[3.20] Make Cleave Great Again! - Vaal Cleave Champion Beginner Build

Hey Everyone!
My name is Scruffy, and today its time again for another Path of Exile Season!

While the majority of people tend towards Seismic Trap or other mainstream Builds, I am presenting you today the Vaal Cleave Build that I am going to league-start this time!

PoB
PoB and Full Guide
You can find our full written Guide at https://stormfate.com/path-of-exile/builds/vaal-cleave-champion/
Path of Building Community Fork: https://pastebin.com/bNmuRb7x



Gems

Main Skill
Cleave – Brutality – Melee Physical Damage – Multistrike – Rage – Impale

Other Skills
Vaal Molten Shell – Increased Duration – Blood Rage
Ancestral Protector – Vaal Ancestral Warchief – Multiple Totems – Maim
Leap Slam – Lifetap – Faster Attacks
Summon Ice Golem
Determination – Pride – Blood and Sand – Enlighten
Berserk
Intimidating Cry
Dread Banner



Leveling
Act1

To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 3-Linked Items
Pick a Quick Silver Flask as a Quest Reward
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Prison”
---------
Abilities(Gems)
Cleave – Onslaught – Chance to Bleed
Flame Dash
Leap Slam

Act2

To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 3-Linked Items
Pick a new Quick Silver Flask as a Quest Reward
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Crypt” and “The Chamber of Sins”

Bandits
In Act 2, Players are tasked to kill three Bosses, Oak, Kraityn and Alira. You can either “Help” or “Kill” them, whenever you engage with them. You can “Help” only one of them, or kill them all. This Quest will grant Players a Bonus for their Character Power, depending on their choice. This choice can be changed later on if you made a mistake.

In our Lightning Conduit Elementalist Build, we kill all Bandits.

Abilities(Gems)
Cleave – Onslaught – Melee Physical Damage Support
Flame Dash
Leap Slam
Summon Ice Golem
Flesh and Stone
Seismic Cry

Act3

To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 4-Linked Items
Complete the Side-Quest in “The Library” to unlock the Gem Vendor
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Crematorium”, “The Catacombs” and “The Imperial Gardens”

Abilities(Gems)
Cleave – Onslaught – Melee Physical Damage Support – Rage Support
Flame Dash
Leap Slam
Flesh and Stone
Summon Ice Golem
Seismic Cry

Act4

Act 4
To-Do List
After Act 3, complete the Trial of Ascendancy to unlock your first Ascendancy
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 4-Linked Items

Abilities(Gems)
Cyclone – Faster Attacks Support – Melee Physical Damage Support – Infused Channeling Support
Flame Dash
Leap Slam – Rage Support
Flesh and Stone
Summon Ice Golem
Ancestral Warchief
Pride
Dread Banner
Seismic Cry

Act5

Act 5
To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 4-Linked Items

Abilities(Gems)
At this Point, we do no longer change our Gems until we finish the Campaign.

Act6

To-Do List
Check your Resistances (Hotkey: C — Defence), Use Crafting Bench in Hideout if needed (if <75% Resistance)
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 4-Linked Items
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Lower Prison”

Act7

To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 4-Linked Items
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Crypt” and “The Chamber of Sins”

Act8

To-Do List
After Act 7, complete the 2nd Trial of Ascendancy
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Check Vendors for 4-Linked Items if still needed
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Bathhouse”

Act9

To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Use The Blood Aqueduct zone to Level up to ~60 if needed
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Tunnel”

Act10

To-Do List
Progress through every Zone on the Map (Hotkey: U)
Remember the Trial of Ascendancy in “The Ossuary”
Complete the 3rd Trial of Ascendancy before you kill the last Boss of Act 10!




Ascendancy

Ascendancys are Spezializations of your Character, which are granted after solving the Trial of Ascendancys. There are 4 Trials that will reward these unique Talent Points.

After 1st Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Master of Metal
After 2nd Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Mastermind of Discord
After 3rd Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Heart of Destruction
After 4th Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Bastion of Elements



Pantheon

Pantheon (Hotkey: Y) grant Players passive bonuses. You can change them at any time, but you also have to unlock more passives by using a Divine Vessel with the specific Map in your Map Device.

Major Pantheon: Soul of the Brine King
Minor Pantheon: Soul of Shakari



Rotation

Remain in Blood Stance
Use Ancestral Protector
Use Ancestral Warchief
Use Leap Slam to gain Lifetap
Activate Blood Rage
Use Cleave
Use Berserk to spend Rage stacks
Place Banner with high stacks

Last bumped on Apr 5, 2023, 6:58:25 PM
I believe you hate people if you suggest leveling with cleave. It totally sucks at low levels. Frost blades till maps FTW. Maybe then switch to cleave.
Seems great but :

"After 2nd Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Mastermind of Discord
After 3rd Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Heart of Destruction
After 4th Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Bastion of Elements"

Elementalist ascendency skill for a champion ? I am missing something ?

Also how are you regaining mana without mana leech ?
"
naughell wrote:
Seems great but :

"After 2nd Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Mastermind of Discord
After 3rd Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Heart of Destruction
After 4th Trial of Ascendancy: Skill Bastion of Elements"

Elementalist ascendency skill for a champion ? I am missing something ?

Also how are you regaining mana without mana leech ?

no mana leech, no leech in general, elementalist ascendancy, 10/10 build will never try again
I don't get this. I'm a noob (highest character has just reached Act IV), but at level 22 (Act II) Cleave is taking forever to kill anything other than the most basic mobs and Summon Ice Golem isn't available until level 34, yet I'm supposed to have it in Act II. It's like wading through treacle :/
level with Frost Blades, as the other comment said. cleave sucks at low levels
Thanks @Mamluke38, Frost Blades is working much better

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