Level 95 Crit Splitting Steel Champion^3.21

Notes

**************************************************************************************
THIS IS AN EARLY BUDGET POB | FULL GUIDE COMING SOON^TM
**************************************************************************************
THIS IS AN EARLY BUDGET POB | FULL GUIDE COMING SOON^TM
**************************************************************************************
THIS IS AN EARLY BUDGET POB | FULL GUIDE COMING SOON^TM
**************************************************************************************

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you use this guide please make sure to Like the video you came from and Subscribe to Big Ducks on YouTube! It helps me to reach more people
and provide better content.

If you want to help support me further consider Subcribing to my Patreon for special perks!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As always with any build you will need to cover your bases with your gear / skill tree. You cannot rely 100% on this PoB to account for your
exact personal needs.

You will need to make sure that you maintain:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


100% Chance to Impale
 - Nodes on the Tree, %chance on jewels, %chance from Dread Banner (alt quality for more + this is affected by aura effect), crucible trees

100% Chance to hit (A little more doesn't hurt for enfeeble/blind/evasive)
- Nodes on the Tree, stats on gear, blind, jewels, crucible trees

75+ All Elemental Resistance (A little more doesn't hurt for ele weakness maps or altar mods)
- Nodes on the Tree, stats on gear, jewels, Purity of Elements, Flasks

0+ Chaos Resistance (Get as much as you reasonably can but 0 + an Amethyst flask is enough)
- Stats on Gear, Flasks

100% Chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- Stats on Gear, Nodes on the Tree, Evasion Mastery, Quartz Flask,

Enough Strength and Intelligence to use your gear / skills
- Nodes on the Tree, stats on rings / gloves / boots, jewels, attribute nodes on crucible trees

Enough Mana Reservation Efficiency to use all of your auras
- Nodes on the Tree, Eldritch helmet enchant, Jewels, Banner Ascendancy

Enough -mana cost to be able to cast your abilities
- Crafted on Rings, you can also take the life mastery for 30% of cost goes to life

Properly rolled and enchanted flasks, they are VERY important for mapping survival.
- Check the Trade website or roll with alterations / augments on 20% qual ilvl 84 base flasks 

A level 21 Sniper's Mark for +5 projectiles and every 20% of Mark effect will add +1 proj.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frequently Asked Questions

	- If you have questions that aren't answered here join my stream at https://twitch.tv/bigducks and ask me when I'm live.

  	Or join my Discord linked under all of my videos and ask in the designated thread for this build. Keep questions about builds specifically to that thread
	  as we don't want to polute the discord general chats with tons of questions. It is meant to mainly be a hangout spot for people playing Path of Exile or
	  other ARPGs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: My ability is only shooting out a single projectile and doing no damage, what gives?

	A: You need to maintain Steel Shards with the Call of Steel ability, you should be using it every few attacks to do a large aoe and replenish these shards.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: We only use Splitting Steel now? What happened to Lancing Steel?

	A: The change to the way projectiles interact with return mechanics has made the Vengeant Cascade notable extremely powerful for this build,
		as ALL of the split projectiles from Splitting Steel now return to our character and then explode in an AoE. This lets us overlap ALL of the projectiles
		on a single large enemy if we stand on top of them.

		That being said, Lancing Steel is still very strong, it also works with Vengeant Cascade, it is just not needed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: We start leveling with Splitting Steel and then swap to Shattering Steel, but endgame we use Splitting Steel again, when do we swap back?

	A: When you get the Vengeant Cascade anoint. You can stay with Shattering Steel for quite a while and follow the guide mostly the same.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: Wasn't this originally a Dual Wield build using The Saviour / Paradoxica combo? I also see a lot of people using Beltimber Blades.

	A: I've done a bunch of testing and simply feel that Two-Handed from start to finish is simply the superior build. Less annoying, more damage
		and cheaper at every level of gear besides giga crafted 2h sword.

		The Dual Wield version is mostly unchanged, however the issue stems from how Vengeant Cascade and The Saviour interacts. The problem
		is that the projectiles from your clones return to your clones and not yourself, meaning that the vast majority of your projectiles will not overlap on the
		boss as the clones kind of do their own thing. If you REALLY want to play DW with the clones, then you'll want to play with Lancing Steel as your single target.

		As for Beltimber Blades, I tried them out, they do good damage and are fine. The issue is that the playstyle is very annoying as you have to keep
		using a movement skill every 4 seconds to justify using them. If you want to use them spec into the Dual Wield Crit and Ambidexterity nodes instead of the
		Two Hander nodes, most everything else is the same.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: Call of Steel feels way too slow, should I take the use speed impale mastery?

	A: You can! It isn't ideal for damage or defenses but if the playstyle bothers you, drop a few damage nodes and path to Merciless Skewering. RIP Lord of Steel...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: Why are my Splitting Steel AoE's not hitting the boss? (Why am I not doing damage?)

	A: You must stand on top of whatever enemy you want to do damage to, Vengeant Cascade causes your projectiles to return to you, so they explode in front of you.
		If you have issues overlapping the enemy you're fighting, try scaling a little bit of AoE through things like the helmet enchant.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Q: Why do you have 2 of the same Splitting Steel in the Skills section, and why does one of them have so many projectiles?

	A: This is the only way to properly display the actual damage of Splitting Steel in PoB in the Full Damage section at the bottom on the left. We use one
		set for the Main Projectile, and then the other set for the Split Projectiles. We get 5 projectiles from the main gem, 7 from our mark (this is 5 from level
		21 Sniper's Mark and we then have 40+% effectiveness of marks, add 1 Proj if you get 60%), and 2 from Fury Valve.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gearing

	NOTE: Higher Tier crafting info coming soon once I finish the build.

	Weapons:
		
		Terminus Est 	- Honestly too strong of a sword, Starforge trembles in its presence... low level requirement, cheap, good crit, good attack speed, solid damage, Frenzy Generation, 
									movement speed, mana recovery... what more could you ask for?
		
		Hiltless 			  - An alternative choice if you can find a 6 linked one as the free Lifetap link is nice for your main skill, or if you like hurting yourself.
		
		Crafted Rare	 -  Obtain an ilvl 83 Ezomyte Blade with a t2 or higher fractured mod (Physical Damage%, Attack Speed, Crit Chance, Hybrid Phys/Acc) and use
									 Deafening Essence of Contempt on it until you land all of the mods except 1, craft the remaining mod. 
									 Alternatively if you have a fractured Prefix and you hit full correct prefixes with 1 open suffix, you can craft Prefixes cannot be changed, scour to clear suffixes, and then
									 Craft Multi-mod / Attack Speed / Crit + Str/Int.

			Crucible Trees - Looking for any sources of Attack Speed (Not the one that gives Less Global DMG), Crit Chance, Explicit Modifier Buffs, Raw Damage, Support Gems (List Below).
								
										Support Gems Worth Taking in no particular order:
									
											Additional Accuracy, Fork, Increased Area of Effect, Blind, Life Gain on Hit, Culling Strike, Iron Grip, Slower Projectiles, Enhance, Chance to Bleed,
											Maim, Momentum, Pierce, Impale, Lifetap.


	Helmet:
		
		Rare	- Probably just buy on Trade website. Looking for Evasion / Armor, Life, t2 Spell Suppression, and any resists you need, or open suffix to craft resist or %dmg taken as elemental.

			Eldritch Implicits - Reduced Mana Cost of Attacks(Important!), Increased Mana Reservation Efficiency(Important!)
			
			Enchants 		  - In Order of Importance - Sniper's Mark Effect (You will need to be able to hit 60 total% to make this one worth it for +1 Proj), Splitting Steel Aoe OR Damage,
							 		   Ancestral Protector Attack Speed, Any Aura Mana Efficiency.


	Body Armour:

		Tabula Rasa		  - The true homeless hero of leveling.
		
		Lioneye's Vision     - Easy Extra Pierce link as well as some Life, Armor, and Mana Leech.

		Victario's Influence - If you have a 6 link weapon that your main skill is socketed in, you CAN use this and put Pride / Flesh and Stone to get a significant amount of Increased
										 mana reservation efficiency, increased effect of auras, and aura AoE. HOWEVER I do think that a GOOD rare is just significantly better and you should find
										 other ways to get your auras. NOTE: Generosity does NOT work with the auras listed.

		Rare					   - Probably just buy on Trade website.  Looking for 6 Link, Evasion + Armour, Spell Suppression, Either NO life for Life Mastery or BIG life, any resists you can get. 
									    You can craft this on a 6 Link base with Resist Essences if you want. Bench whatever is missing. If you have room you can craft take damage as elemental.

			Eldritch Implicits - All Non-Curse Aura Effect(Important!), Determination Aura Effect


	Gloves:

		Tanu Ahi - These are okay early, the uptime on Adrenaline isn't amazing and we already have Onslaught from our belt, so overall kinda eh but Adrenaline is super powerful. Make sure
						  you have Blood Rage up and spend some life for your abilities to keep them proc'd.

		Rare	    - Probably just buy on Trade website. Looking for Life, t2 Spell Suppression, and any resists you need, can craft attack speed or stats.
			
			Eldritch Implicits - Chance to Intimidate on Hit, Increased Effect of Marks


	Boots:

		Dawnstrider - Good early boots if you don't need resists / suppression. Solid Damage and utility.
		
		Rare			- Probably just buy on Trade website. Looking for Life, 25%+ Movement Speed, and any resists you need.

			Eldritch Implicits - Action Speed, Any you find useful


	Amulet:

		Fury Valve 			    - +2 Projectiles synergizes well with our Splitting Steel overlaps and the rest of the stats are useful.

		The Eternal Struggle - Provides significant stats to help overcome strength / int issues. Global Defenses helps scale our defenses, and damage significantly due to our belt. Just
											make sure that Searing Exarch is dominant if you don't have another source of cull. Take whatever good implicits you can get, really good ones are 
											EXPENSIVE and the supply is basically nothing.

		Ashes of the Stars	 - Very powerful overall amulet for the build but is not as good as a VERY good The Eternal Struggle, that said good luck getting a VERY good one. Scales 
											INCREDIBLY well with alt qualities, and provides us a ton of Reservation Efficiency. Very expensive though.

		Rare						  - Probably just buy on Trade website. Looking for Life, Resists, Int, Str, Added Physical Damage, Aura Reservation for our 50% Auras, Crit Multi

			Anoint - Vengeant Cascade is the only anoint for this build as it enables the Splitting Steel overlap to function.


	Rings: 

		Thief's Torment - Super powerful early leveling / mapping ring that can carry you into t16s on this build. Scales VERY well with number of hits. Can drop the Life Gain on Hit
									nodes on the tree while using this.

		Rare 				 - Probably just buy on Trade website. Looking for Life, Resists, Int, Str, and an open Prefix to craft -7 mana cost of non-channeling abilities. Upgrade to this
									when you feel too squishy. You can also go for Life Gain on Attacks for your ring as well. Base implicit can be Life, Chaos Res, %Life, or + - + Phys Damage.


	Belt:

		Perseverance - The only belt worth using on an attack Champion. Enables us to scale insane damage from our defenses and provides us perma Onslaught.

			Enchant - Accuracy during Onslaught


	Flasks:

		Enchant all utility flasks with Use on Reaching Full Charges, you only have to press them every once in a while for bosses or hard mobs.


		We use (4) Utility Flasks and (1) Life Flask

		Non-negotiable flasks					    - Jade, Granite
		Other Flasks in Order of Importance - Amethyst (Until Chaos Res Cap), Diamond (Until Crit Cap), Stibnite, Basalt, Sulphur, Quicksilver (We move mostly through movement abilities).

		All Utility Flasks should use the Gained Charges on being Hit Prefix, +3 ideally but +2 is okay, you need ilvl80 base to hit +3 on hit and ilvl84 to hit max on most suffixes. 

		Suffixes can go on any of the flasks, you should look for in order of importance, %Armour, %Evasion, %Reduced Effect of Curse, %Attack Speed, %Crit (unless capped),
		%Movement Speed.

		Your life Flask should be an Instant flask, ideally one that is Instant while on low life. Use an anti-bleed / corrupting blood suffix until you can become immune to those effects
		through a jewel corruption or masteries.


	Jewels:

		Watcher's Eye 				- Pride +2 Impale is an INSANE amount of damage, however you need to have Elemental Ailments accounted for before dropping Purity of Elements. This is one
								  				of the single largest dps increases the build can get. Getting ANY other positive mod will make this significantly more expensive.

		Forbidden Flesh / Flame - These can be GIGA expensive, get what you can afford.
						
												  List in order of Importance - Arena Challenger (Run Flesh & Stone), Headsman (If you don't have another source of cull), Bane of Legends (Overall Best choice
												  IMO because good damage and Phys Reflect Immunity), First to Strike, Last to Fall (You can take Fortitude, Master of Metal, or Inspirational and just allocate the
												  other one, get whichever is cheapest), Outmatch & Outlast (2 Hander is considered Main Hand). Nothing else is worth taking over 2 rare jewels.

												  Fatal Flourish is technically the most damage but feels very bad to play because of the repeats, I don't suggest it and its giga expensive anyways.

		Timeless Jewels 			  - Can go ideally Brutal Restraint for Aura Effect or Lethal Pride for Double Damage, get as many of those and other positive nodes as you can, goes in the
												   Wind Dancer Jewel slot. Grab The Traitor as the Keystone for Brutal Restraint as we will use it in a later version of the build.

		Impossible Escape		   - We go for Conduit here as there are a lot of powerful nodes, Hired Killer, True Strike, Reflexes and the small nodes to cap suppression, Path of The Hunter,
													and Overcharged if you need charge generation while clearing.

		Rare								 - Grab Life% and then ANY other 2 damage modifiers, they are all extremely similar. In general Crit Multi Performs highest followed closely by attack speed, followed
													by everything else.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	

Leveling

	Gameplay:

		Make sure that once you have Precise Technique that you are keeping track of your Accuracy and keeping it higher than your Max Life, level up Precision just enough to maintain this. Also
		grab nodes on the tree. A lot of the sword bases have Accuracy implicits as well.

		Point Blank makes you do significantly more damage when close, get up in their faces!

	Auras:

		For Auras you want to keep Precision just leveled enough to have more accuracy than life, after that enable Dread Banner to cap Impale chance, and then you have a choice.
		You have 3, 50% Auras, and realistically early on you can only run one at most. Personally I would run Purity of Elements as I hate elemental ailments and getting ele res while leveling.
		Realistically the best option is probably Grace as it will keep you alive on average most often.

		As for running Auras on your life, only do so if you feel extremely confident in not dying, as typically this will be a bad move since your life total will be small.

	General Tips:

		Make sure that if you are dying you check your Life, Resistances, Flasks, and Links. Update these frequently and keep on top of things.

		Use the bench in your hideout frequently to craft resistances or life on rare pieces.

		Use essences you find on gear as you level.

		Check vendors occasionally for links you need.

		Remember to grab your gems as you level and level up gems for endgame in your offhands.

	Skill Swapping:

		Splitting Steel will work until you obtain Shattering Steel at level 12 and then that is your main ability until you get the Vengeant Cascade anoint. I HIGHLY suggest you do not swap until you
		obtain it as your build will feel VERY BAD. You can follow the PoB almost exactly the same with just using Shattering Steel instead of Splitting Steel in the endgame section until you get the
		anoint.

		The tree section called "Crit Swap" is when you will swap to the Crit focused Links for your main ability. Terminus Est has crazy high crit and enables you to go crit quite early with very
		little investment besides the tree nodes, the links, and a Diamond Flask.

		The tree section called "Spell Suppression" is around when I would suggest attempting to cap Spell Suppression as you will be reaching yellow and red maps. It is VERY important for
		consistent defenses that you max your Spell Suppression. Until you are able to, make sure to take extra nodes around the tree and use the Lucky mastery to get as close to cap as you can.
		Un-spec the Spell Suppression nodes on the tree as you obtain more on gear.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	

Thanks for reading, if you try the build and enjoy it be sure to let me know! If you have any improvement ideas feel free to talk about them in the designated channel on my discord for this build.

Follow me on all of my Socials

	BigDucks on YouTube - For Video guides about Path of Exile and other ARPGs
	BigDucks on Twitch - Livestreams of me testing all of the stuff for my guides
	Big_Ducks on Twitter - Roast my terrible takes, mostly me complaining about stuff
	bigducks on Patreon - Special Perks and early access to PoBs

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------