Stormweaver Ascendancies Explained + Ball Lightning Archmage

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Discord ID: K.F.C.
Twitch Handle: https://www.twitch.tv/bestinslot_kfc

Introduction



As we gear up for the December 6th launch of Path of Exile 2, I'm KFC, your friendly neighborhood rookie with a year of experience—and more than a few faceplants since my start in the Crucible Update of Path of Exile 1. Now, I'm not claiming to be a seasoned veteran with a PhD in pixelated carnage, but I’ve brewed up a storm of insights about the new classes, and I'm here to share my findings! If you're a simple-minded soul like myself (and trust me, we're in good company), then grab your favorite snack and get ready for a journey into the electrifying world of the Stormweaver—a caster that promises safety and scalability like your favorite blanket on a cold night.

Now, picture this: you, standing amidst a horde of foes, unleashing bolts of pure electricity, while feeling as secure as your grandma’s homemade cookie recipe! The Stormweaver is the quintessential class for players looking for a reliable and straightforward experience without the headache of hidden mechanics. It's like the friend who shows up on time with snacks instead of the one who bails last minute to go on a “life-changing” trip. So, dust off your keyboards, don your gaming gear and dive into the thunderous realm of the Stormweaver. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or trying to figure out why your spells aren't casting, this guide aims to enlighten us all!

This guide specifically aims to speak about the Stormweaver ascendancy nodes.



Pro's & Con's

+ High Burst Damage
+ Exposure and Ailments
+ Increase Regen Utility
+ Best DPS Spellcaster Choice

- Lack of Mobility
- Fairly squishy without proper nodes
- Lack of Information


Ascendancy Node 1 – Scouring  Winds (Recommended)
“Exposure you inflict lowers the affected Resistances by an additional 20%”

In Path of Exile 2, the first ascendancy node available to Stormweavers, Scouring Winds, offers a unique defensive and offensive synergy that can significantly enhance your gameplay. This node reduces the affected enemy's resistance by an additional 20% for any exposure you inflict, which may initially seem minor, but in the rich ecosystem of PoE2, this baseline 20% multiplier can make a substantial difference. The game's mechanics emphasize the importance of exposure, bringing down an enemy’s resistances to create openings for your attacks. By investing in the Scouring Winds node, players can expect to capitalize on an essential aspect of combat, as it lays the groundwork for a more resilient build that seeks to not just survive but thrive against tougher foes.

However, it’s important to consider the broader context of available defensive options early in the game. While many players might gravitate toward curses like Temporal Chains and Enfeeble, we must also be aware that more potent curses like Flammability, Conductivity, and Frostbite will only become accessible later in the gameplay. This limitation means that Scouring Winds could fill a crucial gap in your early-game strategy, allowing for manageable resistance levels against tougher enemies. That said, players should weigh the pros and cons of heavily investing in exposure versus other possible routes on the ascendancy tree.

In conclusion, Scouring Winds proves to be a staple choice, offering balanced benefits that can support both offensive strategies and defensive needs, paving the way for more complex builds later in the game.

Ascendancy Node 2 – Tempest Caller (Recommended)
“Grants Skill: Elemental Storm - Trigger Elemental Storm on Critical Hit with Spells”
The second node, Tempest Caller, stands out as a recommended choice for those eager to enhance their spell-casting capabilities. The Tempest Caller grants the skill Elemental Storm, which triggers a swirling tempest whenever you achieve a critical hit with a spell. What makes this node particularly compelling is that the storm's damage scales based on the highest elemental damage type from the spell that caused it, allowing for a dynamic and powerful playstyle.

Elemental Storm has a balanced design, featuring a base cooldown and duration both set at five seconds. This timing means that while the storm lasts for its full duration, you'll have an opportunity to trigger additional storms with subsequent critical hits. Specifically, Elemental Storm strikes every ~0.25 seconds, leading to a damage output comparable to casting three arcs (from Path of Exile 1) upon successfully triggering Tempest Caller. However, it's crucial to note that while the skill's effects can overlap in theory, practical applications will often require attentive management of your cooldowns and durations to maximize efficiency.

To optimize the Tempest Caller, players can take advantage of cooldown recovery rate enhancements available through further ascendancy nodes and skill support mechanics. This interaction allows players to significantly reduce the skill's cooldown, facilitating a more frequent storm generation and amplifying damage output. While the benefits are significant, it's essential to weigh them against the challenges of managing multiple cooldowns and ensuring that your character's build complements the design of the Elemental Storm.

Ultimately, the Tempest Caller ascendancy node opens up a realm of strategic depth and player expression, making it a worthy consideration for any spellcaster-focused build.

Ascendancy Node 3 – Rain Dancer (Optional)
“Elemental Storm has 150% more Cooldown Recovery Rate (CDR)”
The key feature of third node Rain Dancer, is that it grants Elemental Storm a whopping 150% increase in Cooldown Recovery Rate (CDR). This significant buff can dramatically enhance your gameplay experience by enabling more frequent activations of Elemental Storm. Given that Elemental Storm approximately has a 5-second duration and cooldown, players can leverage CDR from Rain Dancer, gem qualities, potent skills on the tree, and support gems to potentially reduce that cooldown to around 2 seconds – presenting opportunities for continuous action.

With this build in mind, the effectiveness of Elemental Storm cannot be understated. While it does not crit, it functions as a crucial supplemental skill that enhances your primary playstyle. With auto-triggers occurring every two seconds, these frequent activations can provide substantial damage boosts, especially against stationary bosses. The skill acts as a way to maximize your damage output, especially during critical strikes, which enhances the overall performance against enemies in high-stakes situations. Picture the thrill of effortlessly dispatching foes as the Elemental Storm sweeps through, reminiscent of those devastating breakthroughs during challenging encounters—like the Kitava fights that many players still recall.

However, it’s important to note that while Rain Dancer significantly increases your overall damage by an estimated 40% when used alongside Elemental Storm, balancing your build is essential. The reliance on two nodes could mean fewer points to allocate elsewhere, potentially limiting your versatility.

Overall, investing in Rain Dancer can completely change the damage game with Elemental Storms impressive uptime and consistent bonuses. Just be aware of the trade-offs.

Ascendancy Node 4 – Heavy Snow (Optional)
“Targets can be affected by two of your Chills at the same time / Your Chills can reduce Action Speed by up to a maximum of 35% / 25% less Magnitude of Chill you inflict”
One of the intriguing yet somewhat perplexing options available is the Heavy Snow node from the Stormweaver ascendancy.

This fourth node offers a couple of distinctive features: first, targets can be affected by two of your Chills simultaneously, and second, your Chills can reduce action speed by a maximum of 35%. However, there's a significant drawback worth noting—the Chill magnitude you inflict is reduced by 25%. While the ability to stack Chills may sound appealing, the utility and effectiveness of this node seem limited compared to other in-game options.

The potential 35% slow is not to be dismissed, but when compared to curses like Temporal Chains— which affects all enemies in an area and lowers their action speed by approximately 34%—the advantages of Heavy Snow appear minimal at best. Additionally, the significant reduction in Chill magnitude could undermine the effectiveness of any damage or control you might achieve with this build. Chill mechanics in Path of Exile 2 are still shrouded in mystery, and without ample information on how they scale or interact with other debuffs, investing in Heavy Snow feels more like a gamble than a strategic choice.

For now, this skill seems more experimental than practical, and it might be advisable to explore other ascendancy nodes or curse options that provide more reliable utility and damage output. If anyone has insights or data to share regarding the efficacy of Heavy Snow, your contributions would be invaluable to the community.

Ascendancy Node 5 – Shaper of Winter (Optional)
“All Damage from Hits Contributes to Chill Magnitude”
In Path of Exile 2, the Shaper of Winter is the fifth skill node available to players who choose the Stormweaver ascendancy. This node comes with a rather unique ability: "All Damage from Hits Contributes to Chill Magnitude." On paper, this means that no matter what type of damage you deal—be it fire, cold, or lightning—you can potentially apply a chilling effect on your enemies. This ability synergizes particularly well with the Heavy Snow node, which emphasizes chilling effects and crowd control. While it opens up intriguing build possibilities, players should be cautious when selecting this node. The chilling effect is beneficial for slowing down enemies, but it lacks the offensive prowess that many players seek in competitive environments.

However, while Shaper of Winter offers a creative approach to utilizing spells and hits for chilling effects, it detracts from other more impactful ascendancy nodes, particularly Shaper of Storms. The latter node provides more raw damage and synergy with storm-based skills, leading to higher overall damage output. As such, the consensus among seasoned players is that while Shaper of Winter can add some utility, it ultimately falls short in maximizing effectiveness compared to its counterparts.

The primary drawback of the Shaper of Winter node is that while it can inflict chill, it doesn’t enhance your overall damage output effectively as some may expect. The mechanics of chill rely heavily on the frequency of hits and the specific builds geared towards chilling effects. If your build does not prioritize this aspect, you may find that the investment in Shaper of Winter offers limited return.

That being said, with the plethora of damage-dealing options available in the game, it's still better to choose ascendancy nodes that provide more direct benefits to your main damage type and playstyle.

Unless you are pursuing a niche build specifically designed around heavy chill mechanics or enjoying the unique gameplay twists offered by this node, it may be wiser to focus on alternatives that better amplify your damage and overall playstyle.

Ascendancy Node 6 – Strike Twice (Recommended)
“Targets can be affected by two of your Shocks at the same time / 50% less Shock Duration”
The sixth node for the Stormweaver Ascendancy, known as Strike Twice, is a game-changer that deserves significant attention. This ability allows your targets to be affected by two of your Shocks simultaneously while but shock duration by 50%. The implications of this node are profound, especially for builds centered around dealing massive burst damage. By being able to stack significant shocks, players can amplify their damage output exponentially. Essentially, Strike Twice enables you to apply two powerful Shock effects at once. This multi-layered approach to dealing damage means your enemies can experience severe burn spikes in their health bar, leading to quicker kills in high-stakes encounters.

However, it is essential to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this ascendancy skill. On the upside, Strike Twice elevates your damage potential considerably, especially for builds that rely on fast bursts rather than sustained damage. The ability to have two substantial shocks working in tandem is particularly effective against bosses and tougher enemies, where quick eliminations can be critical. Alternatively, the 50% reduction in Shock duration can be a double-edged sword. While it does not diminish the effectiveness of your shocks in terms of damage dealt, the shorter duration may necessitate more rapid skill rotation and timing to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Moreover, depending on your gear and the specific build path you choose to follow, achieving the right balance of shock effects and duration may require additional investment in skill trees or equipment that synergizes with shock mechanics. Players will need to adapt their playstyle, making strategic choices in how they apply shocks to optimize their damage output. Nevertheless, for players focused on burst damage and quick kills, Strike Twice is undoubtedly a recommended choice that can transform the way you approach combat in Path of Exile 2.

Ascendancy Node 7 – Shaper of Storms (Optional)
“All Damage from Hits Contributes to Shock Chance”

In Path of Exile 2, the seventh ascendancy node Shaper of Storms stands out as an enticing option for players looking to bolster their build's damage output through even more heightened shock effects. This node allows all damage from hits to contribute to the shock chance, differentiating it from its counterpart, Shaper of Winter, which focuses on chill effects. The ability to inflict shock on enemies significantly increases burst damage potential, making it particularly attractive for builds that rely on rapid, explosive damage bursts. For players aiming to maximize their damage per second (DPS) against tougher foes, opting for Shaper of Storms can yield substantial benefits. However, its effectiveness heavily depends on the type of character and the overall build strategy being employed.

While I don't personally envision incorporating Shaper of Storms into my usual setups, it's crucial to recognize its potential, especially when combined with mechanics like the "Archmage Buff" which causes your Spells to cost additional mana and deal extra Lightning damage, both based on your maximum Mana. This synergy can enhance the viability of spellcasting builds that leverage the power of burst damage.

For players considering a league start or experimenting with new builds, the Shaper of Storms node offers an interesting option worth exploring. Balancing its pros and cons, players should assess their specific build goals and playstyles before committing, as it may not fit seamlessly into every strategy but definitely holds the promise of powerful bursts when integrated properly.

Ascendancy Skill 8 – Constant Gale (Recommended)
“You have Arcane Surge - (Arcane Surge grants 10% more cast speed and 20% more Mana Regeneration Rate)”
The eighth node, Constant Gale, is a critical choice, particularly during the league start. This node grants you the Arcane Surge effect, enhancing your cast speed by 10% and boosting your mana regeneration rate by 20%. While both benefits can be significant throughout your journey, the focus for many players, especially those just beginning, is on mana regeneration. Adequate mana supply is essential for sustaining spells and abilities, and if your build lacks alternative sources of mana regeneration, investing in Constant Gale becomes almost mandatory.

However, it’s important to consider the broader context of your build and the potential alternatives available in the game. Although a 10% more cast speed may be tempting, there are numerous methods to enhance this aspect of gameplay through gear, skill tree investments, and support gems. Therefore, if your character is already equipped with ample ways to achieve a high cast speed and strong mana regeneration is paramount, you can afford to skip Constant Gale and allocate points elsewhere to maximize your build's potential.

Please Note: The distinction between "more" and "increased" is indeed crucial in PoE, as the former indicates multiplicative effects while the latter refers to additive ones (Credits to Galtrovan#5344 for the reminder!)

Ultimately, the choice is highly contextual, hinging on your specific playstyle and the synergy of your current gear. By weighing these pros and cons, you can decide whether Constant Gale is the right fit for your Path of Exile 2 experience.

Ascendancy Skill 9 – Force of Will (Recommended)
“1% increased Effect of Arcane Surge on you per 15 maximum Mana)”
The ninth node, Force of Will, enhances the effectiveness of Arcane Surge based on your maximum mana. Specifically, it grants a 1% increase to the effect of Arcane Surge for every 15 points of maximum Mana. This skill shines when paired with Constant Gale, reinforcing the importance of mana sustain. However, if you find innovative ways to maintain your mana, you may find that Arcane Surge’s benefits become less critical as you progress through the game.

While both Constant Gale and Force of Will are strong choices for enhancing mana and spellcasting capabilities, players should carefully assess their unique needs and playstyles. If your build already excels at managing mana, even without these nodes, you might choose to prioritize other ascendancy points that offer differing advantages.

That being said, having both talents can create a "comfort zone" where your casting abilities remain intact even during challenging encounters.

Ascendancy Skill 10 – Heart of the Storm (Optional)
“40% of Elemental Damage taken Recouped as Energy Shield”
The Stormweaver ascendancy presents its final node, Heart of the Storm. This skill offers a unique mechanism: “40% of Elemental Damage taken Recouped as Energy Shield.” At first glance, this might seem enticing for builds focused on elemental damage, especially given the increasing reliance on Energy Shields in the game's evolving meta. However, the major factor to consider is the recoup rate of 8 seconds, which translates into a rather slow regeneration process. For players who are looking for quick and efficient recovery options in the heat of battle, Heart of the Storm might feel inadequate and can be viewed as more of a gamble than a reliable choice for enhancement.

The effectiveness of Heart of the Storm hinges on the availability and management of Energy Shield resources. Currently, with minimal information to guide players in optimizing this node, Heart of the Storm largely stands out as a less favorable choice. Players must weigh the pros and cons carefully; while it offers a consistent recovery mechanism, the slow pace and dependence on Energy Shield systems could leave builds lacking in survivability or damage mitigation during critical moments especially against Chaos Damage.

Therefore, when considering investment in this ascendancy node, players should approach with caution, and those who experiment with Heart of the Storm are encouraged to share their insights and recommendations to help others explore its potential more effectively.

My Theorycrafted Ascendancy Nodes and Skill Choices

For my setup, I’m considering taking the following ascendancy nodes:

1. Scouring Winds: This node offers Exposure, which significantly debuffs enemies' resistances. When you apply this buff, you can increase your overall damage output, making it a no-brainer for any damage-focused build.

2. Tempest Caller: I’m particularly interested in how the Elemental Storm skill will perform in the new game. Not only does it boost damage, but it also provides a free lingering spell, adding to our area coverage and overall effectiveness in clearing zones.

6. Strike Twice: With a focus on Lightning Damage, this node is integral for my Ball Lightning strategy. It allows for additional strikes, synergizing perfectly with the Archmage's lightning damage boost and when combined with our other skills, it can lead to some massive burst phases against bosses or highly populated areas.

8. Constant Gale: While this node mainly provides mana regeneration and cast speed improvements, the constant mana regen is the most appealing aspect for an archmage build. It allows us to unleash our spells without worrying too much about running out of resources.

Main Skills

The Archmage skill fundamentally alters how we scale our Lightning damage, reserving Spirit which can lead to extraordinary damage multipliers based on our maximum mana pool.

For example, if we can achieve a mana capacity of around 2000-4000, we’re looking at an increase of approximately 100-200% more damage, which is extraordinary. This increased damage significantly synergizes with nodes such as Strike Twice and Shaper of Storms, setting the stage for devastating combos.


The Ball Lightning skill itself is also impressive, as it launches a slow-moving projectile that deals damage repeatedly within an area. When combined with support skills like Wildshards, which can trigger additional projectiles, you can rapidly clear mobs and deal huge amounts of area damage.

Additional Skills to Consider

In addition to my core skills, Wildshards adds an exciting layer by giving spells a chance to fire eight additional projectiles in a circular pattern. This is particularly synergistic with Ball Lightning, maximizing area damage and overall effectiveness.



I also see great potential in integrating Sigil of Power. This skill lays down a sigil that enhances spell damage for you and your allies as long as you remain within its radius. The more mana you expend while inside, the stronger the buff becomes. When all of these mechanics work together, the burst damage potential is astronomical, especially when factoring in the shock effects from Strike Twice.

Example Videos


Conclusion

Overall, the Stormweaver ascendancy seems poised to become a powerhouse in Path of Exile 2. With the combination of Ball Lightning, Archmage skills, and carefully chosen ascendancy nodes, you'll be able to create a formidable build capable of tackling the challenges the game presents.

As we prepare to embark on this new journey, I encourage fellow Exiles to experiment, share thoughts, and support one another in the excitement of discovering what the new game has to offer. I hope my insights can guide you toward a thrilling and effective league start. As we dive into the new features and mechanics, let’s keep exchanging ideas and strategies!

Best of luck in Wraeclast, Exiles! Your passion and camaraderie in the gaming community make this adventure all the more enjoyable and thanks for reading my First Post and Guide!

Respectfully,

KFC

Thanks so much for this!!!!!!!!!!!

Really helped a lot

Thanks for the post. Didn't know the skill gem info was available.

Couple of comments though. Constant Gale, the cast speed and mana regen are both "more" not "increased", so the values are significant. Scouring Winds, while the "exposure" is great on paper, will "players cannot inflict exposure" be a thing upon reaching maps like it is in POE1?

"

Galtrovan#5344 wrote:

Thanks for the post. Didn't know the skill gem info was available.

Couple of comments though. Constant Gale, the cast speed and mana regen are both "more" not "increased", so the values are significant. Scouring Winds, while the "exposure" is great on paper, will "players cannot inflict exposure" be a thing upon reaching maps like it is in POE1?

Absolutely, there's a Wiki available with some of the information that's been leaked or revealed, though it isn't comprehensive. Here’s the link for reference: https://poe2db.tw/.

I also want to acknowledge your clarification regarding the skill mechanics. The distinction between "more" and "increased" is indeed crucial in PoE, as the former indicates multiplicative effects while the latter refers to additive ones. I’ll make sure to update the guide and credit your insight, as I might have overlooked that detail.

As for the Scouring Winds ascendancy node, my research hasn't brought to light much information on modifiers that may limit exposure, such as "players cannot inflict exposure," especially when you reach the map tier. Drawing parallels from PoE 1, such modifiers would certainly reduce the damage output of elemental builds, which could be significant in late-game content. However, in the early game, I don’t think this will be an immediate concern. In PoE 1, there were only a few situations in which these restrictive modifiers came into play during maps, and it's usually best to reroll them if they are present.

Ultimately, our experiences with PoE have shown that certain map modifiers are designed to counteract specific build types, adding layers of challenge to the game. These include modifiers such as Physical Reflect, Elemental Reflect, and others that can significantly change gameplay dynamics. Thank you for your thoughtful comments on my guide; they’ve prompted great points for discussion and helped enhance the understanding of these mechanics!

"

Speaking_of_Rome#3185 wrote:

Thanks so much for this!!!!!!!!!!!

You are very welcome, "Rome wasn't Built in a Day ;)"

"

Speaking_of_Rome#3185 wrote:

Really helped a lot

:')

The storm skill looks pretty bad IMO, because its a stationary storm with small AOE. This means for 90% of trash mobs and just about every boss which is highly mobile the storm will not damage them for long (they will quickly move out of it).

I think the best use of it since it triggers on crit right on top of the enemy you're attacking, is to apply electrocute, chill, or curses if possible. Ideally apply some effects that will lock the enemy in place.

It will probably work best with freeze builds if you want to use it for damage.

Glad to see some great info, thank you for the details.

"

apexmateria1#2307 wrote:

The storm skill looks pretty bad IMO, because its a stationary storm with small AOE. This means for 90% of trash mobs and just about every boss which is highly mobile the storm will not damage them for long (they will quickly move out of it).

I think the best use of it since it triggers on crit right on top of the enemy you're attacking, is to apply electrocute, chill, or curses if possible. Ideally apply some effects that will lock the enemy in place.

It will probably work best with freeze builds if you want to use it for damage.

While it’s true that this skill is cast as a stationary storm with limited area of effect (AoE), the game mechanics and alternate strategies could offer more than first meets the eye.

First, it’s worth noting that we currently lack comprehensive information on the exact damage per second (DPS) numbers for Elemental Storm. As players progress through the game, its scaling with level, skill tree nodes, and other gems will reveal a clearer picture of its viability. While the stationary nature of the storm may seem like a drawback, incorporating AoE gems or nodes could potentially enhance its effectiveness against both trash mobs and agile bosses. The synergy between Chill, Electrocute, and even Curses can make a significant impact, locking enemies in place for extended damage from Elemental Storm.

Moreover, the unique interactions that Elemental Storm has with elemental ailments and exposure mechanics deserve exploration. Skills such as Strike Twice, Heavy Snow, and Shaper of Storms/Winter align wonderfully within this framework, enhancing elemental ailment applications while utilizing exposure gameplay. This means that even if the storm is stationary, pairing it with selected skills could create opportunities for maximizing damage potential through debuffs.

Let’s delve into some specific skills that can complement this build. For example, the Ball Lightning skill allows for the casting of electric orbs, while the Wildshards skill can augment Ball Lightning to release multiple electric balls in a larger AoE area with a chance to trigger. Optimizing Elemental Storm’s cooldown—aiming for around two seconds with suitable gems or skill nodes—could yield impressive results.

Imagine casting two storms within the span of four seconds or even five within ten. This synergy enhances burst damage potential, particularly when combined with the Strike Twice skill, allowing for simultaneous shocks and increased clearing speed.

While I lean towards experimenting with a Chill build, it’s important to acknowledge the possible limitations and resource demands associated with maximizing its efficacy. Preparing a high DPS Mage build seems more naturally aligned with the Lightning Damage capabilities, particularly due to the inherent synergies with ascendancy nodes and Shock.

However, my individual preferences shouldn’t overshadow the creativity of other players—it will be exciting to see what unique Chill builds emerge after the launch.