[2.6 Video Guide] Cheap "New League Viable" Warchief Totem Axe Build [HC/SC]

NOTE: This build was originally designed for 2.5. There has only been minor changes (aoe) but the build should still work great. Good luck in 2.6.

Video Guide: Path of Exile 2.5: Warchief Totem New League/Beginner's Guide![HC/SC Viable]

Watch this short build video. It will show you how the build performs in high tier maps and explain the core mechanics of the build!

If you have any questions about the build come to my twitch stream and I will do my best to answer them:

Lifting's Twitch Live Stream Channel

__________________________________________________________________________


This is the official build thread for my Cheap "New League/Beginner" Warchief Totem Build guide. In this thread, I will cover the most basic requirements of the build.



Strengths and Weaknesses of the build


Strengths:

- Beginner and new league "friendly" - the build is somewhat simple in design and easy to understand.

- Able to clear tier 15 maps! (Probably tier 16 as well, but I haven't tried that yet)

- Cheap, no unique items are required but there are several optional and powerful ones you can add later once you have the currency. Furthermore this build does very well on just a 4-link all the way up to tier 6-7 maps as long as you have a decent weapon.

- Viable for both hardcore and softcore gameplay (yes it can kill Atziri)!

Weaknesses:

- You won't be able to rely purely on your two Warchief Totems until you reach level 35-40.
- Your totems will destroy themselves on physical reflect maps.


__________________________________________________________________________

Build mechanic introduction:

Defences:

- The final build has 200% increased maximum life and 262% increased armor (462% when on low life)
- By going Champion you will gain the permanent fortify bonus.
- You will be using Blasphemy + Enfeeble for some significant incomming damage reduction from monsters.
- Monsters tend to attack your totems instead of you, making you indirectly tankier.

Reflect Damage

When using totems the damage will be reflected back onto them rather than your character, this makes you safe from this mechanic. That said physical reflect maps will make your totems destroy themselves making it a hassle to complete.

Champion VS Juggernaut, which one should you pick?

Benefits of the Champion:

- Permanent Fortify! (Great when using Abyssus)
- Decent boost to melee damage, attack and movement speed.

Benefits of the Juggernaut:

- Can effectively generate and better utilize Endurance Charges for both defences and damage (requires you to use enduring cry in your setup)
- Doubles the amount of armor you get from your chest piece.
- 10% extra movement speed and you cannot be slowed below base speed, meaning that tar, frozen ground etc will never make you slower than normal movement speed.

__________________________________________________________________________

Skill-gems and setups:

Damage setup:

- Warchief Totem, Faster Attacks, Melee Physical Damage, Inc. AoE, Added Fire Damage (5-link) & Weapon Elemental Damage (6-link).

Defensive Setup:

- Cast When Damage Taken (lvl 10), Immortal Call (lvl 13), Molten Shell (lvl 15) & Increased Duration (max lvl)

Utility:

- Cast When Damage Taken (lvl 6), Flame Golem (lvl 8), Enduring Cry & Decoy Totem (optional, but recommended)

Mobility & Defence:

- Leap Slam, Faster Attacks, Blasphemy & Enfeeble.

Auras:

- Hatred, Vaal Haste, Vaal Haste & Increased Duration.

__________________________________________________________________________

Skill-trees & Ascendancy classes:

Ascendancy Class: The Champion



Ascendancy Class: The Juggernaut



Note: That if you at any point need strength or dexterity, simply pick up the 30+ notables in the skill-tree and spec out of them later when you are able to cover these requirements via gear.
__________________________________________________________________________

Leveling Tips:

1. Level 1-12: Use Cleave (if playing as marauder, you will have to mule it from the duelist)
2. Level 12-28Get Sunder from Nessa after completing the quest A Sirens Cadence.
3. Level 28+ Get Ancestral Warchief after defeating General Gravicius.
4. Level 35+ Get Ancestral Bond and start relying on only the warchief totems now.
5. Once you reach level 65+ you should start saving up for a 5-link.

Bandit Quest Rewards:

- Normal : Help Oak for 40+ life.
- Cruel : Kill them all for 1 extra skill point.
- Merciless: Kill them all for 1 extra skill point.

__________________________________________________________________________

Gearing and stat priorities:

Defensive affixes, in priority:

1. Life
2. Elemental Resistances (75% on Merciless)
3. Armor

Offensive affixes, in priority:

1. Added Flat Physical Damage
2. Inc. Attack Speed%
3. Inc. Weapon Elemental Damage%

My Current Gear:


Jewels:

- Inc. Maximum life %
- Inc. Attack Speed%
- Inc. Physical Damage%
- Inc. Area Damage%

Flasks:

- 1x Seething Divine Life Flasks of Staunching
- 1x Seething Divine Life Flasks of Grounding
- 1x Experimenter's Basalt Flask of Warding
- 1x Granite Flask of Ironskin
- 1x Experimenter's Silver/Quicksilver of Adrenaline

__________________________________________________________________________

Recommended unique items:

Weapon: Hezmana's Bloodlust



Helmet: Abyssus



Chest Armor: Lightning Coil



Note for SUPER LATE GAME (This weapon is very powerful, but is in no way required!:

Weapon: Atziri's Disfavour



__________________________________________________________________________

Outro:

Make sure to watch the video guide to see some actual gameplay of how the build performs as well as to get a better explanation of how it works!

Video Guide: Path of Exile 2.5: Warchief Totem New League/Beginner's Guide![HC/SC Viable]

Check out my other build guides for 2.4

- 2.5 Tanky Cyclone Champion/Juggernaut [HC/SC]

- 2.5 Ultimate Beginner's Flame Totem Chieftain [HC/SC]

- 2.5 Earthquake Champion/Juggernaut/Slayer [HC/SC]

Stay safe!

#DoYouEvenNerd
Lifting

Reserved for later =)

Nice read and video mate - I have been looking at Slayer as well for this any thoughts on those nodes Bane of Legends/Headsman/Overwhelm - Not sure if they are an option as totem is dong the hitting.

"

Bawheidbob wrote:

Nice read and video mate - I have been looking at Slayer as well for this any thoughts on those nodes Bane of Legends/Headsman/Overwhelm - Not sure if they are an option as totem is dong the hitting.

Thanks bro!

Unfortunately, the only way to make these nodes work is to go Southbound gloves, and have poison killing off the enemies, this counts as "you" killing the monsters and then it would work. Otherwise, it won't I'm afraid.

Is abyssus really the best thing to use in HC?? Thanks so much!

What Chest Armor would be "better" for SC?

"

tipicozzy wrote:

What Chest Armor would be "better" for SC?

Still the coil,because u need it to mitigate the downside of abyssus.
If u decide to not use abyssus then there are several alternative like belly/koams for example,that just imho.

"

BloodRaziel wrote:

"

tipicozzy wrote:

What Chest Armor would be "better" for SC?

Still the coil,because u need it to mitigate the downside of abyssus.
If u decide to not use abyssus then there are several alternative like belly/koams for example,that just imho.

This, thanks BloodRaziel! :)

Thank you for the guide. I was wondering about the gem guide you mentioned in the video. Is the warchief totem a new gem? and where do I get it?

hay what do you think about this build

https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAQDAQHnBLMFLQmWC2EOPBDMEuETTBQgFE0UcRXsF-EYkRo4GlUm-CcvKhMslCynLdIuUzB3NZI26DkOOlI8BTwtPfxHfkrETjJQR1hjWOVZ81n-WitfP2EhYhdkUmVNZadmVGaeZ5toZWjya9RyD3KpdO12rHh6eu97IHt0e9SCB4Nfg8yElITZhO-HaolxivCMz5BVkc6Ub5d5nz6iAKLqo_KpJ6mUqs2sqq2Nrj6uUK9stz65HbvtvJ-9Nr6nwGbBo8T2xq7G2MqQz37Tb9i92XzaweJh5FHpRuoY7FzvDu988B_yQfPd9kj2rvcy-JP46_xL_gr-hw==