ANGRYAFRICAN's basic guide to leveling a summoner build in 1.2.0.

Video introduction: http://youtu.be/5HgvIFx1oYQ

How to level summoner

Summoners are weak, and frustrating to level with until lategame. Personally I think its faster and more efficient to level with strong leveling skills and change to summoner later. You can level early on as summoner, but its slow and inefficient. This is how I like to do it:

1. Acquire Flameblast and Searing Bond and use it to level until Merciless Ledge.

OR

Use Freezing Pulse with LMP and Added lightning in a +1 cold wand. This proves to be a very effective leveling skill after the buff in 1.2.0.

Passive tree examples...a break down by level:




2. Start using Zombies and Evangelists from Cruel Scepter of God at Merciless Ledge. Having the Flesh Offering Gem and running Hatred will greatly increase clear speed. This is the sweet spot for transitioning into playing a summoner.

Spectre level mechanics; level matters:
Spoiler
The reason why summoning spectres from Cruel Scepter of God is important is that the level of the zone you summon spectres from (in this case Undying Evangelists) matters a TON for making sure their hp and damage is good. Undying Evangelists from Normal are too low level to progress you through Cruel...but Cruel Undying Evangelists are strong enough to progress you all through Merciless. You will want to get into Merciless Spectre of god later to get level 67 Undying Evangelists for end-game.

Finally, if you summon Undying Evangelists corpses with Desecrate to summon for spectres, the Undying Evangelists level is equal to the zone level or the Desecrate corpse level, whichever is lower. This means you should NEVER summon spectres with Desecrate corpses unless you have leveled the gem high enough. For example, if you are in a level 67 zone, but your Desecrate gem summons level 5 corpses, your Spectres will only be level 5.


3. It is VERY important to be leveling a Raise Zombie gem right away from level 1. This will ensure that your Zombies are as tough as possible later on. You can easily mule one by killing Hillock with a level 1 witch and getting it from the quest reward.

Purity of Elements is very important for the survivability of your minions. It is a priority to get for quest rewards or to purchase. The second aura you should try to be running ASAP is hatred. It will give a massive boost to the clearspeed and damage of your minions. Finally, Flesh Offering is also important to get as soon as possible, as it provides a massive boost to minion damage output.

What to aim for when you transition to summoner at Merciless Ledge:

1. Running Purity of Elements (OR have Zombies linked to Minion and Totem Elemental Resistance).
2. Running Hatred
3. Using Undying Evangelists from the Cruel Sceptre of God (level 53)
4. Using Flesh Offering
5. Use a 4link, +1 minion level helmet for zombies.

You'll need a Reduced Mana linked to those 2 auras to run them both.

Acquire and level these gems

Aura Gems:
Hatred
Clarity
Reduced Mana x2
Purity of Elements
Vitality
Generosity

Summoner Related gems:
Raise Zombie
Desecrate
Raise Spectre
Flesh Offering
Convocation

Supports:
Minion Health
Melee Splash
Multistrike
Spell Echo
Increased Area of Effect
Minion Damage

Curse related gems:
Vulnerability
Enfeeble
Temporal Chains
Elemental Weakness

Arctic Armour

Optional gems to acquire and level:

Animate Guardian
Enhance
Empower
Melee Physical
Purity of Lightning
Purity of Fire
Raise Zombie extras for vaal orbing at level 20
Summon Raging Spirit
Item Rarity
Bone Offering
Minion and Totem Elemental Resistance

Remember you can level additional gems in your weapon swap. That's 6 extra gem slots for levelling. Make sure to use every one!

4. Shopping list

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Aurumvorax (rolls 40-60 all resists, cheap! 5alts – 1 chaos)

http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Bones_of_Ullr (+1 spectres and zombies (rolls 5-15 ms, cheap! 5alts – 1 chaos)

+1 4link Minion Helm for your Zombies (easy to craft using a flask of animation + alteration + 4l blue helm) or buy one for 1 alch – 1 chaos.


Full lategame build guide: http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1008741

Link to my stream: http://www.twitch.tv/angryaa/

edit: Guide updated with more details 29/08
Last edited by Angryafrican on Aug 29, 2014, 12:45:37 AM
yo what do you think about the new aura support gem, which makes aura for allies more effective? since you don't need hatred for your self
"
yo what do you think about the new aura support gem, which makes aura for allies more effective? since you don't need hatred for your self


If Generosity works on minions (the wording suggests it does not) I think it will be a massive dps boost to use it on Hatred (and maybe Vitality...). I think it will be a must to use it on hatred as it is our most potent DPS scaler.
hey thx alot for sharing your experience with us. looking forward for more infos :)
i heard that with es gear its easier to go mf. can i go with hp also mf this patch now since you re able to craft stuff? whats your opinion. thx upfront

btw. i m playing the first time on hc so i rly dont know what to aim for es or hp for my mf summoner.
Last edited by nOrmski85 on Aug 21, 2014, 11:08:35 AM
Desecrate*

Why do you even need to level desecrate though?
"
Roleplayer wrote:
Desecrate*

Why do you even need to level desecrate though?


the level of corpses spawned from desecrate is based on gem level
Hear this words but once and they will echo in your nightmares forever!
Is it official info? I use lvl1 desecrate, my zombies seems to be just fine. Or does it affect only spectres? Or what's the deal?
"
Roleplayer wrote:
Is it official info? I use lvl1 desecrate, my zombies seems to be just fine. Or does it affect only spectres? Or what's the deal?

Zombie's not affect by the lvl of the corpse but scpecter is, the more lvl of desecrate is the more it powerfull.
Last edited by BlueJasminez on Aug 23, 2014, 8:30:04 AM
So Raging Spirits not good enough to use to lvl with?
I don't see any reason in bothering with anything else than Raging Spirits + zombies with minion life in a helmet. Thats all you need basically.

Edit: After seeing this build in action i must say that lvling with SRS feels more comfortable, however the end result of this build is far superior in terms of survival compared to the SRS build. Good job!
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Last edited by Ghazzy on Sep 2, 2014, 2:21:27 PM
so im currently running this build and its really powerful, my only problem now is to get the dexterity to level my desecrate even further, i only get 74 dex through the passive tree and dont see a way to get more dex, only thing i can imagine is gloves with +dex, is there any other way to get it?

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