Path of Exile - My Build Plan for Zizaran's Gauntlet - Call of Steel (Vaal) Ground Slam Champion

Note: The Path of Building shown here doesn't have any gear in it as this is for a solo-self-found environment.

Because of the rules of the Gauntlet (Hardcore, solo-self found, monsters have +20% speed, +20% damage, +30% of physical damage added as extra of each element, +2 projectiles and players have -40% to all four resists), this passive tree takes MANY more resists than usual. Still, chaos resist is a huge weakness.

Rush Impaler, fill out rest later. Maybe use Call to Arms while levelling, drop it well short of endgame.

Wear pure armor gear (i.e. Dex/Int requirements are 0, Str requirements are high) where possible. Use two-handed weapons, maces at high level.

Add 4L pure armor drops to your loot filter.

Don't take Iron Reflexes by default. DO consider it if you get an outstanding unique evasion item.

Consider a 3 point investment in Martial Experience or Lust for Carnage if you want leech for times that Blood Rage is inactive.

Use Vitality in place of Pride when needed, e.g. Ryslatha fight, A8 Doedre.

Path of Building (Community Fork version) link for this tree: https://pastebin.com/VcBjX6Vp

4L (RRRG) Intim Cry Second Wind Seismic Cry Urgent Orders

5L (RRRRG) Vaal Ground Slam (self-craft this with Vaal Orbs) Pulverize Impale Fist of War Brutality (if you manage a 6L, melee phys)

4L (RRRR) Blood and Sand Flesh and Stone - Maim (if you manage to fix mana, probably requires Eternal Lab and the free banners node) War Banner. If you aren't using War Banner, you can swap gems around and have a free support to use elsewhere, e.g. Molten Shell.

4L (RRBG) Pride Molten Shell Flame Dash - Second Wind

Weapon (unlinked RRGG) Blood Rage Splitting Steel (used only to get Call of Steel, no need to put Splitting Steel on your hotbar, you can use any Steel skill instead) Vitality (not on by default, use in sketchy areas while turning off Pride) Decoy Totem

Note: You may prefer investing more into Molten Shell - Increased Duration Support is excellent, and Cast When Damage Taken Support is situationally excellent on it too. I will leave this decision up to you; I prefer selfcasting it only when I already anticipate damage.

i've set up one of those silly merchandise stores. https://merch.streamelements.com/sirgog if you want to buy anything there. also accepting bribes (not real bribes) at https://streamelements.com/sirgog/tip . if you'd rather spend money on other stuff, that's cool too.