Summary
- Core Build Concept: This Spirit Walker summoner build focuses on an army of minions, utilizing the “Monkey” beast as the primary companion for its superior area-of-effect (AoE) coverage and damage consistency.
- Key Progression Strategy: Leverage the Runes of Aldur league mechanic to easily upgrade weapons and gear with flat damage, which significantly smooths out early-game leveling.
- Crucial Minion Choices: The Bear is recommended for early ascent, followed by the Monkey. The “Cold” version of the monkey, found in the Howling Caves, is highly effective due to its synergy with the build’s freezing and armor-breaking mechanics.
- Optimization: The build utilizes Elemental Weakness and Freezing Mark to maximize damage, crowd control (freeze/stun), and armor reduction on bosses.
- Tracking Progress: Ensure all skill points are accounted for by checking that the passive skill point count in the top-right corner of the skill tree is 24 upon completing the campaign.
Early Game: Acts 1–2
- Skills: Use Twister in the early stages. The optimal playstyle involves using Whirling Slash twice, followed by casting Twister.
- Synergy: At level 5, integrate Ice-tipped Arrows. When access to Fangs of Frost is obtained, perform a parry followed immediately by Fangs of Frost.
- Act 2 Ascendancy:
- Pick up the Bear—it is described as an exceptionally strong companion.
- For the second ascendancy, select Natural Order and add the Monkey as your second companion.
Act 3 and 4: Minion Management and Farming
- Companion Swapping: After reaching the Infested Barrens (Troubled Camp) in Act 3, you can farm specific rare beasts.
- Farming Technique: If a rare beast lacks the desired modifiers, do not kill it. Instead, open the menu, select Respawn Checkpoint, and return to the area to reset the beast’s modifiers. Repeat this process until the desired stats are obtained.
- Advanced Minion Choices:
- The Monkey remains the most consistent performer for clear speed and coverage.
- The Cold-variant Monkey (found in the Howling Caves) is ideal for endgame because it synergizes with Freezing Mark and Elemental Weakness to provide both damage and reliable crowd control.
- Other units like the Scorpion, Landshark, and Scourge of the Skies were tested but found less consistent than the Monkey.
Gear and Attributes
- Attribute Management: The build is inherently attribute-starved. Prioritize gear with resistance, life, movement speed, and necessary attributes (Dexterity/Intelligence).
- Stat Focus: On the amulet, helmet, and weapon, prioritize “+ level of minion skills.”
- Skill Tree: Use the Proficiency node to assist with attribute requirements. As you gain more skill points, you may re-spec early attack nodes into defensive nodes.
Support Gem Setup
- Standard Supports: Use Rapid Attacks, Rage, and Feeding Frenzy on your primary minions.
- Additional Options: Brutality is a strong early option, while Heft is recommended for later stages. Loyalty and Magnified Area are effective for managing companion performance.
Campaign Tips and Reminders
- League Mechanic: In Act 4, ensure you pick up all four torn map pieces to avoid backtracking. These are necessary to access specific parts of the league mechanic.
- Quest Completion: Check the campaign quest logs. If a quest icon (like the one for Black Jaw) is grayed out, the objective is complete. If it is not, you have missed a reward (skill point or stat change).
- Endgame Testing: The current endgame build is in active development. Please consult the Written Leveling Guide for the most up-to-date information.
Key References