[2.2] {PHC} Occultist CI + ZO Essence Drains Shield (400% inc MAx ES) (WIP)

I am a perfect noob. I have NEVER reached act 3 in Cruel, so all I know from end game is what I read. I only play HC, and my PC sucks about as much as my middle aged man reflexes. That's why. But I love the challenge of the game. Would have stomped playing for a long while if it was not this hard.

Every now and then I try to make a CI build.
I always fail. Today I died again (lev 23) due to PC crash.
But I will make it again and this time I may survive longer!

Pros:
- ES Tank is fabulous in the end game
- CI as early as level 55! (one of my key goals)
- Levelling with the build strategy from level 18
- 5 chaos worth starting gear
- No mandatory uniques for it to work
- Advised uniques are fairly cheap - Energy From Within is 1 alch
- Zero points respec required

Cons:
- Can not make "No Regen" maps
- Can not make "Blood Magic" maps
- Closest 4th jewel requires 3 points (sacrifice 3x5% ES by Templar start)
- Closest 5th jewel requires 4 points (sacrifice 3x6% ES in center wheel and redesign travel)

Group:
Discipline
Arctic Armour

Solo:
Discipline
Vulnerability with Blasfemy

START:
Lifespring (1) - +1 skill is massive 10-15% MORE damage and you dont need 4L until 31
Crown of Thorns (1) - Defence of a level 28+ item - costs one alch
Briskwrap (9) - Defence of a level 17+ item - cost one alch
Nomic's Storm (16) - Defense of a level 27+ item - costs one alch



Leveling up to 45:
levels 1 - 55
1 - Life and resists
2 - Armor and Evasion
3 - Strength and Dexterity
Ar/Ev hybrid gear with life and resists on shield / gloves / belt / amulet / rings.
From level 25 onwards, update your chest. Look for 300 combined Ar+Eva at least for level 25
From level 25 onwards, update your helm. Look for 125 combined Ar+Eva at least for level 25
From level 30 onwards, update your boots. Look for 175 combined Ar+Eva at least for level 30
Shield: ES (Ofensive option) or Ar/Eva (defensive option)
Gloves: Ar/Eva hybrid


Level 55+ (CI)
1 - ES
2 - Resists to max
3 - Intelect
4 - Dexterity to level jewel

WEAPONS

Essence Drain will only be worthy once you have ED + Void + Controlled Destuction at level 18.
Until then, an elemental spell or a damage totem will work better with added light and added cold/LMP.

18: 3L Essense Drain - Controlled Destruction - Void Manipulation
31: 4L: Essense Drain - Controlled Destruction - Void Manipulation - Rapid Decay
31: 5L: Essense Drain - Controlled Destruction - Void Manipulation - Rapid Decay - Pierce
31: 6L: Essense Drain - Controlled Destruction - Void Manipulation - Rapid Decay - Pierce - Slower Projectiles

Why Pierce before SLower proj?
Despite lower MORE multiplier, successful pierce means you hit (and rejen from) 2 targets at once.

Contagion Link evolution
18: 3L - Contagion - Controlled Destruction - Faster Casting/Void Manipulation
4L - Contagion - Controlled Destruction - Faster Casting - Void Manipulation
31: 4L - Contagion - Controlled Destruction - Void Manipulation - Inc Duration
38: 4L - Contagion - Controlled Destruction - Inc AoE - Inc Duration

Support:
4L: Decoy Totem + Inc AoE + Chaos Golem + Totem and Minion Resist
4L: CWDR + Enduring Cry + Immortal Call + Molten Shell
3L or 2L+1: Disc Blasfemy + Vulnerability
3L: Flame Dash + Vaal Disc + Vaal Disc

(spent points in parenthesis)
(7) Head first to Occultist Dominion, for a total of 74% inc spell damage by level 7.
(16) Back from the starting point, take the ES path to Deem Wisdom, then Arcane focus group since you have a ton of ES thanks to the boots/crown.
(19) Spend 3 points to reach Heart and Soul. Taking the last node of the group is optional (to regret off later).
(23) By this time you are already using Contagion / ED, so lets get Blast Radius group for the Contagion.
You may feel tempted to take a deep deep breath and run the marathon to Zealot's Oath.
Don't do it. The rejen effect is still too small to justify 8 points spent on travel nodes.
(35) Instead, take the whole Melding and Cruel Preparation in any order.
35 points spent you are probably finishing Act 3.
(41) Get Written in Blood for more Life/ES, taking the +30 Dex and STR on the way if you need. I would rather craft them somewhere.
(49) Take the wheel of Unnatural Calm
You are level 43, and finished Normal.
I recommend taking Occultist straight away and wicked ward.
Your tree should look LIKE THIS.

We currently have 185% inc max ES and 71% MAx life.
I recomend you having 2x Vaal Discipline and use them as if they were potions. They give you restore 952 max ES (334 x 2.85) for a few seconds and recharge is not interrupted by dmg.
(54) Now that we are using ES hybrid gear, we want ED to work on Shield, not life. So go get Zealot Oath.
One you have Zealot's Oath, play next few levels with close attention to your behaviour.
Vaal Discipline and the drain should be able to keep you on the shield. with only small minor incursions into life.
(60) Take Growth and Decay group.
(66) Spend the two points on top of Written in Blood and save the next 4 points to get all of CI group in one go.
Take this opportunity to buy a full set of level 55 pure ES gear with ES as #1 priority.
Look for:
200 ES on helm (275+ possible)
150 ES on boots (200+ possible)
150 ES on gloves (200+ possible)
350 ES on shield (475+ is possible)
450 ES on chest (575+ is possible)

ATTENTION - DO NOT PAY OVER THE TOP!
55 gear stage is when most people go CI. Prices are often higher than the following tiers.
IF you can't find a really good item, don't worry. You can find something significantly better rather quick, like 600+ ES chests at level 60 when 700+ is possible.
From here, spend as you see fit towards the stated goal.