PoE Sanity

My Spirit Walker Leaguestarter ~ Everything You Need To Know

By CaptainLance9Watch videoDuration: PT9M43S

Summary

  • Goal: Efficiently level and transition into a Spirit Walker (Companion-based) build for the new league.
  • Leveling Strategy: Utilize Twister for the fastest leveling experience before transitioning to Companion skills in Act 3.
  • Key Mechanic (Parry): Use a weapon-swap strategy with a buckler and a placeholder scepter to snapshot a “Parry” debuff on enemies for significantly increased damage.
  • Gold Management: Save approximately 20,000 gold during Acts 2 and 3 to perform a full passive tree respec.
  • Gear Priorities: Focus on evasion gear with life, capped resistances, and increasing gem levels for minions (Helmet, Amulet, Scepter).
  • Taming: Acquire a Boar from the Infested Barrens camp for its consistent spawn and access to a Haste Aura.

Preparing the Build

  • Build Import: Download the provided build file (ending in .build) and place it into the build planner folder. After the game patch, use the dropdown menu in the planner to select the correct tree version.
  • Passive Tree Setup:
    • Green Passives: Represent the “Parry” weapon-set snapshot. Use these to apply a debuff that forces enemies to take more damage.
    • Red Passives: The core tree for companion support.
    • Weapon Swapping: When swapping to the Parry set, ensure the second weapon slot includes a buckler and a scepter with enough spirit to maintain active summons (e.g., skeletons or Pain Offering). Manually swap back to the main set to benefit from primary damage nodes.

Leveling and Progression

  1. Early Game: Use Twister to progress until Act 3.
  2. The Transition: At Act 3, use the saved 20,000 gold to respec into the Companion-focused tree.
  3. Intermediate Goals:
    • Fill out companion damage nodes.
    • In later interludes, transition into defensive layers like evasion, deflection rating, and potentially Ghost Dance with hybrid Energy Shield (ES) to increase the effective HP pool.
    • Manage mana/spirit reservation carefully to include skeletons and the rare tame beast. Later, aim to add a skeletal cleric and additional skeletons for the “Muster” buff.

Support Gems and Taming

  • Gem Management: Early support gems are kept basic. For example, Hulking Minions is used temporarily until you obtain the “Gigantic” notable on the tree.
  • Advanced Optimization: Look to incorporate Warlord Berserker to provide rage to companions. If you can generate rage consistently (e.g., via Rage on Hit on your Parry skill), you can swap out Rage support gems for others.
  • Rare Beast Taming:
    • Target the Boar in the Infested Barrens. It is preferred over the Quadrilla due to its movement speed and consistent Haste Aura, which benefits both the player and the primary heavy-hitting companion (the big monkey).

Gear and Trading

  • Priority Stats: Prioritize life on all gear pieces and capped resistances.
  • Upgrades: Focus on items that provide +Minion skill levels (Helmet, Amulet, Scepter). A Trench Timber may be a strong early-game option for the bonus to minions before acquiring Catha’s Blessing.
  • Better Trading: Use the Better Trading extension (available for Chrome/Firefox) to import the provided buy list.
    • Copy the code provided in the build.
    • Import it using Ctrl+V within the extension to access weighted sum searches for priority stats.

Key References