[1.0.4+] Sledgehammer Marauder Guide - GS+HS (including Videos)

I have started my marauder based on the [Newbie Friendly] MARAUDER MELEE BUILD v5.1 from NinjaArabStrategist

(Thanks to him for giving me some basic ideas!).

After playing a while with this build the 1.0.0 version of POE was released and gave me the possibility to respec my whole build. After hours of planing I found a good balance

between offensive and defensive skills. Several regrets later I ended on this build, which I only can describe in one word: AMAZING ;)

This build uses 3 attacks: Ground Slam for AOE, Heavy Strike for single targets and Leap Slam to start a fight and build up some endurance charges.

The defense we get from one Cast when Damage taken Gem linked with Warlords Mark and Enduring Cry. We have a 100% uptime for the endurance charges and with Granite Flask a 90% Physical Dmg Reduction. If a fight ends without full life, just place a Devouring Totem and your Life will be full very fast. Yes this works even with Vaal Pact.

Bog Map (70) with phys reflect, 50% regeneration, double Boss
Villa Map Boss (70) with double reflect, 50% regeneration
Piety
Shore Map (69) with Physical Reflect and 50% Regen Mods
Colonade Map (71) Kole with Physical Resistance

OLD:
Springs Map 68 with physical reflect. Forgot about the detonate dead skill of boss. It really hurts with those stone monsters. ;)

+ Fun to play. Slam into a group of monsters and smash their heads with groundslam. If a single mob survives tear him to peaces with Heavy Strike.
+ Quite Cheap to start. No 6L needed.
+ Good Damage output while keeping a good defense, even on average gear (like mine).
+ Capable of doing all map mods (including Physical Reflect and 50%/No Reg Mods).
+ Playable on old PCs (I sometimes play this build on my Notebook).
+ Easy to play. Only mouse is needed.
+ Easy to level. Bloodmagic and Carnage heart can be used quite early.

- Depends on Carnage Heart Amulet with Lifeleech >= 8%. This is the only item which is needed to play this build, but its not expensive.
- Choice of skillgems is limited because of Carnage Heart. The lifeleech from the amulett is only for pure physical damage.

Final Passive Skill Tree - 108/120 Points:
http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgEAAdwB5wSzD8wS2RLhFCAUTRiRGS4Z6Ro4Gj4b-iECITQhVSXfJ-0otSo4KvYt0jGeMgk1kjboOQ462Ds7QT9GaUd-SshN2E3jUEdQUFHmVElYY1ivWfNfOV8_YMRhIWVNZ1hsRm5pbqpybHKpeA17jHzZgW-DOITZh2qMdozPkFWQbJkrnjyfy6IAouqkGaZXpmSnMKeEqWipbqlzqZSsqrQvtfK53b2Bvoq-p8APwBrBBMbYyZjKkNJN1I_cPd3j3sHkredS7DjvDu9O73zxrPIv8932SP6P

If you play with Kongor's Undying Rage you should not use Resolute Technique from Passive Tree.
You can additionally spend some points on single resistance, dexternity or intelligence nodes if needed.

Only use Vaal Pact when you have good damage. Otherwise use old guide (at bottom of post)

Ground Slam:
Ground Slam > Multistrike > Melee Physical Damage > Faster Attacks > Concentrated Effect > Added Fire Damage/Endurance Charge on Melee Stun

Heavy Strike:
Heavy Strike > Multistrike > Melee Physical Damage > Faster Attacks > Added Fire Damage > Endurance Charge on Melee Stun/Added Chaos Damage/lifeleech (to be extra save)

Leap Slam:
Leap Slam > Bloodmagic > Endurance Charge on Melee Stun > Faster Attacks

Cast when Damage Taken (Level 1):
Enduring Cry (Level 5), Warlords Mark (Level 5)

Hatred > Reduced Mana > Devouring Totem > Faster Casting

Weapon: 2 Hand Mace with high pyhsical DPS. Good choises are Marohi Erqi and Kongor's Undying Rage or any good Physical Damage 2-Handed Mace.

Amulett: There is only one choice: Carnage Heart. We need this amulett to get our lifeleech without wasting one expensive socket. I would recommend a amulett with at least 8% leech.

For the rest: Get 2% mana leech, max resi and stack life and armor.

All stats are only buffed with Hatred:


Defense with 5 Enurance Charges and Granite Flask:

Help Oak on all 3 difficulties.

Q: "Why don't you use Lifeleech or Life on Hit?".
A: We use Carnage Heart Amulett and only do Physical Damage.

Q: "Why can't we use other skills?"
A: We need skills with pure physical damage. For example Infernal Blow converts 50% of physical damage to fire. So we would get 50% lower lifeleech from amulett.

Q: "Why do you skill Iron Refexes when you don't have much Evasion?"
A: Some highlevel maps will be done in a group. It is very likely that a partymember uses Grace aura.

Skill Tree:


Gems:


Items:


Bandits:

23.11 - Added Concentrated Effect (Thx to Skaarlok for the idea!)
24.11 - Added Passive Skilltree for Leveling and my current stats
11.12 - Change Gem setup, New SKilltree, Added Videos, Remove Bloodmagic Passive and run aura instead
12.12 - Updated Stats Picture, Changed back to Heavy Strike, Changes to Skilltree
27.12 - Updated Guide for Vaal Pact, new Video, new Stat Images,...