Arc has always been a strong build in Path of Exile, and it’s even better in patch 3.3, with some interesting buffs to various Totem and Aura mechanics. This build can receive major DPS buffs when using the best gear, but that’s pretty expensive, luckily it’s fairly flexible, so it’s possible to run this build with mostly high-end Rares and only couple pricey items.
The basic mechanics here are Totems and careful positioning. As you can see in the video demonstration of an Uber Elder fight, careful flask management and Totem placement are essential for taking on the hardest content. But this build can handle most other end-game maps without breaking a sweat. Spamming Totems becomes trivial with the right gear, and this build just mows down mobs and bosses when that happens.
Build Pros
- Totems can be really fun
- Great league starter with budget gear for lower content
- Good clear speed
Build Cons
- Early game is a bit slow
- Totems aren’t for everyone
- Optimal gear is VERY EXPENSIVE
Passive Tree(s)
Leveling Trees:
30 passives: www.poeurl.com/bR7U
– You will play as a spell caster, with heralds. Use whatever weapons you like (wands, dagger). You can use mana jewel for smoother leveling or skip the jewel node.
60 passive: www.poeurl.com/bWfc
– Still self cast + totems. Use essence worm (wrath) + clear mind when the damage is enough to compete with heralds. Switch to Moonsorrow if you haven’t a better weapons.
90 passives: www.poeurl.com/bWfe
– Full totems (4 with tabula rasa or 5 with soul mantle). Ascendancy “Conviction of Power” is a huge QoL, switch to Shimmerons when you pick this passive. Pick MoM when you feel your life isn’t enough (respect 3 passives to pick also the mana behind MoM).
Pantheon
Major God – Brine King
Minor God – Gruthkul
Bandits
Alira
Ascendancy skill points
Hierophant
Pursuit of Faith>Ritual of Awakening>Conviction of Power>Divine Guidance
The following Lab Enchants are a massive boon:
Helmet: Arc chain. It’s not mandatory but useful.
Gloves: No enchant or no damage enchant. Otherwise you could crit with it and degen from Shimmerons.
Boots (Uber Lab):
1) 10% Damage penetration. The best vs bosses.
2) 1-160 lightning damage. Very close to “penetration” DPS and better for general mapping.
3) 120% crit chance.
Leveling Items and General Tips
Leveling Uniques
Tabula Rasa
Intelligence and Mana Regen will struggle a bit during leveling, keep an eye on that and upgrade items to better Rares when the build starts to slow down.
Avoid these map mods:
- Reflect (All Maps)
- No Leech/Regen (All Maps)
If you are a brand new Path of Exile player, feel free to check out our various POE guides for noobs.
Skill Gem Setup
w/ Soul Mantle:
6L: Arc + elemental focus + light penetration + controlled destruction + added lightning + faster casting
w/o Soul Mantle:
6L: Spell totem + Arc + light penetration + controlled destruction + added lightning + faster casting
1L: Wrath (inside Essence Worm)
3L: stone golem + minion life + minion ele resistance
flame dash + faster casting + culling strike
(or vaal haste + vaal lightning trap + increased duration)
4L: CWDT (6) + immortal call (8) + increased duration + enfeeble (9)
CWDT (1) + phase run (3) + increased duration + vaal haste
(or lightning warp + faster casting + less duration + swift affliction)
conductivity/enfeeble + increased duration + arcane surge + spell cascade/increased area
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.
Weapons
Wands are the usual pick for this build, but the best ones will be very costly.
Shimmeron Tornado Wands are BIS, but will be very expensive. Mixing a Rare wand with Eclipse Solaris is the better secondary option until you can afford the best Shimmeron. You’ll find the good Rare stats below.
If you’re running this build in later leagues, especially Delve wherein Shimmeron was nerfed, Void Battery is another potential option.
Min. requirements:
90% Increased Spell Damage
10% Increased Cast Speed
Optional affixes:
+ Maximum Mana
Attributes
Helmet
Devoto’s Devotion is the BIS helmet, and a Rare isn’t really a good replacement. Devoto’s is only a few Chaos, so you should be able to get one pretty easy.
Body Armor
Soulmantle is far and away the best item for this build, but it will be really costly. A Tabula Rasa can be a decent starter, but you need a better option ASAP. You need to keep your Curse Removal up constantly, so careful flask management is a must when using Soulmantle. Loreweave can also work, but not without really good Wands like Shimmeron.
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 like these:
Min. requirements:
70 maximum Life
Elemental Resistances
Optional affixes:
Chaos Resistance
Attributes
Gloves
Min. requirements:
60 maximum Life
Decent tri-Elemental Resistance Rolls
Optional affixes:
% Increased Attack Speed
Boots
Rare boots with max rolled Life, Resists and Movement Speed are BIS. Item Rarity is also decent optional roll here if you don’t need any extra resists, stats or life.
Min. requirements:
50 maximum Life
30% increased Movement Speed
25% Fire Resistance
25% Lightning Resistance
25% Cold Resistance
Amulet
Attributes will need some help, so get a corrupted Amulet with as many stats as possible. Getting good Life rolls can help with survivability. Atziri’s Foible is great for Mana Regen to spam totems.
Min. requirements:
50 maximum Life or % Increased Max Life
Attributes
Optional affixes:
Resistances
Maximum Mana
Rings
Essence Worm is needed for Wrath to work, which is vital for scaling damage. Aside from Essence Worm, Rare rings are the best, especially those with tri-res rolls.
Min. requirements:
70 Maximum Life
20% All Elemental Resistances
Optional affixes:
Attributes
Increased Elemental Damage
Flasks
The Wise Oak
Hybrid Flask
Quicksilver (With Adrenaline Mod)
Diamond
Silver
Needed Mods:
Curse Removal
Freeze Removal
Bleed Removal
You can swap the mods around if needed due to RNG.
Jewels
Clear Mind Unique Jewel is a great pair for this build. The added DPS is just great.
Recommended affixes:
% increased maximum Life
% increased spell damage
Optional affixes:
% increased Attack Speed