[2.1 Video Guide] Hybrid ES/Life Tanky Zombie/Specter Summoner - The Puppet Master [HC/SC viable]

I got through Normal so far with this build (first time player of PoE) on Tempest and it was fine after a couple of "learning experiences" . The suggestion in the video to get a Matua Tupuna is a very good one if you plan on using the summons to level in a Hardcore mode, it adds a ton of safety and stability to the build. Rushing dual fire totems is almost certainly going to be more efficient but as a new player I valued the extra time spent learning and acclimating to the playstyle and getting the right muscle memory for Convocation and Offering usage.

I kind of disagree about holding off on getting Death Attunement until late cruel. Level 40 revenants are strong enough to carry you pretty far into cruel, and make a big difference in the last fight in act IV. For the early couple of skill point deviation from the build progression as is, you gain a lot with getting Attunment earlier.

One other thing is that I still use a fire totem even into cruel-with fire pen and another damage support it is still worth casting to help on bosses, and will continue to use until I can get the needed aura passives and gear to make the aura setup work. That kind of brings me to my question for players who have gotten pretty deep with this build:

Just how necessary is all the offensive auras and curses? You have to trade off quite a bit to in both passives, survivability, and gem sockets to get the big offensive aura package. On a HC character or league, just how necessary is all that extra damage, assuming you have three revenants with split/damage/echo and elemental equlibrium? Not having to put so much effort into the offensive auras would free up a LOT of space in the build for more durability or improved farming items affixes.

"

joseas wrote:

ok next question :D

how do u get a decent mana pool? i got mana on my equip (not every item, but many) and i took an 8%mana node and deep thoughts, i barley can cast wrath, haste and purity

mana left: 120

even with enlighten, which i don have ^^, i cant cast AA

i am really thinking about going into that 3-nodes "dreamer" costs: 3 skillpoints

You need to use the Prism Guardian shield. I suggest watching the video for more detailed information =)

Sorry, wrong post =)

Hey Lifting loved the guide i was just wondering how the clear speed compares to other builds?

im level 72 and i feel like im clearing maps really slowely, i have all the minion nodes mentioned in your build, i have all the aura nodes and im running purity of ele, haste, and hatred with the aveng specters. I have mon'trguls grasp and im running one curse atm and it still feels much slower than some of my other chars who have much worse/cheaper gear.

just wondering if maybe im doing something wrong or if this is kinda of it for the build.

Great guide though, lots of detail and easy to follow, great work all around!

Hey I am absolutely loving this build right now. It's officially the highest level I've ever been in a hardcore league.

I did have a quick question for you thought. Recently I was fortunate enough to find a Vis Mortis in tempest league and I was wondering how this could be incorporated into the build? Would you suggest any different nodes or anything? I'd love to hear your input on it!

"

regfox wrote:

Hey I am absolutely loving this build right now. It's officially the highest level I've ever been in a hardcore league.

I did have a quick question for you thought. Recently I was fortunate enough to find a Vis Mortis in tempest league and I was wondering how this could be incorporated into the build? Would you suggest any different nodes or anything? I'd love to hear your input on it!

Vis Mortis can be used if you want to, however the -20% to minion life is in my opinion not worth it. A good ES/Life chest is better as it will double dip and make you significantly tankier =)

"

Aeora wrote:

Hey Lifting loved the guide i was just wondering how the clear speed compares to other builds?

im level 72 and i feel like im clearing maps really slowely, i have all the minion nodes mentioned in your build, i have all the aura nodes and im running purity of ele, haste, and hatred with the aveng specters. I have mon'trguls grasp and im running one curse atm and it still feels much slower than some of my other chars who have much worse/cheaper gear.

just wondering if maybe im doing something wrong or if this is kinda of it for the build.

Great guide though, lots of detail and easy to follow, great work all around!

Hey dude!

Evangelists provide lots of awesome utility, but you will get much better clear speed/damage with Revenants. I suggest trying speccing into those :)

And thanks!

"

LiftingNerdBro wrote:

"

regfox wrote:

Hey I am absolutely loving this build right now. It's officially the highest level I've ever been in a hardcore league.

I did have a quick question for you thought. Recently I was fortunate enough to find a Vis Mortis in tempest league and I was wondering how this could be incorporated into the build? Would you suggest any different nodes or anything? I'd love to hear your input on it!

Vis Mortis can be used if you want to, however the -20% to minion life is in my opinion not worth it. A good ES/Life chest is better as it will double dip and make you significantly tankier =)

I'd have to disagree here. It's REDUCED life (not LESS), meaning it only takes away two 10% nodes of minion life. Some recent builds even skip a couple minion life nodes, so you can consider this as paying 2 skill points for +1 Spectre (or 1 skill point if you consider the +15% increased minion damage the chest also gives). Revenants deal such huge amounts of damage that going from 3 to 4 is a significant damage boost.

Zombies (and Raging Spirits/Skeletons) also gain +30% of their physical damage as Chaos damage with Unholy Might. That's like a free Added Fire Damage gem, but as Chaos!

Remember, a good offense is also a strong defense! If monsters are dead, how can they harm you? Well, unless they explode on death... =oP

Downed Atziri at 84 yesterday. Had two portals left due to minions dying. if you're not careful with your convocation, the minions can be one shot. Vaals and Trio were a breeze. Note: This was with a 5l ES/Life armor and not the Vis Mortis.

Still using revanants.

Running 75-78 100 quant maps (when I can get them) and hardly ever lose minions. Clear speed is outstanding. I 5 linked a Vis Mortis and found it to be superior in clear speed to an ES/Life combo. Perhaps at a higher level the ES/Life will be needed but until I get super lucky and find a 79+ map, hard to really know. Until my minions or myself start dying (I'm playing Warbands), I'll continue the 5 spectre onslaught.

Here is my gear at 86 or 87. Recently got some good chaos resist on a few pieces and it made mapping much, much easier.

"

(new to summoner)im playing a lv66 summoner which has almost the same setup.But instead of wand and the shield, im using dying breath which increase the effect of both curses and auras. how do you think about this item on summoner?