1.3 [Newbie Friendly] GROUNDSLAMMER BUILD

^Really? Huh, because I soloed to act2 merciless using completely self-found gear with this build and I could count the number of times I died on 1 hand, but that's probably because I'm new to the game. My first trade was for a weapon that cost only 2gcp, and I easily beat act3 merciless with that. I think you're doing it wrong bro.

I see your passive skill tree doesn't include Body & Soul like it says, but instead Mind & Matter which does exactly the same. Would you recommend Putting skill points in Body & Soul as well for the extra resist and armor?

Edit: Btw. thanks for the build. It is very helpful and thorough!

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DonStone wrote:

I see your passive skill tree doesn't include Body & Soul like it says, but instead Mind & Matter which does exactly the same. Would you recommend Putting skill points in Body & Soul as well for the extra resist and armor?

Edit: Btw. thanks for the build. It is very helpful and thorough!

Ouh... Mind & Matter used to be named Body & Soul too. Well, I didn't notice the have changed it.

For the build we just need Templar's Life circle. And most efficient way going there is through Mind & Matter nodes. We don't need additionally Body & Soul.

You can get those nodes in deep end-game if you think you need even MOAR armor.

~~nas

EDIT:
Guide corrected, thanks for feedback

I've been dying quite a lot in A3 Cruel, and I lost about 25% at Piety just now. I don't know if I just suck, or my equips are shit. L52 Marauder.

I'm in Act 3 Merc now, doing Piety and map runs at level 69. I have to say using Multistrike with Ground Slam + Life Leech just solves all my survivability problems. The only times that I can actually die now is due to desync and being cornered by yellow chaos damage mobs. Wish there was a way to raise our chaos resists but the only node nearby is 8%, and I dont think its worth it. Thanks for the guide, its been a blast! =D

Gear:


Hoping to get a 5L chest soon so I can run Melee Dmg, Faster Attacks, Multistrike, Added Fire Dmg on Ground Slam.

Maybe it's me but I never try for piety when I have any exp to lose on cruel or merc. Just farm lenaras 2 or 3 until you level and then just for her with a stack of portal scrolls

First, TY for great guide. PoE is thoroughly complex game and too many hours have been wasted on non efficient chars by tons of people. This is great guide for ppl that like to play warriors, smash things with big hammer and learn about game, and still be powerful /viable.

I've read last 30 pages of this thread to get myself updated on latest issues, game patch changes etc. I'm still noob (playing cruel now) but this is what I've concluded (correct me if I'm wrong):

Life path is slightly nerfed lately but it's still viable cornerstone of this build. For this build to work, you simply need to maximize life.
Damage nodes have been buffed. Grabbing group or two of damage nodes might prove viable (there is one right beside resolute technique), same goes for armor but I wouldn't bother with too much armor until late game. Why? my short investigation reveled that armor means little while you have lousy gear /low armor. That is why I wouldn't go to iron reflexes right away. You will waste tons of nodes and gains in your (still low) armor is negligible. (700 armor gives you 40% melee reduct. - if you double it (1400), you'll gain 55%, meaning that 500 points at this level would give you only 5% melee damage reduction)

Endurance nodes are definitely powerful and well worth the effort, but they worth little without extended duration. There are two nodes for it, one next to duelist melee circle and other up high, near templar life circle. I would suggest grabbing both instead going to iron reflexes. You can leave reflexes for later, when (and if) your dex /gear /armor would be good enough. Ofc grabbing diamond flesh if needed would still be ok.

Linking gems is actually more important then gear quality. If you see nice linked chest or helm or gloves, waste few orbs on it (common blue items) until you get high life roll and at least one resistance. Enough for newbie. You need one primary attack linked with as much nodes as you can afford, and one secondary, with at least 3 or more red links.

I find using life on hit gem increasing my survivability drastically. This game is more then dealing high damage. In the beginning, stick to as high life steal as possible.

Using heavy strike with splash effect is really powerful way of quickly running through game until almost merciless, maybe even then. You kill in single blow, still, I like using decoy+ground slam, just to prepare myself for more difficult experience later, bosses etc. Killing from afar has it's advantages in difficult game.

Decoy totem is totally great way of killing things and be very safe. Learn to use it properly. I'm even thinking on INT route and skellies totem for later because it doesn't matter how tough your opponent is if he's not hitting you.

One more thing, get yourself nice Geofri baptism hammer asap. It will make your game lot easier and they are dirt cheap.

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Thorien_Kell wrote:

One more thing, get yourself nice Geofri baptism hammer asap. It will make your game lot easier and they are dirt cheap.

Got this one for 2 Chaos and 2 Fusing ;)

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ShaggyDog wrote:

I've been dying quite a lot in A3 Cruel, and I lost about 25% at Piety just now. I don't know if I just suck, or my equips are shit. L52 Marauder.

Your gear seems to mostly focus on damage when you need to focus on resist and life.
Thats why you're having problem.

Btw try to get a decoy totem it will help you a lot