Level 90 Vortex Elementalist^3.21

Notes

> Forum Guide:  https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2661120
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> Skill Trees

	> There are 5 leveling trees and a lvl 80, 90, and 100 skill tree. Select trees using the dropdown menu on the bottom of the Tree tab.

> Life Flask Tip

	> Do not craft a suffix onto your life flask. If the flask only has a prefix, you will only be able to use the flask when you are actually missing life.

> General Leveling Notes

	> In the early acts you can craft a needed resistance for 1 transmute at your hideout crafting bench.
	> If you need Transmutes, sell items unidentified. If you need Alterations, ID them first.
	> Don't worry too much about having perfect links while leveling. Use what you have, adjust where you can, and keep moving.
	> As your sockets fill up, don't forget you can level gems in your "off-hand" weapons for 6 extra sockets.
		> This is especially useful for leveling gems that aren't being used until later Acts or the Endgame (Auras, 5L/6L Supports, etc)

> Vendor Recipe

	> The flat damage to spells recipe is gone. However, there is still a valuable recipe for DoT builds:
		> Selling a wand (any rarity) + 1 Blacksmith's Whetstone + 1 Chain Belt will give a wand with % increased spell damage.
			> The Chain Belt can be Magic, Rare, or Unique; higher rarity belts will give higher spell damage rolls, but require higher levels to use.

> Leveling Gems

	> Act 1
		> Lvls 2-4: Stormblast + Swift Assembly  |  Freezing Pulse + Arcane Surge
		> Lvl 4-12: Drop Freezing Pulse. Add Frost Bomb  |  Arcane Surge + Frostblink
			> At Prison WP, link Added Lightning to Stormblast and buy Efficacy
			> After Brutus get Clarity, buy Vitality and Flame Dash, and drop Frostblink 
		> Lvl 12: Creeping Frost + Efficacy

	> Act 2
		> Lvl 16: Get Skitterbots & Cold Snap.
		> Lvl 18: Get Elemental Focus, Trap&Mine Damage, and 2x Controlled Destruction.
			> Replace Swift Assembly w/ Trap&Mine, and link Cold DoT skills as you're able.

	> Act 3
		> Lvl 24: Get Frostbite, Elemental Weakness, and Bane.
			> Use Ele Weakness as your lvling curse until you drop Stormblast. 
		> Lvl 28: Get Vortex. Keep Stormblast until after Piety fight (her portals are bugged)
		> Siosa / Lvl 31 - Buy as currency allows: Determination, Grace, Molten Shell, 2x Swift Affliction, Hypothermia
			> Once you have 2 4-links, it's a good time to switch to full Cold DoT.

	> Bonechill and CWDT are purchased in Act 4. See the Skills tab for links once you swap to full Cold DoT
		> Stormblast can be used for extra single target DPS as long as desired/needed.
		> Drop Vitality once you have more comfortable defenses and regen.
		> Aura importance while leveling: Clarity > Determination > Malevolence > Grace
		> Swapping to a Shield will lose some DPS but lead to a much faster movement ability.

> Crafting Tips

	> Off-Color Socket Trick
		> If you need 2-4 off-colors on a 4-socket item with high attribute requirements (i.e. non-Gs on Atziri's Step), DON'T SPAM CHROMES!
			> Put the item in your crafting bench. set it to 2 sockets, and use the bench to color them as needed (either 15 or 25 Chromes).
			> If you need more off-colors, set it to 3 sockets. If you don't hit the color, go back and forth between 2-3 sockets until you do.
			> This method uses mostly Jewellers and saves a lot of currency. 

	> Endgame Wand
		1. Obtain an ilvl 2 Driftwood Wand from the Coast.
		2. Spam Deafening Essences of Woe for "+1 to level of all Cold Spell Skill Gems".
			> If you're ok with a lower Spell Damage modifier, SSF players can use Shrieking / Screaming Woes.
		3. Use Orbs of Annulment to try for an open prefix AND suffix. If you annul Spell Damage or the +1 Gems, start again at step 2.
		4. Craft "Prefixes cannot be changed". Use a Scouring Orb to remove all suffixes, leaving a rare wand with only 2 prefixes.
		5. Craft "Can have up to 3 Crafted Modifiers", then "18-20% Cold DoT Multi" and "21-30% increased DoT".
		6. Wand has 1 open mod. Get a Fenumus beast via trade / Einhar missions and fight it to craft "Aspect of the Spider" if you want it. 

	> Cluster Jewels
		> LARGES: 8 passives, "12% Cold Damage", ideally ilvl 49 or lower.
			> SSF Note: If you don't have a Cold large, there are good Notables on Spell / Elemental / Fire / Lightning damage clusters.
			> You want Deep Chill, Prismatic Heart, and any relevant 3rd Notable if possible. Use Frigid Fossils or Harvest Cold reforges.

		> MEDIUMS: 4-5 passives, "10% Damage over Time" (easier to roll than Cold DoT), ilvl 68+
			> Alt Spam for Brush with Death. Rolling a good 2nd Notable (Vile Reinvig or Deep Chill) is expensive (>1000 Alt average).

		> SMALLS: 2 passives, "15% Armour" (for Endurance Charges) or "6% Energy Shield" (for either ES on Kill or high ES total), ilvl 68+
			> Alt spam for Enduring Composure (Armour), Brush with Death (ES), or Energy from Naught (ES).