MY STARTER for the Path of Exile 1 Event!

~~~ LEVELING ~~~ Level 1 to 12 we level with Spectral Throw, and from level 12 onwards we exclusively use Elemental Hit. Leveling is Dual Wielding, while endgame we switch to claw + shield. IMPORTANT: somewhere between normal lab and cruel lab we pick up the dual wield mastery for 60% increased damage while wielding 2 different weapons. From then on you want to use a fast sword(1.5+ aps) together with a fast claw(1.6+ aps). ~~~ WHY NO MULTISTRIKE? ~~~ If Elemental Hit repeats, the same element is chosen for all the repeats. This breaks Elemental Equilibrium, so you either drop EE or you drop Multistrike. If you have Greater Multistrike you can switch to the "Endgame - Keystone Tattoo" tree and NOT pick up EE(so no need to tattoo a keystone) and replace Inspiration with Greater Multistrike. ~~~ SHRINE NODE VS TRIPLE RING BLOODLINE ~~~ This requires a little bit of testing to see what feels good. With the triple ring setup you apply Scorch and Brittle, and since we use Screams of the Desiccated(shrine belt) we can't use utility flasks anyway, so there's no downside. With the shrine setup you have to choose between Scorch and Brittle(Brittle is usually best), but you potentially get shrines like Acceleration or Massive. You'll have 3 extra shrines up on average. The downsides of the shrine setup are that it's less reliable and that you potentially get a Brutal Shrine, which gives knockback which could be really annoying. ~~~ AILMENT IMMUNITY ~~~ We get a bunch of Ailment Avoidance on the tree, and then finish it off on boots and/or chest. Getting fully ailment immune is more important than on most other builds, because we can't use utility flasks to compensate it in other ways. ~~~ ACCURACY ~~~ After we get "Hits Cannot be Evaded" on our claw we don't need accuracy anymore, but before that make sure you keep some accuracy nodes on the tree and potentially get some on gear as well. You can opt to replace Flesh and Stone with a higher level Precision but this is more of a last resort, try to get it on gear first. ~~~ WHICH BELT MODS? ~~~ - Impenetrable: very common and provides great synergy with our "Forest Tracking" node - Acceleration/Echoing: rare and giga strong. If you get echoing you probably want to drop Elemental Equilibrium(see "why no multistrike") - Massive: common, not bad, gives aoe, but shares a slot with Impenetrable Shrine which might just feel better(requires testing) - Resonating: medium rarity, gives you permanent uptime on Endurance Charges and +2 all max charges. Offensive slot so can share with Impenetrable or Massive. - Diamond: rare and very strong. Means you can drop the Brittle Ring(either replace with a Sap Ring or switch to the Shrine Setup). Doesn't scale with Shrine Effect so slight anti-synergy with our Ascendancy, and might require some tree/gear adjustments to drop crit chance. - Resistance: rare and very strong defensively. Doesn't do anything to your damage though and is very hard to get with a good offensive mod. ~~~ WHICH ASCENDANCY TATTOO? ~~~ Endgame you can replace Oath of the Maji with an ascendancy tattoo. Some options(but not ALL options by any amount, a lot of nodes are good), in approximate order of power: - Impact(Duelist): Huge AoE and strike range, probably drop some strike range in favor of more damage or tank if you get this - Masterful Form(Duelist): AMAZING if you have a Resonating Shrine belt, need to figure out a way to generate Endurance Charges otherwise - Harmony of Purpose(Templar): If this stacks with the other shrine node it's funny, if it doesn't you can cheaply get the triple ring ascendancy - Brutal Fervour(Duelist): Overleech - Gathering Winds(Ranger): Tailwind :) - Heart of Destruction(Witch): AoE while clearing, damage for single target - Fortitude(Duelist): Fortify allows you to save a bunch of nodes pathing to Fortify on the tree - Bane of Legends/Headsman(Duelist)/Augury of Penitence(Templar)/Mastermind of Discord(Witch)/Opportunistic(Shadow): generic damage - Aspect of Carnage(Marauder): 40% damage, but you take more damage - Avatar of the Wilds(Ranger): Unbound thing from Raider - Oath of Summer(Ranger): Double Scorch - First to Strike, Last to Fall(Duelist): Intimidate and potentially Adrenaline - Tukohama, War's Herald(Marauder): allows you to drop additional strike stuff - Unholy Authority(Witch): add Ele Weakness for some extra damage