3.21 - Cold Dot: From Zero to Hero - Elementalist / Occultist / Trickster

In this guide, I will help you have a smooth experience from a fresh start to zoom-zoom-explode in T16 80% delirium.

My previous guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/PathOfExileBuilds/comments/sqbapg/317_occultist_chaos_master_from_zero_to_hero/

Mid-Gear mapping showcase: https://youtu.be/7owr-pNRcqU

Why Cold DoT?

• dont require transformation/transition after leveling 10 Acts, every gems can access via main quest lines, mean smoother gameplay.
• very SSF friendly, or very budget friend if you play trade league, dont require cluster jewel
• Chill, Freeze and not require stand-to-fire make the build very safe to play, less dying mean fast leveling (I reached lvl 93 in 1st day of league).
• shieldddd chargeeeeeee
• S tier all-rounder build, A+ mapping, can do all content even uber-bosses.... I can't ask for more from a build.

Chosing Class/Ascendant

• Elementalist (recommended): Large AoE, immu to reflect
• Occultist: Native Explosive, high DPS
• Trickster: Easy cap Spell Suppress, balance and tanky

Both Elementalist and Occultist have potential to access other ascendant node via Forbidden Fresh/Flame jewels.

Template PoB: https://pobb.in/_TfrmI_WgvCS

Lets begin!

Stage 1 - After 10 Act and early Atlas progress

I dont have anything to say much about 10 acts, it feel like easy mod, 4L is everything we need to kill Eater/Exarch.

First 31 Atlas Points: https://poeplanner.com/atlas-tree/BAAIAB8AXz54gIsuhCqn4iFgMPoo57VmfVqN6tlbt12L4X2R3v4pjYIZ3YNOG6LQxB-u7xN9GIsLcTPGiaOpQ2Yfh9QUAB-LCAAAAAAAAAMDAAAAAAAAAAAA

46 Atlas Points with Wandering Path: https://poeplanner.com/atlas-tree/BAAIAC4AXz54gEz1iy6EKqfiMPoo57VmfVqN6k_32Vsdfbddi-F9kZtYJ3Xe_p7YKY1w492D567TDuEQfbXrX8SFThui0CQyxB8TfdKeC3GP5TPGiaOpQ7VjZh_UbIfU0CgUAB-LCAAAAAAAAAMDAAAAAAAAAAAA

This atlas tree promise 100% change to drop map and 80% chance to +1 Tier Map help you progress Atlas Quest line and reach T16 as fast as possible.

Some notes:

• Unique Helmet is most p/p upgrade. "Eye of malice" is BiS, "Rime Gaze" is great too.
• 4/5L Carcass Jack is next upgrade, every mods on this body are useful for the build.
• Do Jun mission to unlock "Cold DoT Mul" craft on weapon.
• Looking for +1 cold/all scepter with open suffix to craft "Cold Dot Mul".
• Looking for +1 cold/all amulet
• Looking for +1 cold shield.
• Leveling Vaal Cold Snap

Stage 2 - Mid game, Unlock Atlas

Atlas: https://poeplanner.com/atlas-tree/BAAIAG0AXK1fPpbneICJEUz1sRV5d4suStACWIQq_sVagYn-p-LUuTD6KOduo1JollAspdqmjEG1Zn1l3HLJ_de-fVqN6lL2fONP9xqs2VtGOoyRHX1d0-T3t12L4X2RCnubWCd13v6bd6CC2kQkpZ7Y0LzQxjBkEwUpjXjCMIlw45zH0nDdg-eu0w7hEH21XNjrX8SFTdxOG6LQyxc1MCQy15LEHxN9Ku7SnsABwa8LcT59_iVXFI_lAzAAf3NEM8ZIEtVp5Z-Jo6lDtWNmH9RsZP3VOYfUK7dP5uln0CgUAB-LCAAAAAAAAAMDAAAAAAAAAAAA

Alter and Go with low investment and finish your atlas.

At this stage we need invest a bit to dps to help us kill end game boss:

• Mark of the shaper + some good Elder ring
• Legacy of the Fury (if trade league), or spam exarch/eater currency on rare boots looking for "Drops Scorched Ground while moving, lasting # seconds"
• Acquire "expose cold on hit" and "cold dot mul" on rare gloves via spaming exarch/eater currency.
• Arcanist Brand - Frost Bomb - Frostbite - Elem Weakness is your best friend for single.
• Upgrade weapon, shield, amulet.

Stage 3 - Late game, Focus farming

Atlas: https://poeplanner.com/atlas-tree/BAAIAH0A29aW50z1svqxFe-6eXeFX66lEKwZiItO20ZK0AJY_sUa34n-1Lkw-mFTbqNSaE3DllAspdqmjEGkNH1l3HLJ_de-jepS9msxqVh84xqs_DdGOsODXdPk9wp73GkfrOfZm3ewlKCC2kQkpdcrT12Lc57YDs_QvNDGMGQrnM-jEwUT7UVYeMIwifgJcOOcx8SR-vjScOeu5cjTDuEQs39c2MLJYU9OG02Ryxc1MNXq15ITfQ75CxIq7ixIwa_l7MEkPn1XFBc9cQtj0QPtj-UDMAB_c0QzxhN10YruZEgS1Wnln6lDtWNmH0ls2E9k_dU5-1Mrt0_m6WfQKBQAH4sIAAAAAAAAAwMAAAAAAAAAAAA=

• Map: Cemetary
• Scarab: Ambush, Expedition, Breach, Divination
• Kirac mods: Ambush

After done with end-game bosses, we can drop a bit of DPS inexchange of clearspeed and QoL:

• Looking for Asenath with "Curse Elem Weakness on Hit"
• Craft Elder/Redeemer ring with "Curse Frostbite on Hit"
• Looking for "Expose Cold on Hit" in Crucible Weapon Passive Tree

Min/Max

Some BiS and how to craft gear

Helmet

• Eye of Malice
• Corrupted: Socketed Skill Gems get a 90% Cost & Reservation Multiplier
• 2nd Corrupted: +2 Aoe/Aura gem, Cold damage leech as life..
• enchant: Vortex cooldown, Mana reservation Grace/Deter/Hatred/Male

SSF/Rare Craft

• step 0: find a good base: Pig-faced or Deicide Mask
• step 1: (optional) 30% quan with fossil or Hlock 30% quan later
• step 2: spam Loathing essense until desirable suffix
• step 3: (optional) if full prefix, annul with eldrich currency
• step 4: "suffix can not be changed" (2div or Wild Bristle Matron)
• step 5: slam veiled chaos orb
• step 6: benchcraft "zombie/skeleton"
• step 7: unveil, good mods: +2 AOE/inc AoE, life/regen
• step 8: (option) repeat from step 4 if don't get desire mods
• step 9: benchcraft the other mod: life, +1 AOE/inc Aoe
• step 10: spam eater/exarch to get: mana reserve, frostbite effect

Body

Unique

• Skin of the Lord with Eldrich battery/Call to Arm/Magebane
• 6L Carcass Jack with +1/+2 aoe/+2 duration, you can buy base and taint fusing your self

SSF/Craft Rare:

• step 0: choose a good base EV/ES
• step 1: (optional) 30% quan with fossil or Hlock 30% quan later
• step 2: spam Loathing essense until desirable suffix
• step 3: (optional) if full prefix, annul with eldrich currency
• step 4: "suffix can not be changed" (2div or Wild Bristle Matron)
• step 5: slam veiled chaos orb
• step 7: unveil, good mod: avoid ailment/avoid stun, %max life, phys taken as fire
• step 8: (option) repeat from step 4 if don't get desire mods
• step 9: benchcraft the other mod: avoid ailment/avoid stun, %max life, phys taken as fire, life
• step 10: spam eater/exarch to get: Hatred/Male aura effect, Non-Curse aura effect

Rings

Mark of the shaper

• corrupted "Immu Bleeding"
• or "Immu Poison"
• or .... both

Elder/Redeemer Frostbite ring

• step 0: Acquire 2 rings with Elder and Redeemer influence, I prefer Amethyst Ring to fix chaos res.
• step 1: Create a base Elder/Redeemer with Awakener Orb.
• step 2: Harvest "Reforge Caster" until get "Frostbite on Hit" and desirable suffix: resist, ailment effect...
• step 3: If you have high tier Life on prefix, you can settle with it. If not, continue crafting.
• step 4: If full prefix, annul and pray. Start over if annul hit suffix.
• step 5: Craft "Suffix Can not be change" (2div or "Wild Bristle Matron")
• step 6: Slam Veiled Chaos Orb
• step 7: Craft "mana" then unveil. Pick "+(55-60) to maximum Life, Regenerate 5.3 Mana per second"
• step 8: Benchcraft "(15-17)% increased Damage"

Amulet

• Prefix: +1 all gem, +1 cold gem, high life, "(14-16)% increased Area of Effect, (17-20)% increased Area Damage"
• Suffix: DoT Mul, Cold Dot Mul, Ailment effect, resist

Budget (semi-)craft Method:

• Find a +1 cold/all amulet with decent mods and open 2 suffixes.
• Slam redeemer orb
• Benchcraft "ailment effect" or "X+Y resist"

Luxury Crafting Method

• step 0: buy "T1 DoT mul (frac)" amulet on good base (Str/Dex, Dex, All attribute)
• step 1: alter until hit "+1 all"
• step 2: regal.
• step 2a: If hit prefix, Annul and pray. If failed start over from step 1.
• step 2b: if hit suffix, Craft "prefix can't change" then scour.
• step 2c: if hit suffix, and you love gamble or alter is cheap, Annul and pray.
• step 3: Benchcraft "3 mods" + "prefix can't change" + "Adds # to # Cold Damage to Attacks"
• step 4: Harvest add Cold.
• step 5: (optional) If remove "prefix can't change". Remove craft, Recraft "prefix can't change".
• step 6: Aisling. Pick an useful veil mod: Inc AoE, Ailment effect, Life
• step 7: craft last mod with Benchcraft: Inc AoE, Ailment effect, Life

Gloves

SSF Craft Rare

• Step 0: find a base with good Suffix: Spell suppress, chaos res, elem res
• Step 1: (optional) Annul prefix with eldric currency if full prefix.
• step 2: "suffix can not be changed" (2div or Wild Bristle Matron)
• step 3: slam veiled chaos orb
• step 4: benchcraft "+# mana"
• step 5: Unveil: +2 AoE/inc Aoe, life/regen
• step 6: (option) repeat from step 2 if dont get good mod
• Step 7: Bench craft: Life, "+1 to Level of Socketed AoE Gems, (8-10)% increased Area of Effect"

Unique

• Base: Asenath's Gentle Touch, Null and Void
• Elemental Weakness on Hit
• +2 Aoe / +2 Duration

Boots

Rare craft

• Step 0: find a base with good Suffix: Spell suppress, chaos res, elem res
• Step 1: (optional) Annul prefix with eldric currency if full prefix.
• step 2: "suffix can not be changed" (2div or Wild Bristle Matron)
• step 3: slam veiled chaos orb
• step 4: benchcraft "+# mana"
• step 5: Unveil: + move speed w/ onslaught/immu-chill, life/regen
• step 6: (option) repeat from step 2 if dont get good mod
• Step 7: Bench craft: Life, + move speed w/ onslaught/immu-chill

Unique

• Legacy of the Fury w/ Corrupted: Spell suppress

Belt

• Rare: res, life
• Unique: Bisco (rampage), Replicate HH, HH, Mageblood

Shield: Crucible Passive Tree

"100% chance to Avoid being Shocked (crucible), +20% chance to be Frozen (crucible)"

This mods is OP and Broken AF since combo with "Stormshroud"

"+60/80 to Dexterity (crucible)" or "+20%/25% chance to Suppress Spell Damage"

Is great patch to cap suppression.

Shield: Craft

• Step 0: buy Base with "> 90% increased Spell/Cold Damage (fractured)"
• Step 1: (optional) spam fossil to get 30% quan or run Syndicate later
• Step 2: Spam Envy/Greed Essense until desirable mods: chaos res, T1/2 life, T1 res, open prefix, open suffix
• Step 3: (optional) Anull if full pre/suf, Annul failed go back to step 2
• Step 4: (optional) Harvest change resist to fire/lightning res if hit T1 cold res
• Step 5: Benchcraft "cold res"
• Step 6: Harvest add "cold". if remove chaos res/life, settle down or start over from step 2.
• Step 7: Benchcraft "Spell suppress"

Weapon: Crucible Tree

• "Inflict Cold Exposure on Hit (crucible)", help us independent from Frost Bomb and rare gloves
• "6% chance to gain Onslaught for 4 seconds on Kill (crucible)", source of Onslaught if dont use rare boots
• "Eldrich Battery" Save us 3 Passives Points
• "Call to Arm" add QoL to combo with Enduring Cry give Endurance Charge and tons of life regen, help us remove Life Flask and adapt "Oriath's End" explosive flask
• some T1 nodes inc Cold/DoT damage
• Support by "Culling Strire", "Divine Blessing", "Faster Attack".... save us gem sockets

Weapon: Craft

• Step 0: buy ilvl 82 Rune Dagger with T1 "DoT Mul"
• Step 1: (optional) Harvest enchant, sell to much more for vendor, quality to 30%...
• Step 2: Fossil Corroded + Aetheric + Metallic + Shuddering, until hit "+1 all"
• Step 3: Anull other mod, until "+1 all" and "Dot mul" left, if fail, start from step 2.
• Step 4: Benchcraft "3 craft mod" + "can not roll attack" + "add # cold damage to spell"
• Step 5: Harvest add cold to get "+1 cold". If it remove "+1 all" start over from step 2.
• Step 6: Remove bench craft.
• Step 7: Benchcraft "3 craft mod" + "Cold Dot Mul" + "Inc cold damage/change to freeze"
• Step 8: Forge desirable crucible tree
• Step 9: Forge corrupted with implicit looking for "inc dot" or "inc cold" damage.

My Progress

• Day 2: https://pobb.in/pE6uOilDzymy
• Day 3: https://pobb.in/Ify6iZQ5g-kw
• Day 4: https://pobb.in/BxbXrXPABRJe
• Day 6: https://pobb.in/zirLmaKO-sji
• Day 7: https://pobb.in/N91sI0Lbte8Y (latest)

Conclusion

Welcome to roast me in affection. I will update my build based on your suggestion.

ps: not native speaker.

• update1: amulet craft
• update2: how to craft helmet/body/gloves/boots
• update3: my 1st week progress gear