This Path of Exile Build uses a multitude of options in both offense and defense to create a build that’s both powerful and tanky, if played and geared well. Our version of this build will use a Life-based Archetype combined with the Blood Magic to make it easier to focus on Life and DPS.
The damage done by Holy Flame Totem is Totem, Spell, Projectile, Fire, Channelling and Physical so modifiers to any of these will increase it. As the primary damage is Fire, focusing on buffing Elemental Damage will help with both clear speed and single-target DPS. The build relies heavily on Elemental Overload, so the playstyle is very simple.
Zipping around with our movement skills to proc Fortify, following it up with Orb of Storms to engage Elemental Overload. This sets thte stage for our Holy Flame Totem to do its thing.
Since this POE build is all about Fire damage, it’s very easy to scale. And our Ascendancy offers little boosts to both Totems and the survivability of our Life pool. We also focus on plenty of buffs to both Totem DPS and defensive layers in the passive tree.
With a high Life pool and tons of Armour stacking, you’re going to be able to soak a lot of physical damage without much thought. Having good flasks offers even more layers to this beast.
You’ll find all you will need to construct this build down below. The guide assumes that you’re going all-out and are maximizing every aspect, but you don’t have to go that far at all to reach a point where the build is enjoyable. Even in the low 90s with less-than-perfect gear, the build runs Maps and Delves just fine. And it’s a great choice as a league starter build for any POE player. If you are a brand new Path of Exile player, feel free to check out our various POE guides for noobs.
Build Pros
- Great clear speed
- Easy to play
- HC viable
Build Cons
- Not the best leveling build
- Expensive to gear to the top-end
Passive Tree(s)
Here is the Endgame Passive Tree
Pantheon
Upgrade all of these.
Major God: Soul of the Brine King
Soul of Lunaris offers great defensive options for mapping too. If facing some bosses with lots of DoT, opt for an upgraded Arakaali.
Minor God: Soul of Abberath
offers decent defensive help as well for fire damage. Shakari is another good option for removing Poison from the equation.
Bandits
Kill all bandits for the two bonus passives. Oak is a leveling option, but those two bonus can unlock a jewel socket or other powerful passive that outclasses Oak’s bonuses.
Ascendancy skill points
Chieftain
Ascendancy points:
Preferably in this order:
- Ngamahu, Flame’s Advance
- Tukohama, War’s Herald
- Arohongui, Moon’s Presence
- Hinekora, Death’s Fury
Ngamahu, Flame’s Advance fully converts Holy Flame Totem‘s damage to fire, which allows you to fully benefit from Fire Penetration and Fire damage increases; this ascendancy node also provides a rotating damage buff that is a huge damage increase.
Tukohama, War’s Herald gives your totems the ability to leech Life for you.
Arohongui, Moon’s Presence makes your totems even harder to kill, immune to fire damage (which allows you to run elemental reflect zones).
Hinekora, Death’s Fury allows you to cover enemies in Ash, increasing their Fire damage taken and slowing them down. You can also choose to pick Ramako, Sun’s Light for additional Fire Penetration or Tasalio, Cleansing Water for more survivability.
Enchants
Helmet: (From Best to Worst)
40% increased Holy Flame Totem Damage
Holy Flame Totem fires 2 additional Projectiles
Boots:
0.6% of Damage Leeched as Life and Mana if you’ve Killed Recently
% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you’ve Killed Recently
Damage Penetrates 10% of Elemental Resistances if you haven’t Killed Recently
Gloves:
Commandment of Light or Frost.
You could also use these Corruptions on Gear:
Curse Enemies with Level (10–12) Elemental Weakness on Hit (Gloves)
(4–6)% Increased Maximum Life (Belt, Body Armour)
% of Fire Damage Leeched as Life (Amulet)
Leveling General Tips
Fireball can run through most of the early game on just a four link by running with some Elemental Damage from multiple Heralds. Mana Regen might be a bit of a pain in late game, so some stopgap gear that offers bonuses to Mana Regeneration is useful. You can check out our leveling Uniques guide for some recommendations on that. If you manage to snag a Tabula, go straight for the 6-Link setup below, this will carry you through leveling.
That final fight with Kitava will be a little easier as long as you have both Decoy Totem and Ancestral Totem to keep adds off your back.
Efficient Farm Locations:
Act 1: The Ledge
Act 2: The Fellshrine Ruins
Act 3: The Docks
Act 4: The Dried Lake
Act 5: The Chamber of Innocence
Act 6: The Ridge
Act 7: The Temple of Decay lv1-2
Act 8: The Harbour Bridge
Act 9: The Blood Aqueduct
Act 10: The Ossuary
Avoid these map mods:
* Players cannot Regenerate Life, Mana or Energy Shield
* Elemental Reflect
Be careful of these map mods:
* Monsters have #% increased Critical Strike Chance / +#% to Monster Critical Strike Multiplier
With high evasion, attack should almost never crit you. Spell on the other hand can still hit hard.
* Monsters fire 2 additional Projectiles
Scary mod on some bosses and monster types. Some monsters are still able to spam out too many projectiles to handle.
* Area contains two Unique Bosses
Your goal to survive this mode is a combo of extreme DPS and Life. The faster you can down the bosses, the less threat they pose.
* #% increased Monster Movement Speed / #% increased Monster Attack Speed / #% increased Monster Cast Speed
Some bosses are going to be too fast to hit effectively, meaning you’ll spend more time than you normally should kiting them. This combination with Temporal Chains is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
* Players are Cursed with Vulnerability
Negated during mapping with a Warding Flask, but not against bosses. Bleeds from bosses can kill you easily.
* Players are Cursed with Temporal Chains
I would personally avoid this on high-tier maps.
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.
=== MAIN ATTACK ===
Holy Flame Totem-> Multiple Totems -> Elemental Focus-> Infused Channeling-> Controlled Destruction -> Fire Penetration
=== SECONDARY ATTACK ===
Orb of Storms -> Increased Critical Strikes -> Faster Casting
Drop Orbs to generate Power Charges and keep applying your Curse. An Elder Ring with Assassin’s Mark on Hit can free up some slots for other buffs, like increasing the Lightning Damage applied by Orb of Storms.
=== MOVEMENT ===
Flame Dash -> Faster Casting -> Arcane Surge
Shield Charge -> Faster Attacks -> Fortify
=== AURA/UTILITY ===
Flammability
Anger
Summon Flame Golem
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). As usual, you should use POEAffix to search for the bases and mods that work best for your version of any build. Our guide just lays out the most effective options, these aren’t always a must-have choice.
Stat Priorities:
Life is super important for survivability, especially at endgame. Although be careful not 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.
Armour and Strength will offer your primary secondary defensive layer, Armour bases also synergize by offering more Life rolls.
Fire is your primary DPS, get this in any way you can, as long as you don’t compromise defenses. You can further increase the damage dealt by this build by adding in buffs to Ignites and Totem Damage.
Resistances until capped.
Cast Speed means that you simply attack faster the higher it is. This stat becomes vital for scaling overall DPS.
Weapons
The best weapon for this build will be a one-handed Mace for decent raw Physical damage and . And it also offers a ton of option mods when crafting a Shaper/Elder base with Fossils. Your main goal here would be to buff Orb of Storms and combine it with an Elder Ring that allows you to drop your Curse on Hit Gem setup. This could potentially turn Orb of Storms into a rather powerful 5-Link on your dagger.
Min. requirements:
Added Fire Damage
% Increased Spell Damage
% Increased Cast Speed
Optional affixes:
% Chance to gain a Power, Frenzy or Endurance Charge on Kill (Essence of Horror)
% Increased Cast Speed (Essence of Misery)
Gain % of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage (Shaper)
Socketed Gems are supported by Level ?? Elemental Damage with Attacks/% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills (Shaper)
Damage Penetrates % Fire Resistance (Scorched Fossil)
% Increased Elemental Damage (Prismatic Fossil)
Shield
Your primary defensive layer for reducing incoming DPS will be the shield you use. A Shaper base with any of the optional affixes below will be very powerful with this build. This build can work with any Shield while leveling, but a high-end Rare should be your ultimate goal.
Min. requirements:
Uncapped Resistances
Armour Buffs
Optional affixes:
Gain an Endurance, Frenzy or Power charge when you Block (Shaper)
Recover % of your Maximum Life when you Block (Shaper)
% Additional Physical Damage Reduction (Elder)
% Increased maximum Life (Elder)
% Increased Damage per 1% Block Chance (Elder)
Helmet
A Rare can work in this slot, although without some rather strong mods, it will be lagging behind a Unique option that’s much easier to obtain. Deicide Mask for an Evasion/ES base, Bone Helmet for Armour/ES base. There’s plenty of flexibility in this slot, although one good Unique option is Crown of the Tyrant. Roll the Socket for any colors that work for you.
Otherwise, just use the stats below on a crafted Rare.
90 Maximum Life
Attributes (Dexterity, Strength)
Uncapped Resistances
Nearby Enemies have -9% to Fire Resistance (Scorched Fossil)
Optional affixes:
Chaos Resistance
Reduced Attribute Requirements
+ Maximum Life/% Increased Maximum Life (Pristine Fossil)
+2 to Level of Socketed ?? Gems (Corruption)
% Increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills (Crafted)
% Chance to gain a Power Charge on Kill (Shaper)
% Chance to Block Spells (Elder)
Body Armor
There are several Unique options for this build, each offering slightly different options. Loreweave offers great DPS and is not too difficult to obtain, although it needs to be very well-rolled. Belly of the Beast offers another tanky option but with the caveat that you’ll want to run a Life Flask to give it the most impact. Tabula Rasa can carry you pretty far as well. Thousand Ribbons offers a solid leveling option. Kaom’s Heart is one of the best defensive options for this build overall, although you will need Shaper/Elder rolls on other gear to make up for the lost Gem sockets.
A well rolled Rare will likely work really well with this build as well.
There are several ways to further increase the effectiveness of a Rare here, but they will massively increase the currency cost, as a high-end Armour that fits these parameters would be Mirror-service-worthy.
- A +1/+2 Level to Socketed Gems Corruption is extremely useful if running a Rare.
- % Increased Effect of Auras on you is good too, that comes from Bound fossils.
- Getting Reduced Attribute Requirements can really help if you’re struggling with attributes. This can also free up other Affixes as you no longer need to waste them. This would allow you to further increase your DPS. Although getting this mod combination will be extremely hard, and will cost a lot of currency, so bank on just using a crafted affix instead.
- Getting a high, or possibly Legacy, Increased Life and/or Chaos Resistance roll really helps with survivability.
Min. requirements:
100 maximum Life
Uncapped Resistances
Attributes (Dexterity, Strength)
Optional affixes:
% Increased Maximum Life (Elder, Pristine Fossil)
Recover % of Maximum Life on Kill (Elder)
+ to Level of Socketed Support Gems (Elder)
% Increased Strength (Elder)
% Increased Damage (Corruption)
Belt
Abyss Belts with Life and Resistances are a good option for more difficult end-game sections and bosses. Since you’re primarily focusing on Lightning Damage, you need several rolls that synergize with that. Elemental Damage is a good start, and by adding in Life and Resistances, pretty much any Rare offers a good stopgap solution. Leather Belts are best for Life, so go with that on this build.
Some will opt for the very cheap Cyclopean Coil to some of the Attributes they need, while also increasing damage a bit, although for this build it’s definitely not the best option.
Min. requirements:
70 Maximum Life
Uncapped Resistances
Optional affixes:
Reduced Flask Charges Used
Increased Flask Duration
% Increased Elemental Damage (Prismatic Fossil)
% Increased Fire Damage (Scorched Fossil)
% Increased Physical Damage (Jagged Fossil)
% Increased Cast Speed/Spell Damage during any Flask Effect (Shaper)
Gloves
Check here for some Unique options, most useful while leveling. These are by no means needed for the build to function, just more of a convenience if you’re trying to squeeze every bit of potential out of the optimal version.
For a Rare, opt for Fingerless Silk Gloves for the extra Spell Damage. Use the following stats as a baseline for a Rare:
Min. requirements:
+ Maximum Life/% Increased Maximum Life (Pristine Fossil)
Uncapped Resistances
Added Fire Damage to Attacks
Optional affixes:
Chaos Resistance
Reduced Attribute Requirements
Recover % of Maximum Life on Kill (Elder)
% Global Chance to Blind Enemies/Socketed Gems are Supported by Level # Blind (Shaper)
Socketed Gems are Supported by Level ?? Faster Casting/% increased Cast Speed (Shaper)
% Chance to Block (Elder)
Socketed Gems are Supported by Level ?? Arcane Surge (Aetheric Fossil)
Boots
Rare boots with max rolled Life, Resists and Movement Speed are great as a generic choice, but you may find yourself a bit more prone to taking hits than you would like. This one is more of a personal judgment call. Here’s the basic requirements for Rare in this slot. Two-Toned Bootes are good here for the extra Resists. An Armour base is best for high Life and Armour.
Kaom’s Roots are great, but you may find yourself socket-starved, it’s a personal choice.
Min. requirements:
+ Maximum Life/% Increased Maximum Life (Pristine Fossil)
30% increased Movement Speed
Any Uncapped Resistances (>25%)
% Increased Armour
Optional affixes:
% Increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills (Crafted)
% chance to gain an Endurance Charge on Kill (Elder)
Amulet
A Rare can work great here, but the best Rare is one which offers some Elemental Damage scaling and Shaper mods, and it will not be cheap. Stone of Lazhwar and Atziri’s Foible are both solid leveling options here. Aul’s Uprising with the right Aura buff can offer some great defensive potential at the loss of some DPS.
A decent Rare with some of the following stats is of course another option.
Min. requirements:
50 Maximum Life
% Increased Spell Damage
Uncapped Resistances
Optional affixes:
Attributes
Chance to gain a Power, Frenzy or Endurance Charge on Kill (Shaper)
% Increased Damage per 15 Intelligence (Shaper)
Damage Penetrates % Elemental Resistances (Shaper)
% Increased Attributes (Shaper)
Increased Aura Effect (Corruption)
Rings
Rare rings will likely work best here, Opal Ring bases still offer tons of potential for Elemental Damage, so give those a shot.
There are a ton Fossil and Shaper/Elder mods which can be useful here, check out this list. And if you’d like to search for a specific Fossil mod to find out what Fossil it comes from, go here.
Le Heup of All and Berek’s Respite also offer competitive Unique options for the a Unique if you want that. Although a high-end Elder base will get a lot more mileage for this build with the right rolls. If you’re running the Elder base for Curse Enemies with Assassin’s Mark on Hit, Mark of the Shaper can offer a pretty good DPS increase.
Min. requirements:
50 Maximum Life
% Increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills
Adds Fire Damage
Uncapped Resistances
% Increased Cast Speed
Optional affixes:
% Increased Fire Damage
Attributes
Curse Enemies with Assassin’s Mark on Hit (Elder)
% Increased Elemental Damage (Prismatic Fossil)
% Increased Damage with Ailments (Corroded Fossil)
Increased Aura Effect (Corruption)
Gain % of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage (Essence of Hysteria)
Flasks
Atziri’s Promise – Great flask for DPS buffs and a bit of defense
Blood of the Karui – Best Life Flask
Other Flasks:
- Catalysed Divine Life Flask of Staunching
- Experimenter’s Sulphur Flask of Heat
- Chemist’s Granite Flask of Warding
You can swap these mods around if needed due to RNG.
Jewels
Spire of Stone is a great choice here.
Abyss Jewels that have a chance to gain Onslaught can also be used in a slot for a damage increase. Watcher’s Eye with buffs to Clarity, Zealotry or any other Auras you use can be really powerful. Rare Jewels will work just as well though in most cases, and be much cheaper.
Rare Jewels can run with the following stats:
Recommended affixes:
- % Increased Maximum Life
- % Increased Spell Damage
- % Increased Cast Speed
- % Increased Minion Damage
- % Increased Totem Damage
- % Increased Fire Damage
- % Increased Damage
Optional affixes:
Attributes (Dexterity/Intelligence)
Resistances
Damage Penetrates % Fire Resistance
