Level 95 Crit Lightning Conduit Elementalist^3.20

Notes

Lightning Conduit / Crackling Lance / Arc Permafreeze - by CantripN

Info: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3229590 

Discuss & improve: https://discord.gg/tNEmmPQfne

Basics:
Use Orb of Storms + Spark early to get used to it
Swap to Orb of Storms + Arc at level 12
Optional: Swap to Orb of Storms + Lightning Conduit at level 28 at least (but only after Lab #1 for 100% Shock Uptime from OoS)
Optional: Swap to Orb of Storms + Crackling Lance at level 28 (I wouldn't suggest this until maps, but you can do that)
Orb of Storms can be used interchangeably with Storm Brand for Lightning Conduit, see what feels better for you.

======= Levelling =======

Levelling trees are provided for 1st, 2nd and 3rd lab on the guide and here. Make sure you check them out by switching between the available trees.

Basically, Elemental Overload for 40% More Damage, and Non-Critical Lightning Damage is Lucky from a Mastery, that should carry you to maps.

Levelling doesn't revolve around crit or freeze. We only transition once we start mapping.
Transition to Freeze happens (usually) once we get our cluster jewels, or at the very least The Three Dragons.

--- Gem progression ---

This section is provided by Enki (https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1147951) with minor edits. 
Take this with a grain of salt, but if you're new to the game or playing casters, it's good advice.

Spark (Enemy at the Gate, Act 1) -> Arc (The Siren's Cadence, Act 1)
+ Arcane Surge (Twilight Strand, Act 1) -> Lightning Penetration (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3)
+ Added Lightning Damage (The Caged Brute, Act 1) -> Inspiration (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3)
+ Spell Echo (The Eternal Nightmare, Act 4)

Orb of Storms (Breaking Some Eggs, Act 1)
+ Added Lightning Damage (The Caged Brute, Act 1) -> Onslaught (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3)
+ Elemental Focus (Sharp and Cruel, Act 2) -> Hextouch (The Eternal Nightmare, Act 4)
+ Conductivity (Lost in Love, Act 3) after getting Hextouch

Clarity (The Caged Brute, Act 1)
Herald of Thunder (Intruders in Black, Act 2) remove this gem once you get Determination
Determination (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3)
Defiance Banner (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3) after getting Enlighten (not really for leveling)
Zealotry (Lost in Love, Act 3) after getting Sovereignty & Reservation Mastery

Molten Shell (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3)
+ Cast when Damage Taken (The Eternal Nightmare, Act 4)
+ Increased Duration (A Fixture of Fate, Act 3)

Frostblink (Breaking Some Eggs, Act 1) -> Flame Dash (The Caged Brute)

Wave of Conviction (Intruders in Black, Act 2)

--- Recipes ---

Weapon with "Adds (1-2) to (21-22) Lightning Damage to Spells" (Level 8)
Rune Dagger + Normal-rarity Topaz Ring + Orb of Alteration

Weapon with "Adds (1-4) to (46-49) Lightning Damage to Spells" (Level 20)
Rune Dagger + Rare-rarity Topaz Ring + Orb of Alteration

Topaz Ring
Iron Ring + Dexterity Skill Gem

You can learn more about levelling here: https://youtu.be/vRy50Og8lDM

======= Mapping =======

Once you hit maps, you want to gradually swap to crit rather than non-crit once you have the gear, and start Freezing.

That means getting The Three Dragons, the Cold Mastery on the tree (Fingers of Frost + 60% Freeze Duration), and better and better gear.

The Large Cluster Jewel mod you want most is Doryani's Lesson, for Leech.
This mod appears on Elemental/Lightning Large Cluster Jewels from Item Level 68. Try to get a base with 8 passives, a Lightning Base is better.

The Medium Cluster Jewel mod you want most is Blast-Freeze for Freeze Proliferation.
This mod appears on Medium Jewels with % increased Effect of Non-Damaging Ailments from Item Level 68. Try to get a base with 4 or 5 passives, there's no practical difference.

The best way to get Cluster Jewels currently is actually Heist. Specifically, Demolition Contracts, as those can get Delirium Rewards. If you're SSF, target farm Heist a little, or if you really hate it, just do Delirium on maps instead and pray.

Apex Mode should cost next to nothing, and is nice for harder boss fights. On SSF you need to do the Heist questlines to get it, it's 100% guaranteed, eventually.

Those should be more than enough to get you to red maps with just a Tabula and rares you pick up or buy for cheap. Again, Heist is the best way to get a Tabula, Trap Disarmament / Agility Contracts often drop that.

Leveling with Arc should be fine, though at some point you're likely to feel you need more DPS, and that's where Crackling Lance comes in, or Lightning Conduit.

I don't recommend wasting time on trading for rares while leveling unless you really feel stuck, but feel free if you enjoy that.

Agnerod West should be a very cheap mapping staff if you want one.