Storm Brand - Faster Casting - Added Lightning - Increased Crit Chance - Controlled Destruction - Archamge/Chain/Added Cold show

Consider Empower, Added Cold, Ele Focus - Intermediate players consider using Path of Building if you're starting to wonder what's more damage for your particular setup. Each player will have a different amount of crit chance, crit multi, spell damage, etc. This tool is a calculator for your DPS and it will tell you which links are the best.

Brand Recall - Arcane Surge - Empower - Enhance show
The more levels into Brand Recall the faster and more potent it is. The empower and enhance are just luxuries and are in no way required. I cast this often to keep up Arcane Surge. Remember not to overlevel your Arcane Surge

Heralds/Aspects/Arctic Armor/Curse-Blasphemy. show
Pre-Mind-Over-Matter you can consider using Heralds but I dislike using these at the cost of effective health later in the game. Wrath is really all you need.

Cast When Damage Taken – Immortal Call show
Don’t overlevel your gems. You need to keep these gems relatively low level because we want CWDT to proc at a lower life threshold. By keeping it low – it also limits what level of spell it can cast. Personally, I keep CWDT at level 1.

Whirling Blades/Shield Charge – Fortify – Faster Attacks – Blood Magic – Culling Strike show
Try them both out and see which you like better.
Shield Charge:
Larger hit box to get Fortify on safely.
It scales off of movement speed AND global attack speed so the playstyle of hitting Quicksilver Flask between packs is nice.
Whirling Blades:
You get to use two daggers/swords which will be a huge boon to offensive stats.
Whirling Blades can be cast whether or not you click in range. (Shield Charge will by default walk your character to the range that is necessary to perform the Shield Charge. Attack in Place is a workaround to this issue).
Scales only off attack speed but you do get a bonus to attack speed when you dual wield.

Flame Dash/Lighting Warp/Frostblink show
Try them both out and see which you like better.
It's just something to get over walls with. If extra links then Faster Casting is nice quality of life (also Less Duration and Swift Affliction for Lightning Warp).

Lightning Golem show
Gives attack and movespeed if you can afford to get the links.
Can be annoying to recast and keep up so try having a high level Cast When Damage Taken. Culling Strike, Blind, and/or Increased Item Rarity are good ways to get more value from your golem.

Decoy Totem - Multiple Totems Support show
Great utility totem used on all types of characters. Enemies that are taunted do 10% less damage to targets that did not taunt them. The Shaman's Dominion node in the tree gives you global crit chance if you've summoned a totem recently. Although Runebinder lowers your totem limit, if you link Decoy with Multiple Totems Support you can still cast one!

General Leveling Tips show
When in doubt. Life it out. There's an in-general rule of about 300 life per act that I try and follow to see if I'm "tanky enough" to do lab, boss, etc.
The game is balanced around having max (75) of each resistance at all points in the game. If you are getting one shot and you don't know why - this is the reason.
Gearing is as simple as picking up some life and resists. I'll mention where to get the powerful 2 resist recipes while leveling. If you're in softcore I don't mind being stingy with upgrades. I like saving currency for maps so I'll use essences as a free Orb of Alchemy.
Coloring gear is easy based on what the stat requirements of the item is. An item that requires more int is more inclined to have blue sockets. Dexterity Green. Strength Red. Getting colors not of the stat are considered "off color". This guide wants a ton of blue sockets and a couple red.
In general with Storm Brand it is really easy to overlevel because killing an entire pack is as easy as just dropping a Brand or two and running through. With a good loot filter you can keep running to the map objective while killing.
Speaking of filters, I recommend getting Neversink's latest filter, I use Semi-Strict or Strict while leveling.
I don't pick up Scrolls of Wisdom. You can vendor Orbs of Transmutation or Blacksmith Whetstones for Scrolls of Wisdom.
Rememeber the guide is just a guideline - consider taking more defense (Mind Over Matter) earlier if in Hardcore. Elemental Overload/Lightning Spire Trap if more experienced. This guide is aimed at newer players at a league start.

Act 1- Target Tree show
Buy Freezing Pulse from Neesa
Equip 2 wands or 2 scepters as soon as you can (for spell damage or elemental damage implicits. Buy a 3 link Blue-Blue-Blue if available. Also check the vendor for Movespeed boots. Keep a lookout for Blue Gems on Gloves/Helm as well to later socket in Flame Dash
Useful Tip - the vendors will reset their inventory after you level up!
Another tip for early levels is to not use a Body Armor for a little more movement speed. Body Armors have a hidden implicit of reduced movement speed!
Grab The Coast Waypoint and head to the Optional Tidal Island Quest to get a Quicksilver Flask - use this flask often! Turn in quest for Onslaught Support and buy a level 1 Arcane Surge (you'll be keeping this level 1. To do this - Right Click it instead of Left Clicking it when the gem appears on the side).
Look out for a Blue-Blue-Blue 3 Linked Wand or Scepter (note you cant use 1 wand and 1 scepter) You can swap weapons by pressing X (I like to have one weapon setup with wands and one with scepters - you can use your spare blue sockets to level other gems!)
Go to the Submerged Passage and kill the Deep Dweller for a Skill Point. (grab Frost Bomb as your quest reward)
Link Freezing Pulse with Added Lightning and Arcane Surge as soon as you can. (If have Blue-Blue-Green instead of Blue-Blue-Blue then put Onslaught instead of Arcane Surge)
Advanced Players consider Frost Bomb with Onslaught and Arcane Surge for supplemental damage.
Craft a +1 Lightning Gems Wand/Scepter if you have a Blue-Blue-Blue magical wand or scepter (Wand/Scepter with a Topaz Ring and an Orb of Alteration) - (Topaz Ring is Iron Ring + Green Gem)https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Vendor_recipe_system#Crafting
Make sure you do your Trial of Ascendancy in the Lower Prison.
Kill Brutus and grab Flame Dash. After you equip Flame Dash click on it in your bar and select the checkbox for "Always Attack Without Moving". Link Flame Dash with Arcane Surge if possible.
Grab the waypoint in the Ship Graveyard and find the All Flame and return it to Fairgraves there.
Grab Storm Brand. Put it in your +1 Lightning Gems Scepter with Added Lightning and Arcane Surge
You'll be using Storm Brand for the rest of the game. This ability is strong enough to kill most packs with 1 or 2 casts. If you're interested in the mechanics of Storm Brand head to the 6. Tips and Tricks section to learn more.
Consider upgrading to the highest life/mana flasks from Nessa. Kill the Act Boss

Act 2- Target Tree show
Keep a lookout for gear with Dexterity (generally an amulet) and still look for more Blue sockets.
Head right to the Old Fields and then to the Den to get your second Quicksilver Flask.
Keep heading right and Kill Kraityn.
Back to the Crossroads and head down to get the next Trial of Ascendancy in The Crypt Level 1.
Head left from town into The Riverways grab the waypoint and head up into The Wetlands.
Kill Oak and grab the waypoint in the Wetlands. Go back to the Riverways and head left to the Western Forest. 3 quests to do here 1) Help Alira 2) The Way Forward (Thaumetic Emblem/Seal) 3) Weavers Chambers.
After killing the weaver get Faster Casting. Your Brand setup (in the +1 Lightning weapon should be Storm Brand - Faster Casting - Added Lightning)
Somewhere else have Flame Dash + Arcane Surge
Head back to the Crossroads after doing all 3 quests in the Western Forest and head north.
Make sure you do your Trial of Ascendancy in the Chamber of Sins Level 2. Keep going and grab Brand Recall which you can now link to Arcane Surge instead of Flame Dash (still keep flame dash around for mobility though!). Also buy Herald of Thunder and Herald of Ice if you can afford it for extra damage.
If you're interested in the mechanics of Storm Brand head to the 6. Tips and Tricks section to learn more.
Head back to the Wetlands and open the entrance to the Vaal Ruins. Run through the Vaal Ruins and the Northern Forest to The Caverns (don't enter the Dread Thicket!). Run through The Caverns.
Consider upgrading to the highest life/mana flasks from Yeena. Kill the boss and make sure to grab the spell damage recipe in the room to the left.

Act 3- Target Tree show
In act 3 look out for a 4-link that's Blue-Blue-Blue-Blue. If you get a 4 link it should be Storm Brand - Faster Casting - Added Lighting - Controlled Destruction. If you get a Green Link, consider Onslaught over Controlled Destruction. At that point also drop your wand or scepter setup for a shield/dagger for Shield Charge or dagger/dagger for Whirling Blades. In Act 2 you can purchase Faster Attacks.
Head out of the sewers and hug the sides to enter to Crematorium. Make sure you do your Trial of Ascendancy here. Kill Piety and head back to town.
Grab Conductivity Equip this to Arcane Surge instead of Brand Recall for now. Cast Conductivity when you need the extra burst of damage. Also Grab Wrath and replace Herald of Ice.
Grab the Keys from Clarissa and head to the Sewers. Grab the 3 Platinum Busts in the Sewer.
Run through The Marketplace and head to The Catacombs for your 5th Trial of Ascendancy.
After the trial head back to the marketplace and run through to the battlefront. Find the waypoint, head to the left of the waypoint to grab the quest item and head north to the docks.
At the docks there are two things to do: 1) Find the Sulphite 2) Talk to Fairgraves and grab the waypoint.
Head back to the battlefront. Head north again but to the east of the docks to get to the Solaris Temple.
Run through Solaris and talk to Dalia. Turn in your quests - grab the dex Amulet reward if you need the dex.
Head to the sewer and run to the left. Run through the ebony Barracks to the northwest. Kill Gravicious and head west to the Lunaris Temple.
Run through the Lunaris Temple level 2 and kill Piety for the Tower Key. The gem you get from Maroma does not matter.
Back to The Ebony Barracks and head east to the Imperial Gardens. Grab the waypoint head to the north west and do your last Trial of Ascendancy there!
Do your Lab. Update your flasks to the highest you can equip. Consider rolling a bleed removal flask. Ascend into Inquisitor.
Head back to the Imperial Gardens and go east to the Upper Scepter of God. Kill Dominus and proceed to act 4

Act 4 - Target Tree show
Enter the town and go left to the Dried Lake. Kill Voll (and get the attack/cast speed crafting recipe) and head to the mine after.
Consider doing your first Delve after hitting sulphite to get the 2-3 Socket Recipe from the first Delve Node
in the mines level 2 take the extra time to find the Deshrets Spirit for a Skill Point before heading to the next level, Keep an eye out for any Blue-Blue-Blue-Blue items or heavy int based items that you can use a chrome on to get 4 blue links. (Items which require more Intelligence are predisposed to getting Blue sockets. Dexterity Green. Strength Red.
In the Crystal Veins grab the waypoint and go do either of the side areas. talk to Oyun and grab a Lightning Golem.
Head back to the Crystal Veins and head to the two side areas to kill the respective bosses of the area and grab the quest items from them.
Make your way through the Belly of the Beast and kill Piety. Kill all the mini bosses and harvest their organs. This is a good time to practice casting Conductivity and Brand Recall in your rotation to see how it affects your single target.
Before the boss fight - update your flasks, turn in quest rewards. It doesn't matter what skill gem you grab but I like Increased Area of Effect for your curse. Kill Malachai and proceed to Act 5

Act 5 - Target Tree show
After this act you'll be losing 30 resist.
Run through the Slave Pens (hugging the left) and kill the overseer to head into the Overseer's Tower.
Head through the Control Blocks and grab the Miasmeter on the way to Oriath Square (red X's on the ground let you know you're heading the right direction.
Run north east/east to the Templar Courts return to town to get an Onslaught Flask (I replace 1 quicksilver and press both Onslaught and Quicksilver together for more movement speed). Head back to Templar Courts and run in a clockwise circle to The Chamber of Innocence.
Run in a counter clockwise circle to kill the boss (grab the movement speed recipe on the way).
Head back through the Torched Courts after the fight to the Ruined Square. Here grab the Reliquary items to the south of the Square and the Sign of Purity in The Ossuary.
Head to town - update your flasks turn in your quest rewards (nothing important other than skill points). Head to The Cathedral Rooftop to kill Kitava. You will suffer a permanent -30 resist penalty. Consider crafting better gear with essences or using the crafting bench where you have open suffixes. This is a good time to learn about Item Affixes and what a Prefix vs Suffix is: https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Item_affix

Act 6 - Target Tree show
Head to the left in town and clear the Twilight Strand. This will allow you to buy any skill gem from Lily!
At this point I buy Cast When Damage Taken - Immortal Call and Increased Crit Strikes Support (in SSF I LOVE Increased Item Rarity support)
If you have a Red-Red then link Cast When Damage Taken and Immortal Call together. Leave them low level (explanation of why in 3. Gems and Links)
Run through The Coast and head to the Mud Flats (there's an Optional quest in the Tidal Island if you're looking for an amulet or belt upgrade).
In the Mud Flats kill the Queen to the east and head to the Karui Fortress in the North.
Kill Tukohama and talk to Sin to grab your first Pantheon Power.
Head to the Ridge, run through to the Lower Prison and begin your next set of Trial of Ascendancy (grab the double resistances recipe!)
Head up through the tower and kill the boss. Grab your quest reward and consider a 4 link that you might need.
Head to the Prisoner's Gate and kill Abberath for a Skill Point. Head into the Western Forest and The Riverways and get the waypoint there. Head north to kill The Puppet Mistress for a Skill Point (I like talking to Sin after this fight to switch into Soul of Ryslatha Pantheon). Head back to The Riverways and head east to the Southern Forest.
Run through the Cavern of Anger. Head to the Beacon (grab the life and mana crafting recipe there) throw the flag into the lit Beacon and head to The Brine King's Reef.
As usual - head to town and upgrade your flasks. Having capped cold resistance for this fight is nice. Talk to Sin after killing the Brine King for your first Major Pantheon.

Act 7 - Target Tree show
Head into the Broken Bridge and do the Optional Silver Locket quest to grab a Diamond Flask. I replace one of my Life Flasks with the Diamond Flask.
Diamond Flasks make your Crit Chance Lucky
Grab the waypoint in the Crossroads. Head south to the Fellshine Ruins and do your Trial of Ascendancy in the Crypt. Afterwards grab Maligaro's Map.
Head back to the Crossroads and head north into the Chamber of Sins. In the Chamber of Sin's place the map into the Map Device and enter Maligaro's Sanctum. Kill Maligaro and head to the Chamber of Sins Level 2. Do your Trial of Ascendancy here.
After this Trial you now have the ability to do your Cruel Lab.
After running through the Chamber of Sins and The Den. Go west in The Ashen Fields to kill Greust.
In the Northern Forest there are many quests to do 1) Head into the Dread Thicket and kill Gruthkul. 2) Also while in the Dread Thicket, collect the fireflies. 3) Optional In Memory of Greust quest for an amulet (it's on the way, and is a free rare amulet - I always do this one)
Head to the Causeway run through and grab the Kishara's Star for a Skill Point and then enter Vaal City. Upgrade your flasks. Run through to the act boss and kill Arakaali for access to Act 8.

Act 8 - Target Tree show
I do my Cruel Lab immediately upon entering Act 8. In this lab you'll get rank 2 double resistances.
Head back to town - head to the left and make your way through the sewers to Doedre's Cesspool. Kill Doedre and grab the waypoint and Level 3 resistances recipe outside.
You can technically do either of the sides first - I like doing Solar before Lunar (head right from the waypoint).
In the Quay hug the edges to look for a skinny bridge to pick up the Ankh of Eternity. Help Clarissa with the Ankh for a Skill Point. Grab the Grain Gate waypoint if you see it before you meet Clarissa.
In the Grain Gate kill the Gemling Legion for a Skill Point (if you get lost in the Grain Gate follow the doors with dead bodies in front of them) and proceed to the Imperial Fields. Run through the fields and the Solaris Temple. If you see a door for Solaris Concourse do not take it. Head to the Solaris Temple Level 2 and kill the boss for the Sun Orb.
Head back to the Toxic Conduits and go left this time. Run through the Grand Promenade and head to The Bath House. There three things to do in here 1) Optional Wings of Vastiri (he sits in the middle of the map so you'll end up doing him anyway. 2) Trial of Ascendancy (also grab the flask duration recipe inside) 3) The High Gardens for a Skill Point Quest.
Proceed to the Lunaris Concourse and grab the waypoint. Head north of the waypoint to the Lunaris Temple and proceed to Level 2 and kill the boss for the Moon Orb.
Head back to the Lunaris Concourse waypoint and head south to the Harbor Bridge. Kill the Act bosses and Proceed to Act 9.

Act 9 - Target Tree show
Blood Aquaducts is a very popular farming location because of Humility Divination Cards. Consider staying here and leveling for a while and gearing up. It's also a level 60+ Zone for those doing the Chaos Recipe.
Consider switching into using two daggers (craft spell damage on them) and getting Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks - Fortify from Lily in Act 6
Check out the 6. Tips and Tricks section to see why I value Fortify so much.
Once in Highgate head right into The Decent and progress down into The Vastiri Desert where you'll be looking for the waypoint and the Storm Blade quest. There is an Attack and Cast Speed recipe by the waypoint as well.
Turn in the Storm Blade quest to Petarus and Vanja, talk to Sin, and talk to Petarus and Vanja again for the Bottled Cloud. Head back to The Vastiri Desert and head North East into the Oasis for another Skill Point Quest.
Head to the north west of The Vastiri Desert for The Foothills - grab the waypoint there. Head east of the waypoint for The Basilisk Acid (make sure to grab the Spell Damage level 3 behind the boss!)
Go back to The Foothills waypoint head west for The Tunnel. Do your Trial of Ascendancy (and grab the All Attributes rank 2 recipe). Proceed to The Quarry and grab the waypoint. Hug the sides to find the Trarthan Powder (The Refinery) and Save Oyun from Kira (Shrine of the Winds).
Head back to The Quarry. Talk to Sin and proceed to The Belly of the Beast. Run through The Belly The Rotting Core and Kill all three bosses, Kill the final act boss and Proceed to Act 10.
Note that you can remove conductivity after you have completed your Inevitable Judgment Ascendancy Consider grabbing Warlord's Mark instead.

Act 10 - Target Tree show
Head to the rooftop to Rescue Bannon. Head East in the Rooftop hugging the sides to get to The Ravaged Square. Hug the wall along the west to head into the Control Blocks and kill Vilenta for a Skill Point.
Head back to the Control Blocks waypoint but head out to the Ravaged Square and proceed north east to hit the waypoint. Head into the Ossuary for your Trial of Ascendancy. You can now do your Merciless Lab.
In Merciless Lab you get rank 3 double resistances!
Head east of The Ravaged Square waypoint to The Desecrated Chambers and kill Avarius.
Kill Kitava (you will suffer a permanent -30 resist penalty after this fight)
Head to the North in the Epilogue to get the Movement Speed rank 3 craft.
Check to see if you missed any passive points by typing /passives
Head into the Templar Laboratory to the east and grab maps from Zana - Welcome to the Endgame!

Endgame and Beyond - Final Skill Tree show
Begin progressing through maps tier by tier. Buy maps that you don't have if you're in a trade league.br /> I like picking up Mind over Matter and Phase Acrobatics to get defense as soon as possible.br /> Begin getting upgrades for your gear.