[3.1]Starter CwC Shock Nova Berserker - Odealo's Crafty Guide Lightning Tendrils channelling Berserker build. With the 3.1 Patch we can finally try a Lightning version of this extremely powerful build

Cast while Channelling

Lightning Tendrils/Shock Nova

Berseker

Patch 3.1 Build

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Estimated budget : very low (250 Chaos Orbs)



Guide notes March 3, 2018

-As of Patch 3.2 this build is no longer supported. Berserker Ascendancy class is no longer viable choice for any spell caster build

Lightning Tendrils was completely reworked in patch 3.1. It became a channelled spell and with this, we can finally try out a lightning version of CwC (Cast while Channelling) build. Since this type of builds require you to remain stationary, it is strongly advised to play them with a tanky character. And what else suits it better than high Life and sick (and instant) leech Blood Magic Berserker?

Our suggested build revolves around the Shock Nova spell. It grants amazing aoe damage and is pretty much the only lightninig spell that can make this build work. It works on pretty much any non-boss corpse, and is mainly used to summon powerful spell-caster mininons (including Solar Guards, that this build revolves around).

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1. Basic gameplay

As pretty much all the CwC builds, this one is also a "stationary" build, which require you to stay in place and channel your main spell. This makes your character vulnerable to all incoming attacks, making this build the most suitable for tanky characters. Berserker's high life pool, the best leeching capabilities, and the new Storm Barrier support gem makes your character extremely durable, maximizing your damage output at the same time.



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2. Build's PROS & CONS

PROS extremely powerful with Berserker ascendancy class granting the highest raw dps bonuses in PoE

with Berserker ascendancy class granting the highest raw dps bonuses in PoE very tanky - with high Life pool, and amazing Life recovery with Vaal Pact passive

- with high Life pool, and amazing Life recovery with Vaal Pact passive one of the most enjoyable and visually appealing builds out there CONS should avoid "cannot leech life/mana" maps at all cost

vulnerable to elemental reflect maps

requires at least 5 linked sockets for proper dps output

3. Leveling tips

Since the suggested skill tree boosts neither type of damage, the best way to get your character to late-game is by using Flame Totem and Searing Bond Totem combination. This way you can deal enough damage to get you through all the early content, and with all the Life nodes you will have no problems staying alive even when facing tough bosses and rare monsters. Both your totem setups can be

Suggested leveling gem setups:

Searing Bond setup Searing Bond - this spell summons a totem that shoots fire beams towards your other totems and yourself. It deals moderately high burning damage allowing you to melt anything in your way, without any active fire/spell damage nodes in your Passive Skill tree Burning Damage Support - the most effective support gem for the Searing Bond spell Elemental Focus Support - another good dps buff

Flame Totem setup Flame Totem - one of your main dps sources when leveling. You need 1 Flame Totem and 1 Searing Bond Totem active in order to maximize your dps Faster Casting Support - it boosts the rate at which Flame Totem casts its' projectile-based spell Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - another great leveling support gem for this setup

Utility gems Flame Golem - flame golem will boost your dps Flammability - for leveling phase you should just aim to maximize your dps, which makes the flammability curse extremely useful Anger - another nice dps buff for your Flame Totem

Bandits:

We recommend killing all bandits for the additional 2 passive points

Leveling skill trees:

31 Points skill tree

31 Points Path of Building link

Priorities: 1) Retribution 2) Elementalist 3) Light of Divinity 4) Tireless

73 Points skill tree

73 Points Path of Building Link

Prorities: pretty much any order is possible, as long as you take the Blood Magic and Amplify nodes when you respec to your CwC setup

Recommended leveling items:

Pyre - the highest possible dps boost to your Searing Bond totems +(20-30)% to Cold Resistance

+(25-35)% to Fire Resistance

(60-80)% increased Burning Damage

40% of Cold Damage Converted to Fire Damage

10% increased Light Radius

Ignited Enemies you hit are destroyed on Kill

Ashcaller - a great leveling wand that increases the damage of both your totems (18-22)% increased Spell Damage

Adds (10-14) to (18-22) Fire Damage

Adds (4-6) to (7-9) Fire Damage to Spells

(40-50)% increased Burning Damage

(16-22)% chance to Ignite

10% chance to Trigger Level 8 Summon Raging Spirit on Kill

Goldrim - one of the best leveling helmets in Path of Exile. Should carry you till the mapping phase +(30-50) to Evasion Rating

10% increased Rarity of Items found

+(30-40)% to all Elemental Resistances

Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers

Level Requirement reduced by 100 (Hidden)

4. Final Skill tree, Ascendancy Points and Pantheon

Final skill tree:

117 Points Final Skill Tree

117 Points Path of Building link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

Pain Reaver Crave the Slaughter Aspect of Carnage Cloaked in Savagery

Pantheon:

Major God : Soul of Lunaris - 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%; 1% increased Movement Speed for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%

Minor God : Soul of Ryslatha - Life Flasks gain 3 Charges every 3 seconds if you haven't used a Life Flask Recently

5. Final gems links

[DPS] CwC Lightning Tendrils setup Lightning Tendrils - your main active skill gem. You should remain stationary even when facing bosses and tough elites. Your life leech should keep you alive. Kite only in emergency situations Cast while Channelling Support - mandatory support gem for this setup. It will make channelling LT to cast Shock Novas Shock Nova - your main source of dps. You will not be castint it directly though but through the CwC support gem Increased Area of Effect Support - since Shock Nova is area spell this is one of the most suitable support gems for this setup. You can replace it when facing bosses as no aoe will be needed there Controlled Destruction Support - another good dps support gem Elemental Focus Support - same as above (optional)Storm Barrier Support - this is the new gem that directly affects channelled spells. It will however only boost your defenses in this build, so use it only when having problems staying alive (or as a replacement for Inc. Area of Effect support gem vs bosses)

[AURA] Wrath (Essence Worm) Wrath - additional lightning damage to your spells

[UTILITY] Vaal Skills Vaal Haste - increases your cast speed (and movement speed, but this is irrelevant in this build) Vaal Lightning Trap - will apply shock much more effectively than your active skills (since it's a low critical hit chance build). Also since you have plenty of empty sockets, there is no reason not to throw it in there

[CURSE] Enfeeble Curse on Hit setup Orb of Storms - spell used to apply your curse by linking it with Curse on Hit support gem Curse on Hit Support - will make Orb of Storms apply the supported curse Enfeeble - our recommended defensive curse (optional)Conductivity - this curse will amplify your damage output, use it if you have no problems staying alive, or optionally you can do dual-curse with Windscream boots Summon Stone Golem - put it in the 4th socket for extra Life regen. if your are not using two curses

[MOBILITY] Flame Dash Flame Dash - your main mobility skill Faster Casting Support - will increase the "movement" speed of your Flame Dash spell

[DEFENSIVE/UTILTY] Decoy Totem 4L setup Decoy Totem - a great defensive spell, that summons a totem which taunts nearby enemies Minion and Totem Elemental Resistance Support - great defensive support gem for your totem Increased Area of Effect Support - increases the range at which Decoy totem taunts enemies Increased Duration Support - increases your totem's duration, which allow you to focus on dealing damage

[DEFENSIVE/UTILTY] CwDT Molten Shell setup Cast when Damage Taken Support - will cast supported spells when certain amount of damage is taken Molten Shell - grants a shield that prevents up to 1500 damage,and grants up to 943 Armour (at level 20) Iron Will Support - increases the damage of the Molten Shell spell, at the same time increasing the amount of healing done from the Life Leech Support gem Life Leech Support - will grant a quick burst of healing from the Molten Shell's damage

[DEFENSIVE/UTILTY] Immortal Call CwDT Cast when Damage Taken Support - will cast supported spells when certain amount of damage is taken. Do not level it up above level 1 Immortal Call - grants brief immortality when activated by the Cast when Damage Taken Support gem. Do not level up above the level of CwDT support gem



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5. Gear Setup

Each item on our list included minimum stat requirements and estimated price. CwC Lightning Tendrils Bersekers should maximize the defensive stats on all of the following items in accordance with their budget. If you can't afford some of the items, you may want to visit our Path of Exile market and find cheap PoE Orbs required to complete your build.

Our recommended items will:

Cap your resistances Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully Save you at least a couple of hours!

Stat priorities on items: Life Elemental Resistances Spell/Lightning damage Armour Attributes Cast speed

(Helmet) The Brine Crown - grants amazing defensives bonuses. The +800 Armour bonus while stationary (when channelling) is irreplaceable for this build (100-120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield

+(50-70) to maximum Life

+(30-50)% to Cold Resistance

Cannot be Frozen

+800 Armour while stationary

60% increased Mana Regeneration Rate while stationary

15% chance to create Chilled Ground when Hit with an Attack (Body Armour) Belly of the Beast - grants one of the best Life bonuses in the entire Path of Exile. It also shouldn't be expensive since you do not need more than 6 sockets / 4 links in this item 3% reduced Movement Speed

(150-200)% increased Armour

(30-40)% increased maximum Life

+(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances

50% increased Flask Life Recovery rate

Extra gore (Weapon Slot) Agnerod West - extremely powerful weapon for this build. The increased strength requirement should be no problem for a Berserker either. Any other Agnerod staff will work for starters, and they are rather easy to get with relatively cheap Divination Cards. 4x The Stormcaller can be exchanged for Agnerod Staff 18% Chance to Block

+2 to Level of Socketed Lightning Gems

+(80-120) to Intelligence

(30-50)% increased Lightning Damage

Adds (5-15) to (100-140) Lightning Damage to Spell

40% increased Strength Requirement

Damage Penetrates 20% Lightning Resistance (Boots) Rare Life/res boots - a minimum of 20% increased movement speed is recommended, and the highest Life/res combination you can afford Min. requirements:

65 maximum Life

25% Fire Resistance

25% Cold Resistance

25% Lightning Resistance

20% increased Movement Speed (Boots) Windscream - can be used for the dual-curse version of Orb of Storms setup (50-80)% increased Armour

+(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances

15% increased Movement Speed

(10-20)% increased Elemental Damage

Enemies can have 1 additional Curse (Belt) Rare Life/res belt - just grab the highest Life you can afford. Additional Armour will be a valuable additional affix Min. requirements:

85 maximum Life

35% Fire Resistance

25% Cold Resistance

35% Lightning Resistance

Optional affixes:

Armour (Amulet) Rare Life/res - possibly with some extra Lightning/Spell damage and Attributes Min. requirements:

70 maximum Life

10% All Elemental Resistances

12% Increased Lightning Spell Damage

Optional affixes:

Attributes (Ring) Rare Life/res ring - no special requirements except for high Life/res combination. End-game users may want to use Opal ring for additional elemental damage bonus Min. requirements:

70 maximum Life

10% All Elemental Resistances

15 All Attributes (Ring) Essence Worm - good option if you want to have a "free" aura (Wrath in this case) for extra damage Has 1 Socket

+2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems

Socketed Gems Reserve No Mana

40% increased Mana Reserved (Gloves) Rare Life/res gloves - and once again, additional Armour is recommended Min. requirements:

300 Armour

95 maximum Life

25% Fire Resistance

25% Lightning Resistance (Jewels) Rare jewels - Life is the most important bonus on all your jewels Recommended affixes:

% increased maximum Life

% increased Generic/Elemental/Lightning/Spell/Area Damage

Optional affixes:

% increased Cast Speed

% increased Cast Speed while wielding a Staff Suggested Flasks: Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Staunching (bleeding immunity) Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Heat (freeze and chill immunity) Bubbling Divine Life Flask of Warding/Curing/Grounding (additional immunity of your choice) The Overflowing Chalice Sulphur Flask - for extra life regeneration while inside the Consecrated Ground Forbidden Taste Quartz Flask - amazing instant life recovery for emergency situations



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