Level 93 Hybrid Skeletal Reaver Witch^0.1

Notes

###############################
Kusnier's Skeletal Reavers Lich
TABLE OF CONTENTS
###############################

1. Build Overview
	- Who this build is for
	- Reavers vs other minion archetypes
	- Build Strengths
	- Build Weaknesses 
	- MoM-lite
	- Spectres
	- Build Updates
2. Levelling/Progression Notes
	- What to level with before Reavers (SRS/Arsonists)
	- When to switch to Reavers
	- Ascendency Order
	- Venom Crypts
3. Passive Trees 
4. Skill Gems
	- 100 New Support Gems TBD
	- Few notes on some gems
5. Items
	- Levelling
	- Mod Priority
	- Runes
	- Breakdown for each item
	- Amulet Annoint
6. Atlas Strategies
7. FAQ
	- Spectres 
	- Map modifiers to avoid
	- SSF Viable
	- HC Viable
	- ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JOIN OUR DISCORD TO ASK


################################
BUILD OVERVIEW
################################

# Who this build is for
This build/guide has been designed with Path of Exile beginner in mind - even if you never played Path of Exile before, ideally you should be able to follow this guide.
While this build aims to be simple and beginner-friendly, that does not mean it's weak or exclusively for beginners. This build is perfectly capable of clearing the whole content of the game.

# Reavers vs other minion archetypes
The main strength of Skeletal Reavers is single target damage (i.e. bossing) and survivability.
The survivability/safety of this build comes from the fact we are using melee minions - this means they are much more useful for body blocking enemies and drawing aggro - most enemies never come close to us.
Other minion archetypes are usually faster at clearing, but with the Lich ascendency Reavers should become much faster at clearing too.

# Build Strengths
- Easy, safe & simple to play
- Very strong and safe bosser
- Jack of all Trades (good at most mechanics/atlas strategies)
- Great leaguestarter/very easy campaign once build comes online around level 40
- Has a simple & steady progression curve - you can gradually invest more & more into this build to scale it over time, there are no major brick walls in progression
- Simple itemization/modifiers/crafting

# Build Weaknesses
- Not the fastest giga-mapper out there (7/10) - but likely much improved with the Lich chaos explosions
- Reavers require a few +minion skill modifiers to pop-off in campaign
- Minion builds aren't for everyone - some players can find them boring and/or clunky (body blocking, getting stuck etc. although this is being gradually improved by GGG)

# MoM-Lite
With the removal of Grim Feast in 0.2, I decided to go for a Life/Mana Hybrid build (even with a bit of extra ES).
I opted against the Mind-over-Matter notable, as the reduced mana recovery may prove too much of a downside with the mana drain from Lich ascendency.
Instead we stack Life but pick up 18% of damage taken from Mana before Life from the tree, and can further increase that via Sapphire Jewels as well (4% suffix mod). Getting 30%+ should be the endgame goal. 

I may change my opinion and update the build to a full MoM build as I play more with this ascendency/build, depends on the mana recovery - stay tuned for updates.

# Spectres
There will almost certainly be some worthwhile Spectres to add to this build (most likely some sort of utility - an aura/buffing spectre).
However, this is all very unclear for now so I'm not recommending any from day 1. 
Once I play more with the patch/build I will update the build with recommended Spectres - again, stay tuned for.

# Build Updates
There are a ton of unknowns going into 0.2 and the build will be dynamically updated over the coming weeks as we discover new synergies.
Make sure to check out the my YouTube guide/channel for updated PoBs etc.
https://www.youtube.com/@Kusnierr

################################
LEVELLING/PROGRESSION NOTES
################################

# What to level with before unlocking Reavers
Reavers items/tree is basically identical to an SRS tree so I recommend using SRS (with Snipers and then Arsonists) for levelling until you unlock Skeletal Reavers.
Refer to the 'Levelling' Skills setup.
To avoid reinventing the wheel here, for more detailed information you can check out below levelling resources on SRS:

https://maxroll.gg/poe2/build-guides/minion-army-infernalist-leveling-guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WId8jvesTfM

# When to switch to Reavers
Base level Reavers (unlocked at level 31) feel pretty weak to start with. To really come online they require around +3 minion levels from gear.
I usually switch to Reavers around level 35-40 (use SRS/Arsonists until then), when I have +3/+4 Minion levels from gear. You should be aiming to have:

+2 from Sceptre (+3 available from ilvl 36 bases)
+1 from Helmet (+2 available from ilvl 41 bases)
+1 from Amulet (+2 available from ilvl 41 bases)

Once you have +3 you can safely switch to Reavers, although the more the better (aim for +6 or more around level 50).
(In Trade league those items with no other mods are only a couple of Exalts, but you will likely find them in campaign yourself anyway)

# Ascendency order
Rupture The Soul (Make sure to be casting Vulnerability as much as possible)
Necromantic Conduit
Blackened Heart
Crystalline Phylactery

# Venom Crypts
Normal: Mana Regeneration (Ailment Threshold is also good, kind of depends how impactful the 5% mana drain of Lich will be, but I'll be going Mana Regen on my day1 character)
Cruel: Chaos Resistance

################################
PASSIVE TREES
################################

Not much to really say here, just follow the provided Trees in order.
In case of any questions or suggestions feel free to reach out.

Once you complete your endgame tree, just pick up any remaining nearby +10% minion damage nodes or some mana/mana regen nodes if struggling with mana.

################################
SKILL GEMS
################################

THERE ARE OVER 100 NEW, UNDISCOVERED SUPPORT GEMS COMING IN PATCH 0.2.
THE GEMS WILL BE UPDATED WITH NEW SUPPORT GEMS AFTER TESTING ONCE PATCH GOES LIVE - STAY TUNED.

In this 'Notes' section I will just discuss reasoning for particular choices/provide alternatives/make extra notes.
For full list of all suggested skill gems and links refer to the 'Skills' Tab. 

# Vulnerability
Don't need to be 6-linked. Be careful not to use too many support gems that multiply the cost, high level curses can get very expensive.
Also, do not need to level the curse gem too high, provides marginal benefit - we mostly use it for the chaos explosions so if mana cost is a problem, downgrade the level.

# Pain Offering
Similarly to the Curses, you do not actually benefit all that much from level 20 Pain Offering/having it 6-linked.
If mana is an issue, do not level it as high/remove some cost scaling support gems.

# Detonate Dead
Bonus low mana cost damage ability that can help with clear/mapping. Not strictly needed if you don't want to use it.
Can use Raise Zombies instead but costs more mana which can cause problems for Necromantic Conduit.

# Clarity/Vitality
Make sure to socket one or two of those it in the Sceptre aura.
If you don't have mana issues at all then can drop Clarity obviously.

################################
ITEMS
################################

# Leveling
The 'Leveling' items set includes strong minion levelling uniques to look out for - but none of them are necessary for the build to work.
The key things you are looking for while levelling is +minion levels on Sceptre/Helmet/Amulet.
Secondary priority while levelling is spirit/life/resistances/attributes.

# Overall mod priority summary
Level of Minion Gems/Spirit/Life/Mana/Resistances/Attributes

# Which Runes to Socket
Lots of new runes are being added in 0.2 so hard to say what will be best before playing.
Currently I am using +chaos res or standard res runes to cap res, so those are the safe choices, but that will likely change in 0.2.

# Sceptre
+Spirit and +Minion levels most important, then +%inc minion damage.
Also good to get extra STR/INT here if possible.
Presence mods are weaker now (smaller range) so less important.
Omen Base best for Aura, but not worth giving up a much better Sceptre for.

# Helmet
As much life/mana as possible and +2 Minion levels. Res/attributes in remaining suffixes.

# Amulet
Stellar base also fine.
Spirit and Minion levels most important.
Recoup very nice to have but likely very expensive, so can be skipped.
For Annoint:
In case of mana issues: Arcane Blossom
Defensive: Flashy Deflection/Wide Barrier

# Shield/Off-hand
ES Focus or a Rare str/int shield for more defences.

# Belt
Base doesn't matter too much. Res/attributes in remaining suffixes.

# Body Armour
As much ES and Spirit as possible. Res/attributes in suffixes, but not at a significant cost to total ES - this item is our main source of ES.

# Gloves
As much Life/mana as possible. Res/attributes in suffixes.

# Boots
30-35% MS and as much Life/mana as possible. Res/attributes in suffixes.

# Rings
Base is not too important. BiS is likely well rolled Breach ring, but perfectly fine to pick up a resistance-base. Try to get lots of res/attributes in suffixes.

# Jewels
minion mods (any 2 out of crit chance/crit dmg/attack speed in suffixes).
Can also look for a few %mana regen mods based on how our mana regen is doing.
Also, consider increasing our MoM-lite pool with 4% of damage taken from mana before life suffixes.
Can also go for +% maximum ES in prefix (depends how much ES we are able to get through items).

################################
ATLAS STRATEGIES
################################

One of the key strengths of the build is that it's so versatile/strong at all content.
There is no real need to focus on any one particular Atlas Strategy/Content as you can farm it all.
Try it all & have fun with whatever you enjoy!

################################
FAQ
################################

# Spectres 
As I mentioned in the intro, there will almost definitely be some Spectres used in this build - as soon as I figure it out I will update the build, stay tuned.

# Map modifiers to avoid
Nothing really build breaking, although reductions to mana regen/recovery are likely going to be the most troublesome.

# SSF Viable
Yes.

# HC Viable
Yes.

# ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
If you have any more questions about the build/guide, feel free to ask in the related YouTube video:
youtube.com/watch?v=yHB-Shr3whE

Or in our Discord server:
https://discord.gg/n6jbK8TZNZ

Thanks for checking out the build, hope you have fun with it!
--Kusnier