PoE 3.17 Archnemesis Shadow League Starter Builds
In Path of Exile: Siege of the Atlas, two new Eldritch Horrors threaten to consume the Atlas of Worlds. Here is the latest PoE 3.17 Shadow League Starter | Endgame | Fast | Cheap Builds brought to you by PoECurrencyBuy. These Saboteur, Trickster and Assassin popular builds are also leveling guides, you can check the pob link in detail.
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Shadow Assassin
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Assassin Storm Brand Endgame Build
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow CoC Ice Nova/Spear Assassin Endgame LL Build
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Assassin Storm Brand Endgame Build
Gems Setup
Storm Brand - Swiftbrand - Concentrated Effect - Inspiration (Divergent) - Awakened Added Lightning Damage - Power Charge On Critical
Hydrosphere - Arcane Surge (Lvl 4) - Onslaught - Flame Dash
Clarity (Lvl 8) - Wrath - Zealotry - Enlighten (Lvl 3)
Immortal Call (Lvl 1) - Cast when Damage Taken (Lvl 10) - Increased Duration - Vaal Grace
Brand Recall - Empower (Lvl 3) - Enhance (Lvl 3)
Precision (Lvl 1) / Summon Lightning Golem / Vaal Righteous Fire
Vortex - Bonechill - Arcane Surge - Awakened Unbound Ailments
Bandit: Help Alira
Path of Building Link: https://pastebin.com/ZKRB4jn5
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow CoC Ice Nova/Spear Assassin Endgame LL Build
✅ One of the most fun build to play with big damage for single target and big explosions for mapping
✅ Life version works just fine to convert to Low Life whenever you have the currency
✅ Low life version scales great and allows min-maxing for the build
✅ Fast gameplay, lots of freezes
✅ Immunity to Crits with Elusive buff
✅ Immune to all elemental ailments (freeze, shock, ignite, chill)
✅ High Evasion Rating and Ghost Dance for fast ES recovery
✅ Many chase items to make the build immortal for end game (e.g. Headhunter)
✅ You can do almost all league content (Simulacrum, Deli maps, Sirus, Maven etc.)
❌ This build can not do Elemental Reflect Map
❌ Life to Low Life conversion will require respeccing many passive points
❌ It can be expensive depending on the Meta builds for the league
What is Low Life?
Low life (LL) is a condition that applies when life falls below 50%. LL builds are enabled by reservation of life below 50% using for auras like "Zealotry", "Hatred", etc.
LL build allows reserving mana and life together, which means extra auras can be activated. On top, using "Pain Attunement: 30% More Spell Damage when on Low Life" keystone, the builds are scaled to insane DPS potential.
LL builds stack Energy Shield (ES) instead of Life and typically get the "Zealot's Oath: Life Regeneration applied to Energy Shield instead" keystone for ES generation instead of Life.
LL builds can be maximized by 3 key Uniques. These are:
Shavronne's Wrappings: provides good ES and lightning damage, but it is used in LL builds mostly to eliminate risk of dying to Chaos damage. Chaos damage in game bypasses ES and directly applies to health (same as you apply chaos damage. For example Essence Drain or Toxic Rain). "CHAOS DAMAGE DOES NOT BYPASS ENERGY SHIELD" unique modifier avoids chaos damage to kill us instantly due to being constantly Low Life.
Presence of Chayula: Stun Immunity and Life to Energy Shield Conversion are the main reasons to use the amulet. This is especially become even more important to have due to Stun Immunity removal from Cyclone in the Harvest League.
Prism Guardian: Blood Magic support and 25% Reduced Mana Reservation of Auras makes this shield a must have for LL builds.
These 3 unique items synergies so well that most LL builds uses them (e.g. Herald/Aura Stacker, Low Life Miner or Spell Casters). Unfortunately, depending on the early meta during the start of the league, these uniques can be expensive. I recommend not to start the league with this char, but if you want to give a try, go with Life based build and convert to LL later when you have enough currency.
LL CoC Ice Nova Gems Setup
Main Skill: Cyclone + Awakened Cast on Critical Strike Support (Level 3+) + Ice Nova + Hypothermia Support or Awakened Added Cold Damage Support (Level 5) + Increased Critical Strikes Support + Inspiration Support
Auras: Hatred / Zealotry / Vaal Discipline / Summon Skitterbots / Precision / Herald of Ice / Grace / Purity of Elements / Defiance Banner
Cospri's Malice Setup: Ice Nova / Frostbolt / Frostbite or Frost Bomb
Herald of Ice Setup (Just for Fast Mapping setup): Herald of Ice / Awakened Increase Area of Effect Support / Increased Critical Strikes Support
Damage Mitigation: Cast When Damage Taken (Level 1) + Immortal Call (Level 3)
Movement Skill: Flame Dash or Dash + Arcane Surge Support (Level 6)
Alternative Curse/Cold Exposure Setup: Vortex + Hextouch Support + Frostbite
Extra Damage Boost: Vaal Righteous Fire
LL CoC Ice Spear Gems Setup
Main Skill: Cyclone + Awakened Cast on Critical Strike Support (Level 3+) + (Anomalous) Ice Spear + (Awakened) Greater Multiple Projectiles Support + Increased Critical Strikes Support + Inspiration Support
Auras: Hatred / Zealotry / Vaal Discipline / Summon Skitterbots / Precision / Herald of Ice / Grace / Purity of Elements / Defiance Banner
Cospri's Malice Setup: Frost Bomb / Creeping Frost / Ice Spear or Freezing Pulse
Herald of Ice Setup (Just for Fast Mapping setup): Herald of Ice / Awakened Increase Area of Effect Support / Increased Critical Strikes Support
Damage Mitigation: Cast When Damage Taken (Level 1) + Immortal Call (Level 3)
Movement Skill: Flame Dash or Dash + Arcane Surge Support (Level 6)
Alternative Curse/Cold Exposure Setup: Vortex + Hextouch Support + Frostbite + Bonechill Support[/b]
Extra Damage Boost: Vaal Righteous Fire
Ascendancy: Opportunistic -> Mistwalker -> Unstable Infusion -> Deadly Infusion
Pantheon
Mapping: Soul of Lunaris and Shakari
Sirus: Soul of Arakaali and Soul of Shakari
Uber Elder: Soul of the Brine King (if you don't have the "Cannot be Frozen" mod and Soul of Garukhan
Rest of the Bosses: Soul of Solaris and Situtational depending on the damage type
Bandit: Help Alira
Path of Building Link
CoC Ice Nova Assassin
Low Budget (20-30Ex): 4M DPS - https://pastebin.com/iDNWmttD
High Budget (60-100Ex): 11-12M DPS - https://pastebin.com/Rq9jz7WR
High Budget with Cluster (100-150Ex): 15-16M DPS - https://pastebin.com/wbXpNgQb
CoC Ice Spear Assassin
Low Budget (20-30Ex): 5M DPS - https://pastebin.com/FNWRkpFh
High Budget (60-100Ex): 17-18M DPS - https://pastebin.com/AtU5jmmM
High Budget with Cluster (100-150Ex): 30-31M DPS - https://pastebin.com/0ZaA5fEV
Shadow Saboteur
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Lightning Trap Saboteur League Starter Build
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Glacial Cascade Mine Saboteur Boss Killer Build
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Lightning Trap Saboteur League Starter Build
- + The build has worked great in EVERY league since its inception in 3.5❗
- + Does all map mods. (If no regen, use an enduring mana flask)
- + Does all content and scales extremely well. (FEEL the power growth)
- + Not a meta-life build! (Why be pro-life when you can be no-life❗❓)
- + Use mostly rares. (League start & scale to an epic endgame)
- + Can kill endgame bosses on a 5L. (https://bit.ly/3DhVQve)
- + Works in HC. (High-Block! 7-10k ES, ES regen, ES OnBlock)
- + Easy to start. (Play as life till mid-game then go CI or LL)
- + This builds endgame slaps❗ (Check the videos, see if you agree)
- - If you're new, ES can be tricky starters. (My guide will help you❗)
- - Honestly, having played many other builds, it's hard to find downsides on this one, which is why it became my favorite. (Perhaps needing a Shavs as is the case for all low-life builds)
How to league-start this
I've personally league-started this in every league since 3.5.
Follow the guide and simply level as a life-trapper.
Depending upon whether you want to re-spec some points, you can add temporary life nodes and change them later to ES (check the image in leveling 1-28+ section).
Around the time you reach maps, consider buying cheap ES items for all slots/cheap ES uniques (check budget armor in guide) and switch to Chaos Inoculation full ES build. This is strong enough to carry you to early red maps while you save currency for a Shavs armor.
When to switch to ES
It depends on your experience and your budget.
Some switch as early as act 7 to CI/ES, others level to maps before switching.
If you do not have/can afford a shavs body armor I recommend to pickup cheap ES gear for every slot and choose Chaos Inoculation in the tree. This way you can continue working on stacking ES gear, while gathering currency and get used to being an ES build.
For your shavs, often you can save currency early league by getting the prophecy cards instead.
Leveling 1 - 28+
POB found under the skill-tree category.
Note 1: Always path right side first of the skill-tree towards the trap damage points: Blast Cascade, High Explosives etc. I suggest getting the trap throwing speed points ASAP (Expeditious Munitions).
Note 2: These are tree's for full ES. Adjust them with some life if you feel the need while leveling, however mostly i'd just suggest using gear with life stats until you can switch to either low life or CI and then low life.
Note 3: As you progress from Lvl 28+ take a peek at budget items in this guide to know what you should look out for/set trade filters for while you are leveling.
From level 1, you should use Explosive Trap in a Lifesprig, or whichever wand or sceptre you have.
If you're in a Fresh league start, consider doing the vendor recipe for a lightning wand, it's a nice damage boost early on.
1x Magic Sceptre/Wand/Dagger
1x Topaz Ring(for Lightning Damage)
1x Orb of Alteration
At level 4, you should add Bear Trap for single target damage (use it on bosses or difficult rares, it helps a lot).
At level 8, your Explosive Trap link should look like this.
✔️ Explosive Trap ➡️> Swift Assembly ➡️> Added Fire Damage Support(optional if you have the STR for it)
At level 10, you should add Flame Dash for additional mobility or when it's available for you - until then, you should use frostblink.
At level 12, you can finally transition to your signature skill, it's available after the quest; the siren's cadence. Replace Explosive Trap with the following Lightning Trap link.
✔️ Lightning Trap ➡️> Multiple Traps Support ➡️> Added Lightning Damage Support ➡️> Pierce Support
By level 16, your Lightning Trap Lightning Trap should look like this (gems placed in order of priority, so remove based on how many links you've got).
✔️ Lightning Trap ➡️> Multiple Traps Support ➡️> Trap and Mine Damage Support ➡️>
Controlled Destruction Support ➡️> Added Lightning Damage Support ➡️> Pierce Support
At level 24, you should add Wrath Wrath for additional damage.
At level 28, you should add a Lightning Spire Trap gem setup, this will improve your single target damage by a great deal.
✔️ Lightning Spire Trap ➡️> Trap and Mine Damage Support ➡️> Lightning Penetration Support ➡️> Elemental Focus Support.
While you continue from lvl 28 and onwards, remember to check the GEM section to get the proper setup going when your levels meet the requirements.
Pierce is an optional gem, decide on your own if you prefer it or rather want more raw damage.
Ascendancy: Pyromaniac -> Perfect Crime -> Born in the Shadows -> Chain Reaction
Pantheon: For Sirius boss-fight, get upgraded Arakaali and Shakari.
Bandit: Help Alira for the 5 mana regen/s, 15 to all resists, and 20% crit multi
Min/Max EndGame POB: https://pastebin.com/i8UiMJT0
This POB is only meant for high rollers who can afford big dps jewels. This min/max POB has 10 jewel sockets, while the regular POB has 5.
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Seismic Trap Saboteur Boss Killer Build
Gems Setup
Seismic Trap - Increased Critical Strikes - Trap and Mine Damage - Advanced Traps - Increased Critical Damage - Brutality
Gloves: Exsanguinate - Cluster Traps - Chain - Charged Traps (Use Trap support until you get "Socketed Gems are Supported by Level # Trap" mod.)
The Devouring Diadem: War Banner / Herald of Purity / Pride / Summon Skitterbots
Vaal Grace - Bear Trap - Increased Duration - Steelskin
Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks - Fortify
Summon Stone Golem / Flame Dash - Second Wind
Path of Building Link: https://pastebin.com/rWrBLCTc
Shadow Trickster
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Toxic Rain Trickster League Starter Build
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Essence Drain Trickster League Starter Build
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Toxic Rain Trickster League Starter Build
- + Alch and go: can run every map mod
- + Survivable with 9k+ EHP, 45k Ev, High spell dodge
- + Great Damage
- + Entry gear is very cheap
- - DOT build, so a slight ramp up for max DPS
- - Some people don't enjoy hybrid
Build Mechanics
Toxic Rain: Toxic Rain shoots out a base 5 arrows (pods). Pods can stack, so area of effect is somewhat important. Attack speed is massively important in terms of DPS and enjoyment.
Recovery:
With flasks up, we sit at a comfortable 45k Evasion to cap our QOTF, and 50/75 dodge/spell dodge. This means we rarely get hit, and when we do, we proc Ghost Shroud.
Main Link
Toxic Rain - Mirage Archer - Void Manipulation - Vicious Projectiles - Swift Afflictions/Efficacy - Empower Level 4 (Skip if you don't have at least Empower 3)
For your offhand:
Caustic Arrow - Mirage Archer - Greater Multiple Projectiles - Swift Afflictions - Vicious Projectile - Void Manipulations
Auras
Flesh and Stone - Malevolence - Discipline - Enlighten
You can grab reduced mana reservation off the tree if you want to force Blood and Sand, but I'd recommend just not bothering until you get a strong enough enlighten. You can consider running Dread Banner if you have a low enough mana cost on Toxic Rain/Caustic Arrow, but don't have Enlighten. You may also want to use a level 1 Clarity somewhere else in your gear. This will give you access to Clarity mod Watcher's Eye, and Vaal Clarity which can help with early bossing.
Wither Totem
Spell Totem - Multiple Totems - Faster Casting - Wither
We already have quite a bit of duration, so faster casting helps us build quicker.
IC + Blink Arrow
CWDT - Steelskin, Clarity - Blink Arrow - Faster Attacks - Culling Strike
I've been trying out CWDT Steelskin, and I think I like it so far. Play around with it and see how it feels. We also put Frenzy and Blink Arrow here linked with Faster Attacks and Cull.
Despair
Withering Step - Dash - Despair - Second Wind
30 points -> 50 points -> 70 points -> 90 points -> Full
Path of Building Link: https://pastebin.com/78rTAXNR
[Archnemesis] PoE 3.17 Shadow Essence Drain Trickster League Starter Build
- + Fast mapper
- + All endgame bosses viable, including deep delve bosses.
- + Hardcore viable
- + Cheap, clear upgrade path. Shaper 3EX, uber elder 8EX.
- - Single target lacks, you are not oneshoting bosses.
- - You are a meta slave
- - Performs really poorly in the timeless domain
- - Requires heavy swaps for HoGM (but can actually do it)
- - potentially clunky 1-2 playstyle (altho very fast)
Weapon
Essence Drain - Swift Affliction - Void Manipulation- Empower - Controlled Destruction - Efficacy
There is no variation when it comes to essence drain. You should push for a 6l as soon as possible and buy a level 3 empower. If you only have a level 1 or 2 empower but you have a 6l, you should use Decay support instead
Helmet
Vaal Discipline - Malevolence - Enlighten - Flame Dash
You should put your auras in your helmet because vertex gives +1 level of socketed gems. This means you will only need a level 3 enlighten instead of 4. It will also give a slight damage and ES boost by leveling your auras more.
Gloves
Contagion - Increased Area of Effect - Intensify - Faster Casting
If you use an es base gloves, you should put your Contagion setup here for ease of coloring. Intensify and area of effect supports are mandatory to make contagion's aoe massive. Faster casting is a nice quality of life boost.
Boots
Wither - Spell Totem - Multiple Totems - Increased Duration
I recommend placing a 3l wither totem here. Don't use blight totems, it's lower range, worse hinder and takes a jewel slot. It's a noob trap. Wither doubles our damage against anything that stands 2 seconds in the wither circle, it should be used against endgame bosses.
For your 4th socket, if you do not have aspect of the spider on a piece of gear, you should use flesh and stone in sand stance: Flesh and Stone
If you have aspect of the spider, you have a free socket.
You should put a Phase Run inside. In your skills bar, bind phase run to your left click button to trigger it automatically when you start moving.
Body armor
Here you have some choice. For more damage, the best option is blight:
A CwdT setup is also viable with the following gems:
CWDT - Summon Stone Golem - Spirit Offering - Enfeeble - Steelskin
If you do not have aspect of the spider on a piece of gear, you should use flesh and stone in sand stance
Pantheon: Soul of Lunaris and Soul of Shakari
Bandit: Kill All (recommended)
Path of Building Link (Community)
t16 viable setup: https://pastebin.com/Wev6vzjR
2-4Ex - 6500ehp - 520k ED dps + 900k blight dps
All content setup: https://pastebin.com/Wae7923S
10-15Ex - 7500ehp - 1M ED dps + 1.2M blight dps
Endgame setup: https://pastebin.com/P03cddjL
100Ex - 8600ehp - 3M ED dps + 4M blight dps