This build is actually very similar to other Totem builds in Path of Exile. Just run around, keep dropping Totems, and keep your buff Flasks up. It’s extremely potent for DPS, especially when you get the optimal gear later in the game. This monster fires out dozens of arrows with Barrage, all of which stack Poison, and can take out Atlas bosses in a flash.
The primary damage scaling comes from converting Lightning Damage to Poison, then buffing that. This thing can also handle normally difficult map mods with good mobility and positioning. Use Frenzy to generate Frenzy Charges and keep your DPS and defenses up. And since you’re Culling, the clear speed is pretty good.
Build Pros
- Excellent single-target damage
- Very Tanky and mobile
- Can do usually annoying mapmods like Reflect once you get good gear
Build Cons
- Extremely expensive gear
- Totems take some getting used to
- Needing to manage Curses/Flasks is not for extremely new players
- Killing bosses with sub-optimal gear is difficult
Passive Tree(s)
116 Points Final Skill Tree
116 Points Path of Building link
Pantheon
Major God: Soul of Lunaris – 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%; 1% increased Movement Speed for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%
Minor God: Soul of Gruthkul – 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you’ve taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%
Bandits
Kill All for the bonus Passives.
Ascendancy skill points
Trickster
Ascendancy Nodes:
Harness the Void>Patient Reaper>Prolonged Pain (requires to refund the Evasion/Energy Shield small node)>Weave the Arcane
Enchants
Helmet:
Barrage fires an additional Projectile
Tornado Shot fires 2 additional secondary Projectiles
Boots:
16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you’ve Killed Recently
10% Chance to Dodge if you’ve taken a Critical Strike Recently
0.6% of Damage Leeched as Life and Mana if you’ve Killed Recently
1 to 160 Lightning Damage if you haven’t killed Recently
Gloves:
Decree/Commandment of Spite
Leveling Items and General Tips
Suggested leveling Gem setups:
Ice Shot – Cold Damage – Lesser Multiple Projectiles – Physical Attack Projectile Damage
Blink Arrow – Faster Attacks
Frostbite
Clarity
Hatred
Stone Golem
Leveling Skill Trees:
31 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Blood Siphon 2) Fangs of the Viper 3) Deadly Draw 4) Heavy Draw
64 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Lethality 2) Primeval Force 3) Thick Skin 4) King of the Hill 5) Small Leech nodes
Leveling Items:
Tabula Rasa – Always run this when possible to buff Damage/Sustain with Elemental Attack or Leech Gems.
Blackheart – Two of these give great buffs to DPS in early leveling.
Karui Ward – Great bow leveling item, and the Fated version can be used in the end-game.
Silverbranch – A good starter bow, and the best bow in the first few levels.
Death’s Harp – Provides high Physical Damage and makes your bow attacks fire an additional projectile
Avoid these map mods:
- Temporal Chains
- Hexproof
- No Leech/Regen (This is a personal choice, with enough Life and good positioning it is possible to run this)
If you are a brand new Path of Exile player, feel free to check out our various POE guides for noobs.
Final Skill Gem Setup
You’ll find recommendations for different attack skill setups for this build below. The basic buff and aura setups are down there too.
=== BARRAGE/TORNADO SHOT ===
Barrage/Tornado Shot – Greater Multiple Projectiles – Ranged Attack Totem – Unbound Ailments – Deadly Ailments – Elemental Damage
SWAP TO BARRAGE FOR BOSS KILLING
PLACE IN DENDROBATE TO GAIN LESSER POISON SKILL
=== MOVEMENT/UTILITY ===
Blink Arrow – Wrath – Arctic Armour – Lightning Golem
=== AURA/UTILITY ===
Frenzy – Greater Multiple Projectiles – Curse on Hit – Despair – Culling Strike – Innervate
PLACE IN QUILL RAIN
=== UTILITY CURSE ===
Wither – Faster Casting
=== CWDT ===
Cast when Damage Taken – Immortal Call – Knockback – Shock Nova
Build Uniques / Example Rare Gear
In this section you will find all the suggested items for this build. We always try to include optional gear in our listing, or try your own assuming you get similar stat rolls. Aim for high-quality Rares if you’re replacing Uniques. The Minimum/Optional requirements listed assume you’re using Rares as a replacement for listed Uniques (where possible).
Depending on your gear choices, you can go for either a lot more DPS at the expense of Life, or go for more defensiveness by sacrificing a portion of DPS. This is your choice.
Stat Priorities:
Life is super important for survivability, especially at end-game. Although be careful to to forsake too many damage mods for it or you won’t be able to kill mobs quick enough for your defenses to handle incoming DPS.
Elemental Damage is your main scaling and your primary DPS with Poison, Added Elemental with a focus on Lightning as that’s where most of your Poison-converted damage is.
Attack Speed can help increase DPS from non-crit damage, but be careful not to sacrifice other important stats for it. One or two rolls on certain gear is enough for most players.
Resistances until you cap them off.
Attributes (300 Dexterity and 150 Intelligence is required)
Accuracy Rating because you need to be able to hit your targets
Weapons
This build makes use of a bow/quiver setup to maximize Attack Speed and combining it with ranged Totems that just spam out tons of damage.
(Bow) Quill Rain– The core weapon for this build. Quill Rain provides the highest Attack Speed and is thus BIS.
(Quiver) Skirmish– Mandatory Quiver for this build. Allows you to summon the second Ranged Attack Totem. Also getting corrupted one that increases the number of arrows fired should be fairly cheap.
Helmet
Lightpoacher – Only use the version with 2 Abyss slots for this, tons of Lightning Damage buffs and Life are your priority.
Starkonja’s Head – OK substitute for Lightpoacher while farming currency. The defenses and Attack Speed are good, but nowhere near optimal.
Body Armor
Dendrobate is a vital item for the Poison stacking and defensive buffs to work out.
Rares can’t really replace the Unique here unfortunately.
Belt
Abyss Belts with Life and Resistances are a good option for end-game. Other Rares might do in a pinch, but not having good rolls can make you a lot more squishy than is tolerable. Abyss Jewels are also a great source for damage buffs as well. Buffing your damage and Life is the best bet here with Jewels.
Min. requirements:
90 maximum Life
Added Elemental Damage
Uncapped Resistances
Optional affixes:
Energy Shield
Gloves
Volkuur’s Guidance (Lightning variant) is absolutely vital for converting Lightning to Poison and activate the core build component. A max rolled version won’t be cheap, but will pay off in terms of DPS.
Boots
Rare boots with max rolled Life, Resists and Movement Speed are great as a generic choice.
Min. requirements:
60 maximum Life
30% increased Movement Speed
Any Uncapped Resistances
Amulet
Karui Charge is the Fated version of Karui Ward, and offers a moderate increase in DPS in exchange for weakened defenses.
If using a Rare, stack as much life as you can on your Amulet to prevent feeling too squishy. An Elder/Shaper with increased AOE and spell damage is great for DPS, but sacrifices some life.
Min. requirements:
70 Maximum Life
Added Lightning Damage
Optional affixes:
Attributes
Uncapped Resistances
Rings
Rare Opal Rings are great for this build and it’s Elemental Damage. Use the stats below as a guide for that.
Valako’s Sign can be used in a pinch until you can get the Opal Rings
Min. requirements:
50 Maximum Life
Added Lightning Damage to Attacks
Uncapped Resistances
Optional affixes:
Increased Damage with Poison (from Essence of Delirium)
Increased Attack Speed
Attributes
Flasks
Dying Sun – Best Bow/Projectile Flask in Path of Exile (Mana while leveling)
Coralito’s Signature – Massive DPS buff during effect (Diamond while leveling)
Witchfire Brew – DoT buffs and defensive utility (Stibnite while leveling)
Instant Life
Instant Life
Needed Mods:
Freeze/Chill Removal
Bleed Removal
You can swap the mods around if needed due to RNG.
Jewels
Abyss Jewels:
Recommended affixes:
Maximum Life
Added Lightning Damage to Attacks
Added Lightning Damage to Bow Attacks
Optional affixes:
Chance to gain Onslaught for 4 seconds on Kill
Increased Attack Speed if you have Crit. recently