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How to Craft your Bow for Ice shot Deadeye - Crit & Non-Crit | Path of Exile 2

By FubgunWatch videoDuration: PT5M42S

This guide outlines a reliable method for crafting bows for an Ice Shot Deadeye build in Path of Exile 2, applicable to both crit and non-crit variants.

Summary

  • Base Selection: Prioritize Obliterator bases for maximum DPS (due to higher damage) or Warbringer bases for faster attack speed.
  • Methodology: Utilize essences to guarantee specific modifiers, followed by strategic use of omens for unveiling and slamming.
  • Efficiency: Implement the 3-to-1 vendor recipe to recycle low-tier bases into potentially better ones.
  • Low Investment: This approach is optimized for endgame performance at a manageable investment cost, acknowledging the inherent RNG involved.

Bow Base Requirements

Start with a high-percentage physical damage base. While you can purchase these, finding them and using Transmutation and Alteration orbs (or higher-tier currencies like Perfect or Grader orbs) is an effective approach.

  • Obliterator Base: Offers extremely high damage and is the preferred choice for early league progression despite slower attack speed and reduced projectile range.
  • Warbringer Base: Offers higher attack speed but lower overall physical damage.
  • Item Level: Item level 75 is sufficient for these crafts. Because Obliterator bases typically drop in level 70+ zones, they naturally meet this requirement.

Crafting Process

Always use an Alteration orb first to ensure the base does not have unwanted double affixes before proceeding.

  1. Select Essence:
    • For Crit Bows: Use a Greater Essence of Seeking to guarantee a crit modifier.
    • For Non-Crit Bows: Use a Greater Essence of Abrasion (if the base has a tier 4 or 5 percentage physical roll). Avoid using essences that provide high-tier flat physical damage, as these are significantly more expensive.
  2. Apply Omens:
    • Use an Omen of Sinister Necromancy combined with a Jawbone.
    • If the bow base is high value, consider using an Ancient Jawbone, which provides a more powerful outcome for a higher cost.
  3. Unveil:
    • Ensure an Abyssal Echo Omen is equipped before unveiling.
    • The goal is to unveil flat physical damage, though fire, lightning, or cold damage are also viable outcomes.
  4. Slam:
    • Use an Omen of Greater Exaltation alongside Perfect Exalts (or Greater Exalts) to perform a double slam to finish the bow.

Alternative Strategies

  • Flat Physical Damage: If you roll a tier 1 or tier 2 flat physical damage prefix, you can apply the essence method above. However, because the weighting for percentage physical damage is very low, success is less likely. Use standard Jawbones rather than Ancient Jawbones for this attempt to minimize opportunity cost.
  • 3-to-1 Vendor Recipe: Always collect Obliterator and Warbringer bases, even if they are low quality. By placing three magic bows (or three rare bows) into the forge bench, you can trade them for a single, new unidentified bow of the same rarity. This is an efficient way to hunt for better base stats early in a league.

Key References