2.5 Hardcore Occultist Crit Spark Build (Experienced Player)

POE Link:
https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAABAMBAAMeA-4EBwVCB2MNfA-rD8QQWBEtES8RUBVQFX4V1xa_GkgbJRzcHRQdTx2DHb4fQR_HIG4kiyepKPoqCyo4KlsrCit4LJwsvy0fMFszhzW5O3xBlkM2RwZLrkyzUDBS7FZjV8ld8l8qX2pjQ20ZcFJ2EXn2fIN88H5Zf8aCx4auidOMNo5kjxqPRo_6kQeSdJUglYeio6cIpyunNKyXrrO0xbb6uJO4yrmTu_zAnMHFwfPC7MMJwzrG98u90B_Q0ND12VvbXtvn34rjhOaB6QLr5Ovu6_XsGO_r8h3y4fQo9vz3pg==

PoePlanner Link: http://poeplanner.com/AAQAAOkTEABy34rpAm0ZEVA1uacrS64bJdlbHU8tH5UgwfOiow_EO3y4yn_GMFusl5WHHYN-WSepwcXsGCy_FdeGrlZjj_rQ0F9q6_XDCbmT8h1HBvb8pzTAnOOE8uFjQysKES8DHh9BXfIqC3BSidOMNgdjy73mgRa_D6ski8M6Kjjb57TFwuwqW3n2UuxDNkyzrrNBltD1BUIsnCt4H8cRLXyD6-4c3I8auJMo-oLHHb4zhwPupwiPRh0UjmT3prb6FVBXyQ18IG5QMNte0B_v6wQH6-RfKhBYdhEaSPQou_wVfsb3knR88JEHAAAQAAACAAfQAQPoAQIQAAoJAAAA


I picked up less crit nodes, and shield nodes, but picked up a couple very big key nodes:
Potency of Will: Spark can only hit the same target (per cast) once per second. The base duration of spark is 1.5 seconds, so you need duration to enable a single wave of sparks to hit the same target multiple times for a large effective DPS boost. This also buffs our Herald of Thunder, Vaal Spark, Vaal Discipline, Vaal Haste, and Immortal Call, and Warlord's Mark.

Vaal Pact: 'Life' leech on ES is fairly ineffective with occultist's massive regen bonuses. You can only leech so much per second, and without any leech bonuses, we would be loosing out on tons of leech. Vaal pact regens our ES instantly from the leech, and ensures we get the full benefit. If your innate high occultist regen isn't enough, Vaal Pact is there.

From this point, I'll be making my way to Unnatural Calm for ES, and lightning res cap, which is even better for reflect. Then I'll be picking up Melding and the nearby jewel node (use Energy From Within to convert the life bonuses to ES in this jewel slot). and finally a couple remaining nearby jewel slots.

PoeCraft Link: http://poecraft.com/gemplanner#v11.1O=H1W.0P1y1T.2p2x1W0c.192f272U2X2T.2H2f2X34.0t2N=b11.==.1H.==

These are set up to all be fairly easy to colour, the weapons would be much easier with a scepter (use shield charge instead of whirling blades), or vorici the shield for 120 chrome to 3 red.

Chest (main link)
Spark + Spell Echo + Lighting Penetration + Pierce + Increased Critical Strikes + Increased Critical Damage (in that order of priority)
Until you get high crit, you can drop increased critical strike damage for life leech for even better sustain/endurance

Gloves (Room Clear link)
Vaal Spark + Spell Echo + Lightning Pen + Added Lightning Damage (in that order of priority)
We go added lightning instead of increased crit chance as there's still a chance it won't crit, and you get one shot. Might as well make that one shot always count. Though it usually will crit anyways, just make sure you pop your diamond flask before you hit vaal spark.

Boots (Curse link)
Herald of Thunder + Curse on Hit + Orb of Storms + Warlord's Mark (in that order of priority)
Herald should have near 100% uptime while clearing, giving nice auto-cursing. Orb of storms allows us to apply curses while we focus on positioning further away, or are unable to have herald up, such as for bosses. Bladefall instead of Orb of Storms would also work for instant cursing at longer range (you have to initially get close for Orb), but orb continually re-applies the curse for a longer time.

I went with Warlord's mark for the life leech survivability (instead of using a lifeleech support, and both might be overkill), the mana leech to make mana a non-issue, and free endurance charges for even more tankiness. I don't think anything else really competes in this build when it means losing a support gem for leech.

Helm (utility link)
Vaal Haste + Vaal Discipline + Increased Duration, Discipline
Nothing really to say here. Need to put discipline somewhere (doesn't necessarily need to be linked), and some temporary power. Optionally use Ice Golem instead of Vaal Haste for less, but more consistent damage.

Weapon (Movement Link)
Whirling Blades + Faster Attacks + Fortify
If you're using a scepter, swap weapon and shield links for easier colouring, and use shield charge instead of whirling blades. Shield charge is a "bit" slower and is dependent on character movement speed, but is easier to proc fortify with.

Shield (OhCrap Link)
Cast When Damage Taken + Immortal Call + Increased Duration
If you're using a scepter, swap weapon and shield links for easier colouring, and use shield charge instead of whirling blades. Shield charge is a "bit" slower and is dependent on character movement speed, but is easier to proc fortify with. I leave CWDT and Immortal Call at level 1 until much later, then I usually move them to Level 7 CWDT.

Ring (Damage Bonus)
Wrath
This requires Essence Worm, but 22% more damage is worth it. with all three buffs, you'll be sitting at 84% reserved, but should have more than enough mana for casting, particularly with the leech from Warlord's Mark.

Until you find a Really nice Vaal Regalia (700+ ES), I recommend Skin of the Loyal. It's reasonably cheap at 100c, and the 100% bonus global defense works great in an ES build (100% increased ES from all other sources).


Priority: Resists, ES


Priority: Resists, ES
Movement speed isn't important if you're using whirling blades. Is important if you're using shield charge.


Priority: Must have +3 spark projectiles. Resists, ES


Priority: Spell Damage, Crit Chance, Crit Multi, +Lightning Damage, +attack speed (if using whirling blades).


Priority: Resists, ES, +spell Damage


Priority: Resists, ES, +Spell Damage, + crit multi, Crit chance
Other ring is Essence worm which has only one possible stat setup.


I'm using choir of the storm for a massive crit chance boost, increased lightning damage on crit (pretty much always), and the special proc which is worth about 8-9k DPS. You won't notice it proccing, since it looks exactly like herald of thunder, but that proc can really go to town. Though it can only proc every 500ms, it is a substantial amount of damage.

Alternatively a rare with +Spell Damage, ES, crit multi, crit chance.

We can't use health flasks, and we don't need mana flasks, so it's pure utility.
Diamond flask works as a bootstrapper for your power charges. It gives you two rolls to crit on each cast, meaning you get high crit before you get your power charges, in order to get those power charges through occultist ascendancy. Once they're up you should be rocking 85-95% crit, and the charges will sustain themselves.

- Topaz flask is just all around good, helps against reflect, lightning breaches, and atziri. Make sure it has "grounded" to remove and make immune to shock.
- Basalt Flask is just good survivability, though you could swap it out for a penetration Vinktar's, just make sure you use topaz flask at the same time to negate the shock. You'll need to also swap out another flask to ensure you have freeze, bleed, and shock immunity from flasks.

- Atziri's is a large damage bonus, and even more leeching goodness. Also a very cheap flask, even with good rolls
- Overflowing is great and highly underrated since we don't have any flask nodes. This will help us maintain flask uptime (massive damage and survivability), and it also offers a bit of damage while you're using it.