Intro & build description
This is build for those who do not have a lot of currency but still love crit builds. Required unique items cost less than 1 Exalted in Breach league – that kind of currency is nothing and can be acquired by anyone. With this build your character will be able to quickly clear maps, do endgame content very easy and efficiently.
Build Pros
- Cheap
- Fast AoE clear and single target DPS
- Good survivability
Build Cons
- Must be careful with elemental reflect if you are not using Life Leech
- High-End gear is very expensive
Passive tree(s) and Path of Building
50 Points 75 Points 100 Points Full Passive TreeBandits
Bandits Quest Choice |
Kill all bandits |
Ascendancy skill points
Labyrinths | Skill point choice |
---|---|
Labyrinth 1 | Paragon of Calamity |
Labyrinth 2 | Liege of Primordial |
Labyrinth 3 | Shaper of Desolation |
Endgame Labyrinth | Pendulum of Destruction |

Skill gem setup
Helm
Flame Dash
Faster Casting Support
Other gems are optional
Body Armor
Freezing Pulse
Added Cold Damage Support
Cold Penetration Support
Life Leech or Empower Support
Spell Echo Support
Increased Critical Strikes Support
Gloves
Enlighten Support
Curse on Hit Support
Assassins Mark
Herald of Ice
Boots
Clarity
Discipline
Enlighten Support
Summon Lightning Golem
2h Weapon
None
1h Weapon
Whirling Blades
Faster Attacks Support
Fortify Support
Offhand weapon / shield
Summon Ice Golem
Increased Duration Support
Vaal Haste
Build uniques / Example rare gear
Tip: Click on the item to view it on PoE Wiki or to view similar rare items in poe.tradeHelmet
Hubris CircletStat priority:
1.)Energy Shield (Look for at least 270-300ES)
2.)Resistances
3.)Attributes
Body Armour
Vaal RegaliaStat priority:
1.)Energy Shield (look for at least 600-650 ES)
2.)Resistances
3.)Attributes
Note: you can easily play with 5-linked chest, but its better to get 6-linked one, even if Energy shield is low.
Gloves
Sorcerer GlovesStat priority:
1.)Energy shield (try to get at least 150 ES)
2.)Resistances
3.)Attributes
Boots
Sorcerer BootsStat priority:
1.)Energy Shield (look for at least 200 ES)
2.)Resistances
3.)Attributes
Movement speed isn’t required but it’s a nice bonus.
1Hand Weapon
Platinum KrisStat Priority:
1.)Spell Damage
2.)Increased Critical chance for spells
3.)Global Critical strike multiplier
Nice bonuses to have is added cold damage to spells, cast speed and lightning damage to spells but are not essential.
Note: in link you can see top tier daggers that are very expensive – don’t aim that high and get one with high Spell Damage + Increased Critical chance for spells and you should be fine. Try to get Platinum Kris base because of its implicit mod.
Amulet
The PandemoniusPerfect amulet for the build – not only it increases cold damage you deal, it also blinds enemies and penetrates their cold res for even more damage.
Left Ring
SnakepitPerfect ring for the build – adds cold damage, cast speed and additional projectile for Freezing Pulse.
Note: consider switching one of your Snakepit rings for Diamond Ring with resistances if you have trouble capping them.
Right Ring
SnakepitJewel
Cobalt JewelBest in slot jewel would look like:
1.)Increased Cold damage
2.)Increased global critical strike chance
3.)Increased Maximum energy shield
4.)Increased Projectile damage
Jewels with these 4 options can be very expensive so a combination of 3 will do very well.
With Legacy League new threshold Jewel – First Snow is introduced – definitely use this one for extra projectiles.
Flask
Vessel of VinktarVery good for boss kills as it shocks them, however it also shocks you therefore you need flask that removes shock with you.
Flask
Dying SunGreat flask in terms of Damage – more AoE and extra projectiles, yes please!
This flask is expensive though.
Flask
Kiara's DeterminationFlask
Basalt FlaskFor last 2 flasks get:
1.)Basalt flask with “of staunching” affix for bleed removal
2.)Quicksilver flask with “of grounding” affix for shock removal
Gameplay
Here you can see build in action doing T13 Scriptorium map:
Awesome build!! Really helped me get to higher maps that I wasnt able to do with other builds!
Do not wear a belt is new meta 😀
Is this build hc viable?
I can’t see reason why not. 🙂
Why double golems? Can they both be summoned at the same time or do we swap depending on situation?
Nevermind I just realised you get it from labs 🙂
Double golems can be summoned if you choose ascendancy that allows us to do that.
Where to get Leeched as Life?
Shouldn’t it be the Lightning Golem that gets Increased Duration? I don’t see that it applies anything to the Ice Golem.
Also running Gifts from Above Diamond ring w/ First Snow instead of 2 Snakepits. Not sure if even more projectiles is better than the added crit ?
Hi,
First, thanks for the time you put in this guide.
I am lvl 62, just went to merciless. I have 15-20k dps atm, but I really struggle against bosses. They just two shot me. I have 1k hp, 2k es, and I don’t really know how to improve my build not to die to bosses.
A bit of help would be nice !
Thanks 🙂
You should get gear pieces with as much energy shield as you can and switch to Chaos Inoculation (going full energy shield with 1 life).
I have a question, what level do certain skill gems go up to? like the herald of ice, life leech, etc…
Level them to max (LVL 20).
Arcane Vision in CI build. Wut? You either have 100% or 0% HP with CI:)
What belt do you recommend on this??
Crystal belt with as much energy shield as possible.
So how are you supposed to have enough dexterity at lower levels to use the green gems you are posting about using. Im level 43 and cant use alot of the ones posted here. Help?
Use Jade amulet with + dexterity affix while leveling and it should suffice.
I’m following this build and i love it for clearing mobs, but i’m really suffering against strong enemies (orange tier, unique strongbox, bosses etc)
I’m level 66 and i literally get one shotted by most elemental damage in act 2 and 3.
Currently have 900hp 1400es, almost similar skill gems with FP doing about 11kdps . Originally went CI but i got obliterated
From what I see, you really need gear upgrades – in that level with CI you should have at least 5k-7k Energy shield with half-decent gear and Discipline aura. Make sure you have recommended gear with recommended energy shield values and switch to CI, because 2.3k effective HP is extremely low for lvl 66.
Hi there nice guide, got a question tho:
Why skill Arcane Vision if you run CI?
And does it make sense to skill CI in lower levels (50’s) or would you recommend skilling it in late game?
Thanks!
Arcane vision is removed in last, full skill tree.
I’d recommend speccing into CI when you are in lvl 60s, because then you have access to better items with much more energy shield than in lower levels (50s).
https://youtu.be/_uwvC6IHZeA
I followed this guide as close as i could,
Im level 83 now and have coasted thru the first t10 maps so far
I have made changes to some skills and items but still sticking close to the principles above upgrading my gear slowly as I earned more Chaos.
About 91k tooltip dps while in hideout 9k es or 7k es without discipline
Enjoyed this build a lot as my first build playing PoE
Thanks alot for showing us this build