Summary
- Build Concept: A Spirit Walker minion-based build utilizing a transition from self-cast leveling to companion-focused endgame gameplay.
- Leveling Strategy: Uses the “Twister” skill for efficient, high-damage leveling through early acts.
- Key Mechanic: Transitioning to minion gameplay in Act 3 after defeating the Bog Witch to capitalize on increased spirit and new companion support gems.
- Endgame Focus: Defensive layers centered on deflection and evasion, with offense scaled through companion debuffs, chaos damage conversion, and minion-specific skill nodes.
- Resources: Comprehensive leveling and endgame guides are hosted on Icy Veins.
Leveling Approach (Acts 1–3)
- Primary Skill: Utilize Twister for the fastest and smoothest leveling experience.
- Weapon Management: Flat damage modifiers are superior to increased physical damage modifiers. Use transmutation and augmentation orbs on spears, and check ground armaments in the Red Veil zone for high-quality bases.
- Combat Technique:
- At level 5, acquire Fangs of Frost.
- Use a buckler to perform parries (avoid parrying when the meter is half-full to prevent staggering).
- Follow up with Fangs of Frost to create chilled ground, which empowers Whirling Slash with elemental damage.
- Once the Frost Nexus support gem is available for Twisters, parrying becomes less essential, and the playstyle becomes more fluid.
- Transitioning: Continue leveling with Twister until reaching the Act 3 boss, Ignakth Dac. At this point, switch to companion-based gameplay, leveraging the increased spirit to support Tame Beasts and other minion skills.
Ascendancy and Skill Tree
- Ascendancy Choices:
- Natural Order: Required for the Tame Beast unique boss mechanic.
- Idolatry: Crucial for increased companion damage and reservation efficiency.
- Wild Protector (Bear): Recommended for efficiency in the first ascendancy slot.
- Catha’s Balance: Selected for endgame performance.
- Passive Tree:
- Early tree focus: Evasion rating and movement speed.
- Endgame tree focus: Reservation efficiency, companion defenses, and chaos damage scaling (e.g., Bond of a Mamba).
- Leveling notes: Aim for approximately 109 points (level 86) for the initial endgame build.
Endgame Strategy
- Defensive Layers: Focus on deflection and evasion using nodes like Bestial Skin and Enhanced Reflexes.
- From Nothing Jewel: A core component for customization. Key options include:
- Black Flame: Grants Vile Mending (minion sustainability) and Entropic Incarnation (physical as extra chaos).
- Elemental Equilibrium: Preferred for endgame, as it provides access to Left-Handed Darkness and allows minions to apply Withered, significantly increasing chaos damage taken by enemies.
- Weapon Options:
- Trench Timber: Useful for early endgame due to +level of minion skills, though it may be replaced later by more specialized gear.
- Spire of Ire: Strong choice if leaning heavily into the chaos damage archetype.
- Rare Scepters/Maces: Likely the standard for high-end progression.
Future Updates
- Build Guides: All guides (leveling and endgame) will be updated on Icy Veins before the league launch.
- Tooling: If the skill tree tools are not available at launch, screenshots will be provided temporarily until full functionality is restored.
- Upcoming Builds: Future content will explore the Chayula Monk, which is confirmed to be viable following updates to the Remnant mechanics.
Key References