[POE] Essence Drain Contagion Build Guide - Path of Exile

==================== = = = VIDEO GUIDE = = = ==================== The detailed video guide can be found here: https://youtu.be/S4yHQSaEr6I ==================== = = = HOW TO USE = = = ==================== - Navigate to "Tree" tab then choose a passive tree in the bottom-left dropdown menu (next to "About"), according to your progress. - Adjust your current character level at the top - Put on and edit example gear or import your own stuff with the Import/Export Build feature. - Adjust gem levels and quality, and enable optional gems if used. - Configure anything relevant in the Configuration tab. ==================== = = = IMPORTANT = = = ==================== - Activate Flasks to see their impact on DPS or defense. - Gems that don't need quality or need to stay at a certain level are shown like that, all others are defaulted at 20/20. ==================== = = = GEMS = = = ==================== NOTE: the acquisition of the gems from vendors is based on the class of the build. If you have alts or chars that have already completed Act 6, then you can use them to buy the missing gems. For example: Leap Slam can be acquired by a Marauder after finishing the quest "The Caged Brute" (Act 1), but the same is not available for a Witch. NOTE #2: if a quest has as reward 2 or more gems that you need, take one and then you can buy the other from one the NPCs in town (each act has a specific NPC selling gems). Blight - Level 1 - Enemy at the Gate (Act 1) Contagion - Level 4 - Breaking some Eggs (Act 1) Spell Totem - Level 8 - A Fixture of Fate (Act 3) Void Manipulation - Level 8 - The Caged Brute (Act 1) Flame Dash - Level 10 - The Caged Brute (Act 1) Essence Drain - Level 12 - The Siren's Cadence (Act 1) Controlled Destruction - Level 12 - Sharp and Cruel (Act 2) Flesh and Stone - Level 16 - purchased from Siosa after completing the "Four Golden Pages" quest in the Library (Act 3) Faster Casting - Level 18 - Sharp and Cruel (Act 2) Malevolence - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Zealotry - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Discipline - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Grace - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Bane - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Enfeeble - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Despair - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Temporal Chains - Level 24 - Lost in Love (Act 3) Efficacy - Level 31 - A Fixture of Fate (Act 3) Swift Affliction - Level 31 - A Fixture of Fate (Act 3) Intensify - Level 31 - A Fixture of Fate (Act 3) Summon Chaos Golem - Level 34 - Breaking the Seal (Act 4) Immortal Call - Level 34 - purchased from Lilly Roth, after completing "Fallen from Grace" quest in Act 6 Increased Area of Effect - Level 38 - The Eternal Nightmare (Act 4) CWDT - Level 38 - purchased from Petarus and Vanja in Highgate, after completing "The Eternal Nightmare" quest in Act 4 Multiple Totems - Level 38 - purchased from Petarus and Vanja in Highgate, after completing "The Eternal Nightmare" quest in Act 4 Decay (optional) - Level 38 - purchased from Petarus and Vanja in Highgate, after completing "The Eternal Nightmare" quest in Act 4 Empower - Level 1 - drop/trade only. A level 4 Empower can be obtained by corrupting a level 3 Empower gem - BUT results are not guaranteed and you can even ruin the gem. You've been warned! ==================== = = = GEAR = = = ==================== ** Gear is split into three tiers: basic, mid-tier and best-in-slot. As a general rule of thumb prices increase significantly with each tier, but so do the benefits that the items bring. ** Detailed gear advice along with POE Trade search links: ** Click on "Show Filters" on the trade site to see affixes and weights for each item ======= WEAPONS ======= Basic Wand: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/69Br00FG Basic Shield: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/GRGWO8cb Basic Unique Shield: Zeel's Amplifier Mid-Tier Staff: Cane of Unravelling Best-in-slot Bow: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/O8DvMQtE Best-in-slot Quiver: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/0JyYJdUg ======= BODY ARMOUR ======= Basic body armour: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/GRrlzZhb Mid-Tier body armour https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/J78K3Wul Best-in-slot body armour: Cospri's Will / Hyrri's Ire / Cherrubim's Maleficence ======= HELMET ======= Only one viable option: The Devouring Diadem ======= GLOVES ======= Basic gloves: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/WaY0v0Hm Mid-tier gloves: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/EgmGD0F5 Best-in-slot gloves: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/rnJ9D4uQ ======= BOOTS ======= Basic boots: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/vVv0JWTE Mid-tier boots: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/Vb6W88Hp Best-in-slot boots: Atziri's Step ======= BELT ======= Basic belt: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/qnDP6kHg Mid-tier belt: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/XnXe47hP Best-in-slot belt: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/L4XQWXSn ======= AMULET ======= Basic amulet: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/VbVyoatp Mid-tier amulet: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/QXkVaMSw Best-in-slot amulet: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/2ZDJM0ik ======= RINGS ======= Basic rings: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/knOqE3F5 Mid-tier rings: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/Zn4kv8HQ Best-in-slot rings: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/8v74qBcV ======= JEWELS ======= Mandatory basic-tier jewels: "Spreading Rot" and "Intuitive Leap" Other rare basic-tier jewels: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/KKG9vRs5 Mid-tier jewel: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/q6r4MpCg Best-in-slot jewel: https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Legion/nV9X5VS0 ======= FLASKS ======= You need to ensure you cover Curse immunity (Warding suffix), Freeze Immunity (Heat suffix) as well as Bleed removal (Staunching suffix) on the flasks. Optimal setup: > Seething/Bubbling + Divine Life Flask + of Staunching > Witchfire's Brew > Chemist's + Quicksilver Flask + of Adrenaline > Experimenter's + Quartz Flask + of Heat / Warding > Experimenter's + Jade Flask + of Warding / Heat