This is my first time writing a build guide, so please, feel free to let me know if I forget to mention anything!



Introduction:

This build is a life-based fire mage who relies on fire trap for clearing packs and flame surge for single target dps. Fire trap and flame surge works exceptionally well together because fire trap sets monsters on fire so that flame surge gains 50% MORE damage against them.



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Pros and Cons:

Pros:

- Cheap (costs less than 10 exalt if you use a 5link)

- Huge Single Target Damage (Easily over 10k tooltip dps, not counting the 50% bonus damage)

- Fast Clear Speed

- Decent Survivability

- Straightforward Gameplay, Noob Friendly



Cons:

- Against hard-hitting monsters, your mana will run out very quickly that sometimes you will not be able to cast spells (because of MoM and AA mana drain).

- Not the best build to kill Atziri with, but it is 100% doable (check video section).



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Passive Tree:

Spoiler http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEABS0LYQ48EmkVUBZvFxwZhRpVGmwfAiFgJDwkqicvJ6ko-iycLR8xnjWSNsU22DboNuk6UjrhPfxAoEGHRKtE50WdSRtJUU3jVa5VxlhjWK9abV4TXz9gS2EhZKNqO20ZcXl07XTxeA15aHqqeu9_xoIegseE74UyhymHZYgbiPGMz49Gj6aa4Jwtna6euZ_LoLSio6SsplenCKdcqBipbqyvr7e18rc-uJO8n8EEwfPDhsbYz2XQ0Ngk2wvjauOf55Hr7uxV7w7vhfIv8kXzBvPd9kj56P4K_o8=



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Videos:

-level 77 Shrine Map:

**Sorry for the lag at the beginning of the video. I forgot to close my other client.



-Normal Atziri Kill with 0 Death:



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Skills:

5l Flame Surge: Flame Surge + Iron Will + Concentrated Effect + Life Leech + Faster Casting

For 6l, add Fire Penetration Gem



- Explaination: Since we start as Marauder, we are bound to get a lot of strength nodes in our passive tree. So, the Iron Will gem gives a HUGE dps boost to Flame Surge. Currently, I have 563 strength, which is converted to over 100% increased spell damage. The other gems are pretty straightforward. I use conc effect because Flame Surge is mainly used for single target anyways, so the reduced AOE radius doesn't matter.



Fire Trap: Fire Trap + Increased Burning Damage + Chance to Ignite + Elemental Proliferation

Or put Fire Trap in Doryani's Catalyst so we only need: Fire Trap + Increased Burning Damage + Chance to Ignite



Auras: Clarity + Discipline + Reduced Mana + Tempest Shield (Optional)



Cast When Damage Taken Setup: CWDT + Enduring Cry + Immortal Call + Increased Duration



Other Gems: Arctic Armour, Flammability, Searing Bond (optional)



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Defensive Mechanisms:

1. Mind over Matter (30% of Damage is taken from Mana before Life)

2. Arctic Armour

3. 40%+ Block Chance

3. High Life Leech % (over 10% with proper gears) Combined with Flame Surge's High Damage

4. 200+ Life Regen

5. 79% max resist (without auras)



- Explaination:

Since 5 or 6 link Flame Surge costs tons of mana and has a very fast cast speed, I decide to get the Eldritch Battery (EB) keystone in the passive tree in order to sustain the high mana cost. EB allows me to have extremely high maximum mana (2~3k) and mana regen (200+/s). So, it is only natural to use the Mind over Matter (MoM) keystone and Arctic Armour skill. Arctic Armour is absolutely perfect for this build because it pretty much makes me immune to elemental reflect.



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Gears:

My Current Gears:

Spoiler



- Explaination:

Weapon: Doryani's Catalyst is absolutely the best weapon for this build. The most important point is that spell damage does NOT increase fire trap's burning damage, but elemental damage does! So a 100% spell damage wand would only increase Flame Surge's damage and fire trap's initial blast damage, but not fire trap's burning damage! Doryani's Catalyst increases both the initial damage and the burning damage. In addition, the free level 20 Elemental Proliferation saves us a gem slot, and the 1% ele damage leech gives us a little bit more survivability.



Belt: Fire damage Doryani's Invitation is a pretty obvious choice here. Not much to explain.



Gloves: I choose to use Meginord's Vise. Don't be fooled by its stats. Since we are using Iron Will gem, the gloves' REAL stats are: 20% increased spell damage (100 strength = 20% spell damage, thanks to Iron Will), 50 life (100 strength = 50 life), and 150+ armour. Not so bad now, huh?



Chest: Any 5link Ar/Es chest with decent ES and a high life roll would do. Strength is a good bonus since it increases our damage.



Helm, Boots: Both pure ES and Ar/Es are fine. Again, just make sure it has decent ES and a high life roll (with resists if possible of course).



Amulet: The essential mods are mana regen and life. Some desirable mods to have are fire damage, cast speed, spell damage, strength, resists, etc. Those are optional though.



Rings: Pretty much the same as amulet. You want life and high mana regen (40%+) on them. Fire damage, cast speed and strength are great too but not necessary.



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My Current Stats:







My Flame Surge is level 19, so there is still plenty room of improvement. Also, as I've mentioned above, the dps does not include the 50% bonus damage for hitting burning enemies. The real dps is probably around 20k.



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That's all I have to say about the build. Thank you all for reading! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!! This build is a life-based fire mage who relies on fire trap for clearing packs and flame surge for single target dps. Fire trap and flame surge works exceptionally well together because fire trap sets monsters on fire so that flame surge gains 50%damage against them.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cheap (costs less than 10 exalt if you use a 5link)- Huge Single Target Damage (Easily over 10k tooltip dps, not counting the 50% bonus damage)- Fast Clear Speed- Decent Survivability- Straightforward Gameplay, Noob Friendly- Against hard-hitting monsters, your mana will run out very quickly that sometimes you will not be able to cast spells (because of MoM and AA mana drain).- Not the best build to kill Atziri with, but it is 100% doable (check video section).-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------level 77 Shrine Map: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_FYHEPQMUA&feature=youtu.be **Sorry for the lag at the beginning of the video. I forgot to close my other client.-Normal Atziri Kill with 0 Death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40cgMaLKxOw ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5l: Flame Surge + Iron Will + Concentrated Effect + Life Leech + Faster CastingFor 6l, add Fire Penetration GemSince we start as Marauder, we are bound to get a lot of strength nodes in our passive tree. So, the Iron Will gem gives a HUGE dps boost to Flame Surge. Currently, I have 563 strength, which is converted to over 100% increased spell damage. The other gems are pretty straightforward. I use conc effect because Flame Surge is mainly used for single target anyways, so the reduced AOE radius doesn't matter.: Fire Trap + Increased Burning Damage + Chance to Ignite + Elemental ProliferationOr put Fire Trap in Doryani's Catalyst so we only need: Fire Trap + Increased Burning Damage + Chance to IgniteClarity + Discipline + Reduced Mana + Tempest Shield (Optional)CWDT + Enduring Cry + Immortal Call + Increased DurationArctic Armour, Flammability, Searing Bond (optional)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. Mind over Matter (30% of Damage is taken from Mana before Life)2. Arctic Armour3. 40%+ Block Chance3. High Life Leech % (over 10% with proper gears) Combined with Flame Surge's High Damage4. 200+ Life Regen5. 79% max resist (without auras)Since 5 or 6 link Flame Surge costs tons of mana and has a very fast cast speed, I decide to get the Eldritch Battery (EB) keystone in the passive tree in order to sustain the high mana cost. EB allows me to have extremely high maximum mana (2~3k) and mana regen (200+/s). So, it is only natural to use the Mind over Matter (MoM) keystone and Arctic Armour skill. Arctic Armour is absolutely perfect for this build because it pretty much makes me immune to elemental reflect.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Weapon: Doryani's Catalyst is absolutely the best weapon for this build.So a 100% spell damage wand would only increase Flame Surge's damage and fire trap's initial blast damage, but not fire trap's burning damage! Doryani's Catalyst increases both the initial damage and the burning damage. In addition, the free level 20 Elemental Proliferation saves us a gem slot, and the 1% ele damage leech gives us a little bit more survivability.Belt: Fire damage Doryani's Invitation is a pretty obvious choice here. Not much to explain.Gloves: I choose to use Meginord's Vise. Don't be fooled by its stats. Since we are using Iron Will gem, the gloves' REAL stats are: 20% increased spell damage (100 strength = 20% spell damage, thanks to Iron Will), 50 life (100 strength = 50 life), and 150+ armour. Not so bad now, huh?Chest: Any 5link Ar/Es chest with decent ES and a high life roll would do. Strength is a good bonus since it increases our damage.Helm, Boots: Both pure ES and Ar/Es are fine. Again, just make sure it has decent ES and a high life roll (with resists if possible of course).Amulet: The essential mods are mana regen and life. Some desirable mods to have are fire damage, cast speed, spell damage, strength, resists, etc. Those are optional though.Rings: Pretty much the same as amulet. You want life and high mana regen (40%+) on them. Fire damage, cast speed and strength are great too but not necessary.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My Current Stats:My Flame Surge is level 19, so there is still plenty room of improvement. Also, as I've mentioned above, the dps does not include the 50% bonus damage for hitting burning enemies. The real dps is probably around 20k.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------