[2.2] Occultist (Contagion + Essence Drain) Beginner starting build

This looks like a really great starter build for the new leagues coming out, I will most likely be starting with an Essence Drain Witch.

One question (and I may be missing something obvious here): Why is Slower Projectiles used instead of Faster Projectiles? It looks like they increase projectile damage by the same amount as they level up, and Faster Projectiles looks like it has a lower mana multiplier. Some clarification on that point would be greatly appreciated.

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Mustanger302 wrote:

This looks like a really great starter build for the new leagues coming out, I will most likely be starting with an Essence Drain Witch.

One question (and I may be missing something obvious here): Why is Slower Projectiles used instead of Faster Projectiles? It looks like they increase projectile damage by the same amount as they level up, and Faster Projectiles looks like it has a lower mana multiplier. Some clarification on that point would be greatly appreciated.

per 1% quality on slower projectiles = 0.5% projectile damage so at 20% quality its an additional 10% projectile damage

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Srid wrote:

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Mustanger302 wrote:

This looks like a really great starter build for the new leagues coming out, I will most likely be starting with an Essence Drain Witch.

One question (and I may be missing something obvious here): Why is Slower Projectiles used instead of Faster Projectiles? It looks like they increase projectile damage by the same amount as they level up, and Faster Projectiles looks like it has a lower mana multiplier. Some clarification on that point would be greatly appreciated.

per 1% quality on slower projectiles = 0.5% projectile damage so at 20% quality its an additional 10% projectile damage

Awesome, thanks for the explanation. It sounds like it may be feasible to level in a new league with a Faster Projectiles gem (with no quality) while leveling a Slower Projectiles gem in the weapon swap. That way you could use the GCP vendor recipe to give the Slower Projectiles gem 20% quality once it's leveled and use it instead of Faster Projectiles.

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Buks wrote:

so I looked at the skill tree and it looks solid, why do you take Trickery tho?

Good eye my friend, thanks to point. I didn't notice that i had this checked out. Fixed in my planner, will update asap after few cosmetic changes to tree.

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Buks wrote:

Do you think Lightning Warp is a good movement skill?

It's just my personal choice, you can use for example flame dash or if you find good dagger with high spell damage, WB for mobility. Lightning warp + faster casting + less duration is pretty good since it allows you to pass longer terrain than flame dash and move between not connected places which WB doesn't allow. I am just too used to it i think, somehow flame dash was always "too short distance".

Will point out about other mobility skills to be sure it's player personal choice, thanks for idea.

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Buks wrote:

Do you think it could become as good defensively as Manner's build?

I am in middle of testing several trees but to get decent balance between high single target damage + wide area clear speed and hp/es buffer this tree looks decent. Playstyle forces user to pay attention on where you stand and learn how to kite efficiently between monsters. You need to agree that this kind of skill trained on fairly secure character which forgive small mistakes due having pretty high HP/ES buffer + temp chains and some armour as defence will just give profits to HC player, especialy if it's a beginner one.


Thanks guys for feedback, wish someone of you will try your skills on CI version, soon when i consult tree with more experienced CI player, i will post final build for CI.

I checked ur tree and i think this one is better and less points spent, 36% more max ES, 4% less hp.


https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAwMA37BHyoIQfPB-oY-mkQdp2ESrQnpVrnpwLJwRLXyDg_fr7h8CHNwy0ZrgBAePGkVHRZ1Ms4PbwGZTUpeV0B9VxgSzPAVSU-_rOliiAJ_f73w9X5f0rJjwH20Z99do8gj0IvQRUFKvr2zAVGwLNbm7TQthakOTJ6cr3V_Grn_G74i-imf8PC0Rlvk3oS-DX4PMDkgHHtfPtz63MF3ylS5JsUGH_goUCSsK8NX56PJF2L0TbREvSVE64TWSJojrY6ZX_o-1SDY9TeN2gp2qyAxsjLTRYqwWvyaVaoxh4vVvyBSi2bDYflk=

This looks fun and fool-proof, so I'm going to give it a go in Perandus. I'm tempted to try chaos inoculation; can anyone confirm the life regeneration from ED works with zealot's oath?

I am interested in this build - it's something I was planning to try. A few questions/thoughts:

- If we're not making use of the non-Chaos to Chaos conversion part of Malediction, I'm not sure it's worth a whole Ascendancy point simply for the +1 max curse. Would it be better to take Wicked Ward for better defenses, and get +1 curse from gear?

- Is there some way that we can get Abyssal Cry in this build? I'm guessing/assuming that the two death triggers will go off, resulting in more explosions. This will also help us vs Curse Immune. Also looking at the change that just got discovered to Profane Bloom, this will help explosions happen more consistently. Source: https://imgur.com/7DNY6ma

- What about using pierce instead of Slower Projectiles? Sometimes we need to get that mob in the middle of a pack of Allies Can't Die.

Nice work - thanks for making this build. Just curious why you went Witch for this starter build over Shadow? I'm a new player so I'm probably missing something, but doesn't Trickster offer more than Occultist (30% increased DoT damage > 20% chaos penetration) as well as having better overall energy shield + movement speed nodes? Additionally, Shadow starts closer to some early DoT/chaos nodes which should make the leveling go faster.

I was planning to also utilize an Essence Drain -> Contagion build, but my plan was to go Trickster. You've definitely given me some food for thought though.

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Zenotho wrote:

doesn't Trickster offer more than Occultist (30% increased DoT damage > 20% chaos penetration)

The tree already has 400-some-odd percent increased damage. 30% on top of that would be less then a 10% buff. On the other hand, 20% pen on a zero resist mob would be a 20% more multiplier, and this increases further as the mob's chaos res goes up

In terms of your full tree, wouldn't it be more efficient to travel through Practical Application instead of the three Intelligence nodes outside Whispers of Doom? The Strength and Dexterity will have more use and make gearing jewelry a bit easier probably. I would also recommend going down the inner highway passed Elemental Equilibrium and though Shaper rather than south from the Templar area. This puts you beside Potency of Will, which I find very helpful with one-shotting magic packs as well as whites. Albeit you do lose quite a bit of Strength which is nice, and don't pass beside a 1-point Jewel socket, but it's something to consider! Solid build plan and GL in Perandus HC.