With the dawn of Path of Exile 3.24 Necropolis League upon us, it’s imperative to select a suitable league starter. Personally, I’ve opted for the Cold Blade Vortex Occultist. Let’s delve into the rationale behind my choice, examining its merits, drawbacks, and capabilities.
Take the time to peruse this guide in its entirety. Perhaps this could be the build you’ve been seeking, or perhaps it’s another option entirely – only time will tell.
Factors That Make Cold Blade Vortex A Suggested POE 3.24 League Starter
Why choose the Cold Blade Vortex as the league starter for POE 3.24?
The simplicity of the answer lies in its efficacy. Even with modest equipment, this skill yields considerable damage, a crucial aspect at the outset of Necropolis league. Moreover, Blade Vortex demonstrates remarkable scalability into the late game, boasting the potential for 20 million or more DPS.
The strength of this build as a starter chiefly lies in its pairing with the Occultist ascendancy, particularly her explosive capabilities. Profane Bloom stands out as one of the game’s premier sources of explosions, acquired without cost and unlocked after completing the axe trials. This attribute propels us seamlessly through early map tiers, obviating the need for costly gear investments.
The efficacy of this build is evident in its swift and efficient monster eradication, facilitating rapid Atlas progression. However, our single-target damage remains somewhat lacking at this juncture. To address this shortfall, we can leverage the Vaal variant of Blade Vortex, ideal for dispatching hordes of foes swiftly.
Flexibility emerges as another notable asset of this build, exemplified by the auras employed. Through a balanced selection of Determination, Hatred, Tempest Shield, and Herald of Ash, augmented by Eldritch Battery, we achieve a harmonious blend of defense and offensive capabilities. This versatility extends to customization options, wherein players can tailor the build to their preferences. Whether prioritizing damage, survivability, or utility, adjustments such as swapping auras or integrating alternative skills cater to diverse playstyles.
In summary, the Cold Blade Vortex Occultist build offers a robust foundation for navigating the challenges of a new league. Its potency, flexibility, and adaptability ensure a rewarding gameplay experience, empowering players to tailor their approach to suit individual preferences and objectives.
Items
Next, let’s delve into the necessary equipment for our build. In this segment, I will outline the essential gear you’ll need to acquire initially, along with the sequence of upgrades. With this guide, I hope to help those of you who are interested in starting this build by explaining the necessary POE Items and how to best advance it.
To begin with, we must procure 2 unique items: Hrimsorrow and Mark of Submission. Acquiring these items promptly is advisable, as they play pivotal roles in our build’s functionality. Hrimsorrow facilitates the seamless conversion of 100% physical damage to cold damage, while Mark of Submission bestows Curse on Hit, enabling the generation of explosive effects with minimal effort.
For those concerned about the necessity of these unique items for our starting build, rest assured that both Hrimsorrow and Mark of Submission are readily accessible, categorized as T5 items. Even on the start day of the Necropolis League, their acquisition should pose minimal challenge, with their cost typically within a few Divine Orbs. It’s important to note that this build does not rely on these items being meta, ensuring accessibility to most players. Indeed, these 2 unique items, coupled with 4 linked sockets, suffice for navigating white and yellow maps effectively.
It’s worth highlighting the unique capabilities of The Princess Sabre. While some viewers may find this recommendation unexpected, this affordable weapon significantly enhances our build and serves as a prudent choice for early progression. Alternatively, any rare weapon offering a +1 level boost to all physical skill gems presents a viable option.
The subsequent priority entails acquiring five-linked sockets. Opting for an armor energy shield base, such as the Dragon Coat Conquest Chainmail, becomes imperative due to our reliance on Eldritch Battery and the necessity for substantial energy shield reserves. Additionally, securing Doryani’s Invitation with cold damage proves advantageous. While not obligatory, this belt substantially enhances quality of life by providing crucial life leech for sustenance. Furthermore, it offers other beneficial attributes tailored to our needs.
A noteworthy selection is Devoto’s Devotion. Although this helmet modestly reduces damage output, the trade-off yields valuable enhancements. Foremost among these is increased dexterity, a resource in short supply for our build. Devoto’s Devotion effectively mitigates this deficiency. Furthermore, it furnishes chaos resistance, movement speed, and armor with evasion, invaluable assets particularly during the initial stages of the POE 3.24 Necropolis League.
Additionally, at this juncture, it becomes essential to procure quality boots and a shield boasting spell suppression, alongside attributes such as life and resistances. Once these acquisitions are secured, it becomes imperative to accumulate POE Currency in preparation for the subsequent stage of progression.
The initial step entails acquiring a Heatshiver Leather Hood. Despite recent adjustments in the last patch, this unique helmet remains highly advantageous for our build. Moreover, due to the associated adjustments, its market value has significantly decreased, rendering it more accessible to a broader player base during the league’s commencement.
Given the nature of our power charges stacker build, the Void Battery Prophecy Wand emerges as the optimal choice for our weapon slot. Regrettably, during the initial phase of the league, this unique item may command a considerable price. However, procuring it at the earliest opportunity promises a substantial increase in our damage output. Furthermore, investing in a six-linked setup will notably facilitate our ability to farm red maps with greater efficiency.
It’s also important to consider the advantages of getting a Corrupted Hrimsorrow that has elemental weakness on hit. This improvement makes it possible to swap out the Mark of Submission with a better option. We perform much better when we get rid of the latter in favor of a superior ring. Our DPS is about 1.5 million with this optimized configuration, and it can reach 2.2 million when Vaal Blade Vortex is added.
Future Prospects
Let us now assess the capabilities of the build with these enhancements.
Overall, the results are quite satisfactory. With this setup, tackling Legion and Expedition encounters becomes manageable, offering lucrative opportunities to buy POE Currency. These mechanics boast commendable rewards, making them particularly advantageous during the early stages of the league.
Allow me to offer some guidance. It’s prudent not to prioritize T16 maps excessively. While your damage output may be sufficient, prioritizing defense is essential. I recommend utilizing a combination of auras including Determination, Grace, Tempest Shield, Herald of Ash, and Hatred, complemented by Divine Blessing to bolster your survivability during the initial phase of the league. Additionally, don’t overlook the importance of incorporating spell suppression into your gear for added protection.
Given the significant changes implemented by the developers in the new league, I am uncertain of the precise configuration of my initial Atlas strategy. Nonetheless, it’s likely that Legion and Expedition mechanics will remain viable options for accruing stable currency, especially in the league’s early stages.
As for the future progression of my character, the inherent flexibility of the build once again comes into play. There are several avenues to explore, including the option to further enhance damage output through a power charges stacker setup, incorporating items such as Malachi’s Loop Harmonic Spirit Shield, Ralakesh’s
Impatience Riveted Boots, and Badge of the Brotherhood Turquoise Amulet. Alternatively, you may opt for a more traditional approach with a spell bow, such as the Vengeance Strike Synthesized Decimation Bow. As resources accumulate and opportunities arise, transitioning to 100% Delirium maps or pursuing a full magic find build are viable pathways to consider.
Leveling
Lastly, I’d like to touch upon leveling.
Blade Vortex becomes viable at Level 38 once Unleash Support becomes accessible. While some may perceive Blade Vortex as subpar, it’s a misconception. Although not ideal for speedrunning, it proves proficient throughout the campaign. In fact, even in Act 10, it demonstrates considerable efficacy.
Through personal testing, I found the experience quite enjoyable. Completing Act 10 within a five-hour timeframe proved feasible, a satisfactory achievement in my estimation.
