[2.5] Tri Curse Tri Charge Chaos EK Occultist [SC/HC Viable]

-Facebreakers were nerfed from 90% crit multi to 45% crit multi which is a big hit to DPS, especially single target

I could have done the obvious temp chains/enfeeble/assassin's mark curse set up but I personally think temp chains and enfeeble are way too strong and I didn’t want to make such an easy choice. So I decided on these 3 curses: Warlord’s Mark, Poacher’s Mark, Assassin’s Mark

Reason for each?
Warlord’s Mark: Endurance charges give you physical reduction helping you survival some of the nasty encounters in maps. Each endurance charge extends the amount of time your Immortal Call will last if you plan on using it (Which you probably should) You also get both life leech and mana leech. Finally, the increased chance to stun mobs can actually save you once in awhile if you don’t plan on having stun immunity

Poacher’s Mark: Frenzy Charges are great! Cast speed and MORE damage. Poacher’s Mark also helps keep you at full flasks when clearing. The less evasion and life/mana on hit don’t do anything but are decent if you play with friends.

Assassin’s Mark: Power Charges for even more DPS on top of frenzy charges.Easy power charge generation, additional chance to crit and extra crit damage on cursed mobs is obviously great. The life/mana on kill is again, like the life/mana on hit, not very helpful but decent in parties

You can use other curses if you want for whatever reason you desire.

Pros:
-No elemental damage at all (Ele reflect becomes a free mod)
-High chaos damage (Most mobs have low chaos resist)
-Easy flask management (Poacher's Mark keeps flasks full when clearing)
-Only 1 required unique (Heretic’s Veil)
-Versatile ascendancy choices
-Can benefit from many support gems based on preferences

Cons:
-Mana problems when not leeching
-Tri curse without Cospri’s Will
-Price of Heretic’s Veil can be quite high at times
-Usually can’t run a 6 link until you have lvl3 Enlighten

Leveling can be done as an Ethereal Knives build right from lv1. Level as Life or Hybrid until you have all the ES gear waiting for your transition. Instead of being tri curse, use Hatred and herald of ash or hatred and 1 curse

Useful uniques for leveling are the usual:
Lifesprig
Goldrim
Tabula Rasa
Wanderlust
Doedre’s Damning (If you want to duo/tri curse early)

Required Uniques?

Heretic’s Veil. Without it, you need mana reservation reduction to run all 3 curses. You can spec into mana reservation reduction while leveling or before you have a Heretic’s Veil if you want.

Other Gear:
High ES/ Resists rares… That’s pretty much it

Weapon/Shield? (Mod Priority Order)
Dagger or Wand with: Spell DMG - spell crit - crit multi - cast speed - Projectile Speed
Elemental damage added to spells prevents you from being ele reflect immune
Shield: Spell Crit - High ES - Spell DMG - Any resists you need

Accessories?
Amulet: Strength - Crit multi - Crit chance/Spell DMG - ES
Rings: Strength - Resists - ES - Dex
Belt: Strength - Resists - ES

Useful Uniques:
Valyrium: A ring that gives you near stun immunity
Ming’s Heart: A ring that offers really high chaos damage
Facebreakers: Obvious unique for any crit build. 90% crit multi is nothing to laugh at
Doryani’s Invitation (Physical): Physical damage, strength, tri resists, a bit of phys leech and easy to stun lock mobs while using flasks
Atziri’s Promise: More chaos damage and chaos leech. Elemental roll doesn’t matter
Apep’s Rage: If you plan on doing a non crit variant. Offers great chaos damage and cast speed

Main skill:
Ethereal Knives > Spell Echo > Added Chaos > Void Manipulation > Chain/Slower Projectiles > Empower

Honestly there are so many support gems you can use here. You can play around with different links in a tabula until you find what you like best but this is what I’ve been using.
Other useful supports are Controlled Destruction, Increased Critical Strikes, Critical Multiplier, Poison, Faster Projectiles, Pierce (instead of Chain)

All three curses should be in the Heretic’s Veil linked with Enlighten once you can afford one

For movement: Whirling Blades/Shield Charge > Faster Attacks > Fortify
Or Flame Dash > Faster Fasting if using a wand
Fortify + Endurance Charges + Granite + Basalt… Amazing physical reduction

Situational: Vaal Discipline > Vaal Lightning Trap > Increased Duration
Cast When Damage Taken > Immortal Call > Increased Duration
Vaal Haste > Vaal Clarity > Increased Duration (Amazing clear speed/boss melting)

14 Points


31 Points


43 Points


67 Points (Specing into Crit)


81 Points (Getting Vaal Pact and getting ready for CI)


100 Points (CI + Tri Curse)


The last few points can be spent in a few ways
-Spell Damage
-Chaos Damage
-Energy Shield
-Power Charge/Frenzy Charge by shadow
Choose whatever suits your preferences

For Jewels, Energy from Within under Melding is a nice choice.
Rare jewels,

Here is my 112 Point tree

Every single node in Occultist offers something for this build. The main one is Malediction for the tri curse. The other 4 points from merc and uber lab can be spent on whichever you feel you would benefit from more

Forbidden Power: An extra power charge is always nice
Void Beacon: If you want to do even more chaos damage
Wicked Ward: +100 ES and helps keep you alive
Vile Bastion: ES regen when clearing is great and stun immunity on full ES is good enough to keep you alive if you don't plan on using Valyrium