Intro & build description
HoWA stands for Hand of Wisdom and Action which is unique claw that scales the damage from intelligence. This build is using 2 of these claws, energy shield as our main defensive mechanism combined with Incandescent Heart for extra damage, leech, and elemental mitigation.
Build Pros
- Very high damage - great at killing bosses
- Good survivability
- Good for doing delves in depths 500+
- Really easy to balance resistances for the Wise Oak damage reduction
Build Cons
- Can be a bit expensive to start
Passive tree(s) and Path of Building
[3.5] Tree [3.6] Skill TreeBandits
Bandits Quest Choice |
Kill all bandits |
Ascendancy skill points
Labyrinths | Skill point choice |
---|---|
Labyrinth 1 | Intelligence, Passive Point |
Labyrinth 2 | Occultist (Under Witch Ascendancy), Passive Point |
Labyrinth 3 | Path of The Witch, Dexterity |
Endgame Labyrinth | Passive Point, Raider (Under Ranger Ascendancy) |

Skill gem setup
Helm
Enlighten (Level 3)
Wrath
Purity of Elements
Discipline
Body Armor
Molten Strike
Ancestral Call Support
Damage on Full Life Support
Multistrike Support
Elemental Focus Support
Elemental Damage With Attacks Support
Gloves
Cast When Damage Taken Support (Level 1)
Immortal Call (Level 3)
Enfeeble (Level 5)
Increased Duration (Level 20)
Boots
Whirling Blades
Fortify Support
Faster Attacks Support
Culling Strike Support
2h Weapon
None
1h Weapon
Summon Lightning Golem
Clarity (Level 1 - used only for Watcher's Eye)
Portal (Optional)
Offhand weapon / shield
Ancestral Protector
Faster Attacks Support
Blind 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
The VertexGreat helm for the build – lets us get away with having level 3 Enlighten and giving a nice energy shield boost.
If you can get level 4 Enlighten, a well-rolled Hubris Circlet could probably outscale this item though.
Body Armour
Incandescent HeartA must have for our build.
We get free elemental damage mitigation since this build is using Chaos Inoculation keystone.
Gloves
Shaper's TouchAn extremely important unique for the build – it synergyzes really well with the attributes we have giving the build a lots of evasion without investment, free ES from strength and tons of damage from accuracy.
You could try corrupting these gloves later on when they get cheaper.
Boots
Sin TrekSin Trek is perfect for the build with stats such as free attributes and high energy shield and evasion.
Try to get 1-160 lightning damage or 10% penetration enchantment from the Uber Lab.
Left Ring
Le Heup of AllLe Heup of All is perfect all-around ring for the build – attributes, damage and resistances.
We use 2 of these rings and you should try to get % increased intelligence and strength corruption on them.
Amulet
Rare Shaper Amulet / AstramentisIdeally you should have rare amulet that has these 2 mods:
% increased attributes and 1% increased damage per 15 intelligence.
You could either buy it or try to craft it yourself – it can be pretty expensive to craft though.
A good alternative is a well-rolled Astramentis.
Belt
Cyclopean CoilCyclopean Coil is also a must have for the build due to the increased attributes. Look for as high roll as possible.
Ideally you would want a well-rolled Cyclopean Coil with %increased intelligence and strength corruption.
1Hand Weapon
Hand of Wisdom and ActionAn item the build revolves around. Get 2 of them as soon as you can afford it.
Jewel
Unique JewelsThis build uses several unique jewels:
3x Fertile mind – 1st goes near Charisma notable, 2nd goes under Profane Chemistry notable and 3rd goes in the jewel slot between Blood Drinker and Mind Drinker.
Watcher’s Eye -(With Gain x% of maximum mana as extra maximum energy shield while affected by Clarity)
Wildfire – limited to 1 in 3.5 patch, it goes in the jewel slot just above Sentinel notable.
Pure Talent – any socket you want.
Jewel
Rare JewelsOn rare jewels look for:
1.) Increased Lightning damage
2.) Attack speed, attack speed while dual wielding
3.) All resistances if you need them
4.) Intelligence
Flask
Flask Setup1.) Atziri’s Promise
2.) The Wise Oak
3.) Quicksilver flask of adrenaline
4.) Stibnite Flask with freeze removal
5.) Vessel of Vinktar / Sulphur Flask with curse or bleed removal
How should you level this build? Both items wise and skill tree wise?
Thanks,
Tree is very defensive and attribute-focused, so I’d get Hand of Thought and motion as soon as possible, after that – Hand of Wisdom and Action. I would also switch to CI when you have at least 3.5K energy shield and Ghost Reaver.
When leveling, get as much flat elemental damage as possible – things like Wake of Destruction, Ondar’s Clasp, Hrimsorrow, Tabula Rasa and some rare items with flat elemental damage would be more than enough to get you through.
Where should you start on the tree? Or at least what do you recommend as the last 10-15 points?
Thanks!
10-15 points matter way less than you think if you have decent items, I wouldn’t worry too much about it and just put them where you need them the most at the given time, be it resists, life or damage.
Why vaal pact when you have two claws with life on hit?
This build is CI and life gained on hit doesn’t work with energy shield.
Whta other unique options ill can take to lvling?
Now with new veiled mods, you could look into crafting flat elemental damage, or anything else you need on rare items, because there are a limited amount of uniques that offer that.
Question: where is all your life and mana leech coming from?
Incandescent Heart for life leech, varied options for mana leech – either getting it somewhere on gear or tree.
Top recommendation for the mana leech? And also, pure talent also gives us life leech correct?
Just a question:
How do you use the skillpoints, if you don´t have “Path of the Witch” atm? I am having 35 Skillpoints atm. Thats why i ask.
Just allocate points from the scion starting point and go to Witch later on.
Just another Question^^
Is there a Gameplayvideo or a Pastebin?^^ That would be great t finde out where tro put the jewels^^
why buff lightening elemental damage?
I don’t understand what you mean by this comment, sorry.
which pantheon gods i choose?
Why get lightening elemental damage on this build? I dont understand why
Because this is a lightning build.
Hand of Wisdom and Action adds 1-10 Lightning Damage per 10 int you have, it is doing most of the damage on your attacks so you buff lightning damage Doco.
I’m can only recommend this built its awesome uber elder was never easier 😀
Molten Strike + Concentrated effect + Multistrike + Ele focus + Ele damage with attacks + Dmg on full life ( Boss ) / Ancestral call ( Mapping )
Hey, does this Build work in 3.11?