Level 93 Crit Splitting Steel Champion^3.25

Notes

https://pobb.in/y96rfLTnRhO7
https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/splitting-steel-champion-build-guide
https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/quick-reference-leveling-guide-act-8

		
		// UPGRADING YOUR GEAR DURING CAMPAIGN //

--WEAPON --

	ACTS 1-3
if you need a better weapon, go to a vendor and sell these things ALL TOGETHER:
	- the best 2H axe basetype available (buy from your current Act's vendor) (also, if you have 2+ Blacksmith's Whetstones, use ONE on the axe, first!)
	- a MAGIC or RARE-rarity Rustic Sash belt (a RARE one will give you a better weapon!)
	- a single Blacksmith's Whetstone

This gives you an axe with a guaranteed "% increased physical damage" roll of up to 64% (based on the RARITY of the Rustic Sash you used.) 

	ACTS 4-10
- Buy the best 2H axe available to you (from your current Act's vendor)
- use an Orb of Scouring on it (if it's not already COMMON-rarity)
- use as many Blacksmith's Whetstones as necssary (anywhere from 1-4) to reach 20% quality.
- slap an Essence, an Orb of Alchemy or an Orb of Binding on it, hoping for decent "physical damage" stats (both % AND +) with some attack speed. 

if you landed only ONE of "%increased physical damage" OR "adds x to x physical damage" but you ALSO landed "increased attack speed":
	- take the axe into your hideout's Crafting Bench (talk to Helena in Act 2, if you don't have a hideout) and craft whichever "phys" stat is missing, if the other prefixes are not filled (hold the "alt" key while hovering over an item to see its affixes.) 
**DO NOT SPEND YOUR CHAOS ORBS ON THIS CRAFT! CHOOSE A LOWER TIER!

--ARMOR--

- you're simply looking for as much LIFE and RESISTANCES as possible. 
- look to equip "armor" or "armor/evasion" basetypes, as they have the highest chance at the correct-color-sockets.

again, remember to utilize your CRAFTING BENCH to fill one empty affix slot on an item!



		// NOTABLE INFO ABOUT THIS BUILD

1) relies heavily on using HP instead of mana (quite risky if you don't have the HP and regen to back that up)

2) requires 3 Enlighten Support gems which are DROP-ONLY and tend to be very expensive in trading

3) relies on you having more ACCURACY RATING than HP (for the PRECISE TECHNIQUE passive skill)

4) uses LIFETAP on every skill (~end of campaign/start of maps) to avoid mana issues 
--> meaning auras like Determination, Grace and Pride can be all on and almost all of your mana reserved!
--> MANA FLASK NO LONGER NEEDED at that point, instead:  Divine Life, Granite, Jade, Basalt, Quicksilver Flask

5) uses LIFETAP and CORRUPTING FEVER to intentionally fall below 50% HP and proc the Champion Ascendancy skill "FIRST TO STRIKE LAST TO FALL" for more damage

6) utilizes ARMOR and EVASION for HP regen (passive skill ARMOR AND EVASION MASTERY)
--> meaning DETERMINATION and GRACE are mandatory (they increase armor and evasion by A LOT; take a look at character sheet turning them on/off)

7) because of how RETURNING PROJECTILES works, you are supposed to stay in MELEE RANGE/very near bosses


	
		// JEWELS (the Uniques might not be necessary?)

0) have by Mid Maps (Yellow Maps?)

1) decent small Jewel (Impale Chance + AttSpeed/damage/Max Life) usually costs 1-10 c [the guide wants 2-4]

2) Medium Cluster with Eye to Eye and Repeater costs 100 c to 1-5 Divine Orbs

3) Large Cluster with Battle-Hardened and Master the Fundamentals 5-20 Divine Orbs (d)

4) Lethal Pride Unique Jewel: 90c to 1d, Watcher's Eye: 5-20c, Ancestral Vision: 3d


		// PANTHEONS

1) recommended are SOUL OF THE BRINE KING and SOUL OF ABERRATH (see build: https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/splitting-steel-champion-pantheons-ascendancy-bandits)

2) upgrade in ATLAS with Divine Vessel: https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/The_Pantheon
--> Brine King:	  Capture Captain Tanner Lightfoot in Coral Ruins Map 	(100% chance to Avoid being Frozen)
--> Aberrath:		 Capture Mephod, the Earth Scorcher in Summit Map 		(Unaffected by Burning Ground)