hey guys wanted to post a somewhat of a write up of the main build i played this league. i made a post about it about a month ago, someone asked me to make a guide and i said i would, but i didnt. until now, this isnt really a guide per se, its just a short overview with some PoBs and explanation really, but im always happy to answer any questions.

so a little backstory, my friend thought of this concept before the league started he went into standard tried it out with really shit gear and loved it. obviously golems being buffed it wasnt a foreign concept other people did other variants, but this was his and a few people copied, there have been some showcases but no real guide or anything.

i have 2 versions of this build that i hotswap between depending on what content i want to do.

HH Variant for alva farming https://pobb.in/5QOxWOOtIxzY | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX1apHX6qW0

Mageblood for bossing/simulacrum: https://pobb.in/sp2S2doYqnUo | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dci-iU4S2Wo

League Starter: https://pobb.in/6ZdqyCHWySGI (not configged)

Friends Version that he 40/40d challenges on: https://pobb.in/Y_es1qkv27P6 (not configged)

Weaknesses:

Damage over time: this build is extremely weak to DoTs although i have done my best to mitigate it.

DoT capped: sadly this is a DoT build so its capped.

Expensive Gear: wasnt expensive when i bought it, but it is now

Strengths:

40/40d challenges even on the starter version.

Easy to play, low buttons

can do 99% of content without a problem.

very very tanky despite what PoB looks like (just dont stand in DoTs)

BUILD OVERVIEW

so what is this build, how does it function? well you just shield charge around and kill every thing. but when you get to a tanky mob or a boss you leap slam a few times, being linked to volatility and a bunch of other damage you are just high rolling the ignite until you kill.

all defenses and offenses come from golem stacking primordial bonds, and capping block with svalinn, the phys max hit on PoB is quite low, but through golem primordial bond stacking we can get our safeguarding golem to over 100%, so 100% of phys damage from MELEE hits is taken from our golem, because of liege of the primordial these golems are also immune to elemental melee hits, which means you also are.

now obviously non melee hits can still damage you but, because of svalinn blocks, bastion of elements and shaper of flames, a lot of that is mitigated (as you can see in the videos i posted with the PoBs)

this build is also very flexible, you cant just slot and play a 1 for 1 version unless you somehow manage to acquire the exact same megalomaniacs as me, so you need to think on your feet a little, for example i am blocked capped from my watchers eye determination block and utilizing mercenaries, however you could also use tattoos or extra megalos to supplement some block.

i've seen some variants of this not even use block, which personally i think is a mistake but they have gotten it to work so props to them. and there is a world where you dont even need to use svalinn you can probably use a life on block shield capping at 75-78% doing this would open up to other things like bound by destiny variants, utilizing a lot of the power they have to offer.

another thing, im actually ailment immune (except chill lol) i use tree for frozen immune, boots and tattoos for bleed immune, cb immune from jewel, shock immune from tempest shield, and im not ignite immune but it doesnt really affect me that much, however i have been hard at work in the temple trying to get an ignite immune ring.

UPGRADES

there is still so much more to go if i want to invest into this build, i can push it so much further, double corrupted rings, corrupted amulet, bound by destiny switch, among other things, i did piece together a 10+ mirror variant using purity of fire sublime vision but in the end it didnt seem worth it. but this build can go so much further in terms of tankiness it just sucks the damage is capped at 35m.

MERCENARIES:

I have had so much fun experimenting with Mercenaries. I've written a list of some decent items for them and the types you want to look out for. the skills and links arent all that important, its the auras we really care about here.

BASTION

DETERMINATION/IMPENETRABLE BASTION (better pre nerf)

impenetrable bastion pre nerf was the goat, its probably not worth running anymore but its a good starter if you happen to find it first, the other added benefit is hes really really good at applying ele weakness on hit (more on that later)

RIPPER (probably BIS)

DETERMINATION/VITALITY

for the variant im running this is BIS, it feels so nice to have 2k+ regen and 70k armour, it basically makes you immune to everything except Volatile Cores in juiced maps.

ERUPTOR

DETERMINATIOM/PURITY OF FIRE

the benefit of Eruptor is that you dont need to run purity of fire yourself and can run another offensive aura like anger, or a mix of others like vitality and arctic armour.

EARTHSHAKER

DETERMINATION/VAAL VITALITY

Same as Ripper but with no regular vitality, the benefit is this guy can hold a kingmaker, WE LOVE KINGMAKER

SMOULDERSTRIKE

ANGER/PUNISHMENT

needs +1 curse for punishment to be good, but probably +2 because we would ideally run ele on hit gloves too, lose determination so need to fix block elsewhere. anger is just good damage.

KINETICIST

HASTE/ELEMENTAL WEAKNESS

Honestly not the best but Haste is nice for speed mapping, problem is she doesn't really keep up. ele weakness is fine but you need + 1 curse on her.

HELMET:

TRICKSTERS SMILE - good for early, bad later on, pair with dawnbreaker.

CROWN OF THE TYRANT - BIS for damage, just a generally good helmet. there is a reason its 20Div

BLOOD REAVER - less max life, but super good regen for your merc. also gives enemies 8% less max health.

MASK OF THE TRIBUNAL - super experimental but strength stacking for block could be goated here, never tested however.

RARE HELM - Life, resists, eldritch implicts (phys taken as) the standard stuff, can add abyssal socket for extra flair and stats.

WEAPON:

KINGMAKER - what more is there it say

SIGN OF THE SIN EATER - makes your merc take ailments for you, decent until you can get ailment immune (freeze mainly)

SINGULARITY - its decent, the hinder is nice there just aren't that many amazing weapons.

RARE WEAPON W/ ABYSSAL SOCKET - yea

SHIELD:

Dawnbreaker - honestly my favourite by far, i think this is a great shield

Transfer-attuned Spirit Shield - crafted version with life on block, and maybe some other useful stats

BODY:

RARE ARMOUR - so i would only recommend this there are others you can use, however the delve modifier additional curse is why we would want to use this, a fractured additional curse base crafted with life and resistances is super easy to make, and we just finish with eldritch implicits for aura effects, there are plenty of unique options though

GLOVES:

RARE GLOVES - for the reason above we want rare gloves with elemental weakness this will bring our curse limit to 2, one for our flammability and +1 for our merc to apply ele weakness immortal bastion is the goat at applying this with shield crush and sst.

ASENATHS GENTLE TOUCH - with ele weakness on hit, you need giga curse limit however

BOOTS:

LEGACY OF FURY - goated boots, scorch just because you exist, always wear these

RINGS:

VENTORS GAMBLE - high res, decent life can easily find suitable corruptions for aura effect

RARE RINGS RES - same as above just more effort, but better ring quality

ANATHEMA - cheeky way to bypass curse limit

AMULET:

YOKE OF SUFFERING - more damage, gives solid resistances

DEFIANCE OF DESTINY - keeps your merc alive forever.

XOPHS HEART/BLOOD - covers enemy in ash, this allows you to swap polaric devastation for replica emberwake for similar damage, and easy double corruptions.

PERQUILS TOE - makes you highroll your damage more often

SHAPERS SEED - regen for you and your homies

UNTOUCHED SOUL - red sockets for everyone, more life for your merc

BELT:

KAOMS BINDING - with aura effect implicit, dont use anything else

anyway thats all i really have, if you have any questions feel free to ask in comments