Path of Exile Top 7 Totem Builds
1. Shockwave Totem Hierophant (Templar)
The Shockwave Totem Hierophant is debatably the strongest totem builds for bosses and has strong defensive layers.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 8/10 Heist: 10/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 9/10 Bosses: 10/10
Build Guide
The Shockwave Totem Hierophant is debatably the best totem build for bosses and does well at maps, delve, and heists while still having great defensive layers and mobility. You will also have four Endurance charges and Power charges at all times which reduce your physical and elemental damage taken and increase your critical strike chance. If you're interested in trying out the Shockwave Totem Hierophant you can find a guide for it here Shockwave Totem Hierophant.
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2. Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant (Templar)
The Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant is the strongest totem build in the game that uses a chilling and freezing attack.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 10/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 10/10 Bosses: 8/10
Build Guide
The Freezing Pulse Hierophant is the strongest totem build in the game that uses a chilling and freezing attack which greatly improves your survival. Four Endurance charges and four Power charges at all times from the Conviction of Power ascendancy are also helpful offensively and defensively. If you are interested in trying out the Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant build you can find a guide for it here Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant.
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3. Siege Ballista Hierophant (Templar)
Siege Ballista Hierophants are greatly improved by their dexterity which allows for very high damage with excellent gear.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 9/10 Heist: 8/10 Damage: 10/10 Safety: 9/10 Bosses: 9/10
Build Guide
The Siege Ballista Hierophant has excellent damage potential with great equipment like most attributes stacking builds because excellent gear can give extremely high dexterity. This build increases the damage you deal and the number of Siege Ballista totems you can have out based off of how much dexterity you have. If you are interested in trying out the Siege Ballista Hierophant build you can find a guide for the build here Siege Ballista Hierophant Guide.
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4. Arc Totem Hierophant (Templar)
The Arc Totem Hierophant is the fourth place totem build on the list and has very strong defensive layers and clear.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 8/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 9/10
Build Guide
The Arc Totem Hierophant is one of the strongest totem builds in the game for clear. This build also has a minimum of four Endurance Charges and Power Charges at all times which is helpful offensively and defensively. If you are interested in trying out the Arc Totem Hierophant build you can find a guide for the build here Arc Totem Hierophant Guide.
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5. Explosive Arrow Totem Elementalist (Witch)
Explosive Arrow Totem is one of the strongest starter builds in the game and is excellent for the Forbidden Sanctum.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 7/10 Heist: 9/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 10/10
Build Guide
The Explosive Arrow Totem Elementalist is one of the strongest starter builds in the game for starting a league. It also deals excellent boss damage and deals great damage in maps. If you are interested in trying out the Explosive Arrow Totem Elementalist build you can find a guide for the build here Explosive Arrow Totem Elementalist Guide.
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6. Shrapnel Ballista Hierophant (Templar)
Shrapnel Ballista is greatly improved by strength which allows for very high damage with very high strength.
Mapping: 8/10 Delve: 5/10 Heist: 5/10 Damage: 8/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 9/10
Build Guide
The Shrapnel Ballista Hierophant has excellent damage and survival once you have extremely high strength from your equipment. You will have a high life bonus from having very high strength and a chance to block attacks while wielding a bow. A guide for the Strength Stacking Shrapnel Ballista Hierophant can be found here Shrapnel Ballista Hierophant.
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7. Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant (Templar)
The Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant is the seventh place totem build and has solid defensive layers.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 7/10 Heist: 8/10 Damage: 8/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 8/10
Build Guide
The Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant requires very high totem life because of the damage bonus from your maximum life on the Forbidden Rite gem. This restricts the build to using an expensive Forbidden Shako with level 35 Spell Totem Support for high totem life which also comes with a level 1-10 support gem built into the helmet. If you wish to play as a Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant a guide for the build can be found here Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant Guide.​​​
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That's all for the Top 7 Totem Builds! For more about Path of Exile you can view an endgame guide here Endgame Guide.
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