(2.4) Way of the Grand Spectrum X10 (Wild Strike Elementalist) HC Essence League

The build was made in 2.3 but with a buff to Wild Strike in 2.4 it will just be better. Because the damage was already good in 2.3, I plan to do this build in HC essence league but with Raider instead for less damage but more attack speed, dodge, movement speed and immunity to status ailment. Have fun if you decide to give it a try. See you in Essence league.

Edit: current 2.4 tree of my ranger so far
https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAABAIBAABeAO4EswUtCC4NHxGBFSAWbxcmFy8YahmOGbQc3B0UI_Yo-ipNLOktgy5TMHEwfDLRNZI31DlSOkI-zz8nQYdB0EMxRUdFnUd-SshLeEz_TZJRR1NSVdZWSFb6WAdaGl9wY6dk52VNapNuqnTteoR67311gKSCx4NthNmGs419jb-PGo9Gj2Ca4JuNm6GcvqIAo4qnCLXytz64k702vea-p8BmwzPQrdNv037UI9ZY2CTYvdrB3UbdqONq6-7tP-2D7g7vevAf9qP56PrS_gr-ug==?accountName=KaptNCrounch&characterName=Aliss

If you are looking to do a ''hipster'' witch build, you are at the right place.

If you are very experienced with Path Of Exile, go ahead and just look at the tree and gear. If not take time to read the full guide. I try to explain every important aspect of the build without going into to much details.

I would like to say to not follow any guide to the letter or don't try to be perfect. As you play any build you'll figure out what to do. Use it as what it is, a guideline.

Hope you enjoy the build.

This tree is what it should look before you get Viridian Grand Spectrum jewels:


https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAMCAQBeAO4EswUtCC4RLRGBFSAZjhm0Gjgc3CPTI_YnLyj6Kk0s6S2DLlMwcTB8Moky0TWSOkI62DrhPs8_J0GHQzFFR0d-SshLeEyLTP9Nkk3jTipRR1ZIVvpX4mOnZU1qk26qdO135XrvfIN9dYKbgseGs419jb-Ovo8aj2CQVZD6ksGiAKOKplenCLXytz64k702vea-p8Bm02_TftQH1CPYJNi92sHcjd1G3ajfbd-w4XPr7u0g7YPuDu9L73rwH_JF9qP56P4K_o_-ug==


Then the tree should look more like this in end game:

https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAMCAQBeAO4EswUtCC4RDxEtEYETNRUgF6QYVhmOGbQc3B8YI9Mj9ij6Kk0s6S2DLlMwcTB8MtE1kjfUOkI6WDrhOw08LT8nQYdDMUVHRZ1HfkrIS3hMi0z_TZJN404qUUdR-1NSVcZWSFb6Y6dlTWh0apNuqm87dO14DXrve8N8g311gseDX4PMg9uGs4qvjX2Nv46-jxqPRo9gkBGQ-pLBmuCboaIAo4qmV6cIrJi18rc-uJO9Nr6nwBrAZs0W02_TftQH1CPYJNi92mLawdyN3UbdqN9t37Dr7u0_7YPuDu9L73rv6_Af8kX2o_fX-ej-Cv6P_ro=

It is a pure elemental melee character. What is aimed here is elemental damage, attack speed, a bit of accuracy, overlord and accrobatics.

The build is viable without:


But really shines when you have 8+ of them.

The ascendancy:
Nodes in order:
-Pendulum of Destrution
-Mastermind of Discord(Wild strike is a cold fire and lightning skill. BUFF in 2.3 25% penetration)
-Liege of Primordial
-Paragon of calamity

Help Oak normal
Help Kraytin cruel
Help Kraytin merciless

Wild Strike - Weapon Ele - Multistrike - Faster Attack - Added cold - Elemental Focus

Added cold or added lightning is one or the other, elemental focus beats having both.

Overlord does not get triggered enough often because of no investment in crit.This setup solves the problem:

Blade vortex(lvl 1) - increased crit chance - CWDT(lvl 1) - increased duration.

Whirling blade - faster attack - fortify:

20% reduced dmg from hits... who does not want that?

Herald of thunder:

grants additionnal dps.

Blasphemy - enfeeble:

another layer of defense that is too good.

Arctic armor:

another layer of defense

Blood rage:

frenzy charge generation

Lightning Golem - Ice Golem - Culling Strike - Item Rarity:

Optionnal but the increased rarity on boss kills is useful

Vaal haste

Detonate dead:

This skill unlinked gives you a cheap relatively fast way to finish dangerous monster ranged(volatile blood for example)

This section explains the early leveling as the first character of a brand new league.

Because you are at the start of the league and have nothing. Using frost blade with last resort unique is not an option. I recommend you play it as a spark - orb of storm caster dual wielding wands.

During leveling, pay attention to gems you will need and gems available at vendor. For example vortex that you will need later and not leveled.

At level 12 you should already have overlord working with
Orb of storm - Increased critical strikes.

Level 12 tree:
https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAMAAREtRZ1TUlZIfIOOvpLBmuCnCNgk37Dr7g==

At about level 18 you will be able to link your spark to elemental focus and faster casting.

Keep leveling paying attention to gear that might help your Spark - Orb of Storm setting and gear that might help your future elemental wild strike setting. The switch to Wild strike elementalist should occur between level 28 to 38.

At this point you will need to kindly bother other fresh starters in the league to buy you gems from vendor. Gems like whirling blade - faster attack x2 - weapon elemental damage - wild strike and also some other gems later like fortify. Ask nicely and offer tip like maybe a silver coin and it will be good.

As I tested it the switch is possible at level 28 but I would recommend doing the switch at level 38 with better elemental gear and wild strike- multistrike - faster attack - weapon elemental damage setup.

At this point tree should look like that:
https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAMAAQSzES0c3Cj6Kk0y0TWSPydBh0VHRZ1KyFNSVkhX4m6qd-V8g4KbgseOvpLBmuCiAKcItfK3PriTwGbYJNi937Dhc-vu7SDwH_no_go=

Here is an example of gear after the switch at level 28 a testing character:

This build is surprisingly tanky and offensively good. But the most important is that it is not boring. It is very fun to play. And melting packs of mob with Wild Strike is very satisfying.

Please feel free to comment on this build if you have any questions or suggestions.

See you in HC Prophecy league.

2.2:

Tanky Fancy Melee Witch (Wild Strike Elementalist):