Due to popular demand, I have come up with an optimized route that everyone can follow while leveling. The guide is broken down into increments of 10 points and a general route is laid out for every 10 points that you get. While reading this guide, please keep in mind that this is exactly that, a guide. You will have to determine based on your gear levels how you go about getting all these points.
Please note that the resolute technique was picked up till I got a Lionseye and dropped after that. However, I discovered the Tri Ele Bow which was more DPS (damage per second) than a Lionseye and hence specced back into resolute technique using the Iron Grip points (which is a waste considering that the tri ele is a low physical bow). All in all, a Tri Ele Bow is strongly recommended over a Lions Eye as it out performs it in every way.
10 points
20 points
30 points
40 points
50 points
60 points
70 points
80 points
90 points
100 points
110 points
Last points
Last points version two (for Ele Bow)
The final build titled “last points” has been completely updated to include the 2×12% Life Nodes; The build is complete. Keep in mind that Lava Lash is still available and is a viable choice. It can be taken at the cost of a 8% life node. The choice is left to you.
please note that due to the recent buffs of the duelist tree, there is NO REASON to ever go ranger as an archer. Ranger is a weak version of archer as compared to duelist now. Heres why:
-More projectile damage
-More attack speed (which is more damage and more fun)
-Access to same amount of survivability/static blows AND Inner Force
THE BUILD FOCUS:
-Lightning Arrow
-High Attack Speeds
-High elemental damage
-3 auras (grace, anger and wrath)
-Static Blows (shock stacks)
-Inner Force (18%+8% buff effect further increasing damage)
-HIGH LIFE/RESISTS
SPECIAL NOTES:
In order to run those 3 auras without eating away to much at your life (since you’re using the blood magic passive) you will need to four link an armor piece with 1 Green 1 Blue and 2 Reds. This will allow you to keep all 3 auras to 1 reduced mana on 1 armor piece making it efficient. Level 20 auras on all 3 gems should max out at around 380 reserved life.
You will want to find a five link chest or bow (recommended but not compulsory). These are your main abilities:
-Lightning Arrow, Weapon Elemental Damage, Chain, Life Gain on Hit, LMP
-Frenzy, Added Lightning (or any of the other elements) Faster Attacks, Weapon Elemental
-Bear trap x2, Crit Chance, Crit Damage
Finding five links is quite expensive and cumbersome. An alternative is to run a four link (LA+Chain+Weapon Elemental+LMP) and on difficult maps, swap out the elemental damage gem for a Life gain on hit. You will lose out on around 300-500 dps but this is not a big deal as chain LA is still quite effective at even 500 DPS.
LETS SEE THE BUILD
1. As soon as I got beserking, I removed the 3 points spent in attack speed in the early tree as they were not needed. This is a personal choice since I enjoy fast attacks while leveling. If you follow this then as soon as you hit beserking, move those points from attack speed into the elemental damage nodes to the right of them.
2. When I reached around level 65-70 I did not need Iron Grips bonus to physical damage from strength due to my high DPS. Hence, I removed those points and tried to rush inner force with them. This is completely optional and iron grips will be regained at level 90. NOTE: If you are using a HIGH PHYSICAL bow then you will want to keep Iron Grip permanently.
3. The quality of your gear will determine how fast you rush for static blows and inner force. All my gear was fantastic and I had tons of life, so I rushed for static blows early and started getting the rest of the HP nodes after. If you’re on hardcore and/or your life is low due to sub-par gear, this is not recommended. This means that you may not see static blows until late 70s.
4. VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT get the lightning damage nodes above templar until AFTER level 90 when you have everything else. They are the LAST thing to invest in.
5. I spec into blood magic early, but the cost of LA, Chain, LMP and Weapon Elemental is quite high and will eat your life away. So I didn’t use chain until 60s. Secondly, be prepared to spam potions for life until you have about 3500 life.
6. If you evasion is low which translates into low armor, you can spec out of a couple life nodes and grab the 8 and 24% evasion bonus nodes at the early part of the duelist tree to compensate. The reason I don’t have them is because I have 7000 armor and do just fine. Once I reach over 5000 life on my own, I will spec out of 2 life nodes and grab those 2 evasion nodes.
FINAL NOTE: Having experienced both a ranger and a duelist I can safely say that the duelist is far more powerful right off the bat and stays superior till the end game.
BANDITS
Normal:
-help oak (40 life bonus)
Cruel
-help kratin (8% attack speed)
OR
-help oak (12% physical) up to you to choose
Merciless
-kill all 3 (for extra passive)
Hopefully this helps people out a bit more
There are 2 options with this spec, each with their pros and cons.
1. Koams Heart
PROS
insane life pool
insane life regen
CONS
-limited sockets for abilities (Koams has no sockets)
-must have 5-6 link bow
-limited auras
-no room for a curse
-lower armor (which is offset by health)
-more pressure to get max resist on all the other slots
2. 5-7 Aura build
PROS
-can run additional auras using combination of blood magic gem and mana (spec out of blood magic)
-extra auras like hatred and haste for more DPS
-much higher armor value (from chest AND determination aura)
-easier to get resist capped with tri resist chest
CONS
-much smaller life pool (maxes out around 5500 at level 90 with amazing gear)
-must have 6 link chest and 5 link bow
-less regen
Both options are incredibly powerful and both are completely viable. The choice is left to you and what you are able to afford.
This guide was written by AthenaUS on the Path of Exile Forums.