiplier for socketed gems, high strength, life, and you can optionally add the +1 to level of socketed projectile gems/projectiles pierce an additional target modifier at the crafting bench.

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Boots

Rare Strength Percent Two-Toned Boots

Look for high strength, high life, a resistance, 10% increased strength which has a chance to be added with a Hunter's Exalted Orb and an open suffix, and add increased movement speed and chance to gain Onslaught on kill at the crafting bench.

Rare Strength Boots (budget)

You can also use regular tier one strength boots early on as a budget option. You can use Eldritch Ichors and Eldritch Embers on the boots for a chance to roll chance to avoid elemental ailments and a chance to avoid being Ignited.

 

Amulet

Simplex Amulet (best)

The expensive option is best for 100% increased explicit modifiers with percent increased attributes, percent increased strength, and 2% increased damage per 15 strength. You'll need some dexterity and intelligence from other slots and the skill tree.

Synthesised Amulet (mid tier)

The mid tier option is a 15% strength synthesized implicit amulet that has increased life, strength, increased attributes, critical strike modifiers, and increased elemental damage with attack skills. You can use Intrinsic Catalysts to increase its attributes.

Astramentis (budget)

The budget option gives up to 116 to all attributes and -4 physical damage taken from hits. Simple and effective. You can also use Intrinsic Catalysts on the Astramentis to increase its attributes.

 

Rings

Rare Vulnerability Ring

Look for a ring with the Vulnerability curse on hit, high strength, life, increased damage, resistances, and add reduced total mana cost at the crafting bench. You should use Intrinsic Catalysts on both of your rings to increase their attributes bonuses.

Rare Strength Ring

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

Le Heup of All (budget)

The extreme budget option gives up to 30% to all elemental resistances, 30 to all attributes, 30% increased damage, and you can also look for a strength percent/dexterity percent corruption for fairly cheap.

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Cluster Jewels

You should use a large cluster jewel with three damage notables that include Opportunistic Fusilade and Martial Prowess with small passives also grant strength and you should also use a small cluster jewel with Sublime Form for increased mana reservation efficiency for the Grace aura.

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Tattoo (Standard Only)

Honoured Tattoo of the Berserker

This tattoo can replace a 30 dexterity node to give You Gain Onslaught For 4 Seconds on Hit which can replace the 12% chance to gain Onslaught on kill modifier that you normally roll on your boots slot.

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Utility Flasks

Bottled Faith

Gain 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.

Taste of Hate (legacy is better)

Gives 15% of physical damage as extra cold damage, 15% of physical damage taken as cold damage (legacy modifier), 30% of fire and lightning damage taken as cold damage (new modifier), 5% to maximum cold resistance, 50% cold resistances, and a 30% reduced chance to be Frozen or Chilled. The legacy version has higher cold damage and has physical damage taken as cold damage. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Atziri's Promise (legacy is better)

This flask gives 35% to chaos resistance which helps a lot on attribute stacking builds which sometimes lack chaos resistance. It also gives physical damage as extra chaos damage, elemental damage as extra chaos damage, and chaos damage leeched as life. You should use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Note: You can be immune to Bleeding from the Armour and Evasion Mastery when using an armour based helmet and immune to Corrupted Blood with the Resistance Mastery which means a Bleeding/Corrupted Blood removal flask isn't necessary.

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Anointment

Your amulet should be anointed with Disintegration which gives 60% increased critical strike chance with wands, 30% to critical strike multiplier with wands, and 20 intelligence at Cassia using a Violet Oil, Black Oil, and Black Oil.

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Enchants (Standard Only)

Helm: 15% Increased Power Siphon Attack Speed

Gloves: Commandment of Blades

Feet: 16% Increased Attack and Cast Speed If You've Killed Recently

Belt: 30% Increased Accuracy Rating While You Have Onslaught

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Bandits

The best bandit to help in Act 2 is Alira because she gives 15% to all elemental resistances because resistances are harder to get on strength stacking builds. 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

The Blood Thorn

A high damage two handed level one weapon with a 30% block chance and a 100% chance to cast Vulnerability on blocks.

Limbsplit

Gives high physical damage for its level, level one Gore Shockwave if you have over 150 strength, +1 to level of socketed strength gems, and Culling Strike which kills enemies when they have 10% life remaining.

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Armour

Tabula Rasa

A strong level one offensive chest armour that has six white linked sockets. White sockets allows you to link any color gems together inside 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 for 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 to all elemental resistances. The Purity of Elements aura is optional to increase your resistances for a 50% mana reservation cost.

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Rings

Perandus Signets

You can use two level one Perandus Signet rings 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 gained.

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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 the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Taste of Hate (legacy option)

This flask only requires level 18 and gives 15% of physical damage as extra cold damage, 15% of physical damage taken as cold damage (legacy modifier), 5% to maximum cold resistance, 50% cold resistances, and a 30% reduced chance to be Frozen or Chilled. The legacy version is much better and has higher cold damage and physical damage taken as cold damage. You should also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever it has full charges.

Silver Flask

This flask gives Onslaught for 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 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 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 also use Instilling Orbs on the flask until you automatically use the flask whenever you hit a rare or unique enemy.

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Leveling Gems

Ground Slam is a great starter skill that can be used at level one. Precision is the best offensive low level aura and it can be used at level 10 for increased critical strike chance and accuracy. Vitality is the best defensive aura for leveling by far and it can also be used at level 10. 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

You can upgrade your weapon to Stormheart at level 28, to Jorrhast's Blacksteel at level 44, to Kaom's Primacy at level 58, and then finally to your endgame Kinetic Blast weapon after adjusting the tree. You can use the budget Carnage Heart amulet 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 reduce the mana costs of skills by up to 16 which allows you to use utility flasks in the place of mana flasks. Many of the items listed 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!​