[2.0] TheFrostmourne's Auramonger (IN-DEPTH)

+ Insanely awesome for parties
+ You'll be almost resist capped only from auras
+ Cheap (Doesn't requires any expensive uniques and 5/6 links)
+ Doing maps is easy because you aren't the one tanking or doing damage
+ Culling strike helps a lot with bosses
+ Enough stats to use any skill gem in game
+ No need for health/mana flasks

- Fairly squishy
- Almost impossible to play solo at merciless
- Some map mods can be hard (but not impossible)
- Putting auras back on after you die or log out is kinda boring

How do we run auras, and which auras do we choose? We run great number of auras by taking all the reduced mana reserved nodes on the passive skill tree. Auras you want to be running is up to your preference. At the moment, I am running Wrath, Anger, Hatred, Purity of Ice, Purity of Fire, Purity of Lightning, Purity of Elements, Discipline and Vitality. With a different skill setup, you can run more auras, but it's all up to you. Keep in mind that you'll always want to use Wrath and Anger and another damage aura (Hatred/Haste). With running all the resists auras, it will be really easy for you to cap your resists. Also, since damage auras are NOT for you, you will want to have them linked to Generosity. You can link all the auras to Generosity if you want, except Discipline which must be on you because of Blood Magic keystone and reservation of most of our health.

Passive skill tree for this build: https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMBAW8EBwceC2ENfA48EVAUcRcvGYoaOBqPGyUdFB1PHaofAiSwJbwnCyymLR8vbzQKNbk2xTdmN4M6UkZxSVFLrkyzVdZXyVnzXGtcil-wYVJk52aeaPJtGW-ecLtyD3Kpfll_xoCkgwmDtoRIhmCG0Yt6jHaPRo_6kFWTJ5UglS6boZu1njyhL6KjpuunK6yqr2y0DLcxvorBxcHzwzrDbcT2xq7KSsrT2RPZW9tP34rfv-DD4Yji9-kC6hjquuwY707w1fba9zL31_jr-tL7Cf5J

Keep in mind that if you want to go any further than this, just add more ES nodes and you'll do fine. The order in which you put your skill points while leveling is not important, as long as you take all the reduced mana reserved nodes first.

Any auras you prefer. My current setup:

Weapon: Haste - Purity of Ice - Vaal Discipline
Helmet: Anger - Purity of Fire - Discipline - Hatred
Shield: Purity of Lightning - Wrath - Vitality
Chest: 4 link - Immortal Call - Cast When Damage Taken - Tempest Shield - Molten Shell
You can do that without Molten Shell and Tempest Shield, I'm using them just because they look cool.
Gloves: Purity of Elements - 3 link - Item Quantity - Item Rarity - Arc
I'm using it that way because I'm using Arc to kill bosses and thus get more loot this way.
Boots: Summon Chaos Golem - Decoy Totem - Vaal Haste - Enduring Cry
I'm using Chaos Golem for reduced physical damage taken, Enduring Cry for generating Endurance Charges for my Cast When Damage Taken setup, and Decoy Totem for utility - To make mobs attack it so my party and I can be safe, or to take mobs of me after using Enduring Cry.
I will probably do some changes when I 6 socket my chest. Keep in mind though, to make the build work you need only 11 sockets and they do not have to be linked.

This build does have some requirements for it. Those items are: or Shavronne's Wrappings instead of Solaris Lorica. 5 and 6 links are not necessary, you only want to care about having enough sockets.

Without resist flasks:
With resist flasks:
As you can see, capping your resists will be really easy do to auras so you don't have to worry about them. Just make sure that you have high enough Energy Shield and that should be more than enough defense.

For leveling, the best thing you can do without any damage is to run Flame Totem and Firestorm. Use Heralds when you get access to them. (Easy mode: ON)
Even at merciless, grinding alone isn't a problem (but is really slow).
As for bandits, just kill all on all difficulties.

Let's start with leveling. You want to use Flame Totem and Firestorm because they will provide you with decent enough damage to level by yourself (even though this build is made for playing with a party and it's strongly recommended to be in one all the time). You can use other skills if you like, but this will work the best. Until 50 or so, you'll want to have Clarity. Then you can get rid of it and still have enough mana regeneration to use your skills. Getting over normal by yourself is not hard even though with no damage at all, and it's not impossible to do after (cruel/merciless). You can grind by yourself with decent speed, but you will definitely need help for bosses in cruel and merc. About stats, the most important thing you'll want on your gear is Energy Shield, and Intelligence. Armor and evasion are good, but not needed. You should get Solaris Lorica / Shavronne's Wrappings as soon as you can. Shav's will work way better, but if you can't afford it Solaris Lorica will work fine too. You don't want to get any damage at all when you get to maps, but before that it's nice to have some for easier leveling. As it comes to auras, there are 2 important things to know (gear related). You'll want to use either for stronger auras, or and Ichimonji to run more auras. It's up to personal preference. Keep in mind that once you get Blood Magic keystone, you'll want to run Vitality as it will act as Clarity for you. Also when that happens, you'll want to get rid of health/mana flasks and get any others. I am running these for example: You don't need a freeze removal flask because with Alpha's Howl you can not be frozen, so just let it go(pun intended). At the point where you switch to Blood Magic you'll want to have at least 2000+ Energy Shield to be safe. If you're leveling with a party all the time, you can do it earlier because the chances are less that you'll be the one taking damage. Since you're Energy Shield based, you can use Vaal Discipline as a health flask (that's what I'm doing). In terms of being more helpful, you'll also want to use any skill with Culling Strike and Item Rarity/Item Quantity linked to it (or both). If you decide to use Dying Breath as a weapon, you'll want to tweak your passive skill tree a bit: https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMBBAcRUBVQGyUdTx8CLR81uTbFS65Ms20ZpwjYJNlb34rpAg== This is just temporary and when you get enough strength to use it you'll respec out of it and get back to the original tree. However, you can use a different skill tree for leveling if you wish, just keep in mind that you'll have to respec it later on. Once you get at least 6 auras up you'll be insanely helpful for parties and people will be inviting you to level with them very happily. At the time you get to the maps, that will increase by a lot. When doing maps, just try to avoid the damage and stay close to the party members so they get effects of your auras. Do not hesitate to use your Vaal Discipline when you or your party members are in danger. It's really a life saver, specially for Energy Shield based characters. I've been doing maps since 64 when I got my Alpha's, mostly 67-71 maps and I died only once (I'm 68 at the moment). And it's really easy for your party members do to offense and defense boosts you provide. Just remember, you don't want to be the one taking the damage. And be extremely careful with damage over time effects (bleeds/ignites) because they will hurt do to build being Energy Shield based. Not to mention how annoying it is getting all the auras up again, and actually noticing which one do you miss when you're trying to get them all up. Also, keep in mind that you'll want to have your Discipline in your Alpha's Howl if your Energy Shield is not high enough. This build is possible as a Scion too, but you get useful a lot later so I would not recommend it. If anyone however wants to try it, let me know and I'll make you a skill tree. As already mentioned, I will be updating the guide if I make any changes while leveling, so if you like it make sure to check it out now and then. I will also add more skill gems and stuff, as I get to better gear and more sockets. I'm working on getting a Cast When Damage Taken setup that will work well with the build. If you have any questions or wanna see this build in action, ask in the thread or message me in game (IGN: PowerOfAuras). Have fun! :)

I got from 68 to 73 today from maps. Replaced my level 17 amulet (finally!) so I have a bit bigger Energy Shield now. I did a plenty of 70-75 maps and all were doable. I only had some problems with burned ground and monster poisoning on hit. I tried many other map mods and all were done without any problems. All bosses were fairly easy do to avoiding damage and just using culling strike when they get bellow 10% of their health. However, reduced Energy Shield regeneration rate might be a bit hard if you find yourself constantly taking damage. Looking forward to getting better gear and using more Vaal gems and a Cast When Damage Taken setup. Eventually, I might add some curses too, really depends on my gear since I don't want to spend currencies on my awful boots and gloves.

Got to 75 and got more stuff running. I replaced my Dying Breath with and thus got Haste running on top of my other auras. Also got my Energy Shield increased and got better boots. Do to that happening, I finally got my defensive setup running. I'm using Cast When Damage Taken linked with Tempest Shield, Molten Shell and Immortal Call. I get charges for Immortal Call by using Enduring Cry and Decoy Totem right after to get rid of the mobs. Works pretty sick, didn't had a single death since then. I lost a bit of my aura power by replacing Dying Breath, but an extra aura and a bit higher Energy Shield makes it up for it. And do to Heartbreaker, I no longer have a need to link Culling Strike with a skill. Pretty sweet. Only bad thing is that I had to replace my Leap Slam which I really love on my witch with Flame Dash do to no longer using a staff or a weapon that works with it. Build works insanely well now and I'll be trying higher level maps soon.

Got to 77 really fast by doing 75-76 maps. I've added Summon Chaos Golem as a part of my defenses. Also corrupted a Haste gem and got a Vaal Haste for extra DPS boost against bosses. I linked my Arc with Increased Item Rarity and Increased Item Quantity gems for some extra loot against bosses (I have culling strike do to my Heartbreaker). Major increase in my Energy Shield has happened by getting this perfectly rolled jewel I can now tank bosses that don't have high physical damage. An Ice Shot ranger in my party today had his DPS increased by more than 50% thanks to my auras. Pretty sweet.