Thoughts on [2.6] Glacial Hammer Berserker build

Orb of storms is for Bosses. It's not intended to be a continuous source of damage when mapping, but we need all the scaling we can get because we aren't converting to fire or using poison.

You can grab whatever you want with this pathing.

If you stun frequently with this tree, you better have some defense i.e. Blunt Instruments, Indomitable, Combat Stamina and/or Arctic Armour or even more life, Juggernaut, Tireless or Thick Skin.

Celestial Punishment is situational (considering your past comments) and values are not that high. I guess you just picked these only coz there is no other available nodes nearby. With 3 points, you can pick Skull Cracking, Blunt Instruments or Strong Arm. I still recommend to pick ranger elemental penetration nodes though.

In any case, you can change pathing from Warrior's Blood, Born to Fight, Catalyse or Sanctity to finalize.

I am running low tier maps (lvl 70 atm) now and I respecced to your tree with the AS nodes from shield. It feels smoother, but I shall see once I get the Doryani Scepter (already in my stash).

I am not really sure where to head first - either DMG (cold/ele dmg nodes below ranger) or some more HP (missed some nodes on the way + herba). Also for the time being I did not pick any extra endurance charges to save points. It feels like the tree will only reach its full potential very late. Might be ok though, I guess Doryani will be a huge boost to dmg (although Cameria, which I use now, is also surprisingly superior).

I plan for my tree to look like this at level 80:


Apart from that, I have just done my Merc lab. Also pleasantly suprised to do it on first try with barely the same level as the zone. This got me my leech node from Berserker so I should be able to drop Warlord's Mark. Instead of that one, I am considering several options, such as:
* Artic Armour (not only dmg reduction, also chill to suport hypothermia once u get 6L)
* Herald of Ice + Ice Bite - aoe dmg boost + possibly generating frenzy charges
* Blasphemy + Frostbite - more freezes, and cold res reduction but I doubt this is worth it
* Blasphemy + Enfeeble/Temporal chains - defensive combo
* Herald of ash - now this is a huge question mark. Does shattering frozen enemy count as hell of an overkill? If so, this might as well give decent burn dmg. Plus ofc flat dmg increase. However, I am unsure how does the ignite scale with our nodes giving stuff like "WEAPON elemental dmg" and so. Guess it does not double dip in any (significant) way.

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It feels like the tree will only reach its full potential very late.

Kind of. Because you have lots of damage scaling from tree.

You might better start finding good jewels with freeze duration. It's the "more" modifier to freeze. (15% increased freeze duration means you need 15% "less" damage to freeze.)

Whole point of full conversion GH is the offense or you better go physical/chaos base attack with block/dodge/totem.

Btw, kaom's root is cool with shield charge(+fortify+CoH+curse).

Yea, Kaom's roots could be great with the recent buff it got. It has crazy life pool and saves you an extra skill point. Though you will miss the bonus movement speed I think. Especially given the low mobility one has with multistrike (e.g. getting away in time not to be hit by certain skills).

Aren't you missing the sockets though?
You need 4link for Ancestral protector totem. (gloves)
Chest links for GH. (chest)
Then 4 link for your charge skill. (helmet)
Then 2 auras + orb of storms (weapon)
CWDT + tempest shield + IC (shield)

You don't even have a slot for golem with this setup. Not to mention increased duration for IC and/or blood rage.


BTW as for freeze in jewels - that's certainly an option, but with my current tree I honestly have only one slot for that. Two, if I change my pathing and don't go for Unwavering Stance (e.g. take the shortest way from Warrior's Blood to Master of the Arena).

But the main problem with freezes is currently not the duration, but rather the chance to freeze. Would be great if I could get the helm enchantment for that :D

I am currently running GH as a staff inq. It feels decent, rocking like 20k dps with 80% crit (ignore resists on crit from inq is amazing here).

I did make the noob mistake of getting to much damage early (been playing for years I should know better!) So I'm pretty squishy atm.

So one thing I noticed is the aoe does seem to be affected my splash. I noticed when I picked up a massive shrine. Then I started adding the increased aoe gem.

My build just needs to start saving for a hegomony and I'll be set.

To back up my aoe claims here is a quote back from patch 2.2:

"Any skill with an associated threshold jewel is now supportable by support gems that could affect the additional properties added by the threshold jewel."

"

Aren't you missing the sockets though?

I'm not. If you want all those micro managements, you deal with it. It's your build.

Edit:
"you freeze everything around you forever with high enough freeze chance" this won't be happening. you know it right ?

"

So one thing I noticed is the aoe does seem to be affected my splash. I noticed when I picked up a massive shrine. Then I started adding the increased aoe gem.

I have templar aoe nodes and even thinking blue sockets for 6th link (inc aoe or elemental focus for toughest bosses).

Alright, I reached red tier of maps and started getting killed way too often.
The dmg on 5link was OK, but the leech just didn't work fast enough.

So I respecced to Vaal Pact and took The Halcyon as necklace.
Here is my current tree:
https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAECAQHcBIcEswUtBbUUIBRxFHUW6RjbGjghYCGQIuoj0yP2JDcnLyo4LlMvzDB8Mk4y0TrYPfxAoEVHR35KfU2SUEdRR1W1VkhW-lfiWGNZ818_X9Bi7GVNZlRnoGhlbydyqXTtdPF2rHfXd-N35Xloeu9_K4IHgpuE2YTvhXuHdozPjX2NuY2_j2CPmZBVmFeaap7NogCnCKlurKqtjbF8toq9Nr6nvwjAZsC_wQTBgsM6w-bG2MjMz37SIdNv2CTZfNrB32_hc-Of5FHo1uoQ6hjr7uw47SDvDu-P8kHz3fZI9zL4X_jr_W4=

So far so good, I have to say. Works in red maps like a charm.
The only annoying thing is Blood Rage without regen, but once you master that, it is fine.

Updated the guide with the Vaal Pact info for game.

Works like a bloody charm. Killed some breach bosses already. Also up to T15 map.

Congrats for your GH build !

7 points for Vaal Pact might be optional in the early progression but it's by far strongest defense mechanics when combined with Cloaked in Savagery. As Siliarus mentioned, 2 more jewel sockets ain't bad after picking most of major damage/life nodes available.

Frost Bomb might fit in your CWDT links (another -20% cold resist) if you don't have any gems to use.