Intro & build description
This is Zizaran’s EK nova build from his stream (check it out btw). This build allows you to clear maps insanely fast, steal mods from rare monsters with Inspired learning (mini headhunter) and level up past 90 in a matter of days.
Build Pros
- One of the fastest-clearing builds currently in the game
- Not expensive, therefore great as a league starter
- Good gearing options (can use lots of items)
Build Cons
- Interaction with new Vaal Pact is not tested yet
Passive tree(s) and Path of Building
Skill Tree [117p]Bandits
Bandits Quest Choice |
Kill all bandits |
Ascendancy skill points
Labyrinths | Skill point choice |
---|---|
Labyrinth 1 | Unstable Infusion |
Labyrinth 2 | Deadly Infusion |
Labyrinth 3 | Ambush |
Endgame Labyrinth | Assasinate |

Skill gem setup
Helm
Warlord's Mark (LVL 1)
Cast When Damage Taken Support (LVL 1)
Immortal Call (LVL 1)
Increased Duration (LVL 20)
Body Armor
Ethereal Knives
Spell Echo Support
Faster Projectiles Support
Increased Critical Strikes Support
Controlled Destruction Support
Increased Critical damage Support
Gloves
Fortify Support
Shield Charge
Faster Attacks Support
Herald of Ash
Boots
Curse on Hit Support
Herald of Ice
Poacher's Mark
Enlighten (LVL 3 or LVL 4)
2h Weapon
None
1h Weapon
Faster Casting Support
Summon Lightning Golem
Warlord's Mark
Offhand weapon / shield
Arcane Surge (LVL 1)
Flame Dash (LVL 6)
Portal
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
Eternal BurgonetIdeally, look for armour helmet with 40% increased Ethereal Knives Damage enchant, some life and resistances.
Body Armour
Belly of The BeastBelly is great defensive option for the build providing tons of life.
Boots
VoidwalkerVoidwalker is great option for the build offensively and defensively.
Important:
For this build to function smoothly, you should have “0.4% of damage leeched as life and mana if you’ve killed recently” enchantment. Getting these exact boots with this exact enchantment can be challenging so you can explore other options such as rare boots with this enchantment.
Of course, you can always apply Warlord’s Mark for mana leech, but having this enchantment helps a ton.
Left Ring
Sibyl's LamentZizaran used this ring to reduce reflected elemental damage taken but it’s unclear how reflect will function from 3.1.
Alternatively, ideal ring would be Opal Ring with life, resistances and cast speed but that can cost a lot.
Amulet
Bisco's CollarGreat amulet to boost your earnings would be well-rolled Bisco’s Collar but with 3.1 it is even rarer.
Great options would be Karui Charge or rare amulet base with attributes you need paired with global critical strike multiplier and global critical strike chance.
Belt
Leather BeltIdeally look for leather belt with at least 80-90 life and as much resistances as you can find.
Good idea would be to find belt that you can craft increased movement speed on.
1Hand Weapon
Golden KrisCheapest option would be to look for dagger with increased spell damage, as high critical strike with spells as you can find and craft attack speed on it using master.
Offhand
Fossilized Spirit ShieldLook for shield with as much life as you can find.
Good mods on shield are spell damage and cast speed if you want to go for more damage.
Jewel
Ring of BladesThis threshold jewel allows us to shoot EK projectiles in nova and is core unique item for the build.
Jewel
Inspired LearningThis jewel allows us to steal 1 mod for 20 seconds from each rare monster we kill which means some good random buffs.
It can only be socketed in 2 jewel slots for this build and they are located between Mind Drinker and Blood Drinker on passive tree and between Survivalist and Fervour nodes.
Jewel
Rare JewelsOn rare jewels look for following stats:
1.) Increased maximum life
2.) Increased spell damage
3.) Increased cast speed
4.) Increased projectile damage
5.) Increased crit chance / multiplier
6.) Any attributes or resistances if you’re missing
Flask
Flask SetupFlask setup for the build:
1.) Instant recovery Divine life flask with freeze removal
2.) Surgeon’s Silver flask with bleed removal
3.) Atziri’s Promise
4.) Taste of Hate (If you can afford it)
5.) Surgeon’s Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline
6.) You can also swap Atziri’s Promise or Taste of Hate for mana flask if you haven’t got enchantment on the boots
Warlord’s Mark on 1h weapon? Is that wrong?
It’s not wrong, why do you think it is?
Because the color in the guide implies warlords mark is green instead of what it actually is (red), and we already have warlords mark with cast on damage taken immortal call.
Yeah, color was wrong, now it’s fixed.
Another Warlord’s mark outside of CWDT setup is a thing I like because it’s reliable way to apply curse that requires no conditions to be met. This is mostly aimed at people that do not have mana leech enchant on boots and need a way to reliably regain spent mana.
Hi im new to poe….i like this build but most of the other guides are played as an inquisitor…
So wich is better choice now ? Shadow or Inquisitor ?
Right now inquisitor is the strongest ascendancy for EK nova, but Assassin will be able to deal with all the same stuff inquisitor can 🙂
Curse on Hit Support+Herald of Ice+Poacher’s Mark+Enlighten (LVL 3 or LVL 4)
What skill active “Curse on Hit Support”?
Curse, Trigger, Support
Icon: &
Requires Level 38
Must support both a skill that hits enemies, and a curse skill to work. The curse will be applied when enemies are hit by the other skill. Cannot support totems, traps, or mines. Minions cannot apply curses this way.
I don´t understand this combination….
If you shatter monsters while under the effect of Herald of Ice, they explode and the explosion applies the curses.
Wondering if there was a path of building? Also, a leveling guide? I run exclusively shadow assassin Nova ek and struggle leveling due to no life on gear etc, Any chance I could get help with that?
Sorry, there’s no Path of Building.
About leveling – Blade vortex is a great skill for leveling until you complete 2-3 Labyrinths and get enough crit nodes for Ek to feel good.
Buy Tabula Rasa, get Elreon jewelry and with that gear you could easily get to maps.
is it really zizaran’s build? He always plays EK nova with Templar /Incu.
Yeah, it is, just an older one.
Flame dash and shield charge?
You cannot get over some obstacles using Shield Charge.
What Enchant i use on Gloves ??
Which one you prefer, I don’t usually care that much because they are almost negligible.
Rat’s Nest Ursine Pelt is a Good helm too use whit enchant 40% ??
I got big big problems with t14 vault boss.. any ideas?
try vaal breach