Hello! I wanted to share the Spectre build that I've league-started with and will proceed to use for endgame, while testing out other skill combinations. I have included an HC and SC version of this build for those who prefer a more survivable play-style. There are also many notes on how to improve, craft gear for, or change the build, and I'm still working on it. Please read these notes before commenting about items used.

I use a lot of Ghastly Eye jewels with ES/Flat Cold. They are cheap atm because Ghazzy's build uses Life. I'd suggest buying these ASAP, if you want to try this out.

You are meant to use Forged Frostbearers with this build.

Where to get: keep doing Crucibles until you see ice-based monsters spawning. In that zone, you should be able to Desecrate until a Forged Frostbearer appears. Alternatively, I've been giving them out, along with many others, in /global 6666

Why this spectre? FBs are incredible because their Mortar skill can shotgun; on top of the fact that all of their damage is ALREADY Cold (meaning we don't need Triads). We can take advantage of this in a few different ways: Larger AOE = more overlap + additional projectiles, Anomalous Faster Projectiles for double damage and double overlap (need to be positioned).

--The build itself--

Defenses (SC~HC Variation):

• 21~31k Evasion
• 90~100% Suppression
• 30~60% Block / 6~30% sBlock
• 4.2k ~ 5k ES
• Chaos Immunity
• 256 to 560 ES regeneration
• Enemies are shattered in 99% of cases
• Zombies will block for you

Offense (SC~HC Variation):

• 5mil to 9mil DPS (see my notes above and near POB, this is not even close to the actual DPS)
• Shotgunning
• Projectiles return, shotgunning again (annoying to position, so I don't really recommend)
• Full-cold damage scaling

-- Build Videos --

• T16 Clear: This was done after I completely bricked my helmet craft and had to revert to my league-start helmet (Alpha's Howl, which gave me RMR before I could afford Enlighten/Loathing/Anoint). I also did this while leveling nearly all my gems, as you'll see. It's a great showcase on how strong this build CAN be, with little investment.

We scale cold with auras and overlap with AOE (like the Plaguebringer node on Necro) + GMP. We also stack double-damage, so we can tell all our friends that we deal double-double damage that shotguns (DD + anom FP + shotgun, joke).

There isn't too much else to say, other than--try it. You don't need the gear in this POB, just get the correct links: Spectre, GMP, Predator, Spell Echo, and Minion Damage (for 5L) and a decently optimized tree. With only one cluster, I was able to clear the atlas (other than a few unique maps that I'm still looking for). It's fun and I am happy to say that Spectres are back on the menu.

Path of Building: https://pobb.in/3_uynhnumK5e

Note: POB is currently calculating the damage as if 4/5 projectiles from GMP shotgun. This is dependent on distance and AOE scaling. Your results may vary, but from my testing, this seemed to be fine. Sometimes you will hit with all 5, sometimes you will hit with 3. Predator helps.

Edit: Added a T16 map run with these Spectres, so you can get a feel for how they play.

BIG Edit:

• Spectres are now correct, so you can view actual damage numbers!
• Added aspirational gear. Keep in-mind that this is aspirational and only for those who really want to push. At this point, you should probably know what you're doing and know that there are many ways to go, other than what I have in. You could go with Ashes, RMR on shield and an extra aura, etc. Yes, this brings your damage to 70mil+, yes this is absolutely stupid and you shouldn't expect this at all. It wasn't stupid enough for me to add a +1 Spectre chest, but it is pretty fluff. Disclaimer: I don't have this gear and have not tested it.
• Added more crafting tips
• Swapped out Hypo for Predator. After running around with these guys, the ai seems to really need direction. They don't just hit everything like Syndicate Operatives.
• Updated the starter tree, a bit
• Changed the clusters to include Feasting Fiends which actually saves us ~3 skill points!
• Did a few other random changes. Please let me know if I messed anything up or you see something that could be improved. Thank you all for your interest in this build. It's been really fun discovering it with all of you.
• We are now at ~99% Suppression with lucky and 90%, without.
• I changed Elemental Weakness for Assassin's Mark and now our Spectres have power charges
• Changed the pathing of the tree so that it goes below the witch starting point; this saved us 2 points. HC tree remains unchanged.

BIG Edit 2:

• I've added a high-end ES/Armour version! Based on Ghazzy's build, I wanted to provide something that's both very tanky (can most-likely do Delirium w30), and a bit aspirational. 64m DPS with Vaal Haste (50m without). I've gone a different route than Ghazzy via not including a taunt flask (let the minions tank), tree differences, and an extra aura (Haste). It's possible to fit in Spider Weds, still, but not very easily. I've also swapped the annoint on boots to Arcane Guarding to add armour/es and cap Spell Block.
• We now use Greater Volley--it does have less top-end than aGMP, but is far more consistent and you don't need to worry about positioning your spectres (thanks, whensmahvelfgc).
• I've given the option, in the armor build, to use different flasks via adding Reduced Mana Cost on the tree. This means you can get rid of that QoL mana flask.
• Please let me know if there are any issues. My family is in-town this weekend, so I may not reply as quickly. Thank you so much for your interest in this build (:

BIG Edit 3:

• So, a few people recommended I check out Wraithlord... This helmet is insane. I can now say we can hit 85mil DPS with Vaal Haste active on the armor-based version. I've updated the POB with the gear and links, not much has changed. You are weak against large elemental hits, though, so I am considering adding melding and dropping damage (this would be especially easy with the new +max Crucible passives... If you ever see them). Hope you enjoy! Still very WIP on that setup, but I recommend you all check it out.