As a chaos skill, Scourge Arrow has been loved by many players. Although there is a delay in triggering its skills, it has a good range coverage to quickly clear all monsters. This PoE 3.12 Ranger Pathfinder Scourge Arrow build is decent league starter, as it do not really requires anything to function, and can work just fine on Tabula.

 

Quick Jump

Pros & Cons

  • + Great single target. The build can reach 8M single target DPS with current setup after around 5 second ramp up
  • + Really good clear speed (because of Nature's Reprisal poison proliferation and Scourge Arrow hitting whole screens)
  • + 200%+ increased movement speed
  • + 7K+ Life
  • + 89% melee avoid chance, 89% projectile avoid chance, 62% spell avoid chance, 68% stun avoid chance
  • + 8% less Chaos damage taken (thanks to Infused Channeling)
  • + 20% less damage taken if not hit recently (Wind Dancer)
  • + 34% less Elemental damage taken and 60% less Physical damage taken with 60% uptime (Immortal Call)
  • + 3 Endurance Charges (with Enduring Cry)
  • + 90% maximum chaos resistance (if using Divine Flesh)
  • + Permanent Fortify (if using Hardened Scars)
  • + Permanent flask uptime (Nature's Boon)
  • + Elemental Ailment immunity (Master Alchemist)
  • + Enemies are hindered (reduced movement speed) thanks to Wither
  • + Can do all map mods
  • + Can do all content (except Hall of Grandmasters)
  • + Decent league starter, as it do not really requires anything to function, and can work just fine on Tabula

 

  • - Needs a lot of intelligence from gear
  • - Scourge Arrow playstyle takes some time getting used to
  • - Enemies do not die instantly so sometimes we can take some dangerous hits (we combat this with our high defenses)

 

Skill Tree

Ascendancy: Nature's Reprisal -> Master Toxicist -> Nature's Boon -> Master Alchemist

Pantheon 

For your major god Soul of Lunaris is good pick as we are dodge build and extra dodge is always helpful. For bosses Soul of Solaris is very effective as well.

For your minor god Soul of Soul Garukhan is good choice because again, we are evasion/dodge based build, and extra dodge is always good. Another good option is Ralakesh to reduce dot from Blood Rage and to get Blind and Maim immunity. Valid options are also Ryslatha for extra charges for life flask and extra life recovery from it and Soul of Shakari for poison immunity and reduced chaos damage taken (what is basically also reduced physical and elemental damage taken if you are using Darkscorn and Divine Flesh).

Bandit: Kill All

Passive Tree & PoB

Path of Building Link: https://pastebin.com/qz6un9J6


 

 

 

 

Gem Progression

Level 1

3 link - Caustic Arrow, Pierce, Lesser Poison

Level 4

3 link - Caustic Arrow, Pierce, Lesser Poison
1 link - Dash
1 link - Steelskin

Level 8

5 link - Caustic Arrow, Pierce, Lesser Poison, Void Manipulation, Unbound Ailmentts
1 link - Dash
1 link - Steelskin

Level 10

5 link - Caustic Arrow, Pierce, Lesser Poison, Void Manipulation, Unbound Ailments
2 link - Wither, Spell Totem
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin

Level 12

5 link - Toxic Rain, Lesser Poison, Mirage Archer, Void Manipulation, Unbound Ailments
2 link - Wither, Spell Totem
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin

Level 16

5 link - Toxic Rain, Lesser Poison, Mirage Archer, Void Manipulation, Unbound Ailments
2 link - Wither, Spell Totem
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Herald of Agony
1 link - Summon Skitterbots
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin
1 link - Blood Rage

Level 18

5 link - Toxic Rain, Lesser Poison, Deadly Ailments, Mirage Archer, Unbound Ailments
3 link - Wither, Spell Totem, Faster Casting
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Herald of Agony
1 link - Summon Skitterbots
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin
1 link - Blood Rage

Level 24

5 link - Toxic Rain, Lesser Poison, Deadly Ailments, Mirage Archer, Unbound Ailments
3 link - Wither, Spell Totem, Faster Casting
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Herald of Agony
1 link - Summon Skitterbots
1 link - Plague Bearer
1 link - Despair
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin
1 link - Blood Rage

Level 28

6 link - Scourge Arrow, Lesser Poison, Deadly Ailments, Mirage Archer, Infused Channeling, Unbound Ailments
3 link - Wither, Spell Totem, Faster Casting
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Herald of Agony
1 link - Summon Skitterbots
1 link - Plague Bearer
1 link - Despair
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin
1 link - Blood Rage

Level 31

6 link - Scourge Arrow, Added Chaos Damage, Poison, Deadly Ailments, Mirage Archer, Infused Channeling
3 link - Wither, Spell Totem, Faster Casting
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Herald of Agony
1 link - Summon Skitterbots
1 link - Plague Bearer
1 link - Despair
1 link - Withering Step
1 link - Steelskin
1 link - Blood Rage

Level 38

6 link - Scourge Arrow, Added Chaos Damage, Poison, Deadly Ailments, Mirage Archer, Infused Channeling
4 link - Wither, Spell Totem, Multiple Totems, Faster Casting
1 link - Blink Arrow
1 link - Precision
1 link - Herald of Agony
1 link - Summon Skitterbots
1 link - Plague Bearer
1 link - Despair
1 link - Withering Step
3 link - Immortal Call, Increased Duration, Cast when Damage taken
1 link - Summon Stone Golem
1 link - Blood Rage

After you get enough poison chance (what means 100% with Corallito up without Poison support in your links), replace Poison support with Unbound Ailments support in Scourge Arrow links.

 

Gear Setup

So with this build, you will leveling with Toxic Rain as it is super smooth. After leveling, you can switch to Scourge Arrow. Important! The gems we are using for Toxic Rain leveling are not all same as we will be using after we migrate to Scourge Arrow. Check the end of Gem Progression section for details.

Good Item For Leveling 

Quill Rain Short Bow

+20 to Dexterity

100% increased Physical Damage

100% increased Attack Speed

+2 Mana gained for each Enemy hit by Attacks

100% increased Projectile Speed

+27 to Accuracy Rating

40% less Damage

Lochtonial Caress

13% increased Attack Speed

11% increased Cast Speed

+30 to maximum Life

15% reduced maximum Mana

10% chance to gain a Power, Frenzy or Endurance Charge on Kill

Conduit

 

Goldrim Leather Cap

+32 to Evasion Rating

10% increased Rarity of Items found

+38% to all Elemental Resistances

Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers

 

Craghead

Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Bow Attacks

24% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold

25% reduced Projectile Speed

69% increased Stun Duration on Enemies

Adds 6 to 10 Physical Damage to Bow Attacks

Wanderlust Wool Shoes

+5 to Dexterity

+18 to maximum Energy Shield

25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate

20% increased Movement Speed

Cannot be Frozen

 

Wurm's Molt Leather Belt

+35 to maximum Life

+29 to Strength

+22 to Intelligence

+20% to Cold Resistance

0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life

0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana

Perandus Signet Paua Ring * 2 

+28 to maximum Mana

+29 to maximum Mana

52% increased Mana Regeneration Rate

2% increased Experience gain

2% increased Intelligence for each Unique Item Equipped

3% additional chance for Slain monsters to drop Scrolls of Wisdom

Karui Ward Jade Amulet

+30 to Dexterity

+25 to Strength

+100 to Accuracy Rating

30% increased Projectile Speed

10% increased Movement Speed

30% increased Projectile Damage

 

And Tabula Rasa

Core setup

After you will be done with leveling, your core item setup will look something like this:

Lioneye's Glare Imperial Bow

21% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

161% increased Physical Damage

Adds 8 to 27 Physical Damage

12% increased Attack Speed

+96 to maximum Mana

Hits can't be Evaded

Far Shot

The Embalmer Carnal Mitts

Trigger Edict of War on Kill

Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Vile Toxins

Adds 16 to 26 Chaos Damage

+63 to maximum Life

+26% to Chaos Resistance

25% increased Poison Duration

Atziri's Promise Amethyst Flask

+35% to Chaos Resistance

2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect

Gain 19% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

Gain 15% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

 

Coralito's Signature Diamond Flask

Your Critical Strike Chance is Lucky

Take 30 Chaos Damage per Second during Flask effect

25% chance to Poison on Hit during Flask effect

Your Critical Strikes do not deal extra Damage during Flask effect

71% increased Duration of Poisons you inflict during Flask effect

Grants Perfect Agony during Flask effect

Try to get Scourge Arrow creates an additional spore pod at Maximum Stages enchant on helmet as soon as possible, it makes the build feel a lot better (see Media section).

If you do not have Tabula Rasa but you have Embalmer Carnal Mitts and you want at least 5 link, put your setup inside Embalmer, with Vile Toxins from it you will have 5 link.

If you are done with leveling and you do not have Corralito's and your poison chance is not 100%, respec some points on tree and make sure to grab some extra nodes for poison chance, this is very important.

 

Crafting Gear

For crafting we will be using fossils and resonators. Fossils are currency introduced in Delve league that can be obtained most commonly from Delve as well. Based on fossil type, they improve odds of some mods to roll and also add their own special mods.

Unless the Item Base says otherwise use regular base (so not Shaped or Elder ones). The reasoning for using normal bases are both Shaped and Elder bases add some extra mods, and unless we are aiming for some of them, they are just adding unnecessary clutter to pool of mods, making desirable result less likely.

Mods with * before are important, if you do not hit them, just reroll.

Crafting poison bow

Item base: iLvl 83+ Thicket Bow (optional: use Perfect Fossil for 28-30 quality or Hillock)

Fossils: Corroded Fossil, Aberrant Fossil, Metallic Fossil

Mod priority:

  • * 60% chance for Poisons inflicted with this Weapon to deal 100% more Damage

  • * Adds (47–72) to (98–123) Chaos Damage

  • Empty prefix to craft +(33–40)% to Chaos Damage over Time Multiplier on crafting bench

  • (14–16)% increased Attack Speed

  • Any of the other poison mods (duration/damage)Crafting - mana cost body

Crafting - mana cost body

Item base: iLvl 86+ Assassin's Garb (or iLvl 100 Sacrifical Garb from The Sacrifice divination card)

Fossils: Serrated Fossil, Pristine Fossil

Mod priority:

  • * Socketed Attacks have -15 to Total Mana Cost

  • +(120–129) to maximum Life

Crafting frenzy quiver

Item base: iLvl 64+ Two-Point Arrow Quiver

Fossils: Corroded Fossil, Shuddering Fossil

Mod priority:

  • [Hunter] +(21–25)% to Chaos Damage over Time Multiplier

  • * (3–5)% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge when you Hit a Rare or Unique Enemy

  • +(90–99) to maximum Life

  • 20% chance to Poison on Hit (26–30)% increased Damage with Poison

  • (11–13)% increased Attack Speed

  • Empty prefix to craft Adds (6–8) to (14–18) Chaos Damage to Attacks on crafting bench

Crafting - chaos resistance helmet

Item base: iLvl 64+ Lion Pelt

Fossils: Aberrant Fossil, Pristine Fossil

Mod priority:

  • * Nearby Enemies have -9% to Chaos Resistance

  • +(90–99) to maximum Life

 

End-game optimization

If you have enough unreserved mana and you feel comfortable with it, you can replace Summon Skitterbots with Malevolence for more damage and also grab Watcher's Eye with Malevolence mods: "+21% to Damage over Time Multiplier while affected by Malevolence"

If you are struggling with hitting the boss with all pods, you can get quiver like this with extra arrow: "Bow Attacks fire an additional Arrow"

To improve clear speed, you can get Embalmer's with Despair on hit corruption, the difference between everything being cursed with despair is very very noticeable (you can also drop self-cast despair for something else now if you want):

If you want to improve clear speed even more, you can grab Devoto's Devotion

For DPS, clear speed and some defense, you can grab Elusive + Tailwind boots:

＂7% chance to gain Elusive on Critical Strike＂
＂You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently＂

If you think you need more damage and you are able to spare some unreserved mana for Aspect of Spider, you can run Fenumus' Weave as gloves

For DPS amulet, Impresence with Despair reservation is very nice pick

If you still need even more damage and you can cap your resists without both rings, you can run double Circle of Nostalgia:

9% increased Frenzy Charge Duration

+14 to all Attributes
Adds 19 to 25 Chaos Damage
+22% to Chaos Resistance
56% increased Chaos Damage while affected by Herald of Agony
Herald of Agony has 100% increased Buff Effect

+15 Life gained for each Enemy hit by your Attacks
11% increased Elemental Damage
-11 Fire Damage taken from Hits

+13 to all Attributes
Adds 17 to 28 Chaos Damage
+20% to Chaos Resistance
+37% to Chaos Resistance while affected by Herald of Agony
Herald of Agony has 88% increased Buff Effect

If you can get Watcher's Eye with Unaffected by Bleeding while affected by Malevolence if using Malevolence (or Corrupted Blood cannot be inflicted on you corruption on jewel) you can replace life flask with Forbidden Taste (if you have capped chaos resistance with Divine Flesh) or Blood of the Karui (with Forbidden Taste you can replace your Quartz flask with Jade flask)

If you freed your flask setup with setup above and you want even *more* damage, you can run Bottled Faith (pricy, but its really good, so worth it)