Intro & build description
Forbidden rite is one of the skills introduced in 3.15 Expedition league. It became one of the most popular skills due to its great clear speed and cool gameplay.
The drawback of the Forbidden Rite is that you take % of your maximum life and energy shield as chaos damage when casting the skill. In this build, however, the drawback is completely mitigated, because we use Forbidden Rite as a totem skill and the totems take that damage instead of you. I am confident that Forbidden Rite will be one of the best starter builds for 3.16 Scourge league, so if you want a strong build that works with limited items, one is for you.
Build Pros
- Forbidden Rite is really fun to play, the skill looks stunning visually
- Totem builds offer safe gameplay
- The build has great clear speed allowing you to farm maps and currency for upgrades efficiently
- Good survivability even if you do get hit with more than 5000 effective life
- Cheap to start out
Build Cons
- Endgame build version requires a few expensive items to push it to its full potential
Passive tree(s) and Path of Building
Skill Tree 3.16 PoB Community Fork 3.16Bandits
Bandits Quest Choice |
Kill all bandits |
Ascendancy skill points
Labyrinths | Skill point choice |
---|---|
Labyrinth 1 | Pursuit of Faith |
Labyrinth 2 | Conviction of Power |
Labyrinth 3 | Ritual of Awakening |
Endgame Labyrinth | Divine Guidance |

Skill gem setup
Helm
Wither
Faster Casting Support
Increased Duration Support
Infused Channeling Support
Body Armor
Forbidden Rite
Void Manipulation Support
Increased Critical Damage Support
Multiple Totems Support
Increased Critical Strikes Support
Faster Casting Support
Gloves
Vaal Cold Snap
Cast When Damage Taken (LVL 1)
Culling Strike Support (LVL 20)
Summon Lightning Golem (LVL 20)
Boots
Arcane Cloak
Arcane Surge Support
Despair
Increased Duration Support
2h Weapon
None
1h Weapon
Clarity
Vitality
Precision
Offhand weapon / shield
Flame Dash
Faster Casting Support
Second Wind Support
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
Viridi's VeilBuild uses Viridi’s Veil as endgame helmet to mitigate Soul Mantle’s self-cursing drawback.
This helm is expensive, so until you can afford it, use rare helmet with life and resistances and use 2 Kikazaru rings to mitigate negative effects of curses.
Left Ring
Essence WormEssence worm is a great ring for the build, because it allows us to get an offensive aura for free.
Socket Zealotry in this ring.
Right Ring
Magic Vermillion RingLook for magic Vermillion Ring with high life and either chaos or all resistance mod.
We use magic ring so it synergizes with Viridi’s Veil and makes us hexproof.
Amulet
Hexclaw TalismanIdeally, look for Hexclaw talisman with high life, global critical strike multiplier and some resistances.
Belt
Coward's LegacyGreat endgame item, it allows us to use Pain Attunement for 30% more damage.
Before you can afford it, use rare belt with high life and resistances.
1Hand Weapon
WandLook for rare wand with increased spell damage, +1 to level of all chaos spell skill gems and some cast speed. Critical strike chance for spells would be nice but expensive addition.
Offhand
Rare shield with Shaper influenceLook for rare shield with shaper influence. The main mod we need on our shield is “+1 to maximum number of Summoned Totems”.
Other good mods would be spell damage, high life or resistances.
Jewel
Rare and Unique JewelsOn rare regular jewels look for:
1) Increased maximum life
2) Increased totem life
3) Area damage / global critical strike chance/multiplier
4) Resistances or attributes if you need them
Build also uses Self-Flagellation and Rain of Splinters Unique jewels.
Jewel
Cluster Jewel SetupBuild uses 1 Large cluster jewel and 2 medium cluster jewels.
On large cluster jewel look for 8 passive skills and:
1) Dark Ideation
2) Touch of Cruelty
3) Unholy Grace
On medium cluster jewels look for 4 passive skills and:
1) Ancestral Preservation (Once on each) – Important to have: totems survive for longer
2) Sleepless Sentries
3) Snaring Spirits
Flask
Flask SetupBuild uses following flasks:
1) Quicksilver Flask with bleed removal
2) Sulfur Flask with Freeze Removal
3) Instant Recovery Life flask
4) Diamond’s Flask with poison removal
5) Mana flask with effect not removed on full mana