



Starting in new league - Hardcore



Right now, i just tested this build by going completely self-found without using talisman neckless. As far as we keep safe position, this build is perfect for starting in new league due being pretty much self-sufficient in matter of self-found item base and still keeping decent dps while leveling. Rule of progressing is simple: contagion -> essence drain -> move forward and forget, monsters normally just die and give you experience. Fighting with bosses is mostly based on placing wither spell totem, spamming essence drain + occasionally in bosses like Malachai / Dominus just cast contagion to deal with adds. Kiting skills are required in this one.



(Theorycrafting) Occultist skilltree mechanics



Class skilltree:



Void Beacon: Both - reduced chaos resistance and life regeneration are very strong attributes for ED/Contagion build due making enemies weaker for our primary damage type - chaos damage and additionally dealing with annoying monsters having mod "Regenerates life" which makes killing them a bit longer. As we normally run around monsters to keep up Vulnerability curse, we pretty much utilize both of this attributes at same time.



Profane Bloom: 10% additional damage on cursed enemies. After massive unjustified nerf 20% chance to proc corpse explosion for 25% of monster hp as chaos damage.



Malediction: Enemies can have additional curse attribute allows us to completely drop 4 skillpoints from initial tree and put them into more survivality.

Update (thanks to strikeg2) - additional damage do not affect us.



Basically we gain a lot of usefull utility like exploding corpses + reducing chaos resistance on enemies which in my opinion is HUGE.



Way to take skillpoints:

Void Beacon (most important stats for us) -> Profane Bloom -> Malediction.

Class skilltree: https://www.pathofexile.com/ascendancy/classes/Occultist Both - reduced chaos resistance and life regeneration are very strong attributes for ED/Contagion build due making enemies weaker for our primary damage type - chaos damage and additionally dealing with annoying monsters having mod "Regenerates life" which makes killing them a bit longer. As we normally run around monsters to keep up Vulnerability curse, we pretty much utilize both of this attributes at same time.10% additional damage on cursed enemies. After massive unjustified nerf 20% chance to proc corpse explosion for 25% of monster hp as chaos damage.Enemies can have additional curse attribute allows us to completely drop 4 skillpoints from initial tree and put them into more survivality.Update (thanks to strikeg2) - additional damage do not affect us.Basically we gain a lot of usefull utility like exploding corpses + reducing chaos resistance on enemies which in my opinion is HUGE.Way to take skillpoints:Void Beacon (most important stats for us) -> Profane Bloom -> Malediction.

Pros



- Beginner friendly

- Moderate / high dps (endgame gear can spike up to very high dps)

- Fast clear speed

- Decent xp per hour ratio, depends on player experience in leveling

- Can do most map mods without problem

- Dual curse without investing 4 points into curse part of skilltree

- Chaos resistance debuff for monsters (Occultist special skill)



Cons



- Squishy in every stage of the game, not afk farm build, require attention

- Till lvl 38 boring (first aoe nodes + aoe support gem for contagion)



Skilltree

!! Open with new PoE Skilltree Offline Planner for Ascendancy !!

124 points is counted together with occultist ascendancy skillpoints, don't get fooled.

Spoiler https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMA37BHyoIQfPB-oY-mkQdp2ESrQnpVrnpwLJwRLSt4fIMfx-vuLYsc3DLRbRm4k48aRUeX9Aj0IvQo-sBmUlPAVGwLgscEszwFl5U9X7zqakOTJ_noogCf3-98TLN_xu-IvopBh_AfBAfQH35ZEZb5N6Evtz6D2-_rDkgHHtfP_gpVxrcwXfKVLkmx8kXYvTpYFAkrCvDVOuE1kqyYE20RLwMeSVGP-qZX_o_31yaI62MfQVxATeOESFKvtUiHy1xrrUq7TXaCp5vDbWf83V_IDHWetNHPFRa_JpVqjGHi9W9VS8gUotmw2DY9napsjGKsaPIYPL0nGFY=



Core nodes:

(Occultist) Void Beacon

(Occultist) Profane Bloom

(Occultist) Malediction



30 points leveling:

Spoiler https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMA37CCEI-mRKtVriycK3gfxy2LbRmX9FJTPV8i9GwLkyd_xhGWBx6VLvDVSVGP-lxAh8unm3WezxWXlQ5I



50 points leveling:

Spoiler https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMA37CCEI-mRKtVriycK3gfxy2LbRmX9FJTPV8i9GwLkyd_xhGWBx6VLvDVSVGP-lxAh8unm3WezxWXlQ5ItzAUCRNtJohMswQHg9tVxjpYrJj311Kvu03dX2f8rUrviPk3189JsQ==



80 points (4 ascendancy points):

Spoiler https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMA37BHyoIQu_x-oY-mFX5p2ESrVa4snBEtK3h8gx_HLYttGZf0IvRSU2wLl5U9X5MnTLN_xu-IBAcRlvk3g9sOSAce189VxrcwXfKVLkmxOlgUCSsK8NWsmBNtES8DHklRj_r31yaI62MfQVxAUq-bobVINj2Hy61Ku00YanaCnaqnm2f83V94L8gMbIx1nnzltNFirM8VWAcWvyaVYeJVSw==



96 points (6 ascendancy points):

Spoiler https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMA37BHyoIQu_x-oY-mFX5p2ESrxvdVrpJ0LJwRLSt4fIMfx-vuLYsc3DLRbRm4k0VHl_Qi9Cj6wGZSU2wLgsc8BZeVPV-TJ_non9_vfEyzf8bviEGHBAcRlvk3tz6D2w5IBx7Xz_4KVca3MF3ylS5JsfJF2L06WBQJKwrw1TWSrJgTbREvAx5JUY_699cmiOtjH0FcQFKvtUiHy61Ku012gqebZ_zdX8gMdZ600c8VFr8mlWHiVUuboRhqeC985VgH



------------- CI Option -------------

This is very work in progress skilltree and will need optimization. Just posting for people interested in this kind of build. I do not recommend going for it in early league due lack of good ES items which will make hard to build good ES amount.

Spoiler https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMAR8rfirv8fPB-oekCFX6RB2nYS64bJdlbbRmX9CL0EVBSU2wLNbmXlT1fkyenKx1PTLN_xr6KBAdFfqKjEZbK06EvHwIOXMHzDkgHHrQMNsVq-lyKtzBd8pUu6rqLehQJKwrw1Q18NAoBbxNtES8DHklRj_pXyTdm4vcmiOtjH0HsGFxAKPo3gyymhEi1SCy_h8u4k6brkNb311xrdoIV16ebHNxSr5uhw23IDIaudZ7r7o8arUq7TRhqtNFWY88Vpwgy0Wf83V94Lxa_na5FR3zlaowabMBmWAf1b_fBPAXIFJ_f73yi2bDY0B_v69DQX2o=

124 points is counted together with occultist ascendancy skillpoints, don't get fooled.Core nodes:(Occultist) Void Beacon(Occultist) Profane Bloom(Occultist) Malediction30 points leveling:50 points leveling:80 points (4 ascendancy points):96 points (6 ascendancy points):------------- CI Option -------------This is very work in progress skilltree and will need optimization. Just posting for people interested in this kind of build. I do not recommend going for it in early league due lack of good ES items which will make hard to build good ES amount.



Bandits

Normal: Oak (+40 HP)

Cruel: kill all

Merc: kill all



Gem setup



Essence drain (chest):

4L: ED - Void Manipulation - Controlled Destruction - Rapid Decay

5L: ED - VM - CD - RD - Slower Projectile

6L in my opinion either Empower or Poison.



Contagion (hands / boots):

4L: Contagion - Increased Area of Effect - Void Manipulation - Faster Casting



Wither (weapon):

3L: Wither - Spell Totem - Faster Casting



Curses (helmet):

3/4L: Blasphemy - Temporal Chains - Vulerability (- Enlighten / Arctic Armour if you have Alpha's Howl)



CWDT (boots):

3L: Cast when damage taken - Arctic breath - Greater Multiple Projectile

1Slot: Chaos Golem



Mobility (shield) - your personal choice, all works well:

3L: Lightning warp - Faster casting - Less duration

2L: Flame dash - Faster casting

2L (if you use dagger as main hand): Whirlwind blade - Faster attacks



Optimal Gear



Prioritize stats:

1. Life + ES

2. Armour + Resists

3. Chaos Damage + Damage over time

4. Spell damage



TBA



Usefull uniques











Alpha's Howl - If you can afford it, take it. It will allow you to add Arctic Armour as additional defence and keep reasonable mana pool. Winds of Change - Great unique for ED since it gives massive amount of Projectile speed and projectile damage, binded together with slower projectile gem it buffs ED damage massively.

Final words



Since i plan to spend a lot of time polishing this build in new challenge HC league, i will update it right after league start. Things to add:

- gear

- map mods

- atziri





Feel free to leave your feedback and help in making this build look even better, contributors will be memoried in credits :).



Have fun in new Perandus Challenge Leagues, wish you all good luck! For now just a little theory-crafting, could actually use some help to make this build even more viable for new patch. Let's get started:Feel free to leave your feedback and help in making this build look even better, contributors will be memoried in credits :).Have fun in new Perandus Challenge Leagues, wish you all good luck! Last edited by datenshiddd on Mar 3, 2016, 2:19:10 AM Last bumped on Aug 26, 2016, 1:42:06 PM Posted by

datenshiddd

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Changelog:



01.03.2016

- Added Occultist mechanics for build

- Uniques



02.03.2016

- Updated skilltree - small optimization, please check!

- Updated Occultist mechanic regards ED skill on Malediction node

- Visual improvment

- Added CI skilltree



03.03.2016

- Final skilltree (please update your offline planner!)



----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for contribution in this guide:

- Added Occultist mechanics for build- Uniques- Updated skilltree - small optimization, please check!- Updated Occultist mechanic regards ED skill on Malediction node- Visual improvment- Added CI skilltree- Final skilltree (please update your offline planner!)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks for contribution in this guide: strikeg2 - Occultist Malediction mechanic Last edited by datenshiddd on Mar 2, 2016, 10:34:42 PM Posted by

datenshiddd

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Many thanks for the guide, its just that im lookig for :).



Ill use it on hc perandus Posted by

zeldicx

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One question, what did you get Elemental damage nodes? As I know, chaos damage is not affected by elemental damage.



Thanks! Posted by

zeldicx

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" For each curse on killed enemy gain 4% non-chaos damage as extra chaos damage for 4 second



It will not work with ED dot. This description means - if u have skill that deal 1k non-chaos(for example fire) damage with this buff it will deal 1k(fire) + 1k*0.04*(curse count)*(enemies killed in 4 seconds) chaos damage.



So to deal with solo targets u need to use this setup:

ED - Void Manipulation - Controlled Destruction - Rapid Decay - Poison - Iron Will(Empower lvl3)



Also ED scales fine with projectile damage, not only Chaos/Dot/Spell, so get Sniper node, its great. It will not work with ED dot. This description means - if u have skill that deal 1k non-chaos(for example fire) damage with this buff it will deal 1k(fire) + 1k*0.04*(curse count)*(enemies killed in 4 seconds) chaos damage.So to deal with solo targets u need to use this setup:ED - Void Manipulation - Controlled Destruction - Rapid Decay - Poison - Iron Will(Empower lvl3)Also ED scales fine with projectile damage, not only Chaos/Dot/Spell, so get Sniper node, its great. Posted by

strikeg2

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" zeldicx



Thanks! One question, what did you get Elemental damage nodes? As I know, chaos damage is not affected by elemental damage.Thanks!



Changed this, at the end 1 jewel slow isn't worth 2 wasted nodes. Thanks for pointing this out.



" strikeg2 It will not work with ED dot. This description means - if u have skill that deal 1k non-chaos(for example fire) damage with this buff it will deal 1k(fire) + 1k*0.04*(curse count)*(enemies killed in 4 seconds) chaos damage.



Golden words, thanks for explanation, changed this in guide.



" strikeg2

ED - Void Manipulation - Controlled Destruction - Rapid Decay - Poison - Iron Will(Empower lvl3) So to deal with solo targets u need to use this setup:ED - Void Manipulation - Controlled Destruction - Rapid Decay - Poison - Iron Will(Empower lvl3)



Tbh we don't have too much strength to make Iron Will sufficient. I could prefer stay with Slower Projectile here since it boost dmg probably more in this case.



While league will go on, i will think about making another guide for Iron Will RF ED/Contagion build.



" strikeg2 Also ED scales fine with projectile damage, not only Chaos/Dot/Spell, so get Sniper node, its great.



True, dunno why i have it on my character but it wasn't in skilltree. Fixed, thanks for pointing.



-- Updates in guide, please check. Changed this, at the end 1 jewel slow isn't worth 2 wasted nodes. Thanks for pointing this out.Golden words, thanks for explanation, changed this in guide.Tbh we don't have too much strength to make Iron Will sufficient. I could prefer stay with Slower Projectile here since it boost dmg probably more in this case.While league will go on, i will think about making another guide for Iron Will RF ED/Contagion build.True, dunno why i have it on my character but it wasn't in skilltree. Fixed, thanks for pointing.-- Updates in guide, please check. Posted by

datenshiddd

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Doesn't projectile damage only increase the initial hit of ED? Cause that's how I knew it so far and if I'm correct projectile damage is a bad stat for any ED build. Posted by

attiGT

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" buks Doesn't projectile damage only increase the initial hit of ED? Cause that's how I knew it so far and if I'm correct projectile damage is a bad stat for any ED build.



Projectile damage affects DoT component of ED same as spell damage, chaos damage and damage over time stats. Projectile damage affects DoT component of ED same as spell damage, chaos damage and damage over time stats. Posted by

datenshiddd

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