[3.2] TRIPLE your Righteous Fire Damage w/ ANIMATE GUARDIAN - Juggernaut



UPDATE 3/30/2018
My AG died to Shaper because he stood in the beam. I needed convocation! I am currently making a Low Life RF version. Inquisitor might be really good because the consecrated ground affects both you and the AG.

UPDATE 3/25/2018
Added 2 more videos.

UPDATE 3/25/2018
If you can get your hands on a +1 socketed gems Rise of the Phoenix, Saffell's Frame, or gloves, the 3 link of LV21 AG - LV4 Empower - Minion Life will give you a LV26 AG, which is only 1 less level than socketing them in a +3 minion helm. Prices vary, but there are many under 1 exalted in Softcore Bestiary league currently.

INTRODUCTION

This build adds a twist to popular life Righteous Fire (RF) builds. It uses an Animate Guardian (AG), which is a minion that can equip weapons and armour (Chest, Helmet, Boots, Gloves, but no accessories). We get our AG to hold two Dyadus's, which make enemies chilled when attacked with the offhand weapon and take 3x the RF damage. This will not help you clear maps because the AG does not have enough speed and AOE, but he can potentially triple your damage vs Bosses.



People have known this mechanic, but it has not received attention, likely because the AG tended to die too easily. If he dies, all the items he has equipped are lost, and you'd have to go buy them again. But guess what, your AG can relatively easily achieve 53k life and 3000 life regen:



GAMEPLAY VIDEOS
My AG gem is still LV19 in these videos. Watch AG's life (He's very tanky). See the chill he applies when he attacks with his offhand.

T14 Elder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1V-akJdcfE

T15 Elder Guardian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hHpwEAf_xs

Phoenix
The exile at 3 min 12 sec is a good example of what AG does to my DPS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vL5iVoT_hE

I am going to assume you know how to make a typical RF build.
If you are unfamiliar:

Spoiler

Please refer to these other guides below. The Juggernaut Marauder ascendancy is not the only ascendancy that can handle RF, but Jugg is very popular currently due to his tankiness.

3.2 -- Life Righteous Fire Juggernaut -- All Content:
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1985355

[HC] Righteous Fire Juggernaut, b*tch!:
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2100432

[3.2] Demi's PURE STRENGTH Righteous Fire Chieftain! SUPER BUDGET, UBER LAB/Atziri/T16 VIABLE:
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1729087

[3.2] Juggernaut Righteous Fire Build, All RF mechanics explained.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT4VB785D7E

Path of Exile - 3.2 Life Righteous Fire - Super Regen RF Build Guide | Bestiary League by Zizaran:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0zqId1mJDE&t=134s

Other Dyadus-Righteous Fire Builds?
Spoiler
People have used Dyadus in RF builds without an AG successfully, but the disadvantage is that you cannot hold a Rise of the Phoenix or Saffel's Frame shield, which makes you much less tanky. So you'd have to invest in more Life Regen to make this work. Also, Dyadus in the main hand has fire damage, so you'll have to use the brutality gem on your shield charge so it doesn't mess with Elemental Equilibrium. This prevents your attacks from proccing EE.

Example build guides:

[3.2 HC | Video Guide] RF (Righteous Fire) JUGG | dual Dyadus: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2077957

[3.0] Dyadus Dual-wield RF Juggernaut (Guardians down on HHC): https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1972565


STEP 1 of 3: ANIMATE GUARDIAN GEMLINKS
Spoiler

We need the AG to do 2 things: 1) Not die and 2) constantly chill the enemy boss. AG's life scales really well with the gem level, so we use a +3 minion level helmet. (+3 or even placing AG in the helm is not absolutely necessary, depending on the content you are running.)



The main links are: LV21 AG - LV4 Empower - Minion Life

If you have a perfect LV21, 20% quality AG and Minion Life support, this setup will give you a LV27 AG with 53k Life without any other gear!

If you can get your hands on a +1 socketed gems Rise of the Phoenix, Saffell's Frame, or gloves, the 3 link of LV21 AG - LV4 Empower - Minion Life will give you a LV26 AG, which is only 1 less level than socketing them in a +3 minion helm. Prices vary, but there are many under 1 exalted in Softcore Bestiary league currently.

4th gem link is optional. 4th link can help your AG to constantly hit the boss. Keep in mind, his attacks alternate weapons, he needs to hit with this offhand weapon, and the chill only lasts 1 second. So the options are Melee Splash, Minion Speed, Faster Attacks, or Additional Accuracy. Path of Building (POB) shows 69% chance to hit for AG in a lv84 zone, so increasing both accuracy and attack speed is desired. Currently, I am using Faster Attacks.


STEP 2 of 3: ANIMATE GUARDIAN GEAR
Spoiler

At this point, our AG has up to 53k life. Now he just needs life regen, attack speed, accuracy, and resists. This is the gear for your AG, not for you. My AG is wearing these gear:




AG's base resists are 40% elemental, 20% chaos (in any Act or Maps). Therefore, Goldrim alone solves AG's resists. Gloves have accuracy and attack speed on it so AG can attack and chill enemies consistently. Victario's flight gives you a 10% movement aura. The chest is an elder chest with nothing but 2% life regen. 2% is A LOT because 2% of 53k life is over 1,000 life regen/sec.

If you want more DPS and less AG life Regen, IceTomb chest increases the chill duration from 1 sec to 2.5, so it is another great option.




STEP 3 of 3: FEW MORE TIPS
Spoiler


Spend 1 point on the tree near Templar to grab 1.5% minion life regen:



Like most RF builds, make sure you have a Vitality Aura.

In total, these can put your AG at over 5% life regen and 3,000 life regen/sec. Now he can tank anything. He is tankier than I am.

Keep in mind that flat life does almost nothing for AG, because he has so much base flat life. If you want your AG to have extra life, use items with % increased life, such as Southbound, Voll's Vision, and Belly of the Beast. For example, Kaom's heart is actually much worse than Belly of the Beast. 53k life goes up to 55k with Kaom's, 63k with Belly.

For additional regen, consider using a minion regen abyss jewel like this one:


Also, creating consecrated grounds with a Sulphur flask or "Commandment of Light" glove enchant will regen you and your AG 6% life/sec. Convocation is a nice skill as well, and it pairs well with Sulphur flask.





PATH OF BUILDING PASTEBIN:
Spoiler

See the 2 different sets of AG Gear. Life Regen Chest (Defense) vs IceTomb Chest (DPS).
https://pastebin.com/BETyyTza


Q & A:
Spoiler

1. Can AG proc Elemental Equilibrium?
- No. This is one advantage of getting the AG to hold the Dyadus instead of you, because Dyadus in the main hand has fire damage.

2. Can I socket gems in AG gear, such as cast when damage taken?
- Gems will not function

3. If I remove my AG gem from my gear, will AG's gear be destroyed?
- No, he will be wearing the same gear when you recast him back, as long as he doesnt die. AG's gear is attached to the player. You can switch to a different AG skill gem and he will have the same gear.

4. Can AG work in Low Life RF builds?
- LL RF Builds tend to lack gem slots, so it may be difficult, but not impossible.

5. Can "on kill" mods like "% of maximum life gained on kill" work well for AG's gear?
- No, AG has a DPS of about 1000, so he will never kill anything.

6. Should I give my AG some leech mods?
- No, again, AG has a DPS of about 1000, so leech is nearly useless.

7. My RF is in my Helmet with a Horror essence mod. Can my AG be socketed elsewhere?
- LV21AG with LV4 Empower will put your AG at 37k life, which is likely good enough for most content. Maybe invest in a little more AG life regen though.

If you can get your hands on a +1 socketed gems Rise of the Phoenix, Saffell's Frame, or gloves, the 3 link of LV21 AG - LV4 Empower - Minion Life will give you a LV26 AG, which is only 1 less level than socketing them in a +3 minion helm. Prices vary, but there are many under 1 exalted in Softcore Bestiary league currently.



Here's some additional details about AG:


Thank you for reading!
Last edited by Hollyphantom on Mar 30, 2018, 12:06:21 PM
Last bumped on Sep 17, 2018, 9:46:07 PM
Very interesting spin on animate guardian. You can also use Ambu's charge for AG which gives life, +all res, endurance charge generation on critical strike, and 2% regen.
3.9 Ball lightning miner https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2722511
3.4 Scorching Ray totems https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2129884
3.4 Champion facebreaker warchief totem https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2240387
Interesting take, I'm trying to fit an AG into my RF/SR Elementalist, I already lost one to Uber Izaro was looking for ways to up his resistance. I haven't thought about using a Goldrim. Thanks for the idea.
"
bhwung wrote:
Very interesting spin on animate guardian. You can also use Ambu's charge for AG which gives life, +all res, endurance charge generation on critical strike, and 2% regen.


Thanks. Ambu's charge is an option, but AG has to be hit for the regen to work, so DOT damage might hurt him. It gives him endurance charges tho, which could be really nice.
"
IchiMorghulis wrote:
Interesting take, I'm trying to fit an AG into my RF/SR Elementalist, I already lost one to Uber Izaro was looking for ways to up his resistance. I haven't thought about using a Goldrim. Thanks for the idea.


Thanks for reading!
Awesome guide, I'm going to try to work an AG in on my char. I use LL RF, but maybe I can retrofit him to get this dialed in, the dmg boost just seems absurd!

THx for sharing.
I did almost the same but I use Devoto's Devotion for his helmet so it has even more AS and doesn't fall behind when you run too fast :D
"
DarKMaKa wrote:
I did almost the same but I use Devoto's Devotion for his helmet so it has even more AS and doesn't fall behind when you run too fast :D


Nice. Thats a good option too. It also adds chaos res and Dex (a little bit of accuracy).
"
Awesome guide, I'm going to try to work an AG in on my char. I use LL RF, but maybe I can retrofit him to get this dialed in, the dmg boost just seems absurd!

THx for sharing.


Awesome! Thanks for reading!
Can you animate gear with abyss jewels in it? And if you can, will they buff animated guardian?

I'm thinking about trying Bubonic Trail boots with minion regen jewel in em.

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