Level 71 Scorching Ray Elementalist^3.26

Notes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why RF Elementalist League start? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Something new and fun
- Buffed golems + 200% inc buff effect of 4 golems for low investment, if that's not a easy start for the common man I don't know what is
- RF is tried and tested, this archetype has loads of build options and guides available
- Can benefit from Pohx and his website Pohx.net for great info on crafts, FAQ and more. Totally check out his builds, his RF chieftain chef's kiss.
- PLEASE READ THIS: This is a fun but less secure leaguestart with a newly buffed class and skills. Don't play this if you have no clue how to build a character without full-time handholding. 
If this build falls off in endgame there will be many options to pivot to, no time lost :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ General Notes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- This is an idea for a leaguestart RF + Scorching Ray (probably) Elementalist. Not sure how it scales in endgame and what to go for items wise yet.
- RF Elementalist is very frontloaded in power, we'll see how it scales in endgame. There are plenty of self-cast or other builds to pivot into if you're stuck. It will be a great and fun leaguestarter for many
- Defenses are more of a challenge than traditional RF builds, but damage is way higher (assuming golems, merc and AG), so take that into account for gearing
- Have to chase some form of explode in red maps (which is totally fine cause we got more dmg and aoe from golems). Crusader mod body armour probably 
- The build is quite socket starved, so that might be a challenge just FYI 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Campaign tips ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What to use before RF?
Anything you like, I prefer holy flame totem but rolling magma is great too, or any spell you like, go crazy

How to get to RF fast?
- Rush first Fire Mastery and get 1 Life Regen per uncapped Fire res - this with high Fire Res allows you to play RF at lvl 16-18 or so. Get a minimum of 120 fire res/life regen or you'll slowly die.
- Get 2 Ruby rings (sell iron ring + red gem) and bench craft Fire res on those and on all other items, easy done now you are off. Sell Unidentified blue items to collect transmute shards for Fire Res benchcraft

Pick a single target skill to use
- Scorching Ray or Fire Trap are good options, both amazing damage during leveling when you get your golems. SR will be more damage during the endgame. 
BTW: Scorching Ray is not a channel skill like people think: it's more mobile. The debuff that does damage is applied on the target so you can move in between (or Frostblink), as long as you keep the 1.5s debuff up. 

What bandits?
Kraitlyn for mov speed and Kill All for bonus point are both good, pick what you prefer.

What about Resistances?
Purity of Elements early on, also gives ailment immunity. Eventually you swap that for Purity of fire for the max res and by then you have some gear to cap defenses in general or close to at least. Some chaos res also comes from the golem, hopefully he doesn't die. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Passive Tree ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- This is a base tree for you to work with, adjust minor details at your preference
- Consider Agility (+30 dex) nodes if you are short on dexterity
- You can craft an easy weapon with Essence of Fear on a fractured base during maps if you have Spiritual Aid on the tree. Or just buy a cheap Balefire Opal Sceptre to start.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Itemization ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Good items modifiers to look for are: Life, Regen Rate, Resistances, Regen, DOT/Fire DOT multi, Burning damage, Fire damage and +1 to Fire/Spell Skill levels
- go to https://pohx.net/crafts/ for crafting tips on all items. This man is simply the RF guy to go, everybody loves Pohx.

Early Game Uniques
- Immortal Flesh Belt (very good until far into late game)
- Rise of the Phoenix Kite Shield (helps a lot with max res + life regen)
- Balefire Opal Sceptre (probably cheap option to start with from lvl 60 on for a cheap 4L lvl 25 Scorching Ray)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Endgame tips ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Lifetap and Swift Affliction need to be paired as support gems for RF and Fire Trap to have an effect. Use them in a 5L (RF, burn dmg, ele focus, lifetap, swift affl.) or 6L (see skills). Alternative 5L setup (RF, burn dmg, ele focus, efficacy, inc aoe)
- If you go Glancing Blows you'll want a life recovery on block modifier on your shield otherwise just skip it for now (see Pohx.net for crafts)
- Anoint? 'Disciple of the Unyielding' for Endurance Charges

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Builds Transition Options (just to name a few) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Low Life RF Strength stacker with Ivory Tower
- Self-cast builds like Glacial Cascade, Vortex of Projection, Tornado of Elemental Turbulence, Full on Golems (Ghazzy is ur guy), another Ascendancy. Poe.ninja is your friend