PoE: Ark's Build for the New League

The Path of Exile expansion releases tomorrow, and while I won't play more than 1 hr or so / day until Pulm is over, I thought I would demonstrate what I plan to run this league. I'm a pretty casual dude (inasmuch as a PoE player can be a casual, it's a fairly intense game), and I don't have much time to play, so I can't really afford the more expensive or luxurious builds.

I'll be running a 2H Groundslammer. Most people run this as a Marauder, but I'm going to run the textbook variant, which is pretty much interchangeable with Duelist (Duelist has the option of picking up Leather and Steel and Iron Reflexes and Wrecking Ball if he wants, however). And you know my motto,

ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ  REP DA RED ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ

So I'm going to be playing it as a Duelist.

Build Tree:

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgQAmSu9gUd-FFJlTYTZqZSQbIdqYSGE7xpVEuF07WSjeu826Gn-YEsB5zs7BS2nMP_Td1MUcRQgns00joOxDjzfv1BH0iGGO2CR3pafyxiRVw0U9uJD2WGRzmvZtqSpcxkuwQSYCjkOJ-1fPyz7_EusquOf9kghVWwWcqlR5lnzM4cnL-RRhxl82fcytC_AGh2-7w6BK2DEkFUZ6QPuvJ_fsiE0p4TLQ5SHnsUaOA4UWD3sON7BQT862Hy7LdLFivAfBLOiABRNqWglvJst5K1nWIM473w=

Oak/Oak/Oak


Build Summary:

Keystones: Resolute Technique, Unwavering Stance, Blood Magic.

RT and US are textbook. BM may be a bit controversial, but Mortal Conviction was buffed massively with the last patch, so I want to see if you can use it to support one aura (most likely Determination, but Hatred is a possibility). If it ends up being bad, I'll respec out of it, use BM skill gems, and Determination/Hatred on mana.


AoE Skill: Ground Slam (Supported by Melee Physical, Multistrike, Life Leech, Fire Physical/Faster Attacks).

Textbook, nothing much to say here. I'm planning for a 5L (though a 4L could work in a pinch).

If I get a 6L, End Charge on Melee Stun is a possibility, as is Blind.


Single-Target Skill: Heavy Strike (Supported by Melee Physical, Faster Attacks, Life Leech/Fire Physical)

This will most likely be limited to a 4L. I'll have to see whether Life Leech or Fire Phys is better, though I'm thinking Life Leech personally. It's textbook at least.


Curse: Warlord's Mark (supported by Inc Dur)

This was reworked to have an increased stun chance...which works with our build perfectly! Temporal Chains is another option if I can finagle enough Dex and Int on gear.


Mobility: Leap Slam (Supported by Faster Attacks, End Charge on Melee Stun)

Textbook, nothing else to say.


Trigger Setup:  CwDT (Leveled) + Molten Shell + Decoy Totem + Enduring Cry.

I'm not going to use a trigger on Immortal Call. You'll see why below.


Defensive Utility: Immortal Call (supported by Inc Dur, same itemslot as Warlord's Mark and a selfcasted Enduring Cry)

This will be backed up by 7 End Charges and Potency of Will notable so I will be able to "permacall." Permacall is really only necessary for Atziri runs, but it is convenient to have in any case.



That's really it. Ground Slam got major indirect buffs this patch, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it runs. And of course, REP DA RED.


I leave you with a quote from Euron:

Perhaps we can fly. All of us. How will we ever know unless we leap from some tall tower? No man ever truly knows what he can do unless he dares to leap.


People used to laugh at Blood Magic until expjah posted his FT Mara builds, and now it's a textbook spec. So you never know what will work, and what won't. And after the Mortal Conv buffs, I think Blood Magic with one aura might be doable. It's worth a shot.