Pillar of the Caged God. From A to Z. [3.22]

(3.22)
* Added new gem "Trauma Support"

(3.21)
* Added new Passive Tree Masteries (view-thread/3361403).
* The Steadfast Notable Passive Skill now provides +3 to maximum Fortification (previously +4), and also now has "Regenerate 0.1% of Life per second per Fortification".
* The Devotion Notable Passive Skill no longer provides 5% increased effect of Non-Curse Auras from your Skills. It instead now provides 25% increased Effect of Consecrated Ground you create.
* Natural Authority now provides 20% increased Warcry Buff Effect (previously 30%), and causes Enemies Taunted by your Warcries to take 8% increased Damage (previously 6%).
* Quality on Intimidating/Seismic/Ancestral/General Cry now provides 0-20% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate (previously 0-10%).
* Onslaught Support has been removed. A new Momentum Support gem has been added in its place.

(3.20)
* The Inquisitor’s Pious Path Ascendancy Passive Skill no longer provides "50% increased Effect of Consecrated Ground you create."
* Added a new Totem Mastery that provides "Ancestor Totem Buff Effects Linger for 3 seconds", which replaces the "50% increased Totem Placement range" Mastery.
* GGG has removed both of these penalties so that Hexes will be consistently effective against all monsters in the game. Pinnacle bosses, Map bosses, Incursion architects, Betrayal targets, Breachlords, and others no longer have 33% or 66% less effect of curses on them respectively.


(3.19)
* Blessing Skills can no longer be supported by "Lifetap Support".

<--25.09.2023--> Update the sub-section "Trials" of section "Y2023" ("Chapter 1").
Updated link to the Maxed version of Builds 1 and 3 ("Chapter 2")
Added link to Maxed version of Build 2 ("Chapter 2")

<--04.05.2023--> Update the sub-section "Crucible" of section "Y2023" ("Chapter 1").
Added link to Maxed version of Builds 1 and 3 ("Chapter 2")

<--05.04.2023--> Update the guide to 3.21.

<--19.12.2022--> Update the guide to 3.20.

<--02.12.2022--> Update the section "News".

<--31.10.2022--> Released massive update of the guide.
Renamed "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2"
"Chapter 1" represents 'Pillar...'-builds of the creator of the guide on the actual Challenge League
"Chapter 2" is the compilation of different 'Pillar...'-builds
"Chapter 3" remove

<--13.05.2022--> Changed the general idea of the guide.
Updated the sections "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2".

<--16.04.2021--> Updated information in the Guide before 3.14 "Ultimatum".

<--28.09.2020--> Improve of guide structure before releasing a new big update.

<--18.06.2020--> Update section "News".

<--07.04.2020--> Update section "Delirium".
Update section "Q&A" in "Chapter 1".
Update sections "Gems" and "Pantheon" in "Chapter 2".
Update structure of "Chapter 3"

<--29.03.2020--> Added section "Delirium" in "Chapter 1"

<--19.01.2020--> Update PoB-Link in section "Metamorph"

<--18.12.2019--> Update PoB-Link in section "Metamorph"

<--18.12.2019--> Added section "Metamorph" in "Chapter 1"
PoB-Links from 3.8 don't change, but they have full compatibility with Passive Tree 3.9

<--09.10.2019--> Update all PoB-Links in "Chapter 2" (section "Passives")
(include update 'Gearing'-links for Blight Challenge League).
Added link on archive with 'xml'-files in "Chapter 1"

<--07.10.2019--> Update all PoB-Links
(without update 'Gearing'-links for Blight Challenge League)

<--06.10.2019--> Improve quality of text "Chapter 2" and "Chapter 3"

<--09.09.2019--> Added section "Craft" in "Chapter 3"

<--05.09.2019--> Added section "Blight" in "Chapter 1".
Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Gems", "Passives")

<--04.09.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News").

<--26.08.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News").

<--21.08.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News").

<--13.08.2019--> Added section "Q&A" in "Chapter 1".

<--01.08.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Gems").
Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News")

<--30.07.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Items")

<--28.07.2019--> Added headline-text and image in "Chapter 3".
Update PoB-Links in "Chapter 2" (section "Passives").

<--27.07.2019--> Added headline-text and image in "Chapter 2".
Update text and links in "Chapter 2" (section "Passives").
Improve text structres in "Chapter 2" (section "Items")

<--24.07.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Gems", "Patnheon", "Leveling").

<--21.07.2019--> Improve stuctures of "Chapter 2".
Update text in "Chapter 2". Release "Chapter 3"

<--19.07.2019--> Merge "Chapter 2. Part 1" and "Chapter 2. Part 2" in "Chapter 2"

<--07.07.2019--> Rename "Disclaimer" in "Notice". Improve quality of text

<--07.06.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2. Part 1". Release "Chapter 2. Part 2"

<--05.06.2019--> Release "Disclaimer", "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2. Part 1"

NOTE! Q&A is outdated now. It will update later.

Q: Why you don’t use [Unique Item Name]?
A: In one of the sections Chapter 4 we shall focus in detail on the are potentially useful Unique Items. In the current moment notably 2 facts:
- using of the Rare Items provides a compromise among of maximum combat effectiveness and of balance defensive mechanics;
- using of the Rare Items provides more “flexibility” in future build planning.

Q: Why you don’t use Timeless Jewel?
A: In same section Chapter 4 we shall focus in detail on all aspects of the Timeless Jewel. On this moment, we all very suspicious with mechanics of working and situations with regard to the trading.
A: Update (07.04.2020). We have some problems wth prepare "Chapter 4" for publishing.

Q: Why show Amulets at first and (are later) Talismans at second (but they are clearly better)? May be better show Talismans instead Amulets?
A: We consider, that approach give understanding of the reasons for choosing Items (and reasons, on which Talismans better). Also, this means avoiding of difficulties in case, if Talismans are not available (no longer for sale or budget does not allow it to sale).
A: Update (07.04.2020). We have some problems wth prepare "Chapter 4" for publishing.

Q: Why you don’t listed values of offense/defense and pros/cons?
A: Although, it this moment we are review only one of conception of ‘Pillar of the Caged God’-builds - we are planned to consider some other conceptions at later. For that reason we don’t listed any values of offense/defense and pros/cons.

Q: Resistance is one of the most important problems of ‘Pillar of the Caged God’-builds, but I don’t really see this in thread.
A: Chapter 2 sections “Concept” and “Items”.

Q: Why you don’t use Cyclone?
A: Exist many threads of the ‘Pillar of the Caged God’-builds, which used Cyclone and channeling mechanics. They show is set to a different of the combat results. We recognize, that gem “Cyclone” is a valuable and strong choice for ‘Pillar of the Caged God’, but we would not have considered it necessary to review this conception on current day.

Q: Why thread don’t have a video?
A: It is a complex problem. We don’t have much more of time. And we don’t have time on setting, preparation, footage and assembly of video. Also, this makes it harder to actualization of builds - we are going to need of create a video instead of change PoB-link and text descriptions.
On current moment we prepared small channel for streaming build gameplay after release expansion 3.8.0. Link will be published later.
A: Update (07.04.2020). On current moment we have prepared small channel for streaming gameplay, but they rarely did. We look the other ways for gameplay representation.

Q: Are you reached 100 level with this build?
A: No. None of us will ever be achieve 100 level with any build. Regrettably, we don’t have much more of time.
Although, in Challenge League “Incursion” we are reached 95 level with ‘Pillar’-build.

Q: Why in this thread is not represented “min-max”-version of this build?
A: We consider, that:
- is impossible (exist many variants and methods for the optimization of the build);
- is not required (you cannot be replicate that result).

Q: You have other builds (don’t ‘Pillar’)?
A: Yes. But on the current moment we are publish only ‘Pillar of Caged God’-builds.

There are various combinations of gem links for leveling. They depend on the player's personal choice. For example, you can use the following combinations:

In Acts 1-2:
“Ground Slam” + “Added Fire Damage” + “Additional Accuracy” + “Ruthless”

After Act 2:
“Ground Slam” + “Added Fire Damage” + “Chance to Bleed” + “Ruthless”

Tips & Tricks:
- Precision is a good choice to accumulate Accuracy Rating (without “Resolute Technique” Keystone);
- Pick up Accuracy Mastery "+500 to Accuracy Rating; ‒2 to Accuracy Rating per Level" to accumulate Accuracy Rating on the first levels;
- Herald of Ash is a good choice to boost effective damage and widen AoE;
- The main sources of incoming damage are:
** Physical in Acts 1-4;
** Elemental in Acts 5-10;
- Acts 5-6 are the most dangerous ones; They have a lot of incoming Elemental damage, and the character doesn’t have the required resistance (especially in the fight with Innocence).

Leveling Items

Status: Active

Short List of Features
- Melee Physical Staff Build (Wow!)
- Low-Budget Strength stacking (only "Alberon's Warpath")
- Simple leveling & cheap early mapping (a Fistful of Chaos')
- uses Cluster Jewels (1 Large and 1-2 Medium)
- Alternate-Quality Gems are optional
- 5-7k Life ; 20-40k Armour without Flasks (+20-23 stack of Fortify)
- 1-2.5M of pDPS (+1-2.5M of Impale DPS) with “Sweep”

Concept
The Main Concept is creating a strong and tough melee-build with the unpopular unique item. No more, no less. This is a long journey, but now it is a very flexible and adaptive system for comfortable cleaning of content (excluding Uber Pinnacle Bosses).
- stack a lot of Strength;
- use a lot of Physical Flat Damage;
- take Armour to negating penalty from “Abyssus”;
- use Cluster Jewels for sustaining Critical Strikes with Warcries.

Status: Active

Reference(-s)
** Pukiz
** Kalan_Bos

Short List of Features
- Melee Physical Build with Staff (Wow!)
- Medium-Budget Strength stacking (required rare items for stacking)
- Simple leveling & cheap early mapping (a Fistful of Chaos')
- uses Cluster Jewels (1 Large and 1-2 Medium)
- Alternate-Quality Gems are required for Endgame (Divergent Boneshatter)
- 4-6k Life; 35-55k Armour without Flasks (+20-23 stack of Fortify; +3-8 Endurance Charges)
- 1.0-2.5M of pDPS (+0.5-1.5M of Impale DPS) with “Boneshatter” with 5 Trauma stacks in budget gear

Concept
It is a new option for ‘Pillar…’-builds, which was born after “Precise Technique” Keystone was added in game. Now (last three Challenge Leagues) It is the most popular variation of ‘Pillar…’-builds if you “poe.ninja”. I tried to understand and, possibly, improve the mechanisms of that build.
- stack a lot of Attributes (especially Strength);
- stack a lot of Armour to negating self-damaging from “Boneshatter”;
- use Cluster Jewels for sustaining Strength and Attack Speed.

Status: Active

Reference
** Decranix

Short List of Features
- Melee Elemental Build with Staff (Wow-Wow!)
- Medium-Budget Strength stacking (required “Abyssus”, "Astramentis" and “Shaper’s Touch”)
- Simple leveling & cheap early mapping (a Fistful of Chaos')
- uses Cluster Jewels (1-2 Large and 1-2 Small)
- uses Timeless Jewel (only for conquer Keystone)
- Alternate-Quality Gems are optional
- 4-5.5k Life + 2-3k ES; 35-40k Armour without Flasks (+20-23 stack of Fortify)
- 1.5-3M of eDPS (from first stage) with “Ice Crash” in budget gear

Concept
This is a really interesting concept, which uses expected items for unexpected synergies (please, check above for reference of the original creator).
- stack a lot of Attributes (use “Shaper’s Touch” to maximise effect from Attributes);
- take Armour to negating penalty from “Abyssus”;
- use Cluster Jewels for sustaining Attack Speed and non-Physical Leech.