An EXCELLENT all-rounder! - Low Life Blood Slinger Ascendant Guide

==================================================================================================================== GENERAL TIPS ==================================================================================================================== Bandits: Kill All You get FREE respec points as you progress through the campaign. Use these to respec your tree after uber lab The items in this guide are are a GUIDELINE, listed with the main core stats you're looking for. More/higher stats (resists, attributes, etc) are always better! They are mostly kept reasonable and obtainable through self-crafting methods post-Harvest nerfs On trade leagues you can search for "Empty Suffixes" or "Empty Prefixes" with a value of 1 for items with open crafting slots Upgrade your Pantheons. Solaris for non-Low Life, Brine King for Low Life if you are struggling with being stunned Keep an eye out on your attribute requirements (Mainly Dexterity on this build), especially when adjusting your tree/replacing gear Ultimatum league is "Mediumcore". If you die in the encounter, you will lose the reward. A combination of strong defence and offence is your friend! The Spellslinger variant is not a very good bossing build. If you are interested in a version better at handling bosses, check out the self-cast POB "Early Game" - Fresh into maps, not a lot of currency needed at all "Mid Game" - Starting to invest into the build, higher red map viable "Late Game" - Expensive optimizations if you really want to invest more currency into build, completely unecessary ==================================================================================================================== NOT Bleed Damage! ==================================================================================================================== Keep in mind that Exsanguinate/Reap do NOT inflict bleeding damage. They have an initial hit, followed by a Physical Damage Over Time. ==================================================================================================================== GEM LINKS ==================================================================================================================== Non-Low Life: 6L: Spellslinger - Exsanguinate - Brutality - Controlled Destruction - Efficacy - Chain 4L: (Socketed in Delirium Gloves): Corrupting Fever - Brutality - Efficacy - Swift Affliction 3/4L: Spellslinger - Reap - Brutality - Controlled Destruction 4L: Frenzy - Greater Multiple Projectiles - Lifetap - Maim 3L: Flame Dash/Smoke Mine - Arcane Surge - Steelskin (Put on Left Click) 3L (Trigger Weapon): Desecrate, Bone Offering, Tempest Shield Tempest Shield can be replaced with Vulnerability (until Vulnerability Ring), Storm Brand (Corrupting Fever uptime on bosses) or Poacher's Mark (If you have +1 Curse Chest) 1L: Vulnerability (Until Vulnerability On Hit Ring) Low Life: 6L: Spellslinger - Exsanguinate - Brutality - Controlled Destruction - Efficacy - Chain Can swap Chain for Swift Affliction / Empower 4 (White socket) for Bossing 4L: (Socketed in Delirium Gloves): Corrupting Fever - Brutality - Efficacy - Swift Affliction 4L: Frenzy - Greater Multiple Projectiles - Lifetap - Maim 3L/1L: Flame Dash/Smoke Mine - Arcane Surge - Steelskin (Put on Left Click) | Petrified Blood 3L: Arrogance - Vitality (19) - Herald of Purity 3L (Trigger Weapon): Desecrate, Bone Offering, Tempest Shield Tempest Shield can be replaced with Vulnerability (until Vulnerability Ring), Storm Brand (Corrupting Fever uptime on bosses) or Poacher's Mark (If you have +1 Curse Chest) You can drop Arcane Surge or Steelskin for War Banner if you can fit it comfortably and have enough mana to cast skills ==================================================================================================================== MANA RESERVATION / AURAS ==================================================================================================================== Non-Low Life: 6L Spellslinger Exsanguinate 3/4L Spellslinger Reap (Depends on if you have Spellslinger Reservation Enchant) Low-Life: 6l Spellslinger Exsanguinate Petrified Blood War Banner (If you have enough reduced mana reservation, can use Conqueror's Efficiency or Enlighten) Sources of Reduced Mana Reservation to consider: 15% Spellslinger Reservation Helmet Enchant Conqueror's Efficiency (Take from Act 8 Quest Wings of Vastiri) 2-3 Points for 4% on tree by Influence Notable (Will need this until you get Helmet Enchant) Enlighten on Petrified Blood/War Banner (Gem space is already tight) Helmet crafted with Essence of Loathing (2-5%) ==================================================================================================================== I CAN'T FIT IN ALL MY SPELLSLINGERS INTO MY MANA!!! ==================================================================================================================== Spellslinger needs more levels, buy a corrupted level 20 if you need to Sovreignty Conqueror's Efficiency Move Reap from a 4L to a 3L 3 points to take 4% reduced reservation (Early Game Tree) until Helmet Enchant ==================================================================================================================== FLASKS ==================================================================================================================== Seething Divine Life Flask of Staunching Rumi's Concoction Quartz Flask of Warding/Heat Jade Flask of Warding/Heat Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline If you want, you can drop Adrenaline to fit in Grounding until Elemental Ailment Immunity If Low Life (Petrified Blood): Panicked Divine Life Flask > Seething Consider moving Staunching to a Utility Flask and Heat to your Life Flask (if you don't have ailment immune), as damage over time is more dangerous If you get Elemental Ailment Immunity, you can get rid of Heat and Grounding flasks entirely for Unique flasks or other suffixes (Example: Curing) ==================================================================================================================== KEEP DYING :( ==================================================================================================================== Make sure you have your Warding and Staunching flasks Make sure your resistances are capped Make sure you have a life on block shield (divined to 5%) and invested into block/spell block If you're using Petrified Blood, you might be dying to damage over time (Get Chaos Resistance, Exposure Therapy Cluster, Abberath Pantheon) ==================================================================================================================== Sustaining Corrupting Fever (WHY GMP ON FRENZY???) ==================================================================================================================== Corrupting Fever refreshes after you've spent a certain amount of life with any skill. When using Spellslinger, you want to add links to your Frenzy - Lifetap setup to have enough life cost to comfortable keep Corrupting Fever up. This is why we have Greater Multiple Projectiles linked to Frenzy (165% Cost Multiplier) If you go a period of time without casting (looting, interacting with a league mechanic, poratling out of the map), make sure to recast it ==================================================================================================================== Sources of Leech ==================================================================================================================== Doryanis Invitation Belt (Physical Variant) Elder Amulet Mod "% of Physical Damage Leeched as Life" Watcher's Eye Vitality Mod "% of Damage leeched as Life while affected by Vitality" Delve Ring/Amulet "% of Physical Damage Leeched as Life" dropped from Physical Delve Nodes Glorious Vanity Notable "Revitalising Winds" MAKE SURE YOU RESERVE ~49% OF YOUR LIFE (~51% OPEN) to give yourself overleech with Petrified Blood ==================================================================================================================== Petrified Blood ==================================================================================================================== Petrified Blood is a new skill gem introduced in 3.14. It reserves 35% of your mana and grants you the following: -Life Recovery other than Flasks cannot Recover Life to above Low Life (50%) -When taking Damage from Hits, 40% of Life loss below half Life is Prevented, then (100-81% at Level 20) of Life loss prevented this way is lost over 4 seconds -Skills gain a Base Life Cost equal to 40% of Base Mana Cost while not on Low Life (50%) This enables a new way to play a build as Low Life and taking advantage of Low Life Benefits without using Energy Shield and items like Shavronne's Wrappings. (Example, 30% More Spell Damage from Pain Attunement, Panicked Life Flask, Lori's Lantern) It's also important to note that the Low Life was changed to 50% threshold in 3.14. Because you take a large percentage of the damage taken over 4 seconds, regen, overleech, life on block, and other ways to sustain your life pool are very important. Overleech: Leeching stops when you reach full life. However, if you reserve 49% of your life (51% open) while having Petrified Blood, your leech will not stop persisting as your sources of life recovery can not allow you to go past 50% life. Having this small 1% life gap will essentiially grant you overleech, since you are never reaching full life. Sergeantminor on Youtube has a very good video series explaining and exploring Petrified Blood. Props to him on his amazing work! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM03E1J3K30 ==================================================================================================================== Anointment ==================================================================================================================== Early game - Freedom of Movement (Clear Sepia Violet) Mid game - Vitality Extraction (Teal Azure Azure) Mid/Late game - Command of Steel (Opalescent Amber Crimson) ==================================================================================================================== Elemental Ailment Immunity ==================================================================================================================== You ideally want to reach 100% Chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments. This makes you immune to Chill, Freeze, Ignite, Shock, Scorch (you lose resistances), Brittle (enemies have higher crit towards you), and Sap (you deal less damage). It can be annoying to achieve, but it is VERY worth it. You get this through Arcane Swiftness Notable (20%) Helmet Craft- 25% chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments (Helmet SUFFIX) - from Bazaar Map Gloves Craft - 25% chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments (Gloves SUFFIX) - from Bazaar Map (These two roll from 20-25%, you might have to recraft several times @ 2c a try) 30% Chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments (Body Armour PREFIX) - from Unveiling, so run your betrayal missions(!) or ask a reputable player who provides a crafting service (This rolls from 20% to 30%, even worse than the other two. 6 alchs a try) This can take a lot of currency if unlucky, so you want to do it on gear you will keep for a long time. DO NOT DIVINE THESE ROLLS, just recraft it! ilvl 81+ Shaper Boots with the Shaper "Avoid Elemental Ailments" mod can replace a craft, opening up other options. ==================================================================================================================== Optional Passive Nodes ==================================================================================================================== No Witnesses - Elusive nodes grant a lot of speed and defense while mapping. It is not helpful for bossing. They are a great layer of defense on top of your block. You can drop these after atlas progression if you are looking to min-max for bossing. ==================================================================================================================== CRAFTING ==================================================================================================================== Most items have crafting descriptions on them! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wand Crafting -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Early Game: +1 Phys Wand crafted Phys Dot Multi You can use the new +1 weapon recipe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3axILYAJ2hQ) by selling Physical gems that total 40% quality along with a wand to the vendor. Ideally, you want to use an Opal Wand/Imbued (for Spellslinger) with ilvl 78+ (chance at auging Phys Dot Multi), but not necessary. After Aug/Regaling, bench craft Phys Dot Multi. On League Start/SSF, you can alt an ilvl 3 Driftwood Wand from Act 1 on a new character to hit +1 Phys relatively easily. Mid Game: +1 Phys Wand, Phys Dot Multi, crafted Trigger a Socketed Spell when you Use a Skill, with a 8 second Cooldown You can use Harvest Reforge Physical/More Likely Physical, or cleverly use the somewhat common Harvest craft "Reforge a Rare item, being much more likely to receive the same modifier types" Use the recipe above to get a +1 Physical Wand, regal, craft Phys Dot Multi. Using the Harvest More Likely craft makes you have a very good chance at receiving a wand with +1 Phys and Phys Dot Multi. Craft Trigger Late Game: If you end up with 3 mods from the method above (+1 Phys, Phys Dot Multi, random suffix mod), you can multimod trigger and spell damage or take a chance with Level 4 Aisling in Research Harvest Aug Method: ilvl 64 Wand, roll for +1 Spell Skill gems. This mod is very rare ~1500 alts on ilvl 64), and you are best off buying a wand with the mod/annuling or crafting it through fossils The 4 fossil combo Jagged Corroded Metallic Shuddering is the best way to roll for +1 Spells Annul for open prefixes/one open suffix Craft Cannot Roll Attack Mods + Harvest Aug Phys Twice, and you will hit Phys Dot Multi and +1 Phys Spell Skill Gems. Craft Trigger or Prefixes can't be changed + Scour + Can Have 3 Crafted Mods, Cast Speed (if self-cast), Trigger You can also suffix scour and use Level 4 Aisling in Research, Level 4 comes from having Level 3 + killing Catarina. This can add 1-2 Veiled mods with a chance at hitting 4 second trigger Craftofexile: https://pastebin.com/VVR2zcww -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cluster Jewels -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cluster Jewels for this build will most likely be expensive in 3.14, as the new skills are very popular Large Cluster Options: Spell Damage (8 Points): https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Ultimatum/R6rDmBWU7 https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Ultimatum/Rwo9aQRc7 Mage Hunter, Conjured Wall, and (ideally) any suffix notable Crafting: Craft on an ilvl 68+ base. These mods are very difficult to hit. Your best bet is using Harvest Reforge Caster More Likely. Alt/Aug/Regal and Scour/Alch (or Binding) is very unlikely to hit If you want to have a cluster setup but can not afford the Spell one, you can temporarily use an 8 Point Physical Large Cluster Jewel to hold your Mediums. Medium Cluster Options: Physical Damage Over Time Multiplier (4 or 5 Points): https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Ultimatum/L5aE5QGHn Desirable Notables (2 of): Blood Artist - New notable that gives 14% Phys DoT Multi and 20 Str. Incredibly good, but difficult to hit Rend - 12% Phys DoT Multi Brush With Death - 10% DoT Multi and 1% Life/ES recovery on kill Exposure Therapy - 8% DoT Multi and +30% Chaos Resistance against Damage Over Time (Poison, Desecrated Ground) This is nice to have one/two of (depending on Chaos Resistance on gear) if you switch to Petrified Blood Low Life Setup Student of Decay, Flow of Life, Brewed with Potency, and Vile Reinvigoration can all be used as budget 2nd notables until you roll a better jewel (First two are much more useful) Crafting: Craft on an ilvl 75+ base. These mods also can be very difficult to hit. You can use a combination of Harvest Reforge Physical/More Likely Physical, Harvest Reforge Attack/More Likely Attack, Harvest Reforge Chaos/More Likely Chaos, alt aug regal, and scour alch/binding (not recommended) Rend and Exposure Therapy are much easier to hit than Blood Artist and Brush With Death. Exposure Therapy + Student of Decay combo is very easy to hit with Harvest More Likely Chaos Keep in mind that while crafting these, you can hit very good jewels for bleed builds (Example: 2 out of Vivid Hues, Rend, Wasting Affliction, Compound Injury) If profitable, you can sell these and buy a new base to continue crafting on for yourself Small Cluster Options (2 points): 3+ Stat Jewels % increased Armour - Battle-Hardened - Endurance charge generation when hit % increased maximum Life (3 points if well-rolled) - Fettle (very rare), but ideal in dual cluster setup % increased maximum Life (3 points if well-rolled) - Surging Vitality % increased maximum Life (3 points if well-rolled) - Brush With Death (More Damage) % chance to Dodge Attack Hits - Elegant Form (if struggling to reach 100% avoid elemental ailments) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------