Best class/build for fresh start in rampage?

I know it's pretty late into Rampage but I usually play Standard and everything's going to transfer over there anyway. I'm kinda bored so I figured I'd try something new.

So what would be a good class/build for Rampage assuming I have next to zero currency or items? (other than a few alts and alch shards I've picked up while leveling)

A few things that are important as I'll be poor:

Must be able to solo the game (defeat all content on merciless) this means clear speed/defense
Must not require 5l or higher (5l is gravy but who knows if I can get one)
Must not require specific uniques or high end rares just to be functional (this makes me think I'm going to want a spell based build such as freezing pulse perhaps since if i play Cyclone or something I'll need a really really good weapon rather than just any old "+elemental dmg" wand)
I'd also like it to be good in group play, since I won't be able to get 100 iiq/500iir anytime soon and farming maps solo is lame. Auras and maybe CC (freezing pulse again seems good here) would probably be nice for grouping. but i'm not sure if fp is good or bad now as I haven't played it in a very long time.

thoughts?

The Mathil Tornado/Puncture Spec
http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1027037
very good for beginning, completely self-found viable, good for farming, any map mods possible

Well, you killed it by saying it cannot require a specific unique.

As I recall, quite a few enabling uniques are less than one exalted on standard, so I can only imagine how much cheaper they'd be in a temporary league. For example:

Crest of Perandus

Cybil's Paw (best item in my opinion, especially when leveling)

Stone of Lazhwar

Perandus Signet

Tabula Rasa

Asenath's Gentle Touch

Aurumvorax

Quite a few uniques are very, very cheap and yet very, very useful. I only ever use Cybil's Paw, Incinerate, and get through content without any effort. Only problem is mana if you don't spend at least a few points AND are using five supports. But if you only use three supports I can't see how mana would be a problem.

Without any passive investment into any damage or cast speed, I had an incinerate build get to 27k calculated DPS at stage four. Everything melted.

Are you sure you want to limit yourself to no uniques?

If u r a spell friend, i could recommend incinerate build, many out there. U can also look at my ice spear build in my signature, if u like to freeze everything and can close ur eye on ur no uniq requirement ;)