[3.2] Bobby's Lacerate Bleed Gladiator [Budget Friendly | HC Viable | TANKY] UPDATED!



Intro:

UPDATE: This build still absolutely works in 3.2. In fact, it quite literally got 25% better, as Gratuitous Violence now gives "25% MORE damage with bleeding"! Everything is the same. Carry on!

Hey guys, Bobby Googus here with a forum guide for my Lacerate Bleed Gladiator. This has been a phenomenal league-starter character, and is currently running T14-15 rare corrupted maps with no issues whatsoever.

UPDATE: This build was so hipster that it was featured in a LiftingNerdBro hipster builds video! Link is in the video section below. (2/1/2018) I've also done a Final Thoughts video on this character and have taken him out of budget mode and into high-end endgame nonsense with better gear options, as well as some of my thoughts on the character. Link will be in the Videos section below. I'll also add an "Updated Gear" section so you can see what I ended up doing with the character.

Note that I usually don't make forum guides. I usually just stick to doing YouTube build guides. I'm excited to get feedback from you all. So that being said, if there are errors in the layout of this build guide, please don't hate me, it's been a long time since I've formatted a post here!



Pros/Cons:
Pros:
+ Fast trash clear speed thanks to bleed explosions.
+ Safe trash clearing, as Lacerate has a good amount of range attached to it.
+ Does not require any expensive items to get going.
+ Sword & Board for extra tankiness.
+ No auras are really necessary, we only run a Blasphemy setup.
+ Essentially reflect-proof, as our damage is backloaded. We can even run Bleed Avoidance maps.
+ Completely obliterates Blue packs, Rares, Abyss, & Bloodlines packs.
+ Perfect Form = Free AA = tanky goodness.
+ We don't care about the Vaal Pact nerf at all.
+ Can run EVERY map mod. I don't even ID rare maps anymore.
+ Mind over Matter, a 5.5K life pool, a shield, a Rumi's, and the Gladiator spell block makes us incredibly tanky.
+ No one plays Lacerate so you'll be a special snowflake (read: hipster).

Cons:
- There are definitely faster builds. It isn't slow, it just isn't top-tier in terms of speed.
- Occasionally bossfights can be slow (depending on map mods and what boss it is).
- That's honestly about all I can come up with.


Offensive Mechanics:
• Lacerate ranged melee attacks.
• Lacerate can overlap (double bleeds).
• Eight bleeds.
• Enemies explode on death, dealing 10% of their max life as AoE damage.
• 100% chance to bleed.
• 100% change to hit.

Defensive Mechanics:
Update: I've added some more expensive gearing options below to expand upon the already tanky gladiator nonsense. At this point, I'm runnning a 6L Perfect Form, which lets me run an Arctic Armour buff without the mana reservation, as well as giving us Phase Acrobatics. This isn't necessary if what you're after is a budget league starter character, I just wanted to mention it.
• Large life pool.
• Mind over Matter damage buffer.
• Rumi's Concoction.
• Reflect proof.
• Spell block (46%, 72% with Rumi's).
• Some evade because why not?

Videos:
Spoiler


Youtube Channel:
• My YouTube Channel

Build Guide Videos:
Build Guide
Build Guide
My Video was featured in LiftingNerdBro's Hipster Build Guides video!- Bro, do you even hipster?


Usually I'd have more footage available, but I've been streaming full-time to twitch, so it's all in lower-than-my-usual video quality and is buried in long stream footage, so I felt that just the build guide link should suffice here.


Skill Tree - Bandits - Ascendancy:
Spoiler
Path of Building
https://pastebin.com/zyw2NwDJ

Copy the code from that link into Path of Building, the official skill tree planner. If you don't have Path of Building, download it here-
https://github.com/Openarl/PathOfBuilding

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Bandits
2 Passives
Oak could also work here, but I value the passives more.

---

Ascendancies


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Profile Link
https://www.pathofexile.com/account/view-profile/GeneParmesean/characters


Gems/Links:
Spoiler

Lacerate (in order of importance):
Lacerate - Chance to Bleed - Melee Physical Damage (yes, the Lacerate ranged hits do count as melee hits) - Brutality - Faster Attacks - Maim

Lacerate can overlap, and each strike will inflict a bleed. This is the main reason why I chose Lacerate as our bleed proc vehicle over Sunder or Reave.



Movement:
Leap Slam - Faster Attacks - Fortify


Curse:

Blasphemy - Vulnerability

This did get a minor nerf recently, however it's still a great fit for the build. It ups our bleed damage by quite a bit.

Auras:

None. I didn't want to reserve any more mana than absolutely necessary since we utilize Mind over Matter.


Golems:

You can feel free to run whatever you want here, however I stopped using a golem quite a while ago, as I got tired of constantly re-summoning it. If I were to run one, I'd go with a Flame Golem in SC, or a Stone Golem in HC.

Defensive:

We actually run two Cast When Damage Taken set-ups: (NOTE: the second setup is for the budget version, because there really isn't anything else to put here)

Cast When Damage Taken - Immortal Call - Molten Shell - Increased Duration

Cast When Damage Taken - Ball Lightning - Blind - Life LEECH (I had written LGoH here which does NOT work with spells. Derp.)

The second one really isn't necessary, I was kinda just testing different things to see what'd work best. The Blind is nice, however the LGoH is pretty useless. Possibly Stun or Knockback would be better here.





Gear:
Spoiler

Spoiler





Alternative Gear Options:
Spoiler



Honestly just use cheap rares you find on the trade forums. This build has quite a bit of scaling potential as well, depending on how far you want to take it.


UPDATE- Final Gear:
Spoiler








Flasks:



Jewels:
Life (percent or flat), damage with axes, bleed damage, resists. Anything goes here.



Mechanics/FAQ:
Spoiler

Run up to a pack of monsters, swing once or twice, turn 360 degrees and moonwalk out of there while everything explodes.

Q: Is this build fun?
A: Yes.

Q: Is it expensive to gear?
A: No. Though it has a lot of scaling potential, so if you want to make this into a beastmode character, the option is there.

Q: I don't like axes.
A: That isn't a question. You can use swords if you want, though I feel the Implicit sword rolls are a waste on this character.

Q: How would I build that?
A: Swap the axe nodes for sword nodes. DONE!

Q: Will you play it again?
A: Most likely, yes.

Q: Do I have to play a Gladiator?
A: No. In fact, there's plenty of gear out there that will give you enough Bleed chance to still play a bleed character without picking a Gladiator. Kondo's Pride (2h sword) is a great example of this, which would fit nicely with a Slayer or Berserker.

Q: I don't want to play a Duelist. Could I play something else?
A: Absolutely yes you can! You could most likely play a Raider, Assassin, or Slayer variant (though I believe Gladiator is the best choice here).



Leveling a Lacerate Character:
Spoiler

Don't be a wimp, level with the skill itself! Jokes aside, I always try to level with whatever skill I plan on using during the endgame, unless that's impossible for whatever reason (see: Righteous Fire). If you don't like doing that, basically anything will work here: Sunder, Molten Strike, Reave, etc. I Used the Relentless Fury unique axe for like....40 character levels. That's how much our tooltip dps doesn't matter. Again- all your damage is backloaded.




Passive Tree:
Spoiler


Finished Tree:
https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/3.1.1/AAAABAQCAASHBS0GiwomDPcTyRQgFE0UqRXsGJEaPhpVHHUc3CDjKCoo-i_ML9cwdzGeMk41kjboOlI9AECgQYdDMUWaRZ1Gt0d-SU9M_03jUEdTUlYtWK9Z_lqfXz9f2mEhYVJi7GRSZU1lp2a2bNhuaW87dO12rHgNeWh673zZgZuCx4TZhO-FMoVShmCK8ItPjxqPmZctl3ma4JtqplepbqmVrK-tja5QsKu18raKtz64k7kdvJ-8qr02vni-p8AawL_BBMGCwaPEgs9-02_V-NZY2L3ZYdrB3CfiYeRR6hjr7u3X7w7yL_cy-Ov56PxL_gr-a_6P?accountName=GeneParmesean&characterName=ImPlayinOnSNESlol


Path of Building Links:
Current character-
https://pastebin.com/zyw2NwDJ

I've actually decided against posting leveling trees here, because it really depends on how early you choose to wear a shield/if you decide on swords or axes. Once you ascend, start taking your Chance to Bleed nodes and you'll be good to go.

Pretty standard stuff.



Well, that's about it! I hope this at least helps point you in the right direction. Lacerate is an extremely satisfying skill to play. It melts trash packs, has a good feel to it, and the bleed explosion from the Gladiator sounds cool. Give it a shot and let me know what you think!
Thanks guys.
https://www.youtube.com/c/bobbygoogus
https://www.twitch.tv/bobbygoogus/
Last edited by GeneParmesean on Mar 22, 2018, 11:40:37 PM
Last bumped on Jul 6, 2018, 10:38:50 AM
Very nice guide dude, thank you.
I was just trying my lacerate build but struggling to heal, did you only rely on potion for recover?
I am kinda new to poe, sorry if i asked a too simple question.
"
gn01145600 wrote:
Very nice guide dude, thank you.
I was just trying my lacerate build but struggling to heal, did you only rely on potion for recover?
I am kinda new to poe, sorry if i asked a too simple question.


Thanks for the compliment! Your question is fine, no worries there. So I'm relying on a variety of things- I have a shield and great block chance, so I might block the hit. I have Mind over Matter, so if I do take a hit, 30% of that gets sent to my mana pool, we have about 300 life regen- which helps once we do get it, and I have two life flasks- one is an instant recovery flask, the other is a slower but bigger heal. Also, remember that Lacerate has some decent range attached to it, so playing smart and baiting enemies to attack then moving out of the way is always a good idea. I'll also note that this build does have a small amount of life leech, but since we're a bleed build, we don't do much upfront damage, and thus the leech doesn't heal for a very significant amount (it also heals us slowly, it acts more as extra regen).
https://www.youtube.com/c/bobbygoogus
https://www.twitch.tv/bobbygoogus/
very nice build, currently lvl 40 but enjoying it. What are the priority stats on Jewels that I should be looking for? Life%/Axe Physical/Bleed%?
"
qawsican wrote:
very nice build, currently lvl 40 but enjoying it. What are the priority stats on Jewels that I should be looking for? Life%/Axe Physical/Bleed%?


Thanks! Yes, you're spot on for the Jewel priorities. You can also fill some resistances as well with jewels while you're leveling.
https://www.youtube.com/c/bobbygoogus
https://www.twitch.tv/bobbygoogus/
No Pantheons listed yet.


Anything goes or what? :D
"
Sovekop wrote:
No Pantheons listed yet.


Anything goes or what? :D


Honestly I usually don't list Pantheons because I switch them a lot depending on the content I'm currently running. Physical damage reduction works well though.
https://www.youtube.com/c/bobbygoogus
https://www.twitch.tv/bobbygoogus/
Going to give this build a go!
Can i build a crit version of this build?
"
Tashn wrote:
Can i build a crit version of this build?


I think you could, yes. I'd go with an Assassin most likely; that'd better help you focus on the crit side of things. I'd still try to make my way down to the duelist area of the tree if possible, as there is very good bleed damage down there. Let me know how it turns out if you end up doing it, I'd love to hear how well it performs.
https://www.youtube.com/c/bobbygoogus
https://www.twitch.tv/bobbygoogus/

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