Leveling L1–68
- Act 1: run Holy Flame TotemHoly Flame Totem is the Scion quest reward from "Enemy at the Gate" (Hillock) — Scion is one of the few classes that gets it as a starter reward alongside the Templar/Marauder. Plant two totems, they do the work while you run around. Pick up Flame Wall from Nessa for a cheap damage booster on the totems' line. No auras yet — save mana for Purity of Fire in Act 2.
- Act 2: run Holy Flame TotemPurity of Fire drops as an Act 2 quest reward (Sharp and Cruel) — slot it immediately even unlinked, the 4% max fire res is huge and you'll need it at 78% resist overcap before the RF transition. Bandits: kill all for +2 passives. Grab Flammability from the Intruders in Black quest and self-cast it on rares for the -fire-res debuff.
- Act 3: run Holy Flame TotemBuy Scorching Ray from Clarissa at L12 — use it as a single-target on rares/bosses while totems clear packs. Lab 1 in Act 3: pick Scion's Path of the Marauder on the inner ascendancy wheel, which unlocks the Chieftain sub-nodes for Lab 2. Grab Herald of Ash from Clarissa for extra burn scaling, and pick up Flame Dash for movement. Do NOT take Path of the Witch — the Elementalist nodes on Ascendant are weaker for RF than Chieftain + Juggernaut.
- Act 4–5: run Scorching RayScorching Ray becomes your main damage as bosses tank more — the fire resistance debuff from channelling is the real value, not the raw DPS. Keep Holy Flame Totem as a secondary clear setup. Pick up Vitality for life regen (Act 4 Kitava prep) and use Steelskin as a panic button. Lab 2 in Act 6: pick the Chieftain sub-ascendancy and take Ramako, Sun's Light for the regen + chance-to-ignite — this is the build-defining sustain pick.
- Act 6–7 (L45+): run Scorching RayEquip Rise of the Phoenix the moment you hit L45 — +8% max fire res makes the entire RF transition easier. Pick up Determination from the Act 6 Brine King quest reward for flat phys mitigation (Ascendant wants armour stacking more than most RF variants). Wire up a low-level Cast when Damage Taken + Immortal Call + Molten Shell panic setup. Start stacking life regen on rings/amulet. Do NOT cast Righteous Fire yet — you need Lab 2 AND enough regen buffer from gear.
- Act 8–9 (L62 RF transition): run Righteous FireThe transition — slightly later than on Chieftain because Ascendant's reduced-strength Ramako gives less regen. Requirements before you cast Righteous Fire: (1) 78% resist+3 overcap with Purity of Fire active, (2) at least 2% life regenerated per second from the tree + regen rolls, (3) Rise of the Phoenix equipped, (4) Lab 2 Ramako allocated. If all four are green, ignite. Keep Scorching Ray slotted as a single-target supplement; RF alone is too slow for bosses at this stage.
Holy Flame Totem 
Onslaught Support 
Summon Phantasm Support 
Flame Wall Holy Flame Totem is the Scion quest reward from "Enemy at the Gate" (Hillock) — Scion is one of the few classes that gets it as a starter reward alongside the Templar/Marauder. Plant two totems, they do the work while you run around. Pick up Flame Wall from Nessa for a cheap damage booster on the totems' line. No auras yet — save mana for Purity of Fire in Act 2.
Holy Flame Totem Summon Phantasm Support 
Elemental Focus Support 
Combustion Support 
Purity of Fire Flame Wall 
Flammability Purity of Fire drops as an Act 2 quest reward (Sharp and Cruel) — slot it immediately even unlinked, the 4% max fire res is huge and you'll need it at 78% resist overcap before the RF transition. Bandits: kill all for +2 passives. Grab Flammability from the Intruders in Black quest and self-cast it on rares for the -fire-res debuff.
Holy Flame Totem Summon Phantasm Support Elemental Focus Support Combustion Support 
Controlled Destruction Support 
Flame Dash Purity of Fire 
Herald of Ash 
Scorching Ray Flammability Buy Scorching Ray from Clarissa at L12 — use it as a single-target on rares/bosses while totems clear packs. Lab 1 in Act 3: pick Scion's Path of the Marauder on the inner ascendancy wheel, which unlocks the Chieftain sub-nodes for Lab 2. Grab Herald of Ash from Clarissa for extra burn scaling, and pick up Flame Dash for movement. Do NOT take Path of the Witch — the Elementalist nodes on Ascendant are weaker for RF than Chieftain + Juggernaut.
Scorching Ray 
Efficacy Support 
Burning Damage Support 
Swift Affliction Support Flame Dash Purity of Fire 
Vitality Herald of Ash Holy Flame Totem 
Steelskin Flammability Scorching Ray becomes your main damage as bosses tank more — the fire resistance debuff from channelling is the real value, not the raw DPS. Keep Holy Flame Totem as a secondary clear setup. Pick up Vitality for life regen (Act 4 Kitava prep) and use Steelskin as a panic button. Lab 2 in Act 6: pick the Chieftain sub-ascendancy and take Ramako, Sun's Light for the regen + chance-to-ignite — this is the build-defining sustain pick.
Scorching Ray Efficacy Support Burning Damage Support Swift Affliction Support Elemental Focus Support Flame Dash Purity of Fire 
Determination Herald of Ash 
Cast when Damage Taken Support 
Immortal Call 
Molten Shell Flammability Equip Rise of the Phoenix the moment you hit L45 — +8% max fire res makes the entire RF transition easier. Pick up Determination from the Act 6 Brine King quest reward for flat phys mitigation (Ascendant wants armour stacking more than most RF variants). Wire up a low-level Cast when Damage Taken + Immortal Call + Molten Shell panic setup. Start stacking life regen on rings/amulet. Do NOT cast Righteous Fire yet — you need Lab 2 AND enough regen buffer from gear.
Righteous Fire Elemental Focus Support Burning Damage Support Efficacy Support Flame Dash Purity of Fire Determination Herald of Ash Scorching Ray Cast when Damage Taken Support Immortal Call Molten Shell Flammability The transition — slightly later than on Chieftain because Ascendant's reduced-strength Ramako gives less regen. Requirements before you cast Righteous Fire: (1) 78% resist+3 overcap with Purity of Fire active, (2) at least 2% life regenerated per second from the tree + regen rolls, (3) Rise of the Phoenix equipped, (4) Lab 2 Ramako allocated. If all four are green, ignite. Keep Scorching Ray slotted as a single-target supplement; RF alone is too slow for bosses at this stage.
Righteous Fire Elemental Focus Support Burning Damage Support Efficacy Support Swift Affliction Support Flame Dash Purity of Fire Determination Herald of Ash 
Fire Trap Cast when Damage Taken Support 
Vaal Molten Shell Immortal Call Flammability Kitava fight: drop Righteous Fire during the -30% res phases or the self-burn kills you. After Act 10, fire res uncaps at 75% resist — re-verify overcap before running maps. Lab 3 in Act 10: take Juggernaut's Unbreakable for the armour-from-strength conversion, which Ascendant scales cleanly with Marauder life nodes. Swap Molten Shell to Vaal Molten Shell on the CwDT chain. Uber Lab ASAP for Juggernaut's Unstoppable — stun immunity + action speed floor is the quality-of-life spike that makes Ascendant mapping feel like a proper tank.
How leveling works
Righteous Fire on an Ascendant is the "best of both worlds" version of the classic tanky RF setup — the Scion ascendancy lets you borrow two secondary ascendancies at reduced strength, and the canonical RF Ascendant pairs Juggernaut (for Unbreakable-tier armour tankiness and the Unstoppable movement floor) with Chieftain (for Ramako's life regen and Tasalio's fire-damage-taken reduction). The result is an ascendancy that has both more sustain than an Elementalist and more raw tankiness than a pure Chieftain, at the cost of some ignite-scaling damage you'd get on other RF ascendancies.
The Ascendant RF pilot plays like a Chieftain-with-extra-armour through the campaign. Same Holy Flame Totem + Scorching Ray carry through Acts 1–5, same Rise of the Phoenix at L45, same transition target around L60 after Lab 2. What changes is the ascendancy point order: Path of the Templar + Path of the Marauder on the Scion wheel to unlock the Chieftain and Juggernaut nodes, then you pick Chieftain sub-ascendancies Ramako and Tasalio for the regen + fire resistance package, and Juggernaut sub-ascendancies Unstoppable and Unbreakable for the tankiness. The Scion's starting Path of the Duelist node is optional but nice for one extra skill point; Path of the Witch is NOT needed here.
The transition window is slightly later than on Chieftain (typically L62–65 rather than L58–60) because Ascendant's reduced-strength Chieftain nodes give less life regen than the full-strength Chieftain class gets. That extra buffer of 3–5 levels is usually enough to pick up Rise of the Phoenix, finish Lab 2, and verify your regen before you self-ignite. If you hit L62, have Purity of Fire reserved, overcap fire res by 3% or more, and your regen per second is at least 2% of max life, you're good to cast Righteous Fire. If any one of those is missing, delay another act — the Scorching Ray phase carries into white maps cleanly.
No leveling uniques are mandatory beyond Rise of the Phoenix at L45. Goldrim, Wanderlust, and Tabula Rasa pull weight if cheap, but every currency you spend on them comes out of the maps-day budget — and Ascendant's early mapping wants regen rolls on rare gear, not more uniques. Save the chaos for a +1 fire gems sceptre and life/regen rares.
Gear while leveling
- · Weapon: any +1 to Fire Skill Gems wand or sceptre levels your Scorching Ray and Righteous Fire. Craft one with an Essence of Rage or buy a rolled one. Weapon damage is nearly irrelevant — RF doesn't scale with it.
- · Body armour: Tabula Rasa until maps for the 6-link. After Lab 3, swap to any armour/ES chest with life + resists; life regen rolls are gold here. Doryani's Prototype is the endgame target but DO NOT equip it before maps (it zeroes your fire res and kills you under RF).
- · Helmet: prioritise life and resists during the acts. Craft the "Righteous Fire has X% increased damage" enchant once you can farm it — it's the best single helmet upgrade in the build.
- · Gloves / boots: flat life + resists + 30% movement on boots. Wanderlust is the early-acts freeze-immunity option. Life-regen rolls on gloves are particularly valuable for Ascendant because your regen ceiling is lower than Chieftain.
- · Rings / amulet: life, fire res, and regen percentage. Le Heup of All works fine through Acts 1–6. Target a fire-damage amulet with "regenerate X life per second" for the transition window — this is non-negotiable for Ascendant's lower base regen.
- · Flasks: granite flask with "of Iron Skin", bubbling life flask with "of Staunching" (bleed removal), a ruby flask is NON-NEGOTIABLE for the RF sustain window, a quicksilver, and a basalt flask once you can buy one. Keep the ruby flask up on any fire-damage map mod.
- · Belt: rare Leather / Heavy / Stygian Vise with life, resists, and ideally flask-effect-duration rolls once in maps. Meginord's Girdle is a cheap +strength + life regen unique that shines during the campaign.
- · Jewel sockets: prioritise life, fire damage over time multi, and regen rolls on rare jewels. Militant Faith timeless jewel with a "converted fire damage as extra" roll is the endgame upgrade but a red-maps pivot, not a campaign one.
Weapon progression
RF Ascendant does not scale with weapon damage — the skill is a self-cast degen that scales with maximum life, fire damage over time mods, and skill level. Vendor-recipe early: any magic wand + Ruby Ring + Orb of Alteration gives you a rolled fire wand. Around L20 buy or craft a "+1 to Level of Fire Skill Gems" wand or sceptre (Essence of Rage on a wand base is the cheapest path). One +1 fire sceptre plus a shield carries you all the way to maps.
The endgame upgrade is a +2 Fire Gems / +1 Socketed Gems sceptre with spell damage and cast speed — but this is a multi-divine purchase that waits until red maps. Do not sink currency into a "perfect" leveling weapon; a 5c +1 fire sceptre with one resist roll is the entire weapon budget you need until maps day.
Shield choice matters more than weapon for Ascendant: a rare shield with life, fire resistance, all-res, and regen is the priority off-hand slot. A "+X% to all Elemental Resistances" craft from the bench on a rare shield is one of the cheapest ways to overcap fire res for the RF transition.
Tree to aim for (by level 68)
Watch out for
- ! Do NOT cast Righteous Fire before you have 78% resist+3 overcap fire (with Purity of Fire running), 2% life regen per second, and Rise of the Phoenix equipped. Ascendant's reduced-strength Chieftain nodes give less regen than full Chieftain, so the transition window is 3–5 levels later. Casting early kills you in 2–3 seconds. When in doubt, delay by one act — the Scorching Ray phase is perfectly viable into white maps.
- ! Kitava at the end of Act 10 cuts all resistances by 30%. Drop Righteous Fire before the resist phases or you die to the self-burn spike. After killing Kitava, fire res is uncapped at 75% resist again — re-equip gear or change flasks to hit overcap before running maps. This is easy to forget when you're racing to progress.
- ! Elemental reflect map mods will kill you under Righteous Fire because your own burning damage bounces back. Always check map mods in white/yellow maps; reroll reflect. Ascendant's extra armour helps with phys reflect, NOT ele reflect — don't confuse the two.
- ! Do NOT take Path of the Witch on the Scion inner wheel even though it's tempting for the Elementalist ignite nodes. Ascendant's Elementalist sub-ascendancy is weaker for RF than Chieftain + Juggernaut — the cumulative regen + armour + stun floor from the Chieftain/Juggernaut pairing is worth far more than Shaper of Flames at reduced strength.
- ! Doryani's Prototype is the endgame chest goal but will instant-kill you if equipped before you have Rise of the Phoenix AND a ruby flask active AND sufficient regen. Treat it as a maps-only swap, not a campaign upgrade. Ascendant's lower regen ceiling means you need MORE margin on Prototype than a pure Chieftain would — don't rush the swap.
- ! Berserk is tempting to add for the "more damage" multiplier on bosses, but the 5% life lost per second under Berserk stacks with the Righteous Fire self-burn. On Ascendant's thinner regen margin, running Berserk + RF simultaneously can put you in net-negative regen and kill you. Skip Berserk until Uber Lab Unbreakable is online.
- ! The 3.28 Mirage Exceptional Support gems include some that replace the old Awakened versions of fire-DoT supports (Awakened Burning Damage, Awakened Swift Affliction). Check poe.ninja or the trade board for the exact replacement gem names — the old names no longer exist in Mirage, and copy-paste guides from 3.27 will list supports that don't drop anymore.
Early Mapping L70–84
- Swap Glimpse of Chaos helmet for Voll's Vision (fortification on hit) or a rare Archdemon Crown with Burning Damage + Concentrated Effect supports — the helmet is the highest-upgrade-per-slot gear change
- Pick up Forbidden Flame + Forbidden Flesh allocating Pathfinder (77% endgame meta) — free flask-charge-generation on hit + flask effect duration + fire damage multiplier against rare enemies
- Transition to Unnatural Instinct viridian jewel (77% endgame / 100% aspirational meta) once a suitable cluster notable radius is available — replaces allocated small passives with unallocated bonuses for huge value density
Scorching Ray
Lifetap
Infused ChannellingCombustionFull gear (18 items)
Doon Cuebiyari Weapon 1
- 32% increased Elemental Damage
- Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Iron Will
- +68 to Strength
- 16% increased Cast Speed
- +28 to maximum Mana
- 1% increased Damage per 8 Strength when in Main Hand
- 1% increased Armour per 16 Strength when in Off Hand
Vengeance Spell Weapon 2
- 10% increased Spell Damage
- 31% increased Spell Damage
- +29 to maximum Life
- +29% to Fire Resistance
- +29% to Cold Resistance
- +11% to Chaos Resistance
- 43% increased Energy Shield (crafted)
Glimpse of Chaos Helmet
- +1 to Minimum Endurance, Frenzy and Power Charges
- Can be modified while Corrupted
- 32% increased maximum Life and reduced Fire Resistance
- 38% increased maximum Mana and reduced Cold Resistance
- 39% increased Global maximum Energy Shield and reduced Lightning Resistance
- Chaos Resistance is Zero
The Ivory Tower Body Armour
- +57 to Intelligence
- +30 to maximum Energy Shield per 100 Reserved Life
- +81 to maximum Mana
- Regenerate 2% of Energy Shield per second
- Chaos Damage is taken from Mana before Life
Shaper's Touch Gloves
- 100% increased Armour and Energy Shield
- +2 Accuracy Rating per 2 Intelligence
- +1 Life per 4 Dexterity
- +1 Mana per 4 Strength
- 1% increased Energy Shield per 10 Strength
- 2% increased Evasion Rating per 10 Intelligence
- 2% increased Melee Physical Damage per 10 Dexterity
Doom Road Boots
- +26 to Armour
- +114 to maximum Life
- 14% increased Rarity of Items found
- +29% to Fire Resistance
- 25% increased Movement Speed
Astramentis Amulet
- +18 to all Attributes
- +115 to all Attributes
- -4 Physical Damage taken from Attack Hits
Vortex Twirl Ring 1
- -2 Prefix Modifiers allowed
- +1 Suffix Modifier allowed
- Implicit Modifiers Cannot Be Changed
- 50% increased Suffix Modifier magnitudes
- +96 to Strength
- +90 to Intelligence
- +57 to Evasion Rating
- +52% to Chaos Resistance
- +22 to all Attributes (crafted)
Blood Grip Ring 2
- -2 Prefix Modifiers allowed
- +1 Suffix Modifier allowed
- Implicit Modifiers Cannot Be Changed
- 50% increased Suffix Modifier magnitudes
- +96 to Strength
- +3 to maximum Energy Shield
- +67% to Lightning Resistance
- +49% to Chaos Resistance
- +22 to all Attributes (crafted)
Mageblood Belt
- +42 to Strength
- +45 to Dexterity
- +24% to Fire Resistance
- +18% to Cold Resistance
- Magic Utility Flasks cannot be Used
- Leftmost 4 Magic Utility Flasks constantly apply their Flask Effects to you
- Magic Utility Flask Effects cannot be removed
Apocalypse Stone Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5% to Lightning Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Maximum Life
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5 to Strength
- Added Small Passive Skills have 25% increased Effect
Split Personality Jewel
- This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location
- +5 to Strength
- +5 to maximum Energy Shield
Split Personality Jewel
- This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location
- +5 to Strength
- +5 to maximum Life
- 25% increased Duration
- Chaos Damage taken does not bypass Energy Shield during effect
- Removes all but one Life on use
- Removed life is Regenerated as Energy Shield over 2 seconds
- 33% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 55% increased Armour during Effect
- 23% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 57% reduced Effect of Curses on you during Effect
- 37% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 50% increased Armour during Effect
- +19 to Maximum Charges
- 13% additional Elemental Resistances during Effect
All gem links (6 groups)
- Cast when Damage Taken L6
- Flammability L9
-
Purity of Elements L18
- Lifetap L19
- Scorching Ray L15
- Infused Channelling L8
- Combustion L18
- Burning Damage L18
- Efficacy L19
- Righteous Fire 18/6
- Controlled Destruction L18
-
Shield Charge L19 - Purity of Fire L18
-
Malevolence L18 -
Summon Chaos Golem L18
-
Arrogance L18 -
Frostblink L19 - Vitality L18
- Determination L14
- Arrogance L13
How this stage plays (mechanics, defences)
Early-mapping Ascendant RF at L82 is a transitional setup — the reference runs Doon Cuebiyari already in the main hand (43% early-mapping meta), Glimpse of Chaos vaal mask helmet (a corrupted crafting piece, not the endgame helmet), The Ivory Tower body armour (29% early-mapping / 99% endgame), Shaper's Touch gloves (36% early-mapping / 99% endgame), Astramentis amulet for +115 all attributes, and Mageblood belt already equipped for permanent flask uptime. Sample size is small (14 builds) — this archetype doesn't have many early-mapping examples because players either level as ES-stacker and don't commit to RF until L85+, or transition from a different league-start into this chassis when budget allows.
The main skill 4-link (the body armour link is light at this tier) runs Righteous Fire + Burning Damage + Efficacy + Controlled Destruction in the gloves, with Scorching Ray + Lifetap + Infused Channelling + Combustion in the boots for a secondary boss-burn channel. Scorching Ray is an unusual RF companion — it applies Scorch debuff (fire res reduction) while the player channels, which amplifies RF's aura damage when channelled through a boss. Infused Channelling gives damage reduction while channelling.
Defensive supports run in headgear: Shield Charge + Purity of Fire + Malevolence + Summon Chaos Golem. The Chaos Golem pick is defensive — grants additional physical damage reduction. Eternal Youth (36% early-mapping meta) + Zealot's Oath (29% early-mapping) are the identity keystones — Eternal Youth caps life regen at energy shield recharge rate (life regen scales with ES regen, not vice versa), and Zealot's Oath redirects life regen to ES regen. Combined these mean RF's life-degen self-damage is absorbed by ES regen first. Coruscating Elixir ruby flask (29% early-mapping / 96% endgame / 100% aspirational) is the signature safety flask — "Removes all but one Life on use" + "Removed life is Regenerated as Energy Shield over 2 seconds" + "Chaos Damage taken does not bypass Energy Shield during effect" is the triple-line that makes the CI-adjacent chaos defence work.
Ascendancy at this tier is Templar Ascendancy + Path of the Marauder + Marauder Ascendancy, which picks up Hinekora, Death's Fury (borrowed fire multi) + Tasalio, Cleansing Water (life regen) from Chieftain.
5.7k life + 6.1k ES = huge hybrid pool. EHP 31k is solid for the tier (median 25.7k). 51% physical damage reduction from 7.4k armour + Summon Chaos Golem + 3 Endurance charges. 87% fire resistance via Purity of Fire, with +124% fire overcap — this is the damage multiplier for Nebulis-style overcap scaling (though the reference doesn't use Nebulis yet). 57% cold / 93% lightning overcap as well. Chaos res at 0% — the Ascendant variant lives with this through Coruscating Elixir uptime + The Ivory Tower's mana-before-life chaos shielding. 1035 ES regen per second via Zealot's Oath + Eternal Youth is the core sustain mechanic. Mageblood keeps four flasks permanently up. Pantheon undefined in reference.
Classic RF tempo with ES-regen sustain. Shield Charge through packs, Frostblink for telegraph dodging (as Frostblink in the main hand suggests the player uses it frequently), Flammability triggered by Cast when Damage Taken applies the fire-res debuff on getting hit. Scorching Ray for boss-phase channelling. The rhythm is 'walk into the pack and let the aura burn, channel Scorching Ray on bosses.' Vitality aura adds life regen on top of the ES-regen loop. The tier's feel is 'tanky ES pool absorbing chip damage while auras burn everything around you.'
Passive tree (122 points)
The desktop app shows this tier's full tree on an interactive canvas.
Endgame L85–94
- Endgame consolidates the CI-adjacent RF chassis. Doon Cuebiyari stays (94% endgame), The Ivory Tower becomes near-universal (99% endgame), Shaper's Touch (99% endgame), Coruscating Elixir (96% endgame), Lethal Pride (86% endgame), Forbidden Flame/Flesh allocating Pathfinder (77% endgame), Unnatural Instinct (77% endgame), Split Personality (70% endgame), Oriath's End bismuth flask (66% endgame). Glimpse of Chaos stays on the reference but most endgame builds swap it out.
- Craft a Kalandra's Touch ring paired with a Helical Ring template (+1 suffix, -2 prefix) — doubles whatever strong rolls the rare ring has
- Transition to an Ashes of the Stars amulet for +1 level to all skill gems + gem quality multipliers — the secondary damage multiplier that works on every aura + RF + Scorching Ray simultaneously
- Pick up a third Split Personality (94% aspirational meta) if a Scion-cluster jewel slot is available — the distance-scaled Int/Str multiplier stacks across multiple jewels
Righteous FireElemental Focus
Increased Area of EffectSwift AfflictionLifetapBurning DamageFull gear (31 items)
Doon Cuebiyari Weapon 1
- 32% increased Elemental Damage
- Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Iron Will
- +70 to Strength
- 17% increased Cast Speed
- +25 to maximum Mana
- 1% increased Damage per 8 Strength when in Main Hand
- 1% increased Armour per 16 Strength when in Off Hand
Gale Knell Weapon 2
- Quality does not increase Physical Damage
- Grants 1% increased Area of Effect per 4% Quality
- 10% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold
- +55 to Strength
- +25% to Damage over Time Multiplier
- Adds 15 to 26 Cold Damage
- Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate 16% Elemental Resistances
- 3% increased Area of Effect per 50 Strength
- 52% increased Fire Damage (crafted)
Death Aegis Weapon 2 Swap
- 6% increased Movement Speed
- +34 to maximum Life
- Regenerate 2.2 Life per second
- +3% to all Elemental Resistances
- 13% increased Stun and Block Recovery
Glimpse of Chaos Helmet
- Socketed Skill Gems get a 80% Cost & Reservation Multiplier
- 40% increased maximum Life and reduced Fire Resistance
- 35% increased maximum Mana and reduced Cold Resistance
- 35% increased Global maximum Energy Shield and reduced Lightning Resistance
- Chaos Resistance is Zero
The Ivory Tower Body Armour
- +45 to Intelligence
- +30 to maximum Energy Shield per 100 Reserved Life
- +80 to maximum Mana
- Regenerate 2% of Energy Shield per second
- Chaos Damage is taken from Mana before Life
Shaper's Touch Gloves
- 6% increased maximum Life
- 85% increased Armour and Energy Shield
- +2 Accuracy Rating per 2 Intelligence
- +1 Life per 4 Dexterity
- +1 Mana per 4 Strength
- 1% increased Energy Shield per 10 Strength
- 2% increased Evasion Rating per 10 Intelligence
- 2% increased Melee Physical Damage per 10 Dexterity
Brood Dash Boots
- +56 to Strength
- 10% increased Strength
- 41% increased Armour
- +33% to Cold Resistance
- 25% increased Movement Speed
- 17% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- 16% chance to gain Onslaught for 4 seconds on Kill
- +69 to maximum Life (crafted)
Eyes of the Greatwolf Amulet
- Allocates Written in Blood
- 34% increased Attributes
- +34% to Damage over Time Multiplier
- Implicit Modifier magnitudes are doubled
Brimstone Eye Ring 1
- -2 Prefix Modifiers allowed
- +1 Suffix Modifier allowed
- Implicit Modifiers Cannot Be Changed
- 50% increased Suffix Modifier magnitudes
- +27 to all Attributes
- +96 to Strength
- +42 to Intelligence
- +5 to Evasion Rating
- +69% to Fire Resistance
Kalandra's Touch Ring 2
- Reflects opposite Ring
Behemoth Leash Belt
- 18% increased Strength
- +63 to Strength
- 9% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold
- +135 to maximum Life
- +39% to Fire Resistance
- Reflects 3 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers
- +267 to Armour (crafted)
- +25 to maximum Energy Shield (crafted)
Brood Vessel Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +9 to Maximum Life
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: 3% increased Attack and Cast Speed with Fire Skills
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Strength
- Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect
Unnatural Instinct Jewel
- Allocated Small Passive Skills in Radius grant nothing
- Grants all bonuses of Unallocated Small Passive Skills in Radius
Apocalypse Vessel Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4% to all Elemental Resistances
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5 to Maximum Energy Shield
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +7 to Strength
- Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect
Split Personality Jewel
- This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location
- +5 to Strength
- +5 to maximum Life
Dusk Splinter Jewel
- +2% Chance to Block Attack Damage while Dual Wielding
- +6% to Damage over Time Multiplier
- +8% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
- Minions have 8% increased maximum Life
Watcher's Eye Jewel
- 5% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 5% increased maximum Life
- 6% increased maximum Mana
- Regenerate 2.02% of Energy Shield per Second while affected by Discipline
- Damage Penetrates 15% Fire Resistance while affected by Anger
Forbidden Flesh Jewel
- Allocates Pathfinder if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame
Split Personality Jewel
- This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location
- +5 to Strength
- +5 to maximum Life
Lethal Pride Jewel
- Commanded leadership over 10791 warriors under Akoya
- Passives in radius are Conquered by the Karui
- Historic
Forbidden Flame Jewel
- Allocates Pathfinder if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh
Dusk Glisten Jewel
- +2% Chance to Block Spell Damage while Dual Wielding
- +10 to Strength and Dexterity
- +7% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
- 5% increased maximum Life
Damnation Bliss Jewel
- +14 to Strength
- +7% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
- 3% increased Cast Speed while holding a Shield
- 6% increased maximum Energy Shield
Eagle Ornament Jewel
- +6 to all Attributes
- +8% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
- 5% increased Attack Speed while Dual Wielding
- 6% increased maximum Life
Vivid Crimson Jewel Jewel
- Corrupted Blood cannot be inflicted on you
- 6% increased maximum Life
Honour Heart Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Maximum Energy Shield
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +7 to Maximum Life
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +7 to Strength
- 25% increased Duration
- Chaos Damage taken does not bypass Energy Shield during effect
- Removes all but one Life on use
- Removed life is Regenerated as Energy Shield over 2 seconds
- 39% increased Charge Recovery
- Enemies you Kill during Effect have a 20% chance to Explode, dealing a tenth of their maximum Life as Damage of a Random Element
- 50% increased Charge Recovery
- 13% increased Movement Speed during Effect
- 20% reduced Charges per use
- Regenerate 3% of Life per second during Effect (crafted)
- 44% increased Charge Recovery
- 18% additional Elemental Resistances during Effect
All gem links (9 groups)
-
Empower 3/20 - Frostblink L19
-
Eternal Blessing L19 - Malevolence L19
- Righteous Fire 19/20
- Elemental Focus L19
- Increased Area of Effect L19
- Swift Affliction L19
- Lifetap L19
- Burning Damage L19
-
Momentum L19 -
Faster Attacks L19 -
Leap Slam L19
- Flammability L19
-
Hexpass L2 - Vitality L19
- Arrogance L19
-
Discipline 20/20 - Purity of Fire 20/20
- Purity of Elements 20/20
-
Flesh and Stone L19
- Scorching Ray L19
- Lifetap L19
- Infused Channelling L19
-
Unknown Gem L1
How this stage plays (mechanics, defences)
DPS reaches 1.1M (matching the tier median of 1.2M). The main RF 6-link in body armour becomes Righteous Fire + Elemental Focus + Increased Area of Effect + Swift Affliction + Lifetap + Burning Damage — with 96% Elemental Focus / 94% Swift Affliction / 81% Lifetap / 47% Burning Damage / 34% Efficacy / 19% Increased Area of Effect / 10% Concentrated Effect meta share. Swift Affliction is the Exceptional-era Swift Affliction variant — more damage over time, less duration, which cycles DoT faster. Lifetap solves mana issues under Blood Magic. Elemental Focus is the pure fire-damage multiplier.
Malevolence (99% endgame) + Purity of Elements (90% endgame) + Vitality (89% endgame) + Purity of Fire (71% endgame) + Flesh and Stone (63% endgame) + Discipline (26% endgame) is the aura stack — all reserved via Eternal Blessing support (the cost-free aura mechanic). Eternal Blessing reserves one aura permanently for zero mana cost at the price of the aura not receiving aura-effect multipliers. Most aspirational builds run Malevolence + Vitality + Purity of Fire + Purity of Elements as permanent auras via a combination of Eternal Blessing + direct reservation.
Watcher's Eye prismatic jewel contributes 2.02% ES regen per second while affected by Discipline + 15% Fire Pen while affected by Anger — though the reference doesn't run Anger (it runs Malevolence instead), so the Anger line is wasted here. The mainline aspirational swap is a Watcher's Eye with Malevolence + Purity of Elements rolls instead. Forbidden Flame + Forbidden Flesh allocating Pathfinder is the signature Ascendant-RF pickup — the Scion's halved Pathfinder notable delivers flask charge gain on hit + flask effect duration + fire damage vs rares. Apocalypse Vessel large cluster adds +4% all res + +5 ES + +7 Str per small passive with 35% increased effect. Bound By Destiny (87% aspirational) delivers conditional bonuses based on Warlord/Redeemer/Hunter item counts. Ascendancy is completed: Templar Ascendancy + Path of the Templar + Marauder Ascendancy, picking up Sanctuary of Thought mana-reservation wheel from Templar + Hinekora, Death's Fury + Tasalio, Cleansing Water from Marauder.
EHP 59k at median — 9.8k life + 17.8k ES. 85% max fire res with +153% fire overcap — this is Nebulis-tier overcap. 80% max cold + lightning res with overcap. 18% physical damage reduction — low, because the Ivory Tower build trades armour for ES scaling. The phys-mitigation strategy is 'absorb hits through the 17.8k ES pool + 3.4k ES regen per second' rather than armour-stack. Chaos res 0% — handled by Coruscating Elixir + The Ivory Tower's mana-before-life chaos shielding. 22% attack block + 12% spell block from rare spirit shield — small but meaningful. Eternal Youth + Zealot's Oath + Blood Magic keystones are all present at 97-99% meta. Pantheon is Arakaali + Shakari for chaos DoT and chaos hit coverage.
Walk-forward RF with ES-regen reassurance. Leap Slam + Faster Attacks + Momentum in the sceptre's 3-socket handles traversal — Leap Slam instead of Shield Charge because the Ivory Tower build runs a buckler or small off-hand in Ascendant variants. Flammability + Arrogance + Vitality in boots reserves Vitality permanently for the ES-regen feeding loop. Discipline + Purity of Fire + Purity of Elements + Flesh and Stone is the aura stack. Scorching Ray + Lifetap + Infused Channelling in weapon covers boss phases. The feel is deliberate mapping with huge ES sustain — every pack burns from the aura while the character's ES regens faster than RF's self-degen consumes it.
Passive tree (132 points)
The desktop app shows this tier's full tree on an interactive canvas.
Aspirational L95–100
- Aspirational consolidates. Doon Cuebiyari + The Ivory Tower + Shaper's Touch + Coruscating Elixir + Unnatural Instinct are all at 100% meta. Lethal Pride (98%), Watcher's Eye (96%), Forbidden Flesh/Flame allocating Pathfinder (96%), Oriath's End (94%), Split Personality (94%). Every keystone — Eternal Youth, Blood Magic, Zealot's Oath — is at 100% meta. The reference adds The Adorned crimson jewel (90% increased Effect of Jewel Socket Passive Skills containing Corrupted Magic Jewels) for the magic-jewel multiplier identity. Kalandra's Touch replaces ring 2 for free mirror-copy of the rare Spirit Eye Helical Ring (Aspect of the Spider skill + attributes).
Righteous Fire
Awakened EnhanceElemental FocusSwift AfflictionEfficacyBurning DamageFull gear (32 items)
Doon Cuebiyari Weapon 1
- 12% increased Explicit Critical Modifier magnitudes
- 25% reduced Explicit Damage Modifier magnitudes
- 32% increased Elemental Damage
- Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Iron Will
- +70 to Strength
- 16% increased Cast Speed
- +28 to maximum Mana
- 1% increased Damage per 6 Strength when in Main Hand
- 1% increased Armour per 16 Strength when in Off Hand
Doom Batter Weapon 2
- Quality does not increase Physical Damage
- Grants 1% increased Area of Effect per 4% Quality
- 10% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold
- +52 to Strength
- +26% to Damage over Time Multiplier
- 76% increased Fire Damage
- 22% chance to Ignite
- 3% increased Area of Effect per 50 Strength
- 29% increased Damage over Time (crafted)
Heavy Somatic Wand of Rejuvenation Weapon 1 Swap
- Cannot roll Caster Modifiers
- 40% increased Physical Damage
- Grants 3 Life per Enemy Hit
Kinetic Wand Weapon 2 Swap
- Cannot roll Caster Modifiers
Glimpse of Chaos Helmet
- Nearby Enemies have Malediction
- Can be modified while Corrupted
- 40% increased maximum Life and reduced Fire Resistance
- 32% increased maximum Mana and reduced Cold Resistance
- 40% increased Global maximum Energy Shield and reduced Lightning Resistance
- Chaos Resistance is Zero
The Ivory Tower Body Armour
- 8% increased Explicit Defence Modifier magnitudes
- +50 to Intelligence
- +38 to maximum Energy Shield per 100 Reserved Life
- +107 to maximum Mana
- Regenerate 2.2% of Energy Shield per second
- Chaos Damage is taken from Mana before Life
Shaper's Touch Gloves
- 6% increased maximum Life
- 120% increased Armour and Energy Shield
- +2 Accuracy Rating per 2 Intelligence
- +1 Life per 4 Dexterity
- +1 Mana per 4 Strength
- 1% increased Energy Shield per 10 Strength
- 2% increased Evasion Rating per 10 Intelligence
- 2% increased Melee Physical Damage per 10 Dexterity
Eagle Charm Amulet
- Allocates Whispers of Doom
- -2 Prefix Modifiers allowed
- -1 Suffix Modifier allowed
- Implicit Modifiers Cannot Be Changed
- 100% increased Explicit Modifier magnitudes
- 19% increased Attributes
- 26% increased Strength
- 2% increased Damage per 15 Strength
Maelstrom Coil Ring 1
- -2 Prefix Modifiers allowed
- +1 Suffix Modifier allowed
- Implicit Modifiers Cannot Be Changed
- 50% increased Suffix Modifier magnitudes
- +49% to Damage over Time Multiplier
- +195 to Strength
- +185 to Intelligence
- -37 to maximum Mana
- -3 to Minimum Endurance Charges (crafted)
Kalandra's Touch Ring 2
- 6% increased Strength
- 4% increased Dexterity
- Reflects opposite Ring
Gale Bind Belt
- 18% increased Strength
- 16% increased maximum Energy Shield
- +68 to Strength
- +117 to maximum Life
- +59 to maximum Mana
- +30% to Lightning Resistance
- 30% increased Flask Mana Recovery rate
- +20% to Cold and Lightning Resistances (crafted)
Carrion Shine Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4% to all Elemental Resistances
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +10 to Maximum Life
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Strength
Unnatural Instinct Jewel
- 23% reduced Effect of Curses on you
- You cannot be Cursed with Silence
- Allocated Small Passive Skills in Radius grant nothing
- Grants all bonuses of Unallocated Small Passive Skills in Radius
Dusk Hope Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +9 to Maximum Life
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Strength
Split Personality Jewel
- This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location
- +5 to Strength
- +5 to maximum Life
Soul Hope Jewel
- +2% to maximum Fire Resistance
- +8% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
- 16% increased Fire Damage
- 6% increased maximum Life
Emperor's Mastery Jewel
- 7% increased Attributes
- 4% increased maximum Life
- 3% increased Character Size
- 5% increased Global Defences
Emperor's Might Jewel
- 6% increased Strength
- 10% increased Damage
- 3% increased Character Size
Watcher's Eye Jewel
- 5% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 5% increased maximum Life
- 6% increased maximum Mana
- +1% to all maximum Elemental Resistances while affected by Purity of Elements
- +22% to Damage over Time Multiplier while affected by Malevolence
- Unaffected by Poison while affected by Malevolence
Split Personality Jewel
- This Jewel's Socket has 25% increased effect per Allocated Passive Skill between it and your Class' starting location
- +5 to Strength
- +5 to maximum Life
Lethal Pride Jewel
- Commanded leadership over 16464 warriors under Akoya
- Passives in radius are Conquered by the Karui
- Historic
Bound By Destiny Jewel
- 15% increased Strength if 2 Warlord Items are Equipped
- 5% of Elemental Damage taken as Chaos Damage if 4 Hunter Items are Equipped
- +1 to Level of all non-Exceptional Support Gems if 6 Shaper Items are Equipped
Forbidden Flesh Jewel
- Allocates Pathfinder if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame
Entropy Shard Jewel
- 6% increased maximum Life
- +8% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier
- 14% increased Fire Damage
- +2% to maximum Fire Resistance
Forbidden Flame Jewel
- Allocates Pathfinder if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh
Honour Wound Jewel
- Adds 12 Passive Skills
- 2 Added Passive Skills are Jewel Sockets
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Fire Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +9 to Maximum Life
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Strength
- 25% increased Duration
- Chaos Damage taken does not bypass Energy Shield during effect
- Removes all but one Life on use
- Removed life is Regenerated as Energy Shield over 2 seconds
- 35% increased Charge Recovery
- Enemies you Kill during Effect have a 29% chance to Explode, dealing a tenth of their maximum Life as Damage of a Random Element
- 38% increased Duration
- 20% additional Elemental Resistances during Effect
- 38% increased Duration
- Regenerate 3% of Life per second during Effect (crafted)
- 39% increased Duration
- 61% reduced Effect of Curses on you during Effect
All gem links (10 groups)
- Efficacy 20/20
- Burning Damage 20/20
- Elemental Focus 20/20
- Frostblink L1
-
Summon Skitterbots 20/23 -
Elemental Proliferation 21/20
- Faster Attacks 20/20
- Momentum 20/20
- Leap Slam L1
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Vaal Impurity of Fire 20/20 - Purity of Elements 20/23
- Eternal Blessing 20/20
- Malevolence L21
- Awakened Enhance L5
- Righteous Fire 20/20
- Elemental Focus 21/20
- Swift Affliction 21/20
- Efficacy 21/20
- Burning Damage 21/20
- Vitality L15
-
Automation 20/20 -
More Duration 20/23 -
Phase Run 20/23
-
Bane 21/20 -
Elemental Weakness 20/21 - Hexpass 3/20
- Flammability 21/20
- Unknown Gem L1
How this stage plays (mechanics, defences)
Aspirational median DPS is 9.75M, EHP 92k, life 11.9k. The reference at L98 is close to median: 5.8M DPS / 88k EHP / 10.9k life. The 6-link moves to helmet (Loath Corona rare Divine Crown with Socketed Gems Supported by Level 20 Burning Damage + Level 20 Concentrated Effect + Socketed Gems deal 30% more Damage while on Low Life) — this is a dual-support benchmarked helmet that effectively gives +2 supports to the RF 6-link for free. The 4-link in the helmet becomes Righteous Fire + Elemental Focus + Efficacy + Swift Affliction, with the helmet's crafted Burning Damage + Concentrated Effect supports layering on top = effective 6-link.
Malevolence (100% aspirational) + Purity of Elements (98% aspirational) + Vitality (94% aspirational) + Flesh and Stone (61% aspirational) + Purity of Fire (57% aspirational) is the permanent aura stack. Eternal Blessing + Enhance reserves auras for free. Watcher's Eye with Purity of Elements (+47% chaos res) + Malevolence (+22% DoT multiplier) rolls is the defining offensive+defensive jewel. Bound By Destiny (on reference) delivers 13% increased Attributes if 6 Elder Items are Equipped — a gear-shaping conditional. Emperor's Mastery + Sol Eye + Apocalypse Shard + Foe Splinter large clusters deliver 35% increased effect small-passive scaling. Apocalypse Shard's "Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4 to All Attributes / +7 to Max Life / +8 to Str" is pure Str-stacking. Aspect of the Spider from the Spirit Eye ring (mirrored via Kalandra's Touch) is a permanent damage amplification debuff. Blade Vortex + Greater Unleash + Flammability + Elemental Weakness in weapon swap is a dormant double-curse setup with stored skill gems.
EHP 88k on the reference, median 92k. 10.9k life + 25k ES = ~36k combined pool. 89% max fire res with +81% fire overcap. 80% cold + lightning. 46% physical damage reduction. Chaos res 10% on this reference — still the soft spot, median aspirational chaos res varies based on rare ring rolls. 3.9k ES regen per second via Zealot's Oath + aura stack. The Ivory Tower's 2.4% ES regen per second implicit + Disciplines + Malevolence + the rare chest and ring rolls = massive recharge. Unnatural Instinct replaces allocated passives in its radius with unallocated bonuses — huge value density. The Adorned jewel multiplies magic jewel socket effects by 90% — every Vivid Viridian of the Phoenix (+2% max fire res) and Vivid Crimson of Zealousness (+8% fire DoT multi) magic jewel in a socket is scaled up. Pantheon is Solaris + Tukohama.
The apex Ascendant RF experience. Leap Slam for traversal, Immortal Call on Cast when Damage Taken for emergency phys mitigation, Frostblink for precision positioning. Scorching Ray is dropped from the reference in favour of the rare-helmet-benchmarked RF 4-link + helmet supports = effective 6-link. Pinnacle bosses fall in 10-20 seconds through sustained aura pressure. The Ivory Tower + Eternal Youth + Zealot's Oath chassis means the character is functionally immortal to non-chaos damage at this tier — ES regens faster than RF's degen and any incoming hits are absorbed by the ~25k ES pool. Oriath's End chain-explosion flask turns pack clear into a single-button clearing loop. Mageblood is absent from the reference (not present in the gear list) but Mageblood is common at this tier for most aspirational RF Ascendants.
Passive tree (141 points)
The desktop app shows this tier's full tree on an interactive canvas.