[Archnemesis Witch] PoE 3.17 Elementalist Explosive Arrow Ballista League Starter Build

PoE 3.17 introduced a new endgame content that attracted a large number of players to return. Here is the lasted Elementalist Explosive Arrow league starter guide, thanks to the new balance changes and the Ballista, the Explosive Arrow has very high ignition damage, perfect for beginners.

 

Pros & Cons

 

Skill Tree

Ascendancy: Shaper of Flames -> Mastermind of Discord -> Heart of Destruction -> Bastian of Elements for defence, or Shaper of Storms for offence.

Bandit: Kill all

Passive Tree & PoB

Path of Building Link: https://pastebin.com/HAgV48NG

Use Awakened Deadly Ailments for pinnacle bosses.

Use Ignite Proliferation for everything else.

 

 

Gems Setup

Bow

Explosive Arrow, Ballista Totem, Awakened Burning Damage, Awakened Elemental Damage With Attacks, Lifetap support, Ignite Proliferation. Swap in Awakened Deadly Ailments for Pinnacle Bosses.

Chest

Determination, Grace, Purity of Elements, Defiance Banner, Precision, Enlighten (4)

Culling strike setup (throw on bosses to cull them):

Arcanist Brand, Flame Surge, Lifetap, Culling Strike.

Frenzy and Combustion setup

(fire frenzy for charges, and throw trap on bosses for combustion):

Frenzy, Lifetap, Lightning Spire Trap, Combustion.

CWDT setup

CWDT, Immortal Call, Molten Shell, Flame Dash

 

Leveling Guide

 

Gear Setup

Bow

You want to prioritise ATTACK SPEED. Attack speed is essential for this build, so you MUST have a short/thicket bow.

Short/Thicket Bow
+1 socketed gems
+2 socketed bow gems
17%+ Attack Speed
Craft fire DOT or gain fire as extra chaos.

Can use a Quill Rain or Storm Cloud early on for cheap. Upgrade when you have the $$.

Quiver

Fire damage over time
Attack speed
Life
Elemental damage with attacks
Resis

Chest

Lots of options here to suit your needs:

• Hyrri's Ire is fantastic - spell suppression and DPS.
• Rare with spell suppression and life
• Rare with Life and resis,
• Loreweave.
• The Brass Dome for ultra defence.
• Queen of the Forest for ultra speed.

Helmet

Adds 85 to 128 Cold Damage
Your Hits treat Cold Resistance as 10% higher than actual value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+54 to Dexterity
+105 to maximum Life
+45% to Fire Resistance
10% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Fire Damage
Nearby Enemies have -9% to Fire Resistance
21% increased Evasion Rating
+16 to maximum Life

Blizzard crown with life, resis, -9%+ fire damage.

Gloves

Damage over time
Attack speed
Spell suppression
Life
Resis

Boots

Movespeed
Spell suppression
Life
Resis

Can use Atziri's Step for a cheap option, and provides great stats.

Amulet

Damage over time
Life
Resis
Elemental damage with attacks

Allocates Watchtowers
+16 to all Attributes
------------------------------------------------
+14% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
+32% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
+1 to Level of all Dexterity Skill Gems
+55 to maximum Life

Bonus if you can get +1 gems or even better +2 gems (fire/dex gems).

Rings

Life
Accuracy
Resis
Curse on hit with flammability
Elemental damage with attacks

The new ring Polaric Devastation is AMAZING for the extra DPS by covering enemies in ash. If your defence/life is all good, then opt for this ring in your LEFT slot.

Belt:

• Dyadian Dawn. Use catalysts to get ignites to deal damage faster at 42%.
• Headhunter is best in slot for end-game (mapping).
• Mageblood is good too, or other life/res as needed.