Level 95 Crit Lightning Strike Champion^3.19

Notes

Guide written and maintained by Donkster5. You can find the forum post with links to other material here: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3145653

I DO NOT ADD SUFFIXES, except very important ones, onto most of the gear. I do this because, depending on your gear, different suffixes will be necessary at different stages.

As a result, there are plenty of suffix positions open to get all the resistances or attributes that you need. See the config tab where I've added some arbitrary but obtainable, even modest, values to fill in the gaps.

If you see a major mistake in this PoB, please notify me via discord so I can fix it.
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In 3.18 I took this build to lvl 95 in SSFHC without Perseverance or Omni. I died to the Searing Exarch ball phase while trying to farm an Omni. 

Updates: 3.19.01 

					8/15/22 Changed spell suppression values on items to reflect new lower max values. (Helmet/Boots, Body Armor, and Shield)
								
					8/18/22 1. Removed Omni from this PoB. I will not be creating a HC version of the Omni LS Champ as there are too many sacrifices required, gear-wise, to make it worthwhile after the nerf.

								 2. Changed endgame trees to fit current league.

                         		3. Cluster Jewels are now recommended, even without The Interrogation (No longer recommended due to Brittle changes). 

								 4. Getting a small Mana Res Cluster Jewel with Sublime Form negates the mana res nerf without affecting our DPS overall. You can find an example in the Max DPS Item setup.

								 5. There are open gem slots in the endgame setups. Consider testing Galvanic Field to see if you think it is worth it. I'm not adding it to the build as I have a feeling it'll be more hassle
									 than it is worth.
						

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General Notes 3.19: 

* I have made this HC version to maximize tank while still being decently powerful. 

* There are two item sets, two end-game trees (SSF/Budget and Trade), and several general leveling trees. Make sure you are following the right one for your league type and stage. Leveling trees are the same up through
  level 90.

* We are using Assassin's Mark with the Mark on Hit gem when we transition toward a late game Crit based build.

* My testing shows that you want 90+ mana unreserved (without any -Mana skill cost effects) at endgame to never feel like you're missing attacks/casts.

* The Interrogation is no longer recommended for this build due to the changes to Brittle.

* Lastly, remember that the DPS displayed to the left for Full DPS is theoretically your max DPS with proper positioning and both Vaal wells down. It is unlikely you'll need Vaal wells on anything but a nice damage
  boost on a boss. Regular hitting with proper positioning is roughly 2/3 of the Full DPS, as you can see from the "2x Lightning Strikes".


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Leveling Notes:

Grab early melee skill of choice (I like Splitting Steel) until Lightning Strike is available around level 12 (just when you enter Merveil's caverns). A good idea is to have a separate three or four link setup
with Spectral Helix. That way you can have both options up until you get a VLS.

For Spectral Helix, link SH - Trinity - Added Cold Damage - EDwA.

Some people suggest leveling with Splitting Steel and using Lancing Steel when its available in Act 3. I've never felt the need, but you can choose what is best for you.
If you do this, take some of the starting phys dps nodes from duelist start and respec later.

Once you have a Vaal Lightning Strike switch immediately from whatever leveling skill you were using. (You can Vaal Orb LS for a 20% chance of getting VLS, if you're playing SSF)

I suggest dual wielding until you are nearing the end of acts or in early maps. The natural breakpoint is when you have a fast claw with 1.9+ APS.

Any high attack speed melee weapon(s) with elemental dps will do at the beginning. One claw is mandatory when you get the claw nodes and mastery. That should be enough to drop your mana 
flask, or at least make relying on it much less necessary.

Upgrade your melee weapon(s) about every 10-15 levels at the most. In mid to endgame, a Noble Claw is basically as good as an Imperial Claw (BIS).

Use Precise Technique (Notable Passive) until you are ready to switch to a crit based setup. At league start this may be well into maps depending on your gear (yellows or early reds). 
If you are playing this as a secondary build and have decent gear stashed away, it'll be much earlier. 
MAKE SURE to keep your accuracy above your max life in order to enjoy the juicy 40% attack damage.

Transitioning from the Lvl 90 tree to lvl 95 trees has two assumptions:
1) You have enough spell suppression on gear to not need Magebane.
2) You have Crystallized Omniscience
That transition may, or may not, occur at the same time. Take it step by step depending on your gear.


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Gem Availability while Leveling: QR = Quest Reward, P = Purchase, U = Use, L = Just Level(You generally want to stay out of towns while leveling, so some rewards are stacked)

Act 1:

After Hillock:
QR Splitting Steel U link with Chance to Bleed 

After Hailrake/Breaking some Eggs:
QR Dash U and Ancestral Call L
P Ancestral Protector U and Steelskin U (Place steelskin on left click/movement)

After Brutus:
QR  Enduring Cry U
P Blind U (link to AP), Whirling Blades U, and Precision L (When you get Precise Technique notable, use precision at a level just high enough for your accuracy to be greater than your max life)

After getting to Merveils Carvern WP (Siren's Cadence):
P Lightning Strike (link with Ancestral Call) and P Onslaught/Added Fire (depending on gem link colors)
P Spectral Helix

End Act 1 Skills/Links:  
Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Onslaught/Added Fire (If leveling with LS)
Ancestral Protector - Blind
Dash
Steelskin

Act 2:

After Rescuing Helena (Intruders in Black):
QR Herald of Ice U
P Blood Rage and Defiance Banner U

After Killing Weaver:
QR Trinity U (replace Onslaught/Added Fire as soon as possible and make sure you are building resonance)
P Elemental Damage with Attacks L (or link to AP if you have room/links)

End Act 2 Skills/Links
Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity 
Ancestral Protector - Blind
Dash
Steelskin
Blood Rage
Auras = Herald of Ice, Defiance Banner

Act 3:

After turning in Tolman's Bracelet:
QR Grace L
P Anger U (Turn off HoI if you need the mana)

Just run past Gravicius

After Siosa:
QR Fortify U (4th LS Link until after second lab)
P Culling Strike U (link to AP), Flame Dash or Smoke Mine U for ledge jumping, and Conductivity U (for bosses)

End Act 3 Skills/Links
Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity - Fortify
Ancestral Protector - Blind - Culling Strike
Flame Dash
Steelskin
Blood Rage
Conductivity (You may not have enough intelligence for this)
Suggested Auras = Anger, Defiance Banner

Act 4:

After killing Malachai (Eternal Nightmare):
P Cast when Damage Taken U (Link to Steelskin when levels match)

Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity - Fortify
Ancestral Protector - Blind - Culling Strike
Flame Dash
Steelskin - CWDT
Blood Rage
Conductivity
Suggested Auras = Anger, Defiance Banner

Act 6:

After clearing Twilight Strand:
P Nightblade U (when you have 5 Link for LS) and any gems you missed or want to level before using. Assassin's Mark and Mark on Hit are available here, but probably not needed yet. Switch to those when you switch to a crit based build.

Refer to Skills section and info below for suggested skills/links

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Ascendancy: Unstoppable Hero, Fortitude, Inspirational, First to Stike/Last to Fall (the last two are interchangeable based off your desires. Inspirational allows you to run Defiance Banner for no cost)

Bandits: Kill All is recommended (Alira or Kraityn are acceptable choices as well for leveling)

Pantheon: Major: Arakali early (Solaris is end-game recommended major normally, but Lunaris is safer for mapping and getting levels)
				 Minor: Garukhen (A case can be make for Shakari or Ralakesh as well depending on your gear)

Allocation: Cheap: Elemental Focus / Endgame: Utmost Might. Other good options based on budget, Omniscience number, and gear are: Tenacity (BIS), Mark the Prey, Lethality, Divine Judgement, Claws of the Falcon

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VLS Links: (See skills tab for other gem setups)

Lightning Strike 3L: (V) Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity (Make sure Trinity is building max resonance, but it should be with HoI)

Lightning Strike 4L: (V) Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity - Fortify (till 2nd Lab) THEN Elemental Damage with Attacks  (If at any point you're struggling to proc Trinity, Added Cold Damage should replace EDwA or Added Lightning Damage)

Lightning Strike 5L: (V) Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity - Elemental Damage with Attacks - Nightblade

Lightning Strike 6L: (V) Lightning Strike - Ancestral Call - Trinity - Elemental Damage with Attacks - Nightblade - Added Lightning Damage OR Added Cold Damage <---- especially SSF

Lightning Strike 6L with +1 Strike Gloves: (V) Lightning Strike - Trinity - Elemental Damage with Attacks - Nightblade - Inspiration - Added Lightning Damage OR Added Cold Damage <---- especially SSF

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Aura Skills: 

Early on, Utilize Herald of Ice to proc Trinity's resonance. Precision should be run at just a high enough level to keep your accuracy above your max life (For Precise Technique).

Mid-Game -  Defiance Banner and Herald of Ice plus your choice of Grace OR Determination. Precision should be run at just a high enough level to keep your accuracy above your max life.

Endgame - Grace, Determination, Herald of Ice, Defiance Banner, Precision, Aspect of the Cat once you have Farrul's or Replica Farrul's.

Why no Vaal Grace or Molten Shell? Vaal skills share Vaal Souls gained between them. You'll get more uses out of VLS if you just use the regular versions of Grace and Molten Shell. 
(Don't worry, if you read this and didn't know that, you're not alone. I just realized that while preparing this PoB... I know, stupid build-maker)

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Flasks:

1. use a Diamond Flask with Gain a Charge on Crit (Prefix) and Increased Crit Chance (Suffix) (ilvl 82 can give T1 of both mods)

At most one other flask should have Gain a Charge on Crit Prefix as those flasks split the granted charge(s) between them

2. Granite Flask
3. Jade Flask
4. Quicksilver OR Silver Flask (if no reliable Onslaught source) OR Sulpher Flask
5. Divine Life Flask (I prefer Panicked Life Flask of Staunching until I get a corrupted blood jewel)

For mods on the utility flasks I prefer More Duration or Increased Charges Gained
For Suffixes, look for Increased armor during flask effect, increased Evasion during flask effect, remove chill/freeze, remove curses, or immune to shock. 

Unique Flask of note = Bottled Faith, can take the place of Diamond and Sulpher Flask which opens up a flask slot

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Endgame gearing priority in general order of importance: Feel free to jump around as you see fit or can afford

Claw ilvls of importance:
iLvl 63 can give T3 Lightning Damage and T2 Attack Speed
iLvl 74 can give T2 Lightning Damage
iLvl 77 can give T1 Attack Speed
iLvl 82 can give T1 Lightning Damage

1. Keep looking for better claws until you have a great one (T1/0 Attack Speed, T1 Flat Lightning Damage, T1/2 Crit Chance (Benchcraft is okay), and anything else useful (Other Flat Elemental Damage, Crit Multi). 
	The best prefix benchcraft is likely elemental penetration if you have the above mods on the items.

2. Farm Essences (Stockpile those) and farm Jun missions to get some nice gear upgrades and also find the +1 pierce craft for gloves/helmet.

3. Diamond Flask as described above

4. Dragonscale, Titan, or Slink Gloves: Implicits = Searing Exarch for +1-2 Strike. Eater of Worlds for +1-2 pierce or Lightning Exposure on Hit ("In presence of a Unique boss" is best).

5. Farrul's Fur or Replica Farrul's Fur (Tanky) - Beastcraft Aspect of Cat (Suffix) wherever you have space on Gloves or Hat. 
An unlinked red gem socket on whichever item has AoC should have a less duration gem in order to always have charges

6. Aul's Amulet (Anger)

7. Watcher's Eye with Anger Crit Multiplier 

8. Enlighten Level 3 or 4

9. Cluster Jewels (interchangeable with 8 depending on cost)

10. Bottled Faith

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If playing SSF:

At endgame, scaling damage really comes down to maximizing crit chance. Focus on that alot as high Crit Multi is built in.

I've chosen the Searing Exarch and EoTW implicits for Gloves, Boots, Helmet, and Armor that I feel are best, but you can roll with whatever you want.