Start with Summon Raging Spirits... Transition into Summon Skeletons and Raise Zombies. Support those main skills with minion life, minion damage, feeding frenzy, melee physical damage, melee splash... (or any other minion gem you come across). Focus on gems in final build and start leveling them.
Levels 4-12 Get 2B+1R Staff and 2B+1R Chest/Boots/Helmet or (preferably)Wand 1R+2B and Shield, so that you can have:
Gear doesn't really matter as your minions do the damage and they are based on gem level. In saying that, do make sure that you continually upgrade your gear and links as you go. Use a chaos or two to buy a helping leveling unique if need be (see useful leveling uniques below).
When you reach Act 6 just make sure you are resistance capped. Goldrim is fantastic for helping with this.
We drop the pathing to Death Attunement because by this time we should get it annointed on our amulet. Google "POE Annointment" if you don't know how to do it.
Alternate Setups (to mix things up and have some fun!)
Ranged Spectres Setup:
This setup is awesome and I often run with this.
Ranged Spectres just change up your game experience so much which spices things up greatly. They look awesome, and they are fantastic for clearing maps and we still take down all bosses with 1 or 2 seconds.
Gems (put them in a Hungry Loop ring): Raise Spectre, Spell Echo,GMP, Faster Projectiles,Empower
Some good ranged spectre options include:
- Frost Sentinel (act 8 Lunaris Concourse)
- Flame Sentinels (Act 8 Solaris Temple)
- Solar Guards (Act 8 Solaris Temple)
- Goatman Fire-Raiser (Act 6 Prisoner's Gate)
Video examples:
90sec T16 Minotaur Clear using combination of Flame Sentinals, Frost Sentinals, and Solar Guard. No need for single target gem swap at boss like all other spectre builds do!: https://youtu.be/ldZZ_FmDLCs
Then spec into some jewel sockets, and spec into Golem Commander (respec out of some life).
Swap in Carrion Golem instead of Minion Damage in Zombie setup so they both become 5 links.
You will have 15 Zombies, 4 Spectres, and 4 BIG AND BADASS GOLEMS kicking some butt... oh and don't forget the 50 or so Skellies that you can pop because they want in on the action too...
Here is my POB with Golems setup + ranged spectre setup (this setup is REALLLYY fun... High DPS, great clear, and looks epic... it does have a bit less life though). But you will instakill Shaper, Uber Elder, Uber Atziri, and all end-game bosses with this setup. Note that if you use the normal melee spectres you will get even MORE dps because your zombies will have frenzy charges: https://pastebin.com/VcgCR9wR
Instagib Bossing fun:
Swap in this belt that gives all your flasks to your minions:
Then load your flask bar with offensive flasks like these... and simply pop them on bosses to annihilate them! Note you will have to swap your Brutality gem in Zombie setup for Fortify otherwise you won't get the elemental damage benefits.
Refund 3 passive points from life wheel (or any other passives you don't need).
Allocate Whispers of Doom passive (top left corner).
Swap out a gem for your curse of choice!
Other fun items to play with:
Rampage belt:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we use Blood Magic in helmet?
Our spectres use mana to cast war crys that give frenzy and power charges to our zombies and skeletons.
Blood Magic allows them to spam their warcries so that your minions always have full frenzy and power charges (big boost to DPS).
Why is Death Attunement allocated in skill tree with no pathing to it? How do I do this?
This is a Blight League mechanic.
You can use Oils that drop from Blight fights to annoint Death Attunement on your amulet. For this you need a Clear Oil, Silver Oil, and a Crimson Oil.
Take your amulet and those oils to Sister Cassia in your hideout and she can annoint Death Attunement on your amulet.
You can then unspec the points in your tree that lead to Death Attunement and use them for something else!
How do we get 4/5 Spectres?
From 3.9 onwards we only get 4 spectres now.
You get the fourth spectre from having a level 21 Raise Spectre gem in your Baron which makes it a level 25 gem giving us the extra spectre.
Level 21 from gem +2 from ascendancy +2 from baron helmet = level 25 gem.
Why are my minions dying?
For anyone who is having issues with minions dying, try these strategies:
1) Make sure you have your Spirit Offering up, giving resistances to your minions.
Still dying?
2) Make sure you have Grave Intentions specced into for chaos and further resistances.
3) Get "Minions Leech x% of Damage as Life" on a jewel, or pickup "Minion Life leech" next to Sacrifice passive node (1 passive point).
Still dying?
4) Spec into Indominable Army.
How do we cap resistances? POB shows they are uncapped?
POB does not calculate all resistances.
We get +30% resistances from Commander of Darkness ascendency.
If using Spirit Offering, you also get +22% to resistances due to it's interaction with Mistress of Sacrifice ascendency.
Why do we use Fortify on weapon if we get Fortify from Kingmaker (on Animated Guardian)?
The Fortify Buff we get from the Kingmaker equipped on our AG is NOT the same as the Fortify Support.
The Fortify Support gives the buff too, but the difference is that the Fortify Support from weapon ALSO gives 20% MORE damage (which the buff alone does not).
How are you running all those auras? I don't seem to be able to run that many
Make sure your auras are linked with Enlighten Level 4.
Also make sure you have picked up Sovereignty cluster in skill tree.
If you're running the Speed Setup, make sure you also pick up the Influence cluster in top right of Skill Tree.
Where do I put my Lethal Pride/Elegant Hubris and how do they work?
There are 2 types of Timeless Jewels you can use with this build, but you can only use ONE AT A TIME.
Lethal Pride:
This will give you more strength. It's a more defensive option and works really well with Geofri's sanctuary chest.
A Lethal Pride jewel will ADD additional properties to nodes on your tree in it's radius.
You want to buy the cheapest Lethal Pride you can find and socket it in your tree in between Devotion and Faith and Steel nodes on the left hand side of tree. Check your nodes to see if you have increased strength on any of them. If not, you want to use a Divine Orb to reroll your Lethal Pride. Check the nodes again to see if you have increased strength.
Goal: You want at least 10% Increased strength without having to spend many nodes to get there. 15% strength is fantastic. 20% strength is amazing but very hard to get.
Elegant Hubris:
This will give your minions more damage. It's a more offensive option.
An Elegant Hubris jewel will TRANSFORM nodes in it's radius into pretty epic nodes. But it comes at a sacrifice - all pathing nodes give NOTHING.
For this reason, you want to buy the cheapest Elegant Hubris you can find and slot it in the tree where it doesn't affect your existing nodes. Next to Stamina or Resolute Technique are good options. But check others too depending on your tree setup.
Goal: You want at least 160% increased minion damage (2x 80% minion damage nodes). If you can get 240% increased minion damage that is fantastic. If you can get 320 increased minion damage that is absolutely EPIC.
Use a Divine Orb on your Elegant Hubris jewel to reroll it's seed and stats if your current one doesn't give you the right minion damage.
How do I raise the spectres I want when using a Hungry Loop?
Simply use Raise Zombie on wanted corpses. You are left with only your wanted spectres on the ground.
Notes
Notes:
This will probably be the best build you ever play. Just putting it out there.
The great thing is it is so versatile... we already do all game content very easy.
You can easily just run with a quicksilver flash and go fast and in fact this is what I do most of the time because it's just so chill. The fewer the buttons the better.
Quartz flask is also great because we get phasing and so you don't get blocked. Popping a Phase Run is incredibly fun... it's like a rocket booster that gets you to 230% movement speed.
If you don't care too much about speed or you're struggling to get life, resistances, or strength, chuck on a rare set of boots with all the stats you need. With 30% movement speed boots you will still hit 160% movespeed by popping just a quicksilver flask. Same thing for the belt.. it's basically an open slot you can do anything you want with. Have some fun with it and mix things up!
If you want to spice things up, swap out your Undying Evangelist spectres and go for something funky like some cool ranged fireball spectres (they'll do jack shit because your zombies will kill enemies before their projectiles get there, but it's a free MTX!)
See Alternate Setups above for some fun, unique, and different ways of playing this build with a couple quick item swaps!
19 Jan 2020: 2 SECOND CONQUEROR KILLS!!... they literally DON'T HAVE TIME TO DsetupO ANYTHING!!! If I used Skellies as well as had more zombies (I'm running with only 14) and used Awakened gems we could probably do 1 second kills... LOL!!: https://youtu.be/RqL2v4PDUVk
17 Dec 2019: Shaper Kill - testing DPS using Queen's Escape and tanking beam and slam to test defence. Shaper's buffed life is very noticeable... but still a very easy fight for us:https://youtu.be/ceAl1GSjHTU
16 Dec 2019: T16 Carcass - we are still the FASTEST, STRONGEST, and most TANKY summoner in the history of POE:https://youtu.be/r0mQV-d5qr0
16 Dec 2019: High Tier Conqueror Watchstone Boss Kill - example DPS in 3.9 as a quick test:https://youtu.be/ZM45_5X9KGQ
This setup provides the grestest balance of DPS and Defence. Your DPS will be fantastic (greater than with Geofri's) and your defence still solid (between 10,000 and 14,000 eHP).
We run 7 auras... yes... 7!! Note that Haste is not active while mapping though, we just pop Vaal Haste on bosses.
Note that POB doesn't pickup Lethal Pride jewel (left hand side) and Thread of Hope allocations - you should use skill points on Ravenous Horde and Cruel Preparation.
Purity of Elements can be swapped for Discipline for more ES, or Skitterbots for more DPS.
Carrion Golem can be swapped to Chaos Golem for more defence.
Maim can be swapped for Vaal Molten Shell for more defence.
Lethal Pride can be swapped for Elegant Hubris for more offence (swap Elegant Hubris Jewel location with either Watcher's Eye, Efficient Training on right hand side, or Brawn Jewel. This is so it doesn't remove your other nodes in Lethal Pride's location.
NOTE: Watcher's Eye, Emperor's Mastery, and Lethal Pride are totally NOT needed. They are simply min-maxing for the rich folk.
Setup 2) Tanky Setup using Geofri's Sanctuary
This setup is very tanky and a great option for most players. It is the setup that this build was built from and what most players at end-game currently use. It is the most tanky of the setups, but has slightly weaker DPS and movement speed compared to the Speed Setup below.
You will have over 15,000 HP/ES for INSANE defence, and you can kill Uber Elder in 1min 34 seconds with the BIGGEST DPS in the game WHILE PRESSING NO BUTTONS.. (literally, see video below):
Note that in the video above I have lower ES purely because I decided to do the run without chest amour (for the lolz!)
Note: Because we have 3 red and 3 blue sockets in chest, you can CHOOSE to either use the setup shown below (auras), or use a 6L Skeleton Setup dependingg on your preference. Auras provide smoother gameplay due to not having to raise skellies, but skellies do some great DPS.
Skeletons links would be: Vaal Summon Skeletons, Minion Damage, Feeding Frenzy,Melee Physical Damage, Multistrike, Melee Splash. Melee Splash can be swapped with Maim for bosses.
Impale in the weapon below can also be swapped for Minion Damage. The extra blue socket can provide more versatility - for example swapping in minion speed while mapping. If not using impale, war banner is better than dread banner.
If your Empower is not at least level 3, use Maim instead.
Clarity in the ring is only needed if you have the watchers eye that gives "x% if maximum mana is gained as extra maximum energy shield while affected by Clarify". Flame Dash is also good skill to put here or in another unset ring if you have one.
NOTE: Watcher's Eye, Emperor's Mastery, and Lethal Pride are totally NOT needed. They are simply min-maxing for the rich folk.
Setup 3) DPS and Speed Setup using Victario's Influence
This setup provides the fastest clear speed of any summoner in the game while doing amazing DPS. The sacrifice is you are not as tanky as Setup 1 above. You can still do all content in the game with this setup very easily, but you may die here or there.
Impale in the weapon below can also be swapped for Minion Damage. The extra blue socket can provide more versatility - for example swapping in minion speed while mapping. If not using impale, war banner is better than dread banner.
If your Empower is not at least level 3, use Maim instead.
Clarity in the ring is only needed if you have the watchers eye that gives "x% if maximum mana is gained as extra maximum energy shield while affected by Clarify". Flame Dash is also good skill to put here or in another unset ring if you have one.
NOTE: Watcher's Eye, Emperor's Mastery, and Lethal Pride are totally NOT needed. They are simply min-maxing for the rich folk.
Setup 4) Budget and Newbies Setup
This setup is what most new players or players at the start of a league would start with before progressing to one of the 2 setups above. It's very budget friendly but obviously does not have the DPS and tankiness of the above two. This is where you should start this build, and as you make currency and get a feel for the build, you progress to your choice above.
If you need more defence, simply swap in discipline instead of flesh and stone and use chaos golem instead of carrion golem.
POB Link: https://pastebin.com/5F4Lh16T
Enjoy!
hello there brunowa i would really like to try this build but i cant open pastebin links all the letters are scrambled and also i would like to ask you if you could tell me how should i add my stat points please?
I’m at awakened 7 and I feel as if it’s starting to reach its limits with survivability. Aside from a lethal pride don’t know what much more I can do. 3.6k es 4.6k Life.
You're starting path is inefficient, the INT will give more STR and 2 extra points which you can slot for life. (Cruel Preparation with a Thread of Hope jewel, Bloodless for 8%).
Life on your ring/belt and maybe remove some points in minion survival for other various life/str/defense nodes. Are your ele resistances capped?
Hey thanks for your input! Never noticed I had leveling pathing still in the tree. Also removed some miNion survivability for damage and added in the health nodes. Over 5k HP and 3.2k Es now. Feels much better. I’ll be working on a watchers eye next with the chaos resist. Thanks again!
First time playing zombies alot of good information in this thread.
I'm personally using cluster jewels,
1500str
6700/3000 No Discipline. 1.1MPDS Per Zombie *12
What I'm posting here for is do you guys think Avian is worth with out Saq chest? Ive been looking for a way to drop Purity of Elements so I can run discipline full time with avian. Right now I swap to Discipline on juiced up 3 dmg conversion mod maps would like drop it, but its going to be either a SUPER EXPENSIVE for me to get the res on my jewelry if not almost impossible. Or very high level + Mana Res Helm enchant, any advice on this would be sweet.
Also shameless plug of 160% Minion Damage, 37% Chaos Resist, 80% Minion Life, and 2* 30% Max Mana nodes that only require two points in templar jewel socket Elegant Hubris. (PS this is going to be very expensive)
Well that did what I wanted but I personally absolutely cant stand the play style...Feelsbad (At Least they're for sale Now :D)
I'm sorry I'm so honest and straightforward, but it has to be.
I loved playing this build last season and I played it until the last day.
at the end i only played blighted maps for four weeks and every day without exception.
but we have to be honest, ggg nerfed the build very hard and there is no way around it until it is finally clear whether you can bend it with cluster jewels or not.
there are some players who mean well, but the opinions here go far too far apart, which ggg probably wanted to achieve with it: no meta playing style.
The build creator only plays in standard and not in the leauge, therefore the standard play does not reflect the season content in the least and is therefore not helpful in the least.
I am really very disappointed with ggg and this build, because I put so much time and effort (as well as currency !!!) into it, only to have to give in the end: I need another build !!! -.-
You only die onehit onehit onehit .......... 280x I've already died, that reminds me of the season before last before the amd bug was fixed, that was exactly where I died all the time.
even in blighted maps you get one shotted !!! -wtf ?! ggg-
But in many areas of the game I became one shotted which I don't understand in the least: WHY!
Like most 5600+ life + I have about 2300es ++ (depending on what I'm testing with the unique hubris jewels).
Unfortunately this build is not for delirium !!!
and the poor server performance makes it even more difficult.
Having zero issues with Delirium content what so ever. Juiced t16s Simulacrum 20/20.
12 Zombies 1.1ish Million DPS per zombie.
6800+ Life
3900+ ES
Honestly nothing even remotely close to super duper expensive on my character, but obviously I have currency invested. I think Zombies are a perfectly viable skill for Delirium....
hi guys i rlly love ranged spectre build and is what im trying to do...but i have some issues...im leveling gems for the ring and im getting oneshotted too many times and i feel my dmg is not that high...can anyone help me???is my first time since season 1 that i change build... i always played arc...im not expert
while all that u have to account the dps increase is minimal vs the life pool uve just lost, and at tier 16+ 100% delirium maps u'll need as much hp u can get for them not to die, so id never trade my 80k life mobs for a 3% dps increase, i did all math and for me id have the extra regen/life to keep them at max health, since i just tested last night with a few better stuff i could do t16 100% mirrored and killed the boss, same for t20 simulacrum, now im going to try t19 100% mirror
Lost my AG to Kosis in Simulacrum, very strong boy. :D at least i had the budget version, but still 90c down the drain :P
after that i did some minor improvements to the build and now i managed to kill 5 times t20 simulacrum even with 2 bosses at once, and not one zombie or hell even my carrion golem, none of them died. build is solid
Using Merveil's Retainer on monster packs is pointless because they still die in 1s without her. You can use AG with "Curse Enemies with Level 12 Vulnerability on Hit" in gloves for killing bosses faster.
Xoph's Favoured buff is 7.5s with 12s cooldown but you can use increased duration instead of blood magic. Should work with Arena master too.
For hard hitting and more "static" bosses I also recommend They of Tul for great 15% dmg reduction and 20% dodge vortex.
Baranite Cleric - I read about him yesterday. Unfortunately shock is only "increased" not "more" dmg.
Firstly, if your doing wuss maps, yeah maybe Merveil Retainer is pointless cause all the mobs die in one shot but when you're ready to step it up to T19 or 100 percent delirium maps or Simulacrum you let me know. Everything is overkill for base maps.
Secondly, Baranite Cleric gives you and your minions lightning damage. Lightning damage shocks on crit. Baranite Cleric increases chance to shock. Shock effect scales up to 50 percent(probably not in this case but still, default is 15 percent if I recall), increasing damage done. The shock part is probably not super useful on bosses since increased damage from shock is based on the mobs health so you're not seeing much benefit from shock but the lightning damage is still there and that is pretty nice.
You're probably right. I'm far from reaching this tier. I still run T12-T15 with tabula and 6L queen's escape (dying to long 0 FPS mostly :D)
Just testing different, multi-curse setup on my AG, that's why I don't use Merveil. Here is the setup:
Dreadarc (flammability for xoph's favoured buff dmg)
Sentari's Answer (mostly for punishment)
Oskarm (Assassin's Mark + Vulnerability)
Cospri (+1 curse, hexproof)
Windscream (+1 curse)
I will probably switch to more expensive variant (Kingmaker + Garb of the Ephemeral) when I advance further.
id avise on a nearby enemies blinded chest for the ag tho, its night and day difference
in teh game
