Leveling L1–68
- Act 1: run Frost BladesBuy Frost Blades from Nessa after Hillock and use it on any white claw you find. Ancestral Call Support from the Brutus quest turns Frost Blades into a solid clear skill through the first acts. Pick up Whirling Blades as travel from a claw vendor. Slot a low-level Clarity once mana feels tight. A Goldrim helmet and Wanderlust boots cover resists and move speed cheaply.
- Act 2: run Frost BladesPick up Herald of Agony from Yeena — the chaos-poison herald that carries to endgame. Add Melee Physical Damage Support once you have a 4-link. Slot a low-level CwDT + Steelskin for panic defence. Bandit reward: help Alira for mana regen, crit multi, and resists — Assassin scales crit multi directly via Toxic Delivery, so Alira is mandatory.
- Act 3: run Frost BladesMultistrike Support unlocks at L38 from Clarissa — slot it in for a major DPS jump (more hits = more future poison stacks). Grab Haste from the Library quest reward and run it alongside Clarity; the attack speed translates directly into more poison applications later. Pick up Flame Dash from the Library as a secondary mobility skill. Run Normal Lab: Noxious Strike. This is where withering and guaranteed poison start working together — even on Frost Blades you're now applying chip chaos damage.
- Act 4: run Frost BladesPick up Despair from the Act 4 vendor once you finish the Kaom storyline — this is the curse you run forever as a chaos-poison build. Self-cast for now. Keep running Frost Blades as main skill — the transition is one act away and you want to arrive with a clean 4-link ready for the new gem. Grab Haemophilia gloves the moment you can equip them — the poison damage multiplier is a core leveling-and-endgame scaler.
- Act 5–6 — L45 swap: run Viper Strike of the MambaViper Strike of the Mamba is bought from Lilly Roth in Act 6 — the transition gem. Deadly Ailments Support and Vile Toxins Support are also from Lilly and are the two key poison supports the build leans on. Keep Multistrike Support for the attack speed (more hits = more poison stacks). A Bloodseeker claw fits here perfectly — the innate leech is huge for survivability. Run Cruel Lab at the end of Act 6 area: Toxic Delivery — crit strikes with poison become a proper damage spike.
- Act 7–9: run Viper Strike of the MambaSlot Empower Support once you hit 5-link — it pushes Viper Strike of the Mamba's gem level for free chaos damage over time scaling. Run Precision low-level for accuracy — crit is now core to poison application via Toxic Delivery, so missed hits cost real damage. Lab 3 in Act 9: Mistwalker — frenzy charge and power charge generation plus ailment immunity turn the build into a mobile poison machine. Ailment immunity also means you can drop the Cast-when-Stunned / Stun-threshold investment most builds need.
Frost Blades 
Ancestral Call Support 
Whirling Blades 
Clarity Buy Frost Blades from Nessa after Hillock and use it on any white claw you find. Ancestral Call Support from the Brutus quest turns Frost Blades into a solid clear skill through the first acts. Pick up Whirling Blades as travel from a claw vendor. Slot a low-level Clarity once mana feels tight. A Goldrim helmet and Wanderlust boots cover resists and move speed cheaply.
Frost Blades Ancestral Call Support 
Melee Physical Damage Support Whirling Blades Clarity 
Herald of Agony 
CwDT 
Steelskin Pick up Herald of Agony from Yeena — the chaos-poison herald that carries to endgame. Add Melee Physical Damage Support once you have a 4-link. Slot a low-level CwDT + Steelskin for panic defence. Bandit reward: help Alira for mana regen, crit multi, and resists — Assassin scales crit multi directly via Toxic Delivery, so Alira is mandatory.
Frost Blades Ancestral Call Support Melee Physical Damage Support 
Multistrike Support Whirling Blades 
Haste Clarity Herald of Agony CwDT Steelskin Multistrike Support unlocks at L38 from Clarissa — slot it in for a major DPS jump (more hits = more future poison stacks). Grab Haste from the Library quest reward and run it alongside Clarity; the attack speed translates directly into more poison applications later. Pick up Flame Dash from the Library as a secondary mobility skill. Run Normal Lab: Noxious Strike. This is where withering and guaranteed poison start working together — even on Frost Blades you're now applying chip chaos damage.
Frost Blades Ancestral Call Support Melee Physical Damage Support Multistrike Support Whirling Blades Haste Clarity Herald of Agony CwDT Steelskin 
Despair Pick up Despair from the Act 4 vendor once you finish the Kaom storyline — this is the curse you run forever as a chaos-poison build. Self-cast for now. Keep running Frost Blades as main skill — the transition is one act away and you want to arrive with a clean 4-link ready for the new gem. Grab Haemophilia gloves the moment you can equip them — the poison damage multiplier is a core leveling-and-endgame scaler.
Viper Strike of the Mamba Melee Physical Damage Support Multistrike Support 
Deadly Ailments Support 
Vile Toxins Support Whirling Blades Haste Clarity Herald of Agony CwDT Steelskin Despair Viper Strike of the Mamba is bought from Lilly Roth in Act 6 — the transition gem. Deadly Ailments Support and Vile Toxins Support are also from Lilly and are the two key poison supports the build leans on. Keep Multistrike Support for the attack speed (more hits = more poison stacks). A Bloodseeker claw fits here perfectly — the innate leech is huge for survivability. Run Cruel Lab at the end of Act 6 area: Toxic Delivery — crit strikes with poison become a proper damage spike.
Viper Strike of the Mamba Melee Physical Damage Support Multistrike Support Deadly Ailments Support Vile Toxins Support 
Empower Support Whirling Blades Haste 
Precision Clarity Herald of Agony CwDT Steelskin Despair Slot Empower Support once you hit 5-link — it pushes Viper Strike of the Mamba's gem level for free chaos damage over time scaling. Run Precision low-level for accuracy — crit is now core to poison application via Toxic Delivery, so missed hits cost real damage. Lab 3 in Act 9: Mistwalker — frenzy charge and power charge generation plus ailment immunity turn the build into a mobile poison machine. Ailment immunity also means you can drop the Cast-when-Stunned / Stun-threshold investment most builds need.
Viper Strike of the Mamba Melee Physical Damage Support Multistrike Support Deadly Ailments Support Vile Toxins Support Empower Support Whirling Blades Haste Precision Clarity Herald of Agony CwDT Steelskin Despair Run Uber Lab as soon as you hit L68 for Opportunistic — the "more damage against full-life enemies" is roughly a 30-40% multiplier on the opening poison stack (when bosses are at full HP), and the "less damage taken while not in proximity" layer protects the extended-DoT playstyle where you back off after applying stacks. Until Opportunistic is online your boss damage will feel flat relative to your mapping damage. Aim to cap elemental resists at 75% resist before pushing red maps, and look for an endgame claw/dagger with flat chaos damage, attack speed, and crit.
How leveling works
Viper Strike of the Mamba on an Assassin is the crit-poison signature pairing: the transfigured dagger/claw attack stacks heavy poison on every hit (Viper Poison — bigger DoT magnitude, shorter duration than regular poison), and the Assassin ascendancy scales it through crit-applied ailments, a massive "more damage against full life" multiplier, and frenzy charge + ailment-proof uptime. Where the Pathfinder version scales through flasks and Master Surgeon, the Assassin version scales through crit — every crit on a poison application multiplies the poison damage, and Toxic Delivery converts that crit-poison-damage into the biggest single-target DoT spike you can build short of Occultist Essence Drain.
The ascendancy pick order is Noxious Strike (Lab 1 — withering on hit plus chance to poison on non-crit, which turns every hit into a poison application and directly enables the whole ramp mechanic), Toxic Delivery (Lab 2 — extra chaos damage, increased poison duration, and crit strikes with poison deal the heaviest multiplier in the tree), Mistwalker (Lab 3 — frenzy charge and power charge generation plus ailment immunity, which turns every rare into a speed boost), and Opportunistic (Uber Lab — more damage against full-life enemies and less damage taken while not in proximity, which is the bossing multiplier). Take them in exactly this order — Noxious Strike first is what makes your poison stacks consistent enough to scale at all.
Leveling with Viper Strike of the Mamba directly is NOT the plan — the transfigured gem is purchased from Lilly Roth in Act 6, which puts it out of reach until ~L45. Level as Frost Blades on a claw through Acts 1–4 (keeps you on the right weapon type and on-archetype), then swap to Viper Strike of the Mamba in Act 5–6 once Lilly is available. Frost Blades leans on attack speed and crit, both of which transfer cleanly to the poison archetype.
Auras and utility: Clarity goes on in Act 1 for mana management. Herald of Agony from Yeena in Act 2 is the signature chaos/poison herald and carries through to endgame — the Virulence minion ramps as you apply poison stacks, so once the transfigured skill is online it becomes a serious damage contributor. Haste from the Act 3 Library is mandatory for the attack speed — more hits = more poison stacks. Precision low-level in Act 7+ for accuracy. Despair from Act 4 is the curse you run forever — chaos resist reduction plus damage taken multiplier is exactly the scaling this build wants.
Leveling uniques to target: Haemophilia gloves (cheap, permanent-until-endgame, the poison damage multiplier on bleeding enemies stacks with almost everything), Bloodseeker claw once you hit its level requirement (innate leech massively smooths survivability through the Viper Strike of the Mamba transition), Goldrim for resist coverage, and Wanderlust for move speed. A Tabula Rasa is gravy if you find one; don't spend real currency chasing it — the endgame wants a crafted rare evasion chest with life and resists.
Gear while leveling
- · Weapon: a claw or dagger while leveling — Bloodseeker is ideal once you hit its level requirement for the innate leech. Before that, any rare claw with flat physical or chaos damage and attack speed. Vendor-recipe elemental claws (magic claw + topaz/sapphire/ruby + Blacksmith's Whetstone) as stopgaps. Assassin can go dagger too for the extra crit on the base; both work.
- · Body armour: rush a Tabula Rasa if you can find/buy one — a guaranteed 6-link is worth more than any leveling rare. Otherwise a 4-link evasion chest with life and resists.
- · Gloves: Haemophilia is the cheap permanent-until-endgame pick — the increased poison damage is a core scaler for the whole build.
- · Helmet/boots: prioritise life and resists. Goldrim and Wanderlust as cheap early-act slot fillers; swap to rares once you need the life.
- · Rings: life + resists + added flat chaos damage is the leveling roll. Endgame targets get chaos damage over time multiplier and crit multi as well.
- · Amulet: cheap rare with life + resists through campaign. Impresence (Chaos variant) is a popular endgame pick because it lets you reserve Despair as an aura, but that's a red-maps purchase, not a leveling one.
- · Belt: Heavy Belt or Leather Belt with life and resists. No unique belts needed during leveling — endgame considers Stygian Vise for the abyssal jewel socket.
- · Flasks: life flask with bleed removal, a quicksilver, a silver or sulphur for offence, and a diamond flask once crit starts mattering after Lab 2. Unlike Pathfinder you don't get permanent flask uptime from Master Surgeon, so reserve flask charges for real danger.
- · Jewels: any rare jewel with "increased chaos damage over time", "increased damage over time", or "increased poison duration" is worth a socket. One poison-themed cluster jewel with Efficient Explosives or Dark Ideation lights up the later tree cleanly.
Weapon progression
Any rare 1H claw or dagger with flat physical damage and attack speed carries the early acts. Al Dhih is a cheap mid-act claw if you find one. The build-defining leveling weapon is Bloodseeker — pick it up as soon as you hit the level requirement for the innate leech, which massively smooths survivability during the Viper Strike of the Mamba transition. Assassin can also go dagger for the extra crit base — any rare dagger with high physical DPS + attack speed + crit works as a dagger-side alt path.
The endgame target is a rare Imperial Claw or Platinum Kris (dagger) with flat chaos damage, attack speed, crit, and crit multi — but that's far above leveling priorities. Get to maps with any decent claw/dagger, then start hunting. Vendor-crafted weapons are fine through Act 7, and Bloodseeker is genuinely viable through yellow maps.
Tree to aim for (by level 90)
Watch out for
- ! Viper Strike of the Mamba is a transfigured gem bought from Lilly Roth in Act 6 — NOT a quest reward and NOT dropped by enemies. Talk to Lilly the moment you reach Lioneye's Watch and buy it; she also sells Deadly Ailments Support and Vile Toxins Support which pair with it. If you somehow skip her shop, you're stuck without the gem until the next act-7 vendor, which is a meaningful DPS loss.
- ! Noxious Strike must be your FIRST ascendancy pick, NOT Toxic Delivery. Toxic Delivery is the bigger damage node on paper but without Noxious Strike's guaranteed poison-on-hit you won't reliably HAVE poisons to multiply. If you've already taken the wrong node, 5 Orbs of Regret will get you back on track.
- ! Chaos Inoculation is NOT taken on this build — Assassin wants life and evasion, not energy shield. Ignore any guide that mentions Chaos Inoculation for a Viper Strike variant; that's a completely different archetype (usually a low-life Trickster or Occultist).
- ! Vile Toxins Support scales WITH poison stacks, so it's weak on a placeholder skill like Frost Blades and strong once the transfigured gem is online. Don't slot it before L45 — it competes with a better support (like Melee Physical Damage Support) for the link slot. Swap in at the Lilly-Roth transition, not earlier.
- ! Herald of Agony's Virulence stacks come from applying poison, not from hitting. On Frost Blades in early acts you won't be poisoning reliably (no Noxious Strike yet), and the Virulence minion will feel weak — don't panic and swap it out. Once Noxious Strike is taken in Lab 1 the ramp starts; once Viper Strike of the Mamba is online the Agony minion is a real contributor.
- ! Mistwalker's ailment immunity is what lets you skip flask rolls for bleed / freeze / shock immunity — significant quality-of-life AND a gear-budget win. Plan your flask suffix rolls around this: once Lab 3 is done, you don't need Heat, Staunching, or Dousing anymore. Until then you still do.
- ! The class was previously named Raider. In 3.28 Mirage it's Warden — but Viper Strike of the Mamba Assassin is NOT the Warden variant. Make sure any guide you reference is specifically an ASSASSIN guide and not a Warden (formerly Raider) guide; the ascendancy nodes are completely different and the scaling mechanics do not transfer.
Early Mapping L70–84
- Pick up Forbidden Flame + Forbidden Flesh allocating Born in the Shadows — adds Elusive generation, which compounds with Mistwalker for near-permanent uptime
- Target Mageblood or Foulborn Mageblood by endgame — the build's defensive layers need permanent flask uptime to scale past L90
- Swap Lion's Roar flask for Taste of Hate once resists allow — cold-conversion + damage-mitigation during boss windows
Viper Strike of the Mamba
Greater Ancestral CallMelee Physical Damage
NightbladeVile Toxins
Void Manipulation
RuthlessFull gear (33 items)
Bino's Kitchen Knife Weapon 1
- 30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
- Adds 141 to 211 Physical Damage
- 49% increased Critical Strike Chance
- +21% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- +18% to Chaos Resistance
- On Killing a Poisoned Enemy, Enemies within 3 metres are Poisoned, and you and
- Allies Regenerate 400 Life per second for the Poison's duration if within 3 metres
Essentia Sanguis Weapon 2
- 2% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life
- Adds 1 to 736 Lightning Damage
- 21% increased Attack Speed
- +233 to maximum Energy Shield
- Energy Shield Leech Effects from Attacks are not removed at Full Energy Shield
- Maximum Recovery per Energy Shield Leech is Doubled
- Ghost Reaver
Arakaali's Fang Weapon 1 Swap
- 7% increased Attack Speed
- 100% chance to Trigger Level 1 Raise Spiders on Kill
- 190% increased Physical Damage
- Adds 13 to 25 Physical Damage
- Adds 1 to 59 Chaos Damage
- 15% chance to Poison on Hit
Allure Weapon 2 Swap
- 2% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life
- 129% increased Physical Damage
- Adds 20 to 40 Physical Damage
- 12% increased Attack Speed
- 15% increased Movement Speed while Phasing
- You gain Phasing for 10 seconds on using a Vaal Skill
Soul Visage Helmet
- 35% increased Maximum Energy Shield from Equipped Gloves and Boots
- 20% reduced Mana Cost of Attacks
- 100% increased Energy Shield
- +54 to maximum Energy Shield
- 41% increased Energy Shield
- Regenerate 110.4 Life per second
- 16% increased Rarity of Items found
- 17% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- +30 to Intelligence (crafted)
Loath Ward Body Armour
- 6% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 17% increased Chaos Damage
- +11 to Dexterity
- +162 to Evasion Rating
- 84% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
- +69 to maximum Energy Shield
- 37% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
- +22 to maximum Mana
- +34% to Cold Resistance (crafted)
Spirit Mitts Gloves
- 11% increased Effect of your Marks
- Non-Vaal Strike Skills target 2 additional nearby Enemies
- +41 to maximum Energy Shield
- 133% increased Energy Shield
- +36% to Cold Resistance
- +17% to Lightning Resistance
- 16% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- 12% increased Attack Speed (crafted)
Phoenix Stride Boots
- Poisons you inflict deal Damage 5% faster
- 4% increased Action Speed
- +14% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- +32 to Intelligence
- +46 to Evasion Rating
- +21 to maximum Energy Shield
- 25% increased Movement Speed
- 28% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- 72% increased Evasion and Energy Shield (crafted)
Whispers of Infinity Amulet
- Allocates Sione's Ambition
- 15% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
- 9 to 30 Added Attack Chaos Damage per 100 Maximum Mana
- +55 to maximum Energy Shield
- 44% reduced maximum Mana
- Skills Cost Energy Shield instead of Mana or Life
The Hateful Accuser Ring 1
- 50% increased Elemental Ailment Duration on you
- 50% reduced Effect of Curses on you
- Grants level 20 Penance Mark
- 9% increased Cast Speed
- +39 to maximum Life
- +7% to Chaos Resistance
Shavronne's Revelation Ring 2
- +28 to maximum Energy Shield
- +63 to Intelligence
- Right ring slot: You cannot Regenerate Mana
- Right ring slot: Regenerate 7.2% of Energy Shield per second
- Right ring slot: +250 to maximum Mana
- Left ring slot: You cannot Recharge or Regenerate Energy Shield
- Left ring slot: Regenerate 40 Mana per Second
- Left ring slot: +300 to maximum Energy Shield
Mageblood Belt
- +31 to Strength
- +33 to Dexterity
- +24% to Fire Resistance
- +22% to Cold Resistance
- Magic Utility Flasks cannot be Used
- Leftmost 3 Magic Utility Flasks constantly apply their Flask Effects to you
- Magic Utility Flask Effects cannot be removed
Soul Shine Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4% to Lightning Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +6 to Maximum Mana
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Forbidden Flame Jewel
- Allocates Born in the Shadows if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh
Behemoth Wound Jewel
- 16% increased Global Physical Damage
- 8% increased maximum Energy Shield
- +10% to all Elemental Resistances
- +15% to Cold Resistance
Behemoth Curio Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: 2% increased Damage
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to Fire Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Lightning Resistance
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Ghoul Joy Jewel
- 4% increased Attack Speed while Dual Wielding
- 8% increased maximum Energy Shield
- +10% to all Elemental Resistances
- +13% to Lightning Resistance
Voices Jewel
- Adds 3 Jewel Socket Passive Skills
- Adds 5 Small Passive Skills which grant nothing
Foe Prism Jewel
- 15% increased Spell Damage while Dual Wielding
- 5% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
- +11% to Fire and Lightning Resistances
- +12% to Cold and Lightning Resistances
Voices Jewel
- Adds 3 Jewel Socket Passive Skills
- Adds 5 Small Passive Skills which grant nothing
Damnation Shard Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3 to Dexterity
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +7 to Maximum Mana
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Forbidden Flesh Jewel
- Allocates Born in the Shadows if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame
Vivid Ruin Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Cold Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4% to Lightning Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4 to Maximum Mana
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Chimeric Joy Jewel
- +8 to Dexterity and Intelligence
- 9% increased Chaos Damage
- 8% increased maximum Energy Shield
- +10% to all Elemental Resistances
Soul Wound Jewel
- 8% increased maximum Energy Shield
- +10% to all Elemental Resistances
- 13% increased Shock Duration on Enemies
- 3% chance to Shock
- 2% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills
Rapture Curio Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Chaos Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to all Elemental Resistances
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Haemorrhage
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Lethal Pride Jewel
- Commanded leadership over 10585 warriors under Rakiata
- Passives in radius are Conquered by the Karui
- Historic
Dusk Essence Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Cold Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to all Elemental Resistances
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +8 to Maximum Mana
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
- Knocks Back Enemies in an Area when you use a Flask
- 75% chance to cause Enemies to Flee on use
- Adds Knockback to Melee Attacks during Effect
- 8% more Melee Physical Damage during effect
- 21% increased Charge Recovery
- 43% increased Evasion Rating during Effect
- 19% increased Charge Recovery
- 48% less Duration
- Immunity to Freeze and Chill during Effect
- 38% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 0.4% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life during Effect
- 23% reduced Charges per use
- 45% less Duration
- Immunity to Bleeding and Corrupted Blood during Effect
All gem links (11 groups)
- Precision L20
-
Desecrate L20 - Despair L20
-
Blade Flurry of Incision 9/7 -
Cooldown Recovery L1
-
Flameblast of Celerity 19/20
-
Seize the Flesh L1 -
Call the Pyre L1 -
Ice Trap 9/8
-
Discipline L20 -
Purity of Elements 20/20 -
Enlighten 3/14
-
Frostblink L20
- Whirling Blades 20/20
-
Faster Attacks 20/20
-
Autoexertion L20 -
General's Cry 20/20 -
Cyclone L20 -
Withering Touch L20
- Greater Ancestral Call 2/20
- Melee Physical Damage 20/20
- Nightblade 20/20
- Vile Toxins 20/20
- Void Manipulation 20/20
- Viper Strike of the Mamba 20/20
- Ruthless L1
-
Raise Spiders L1
-
Penance Mark L20
How this stage plays (mechanics, defences)
The L84 reference is already full CI. Chaos Inoculation takes life to 1, 4.9k energy shield is the whole pool, Whispers of Infinity routes skill costs to ES instead of mana/life, and Shavronne's Revelation ring supplies the per-slot ES regen mode (+300 max mana, regenerate 6% ES/s on right slot; +300 max ES, regenerate 40 mana/s on left slot). This is a demanding league-start — expect the leveling experience from L1-84 to be significantly harder than a life-based Viper Strike setup; the Assassin ascendancy and the CI pivot are both back-loaded.
Main hand is Bino's Kitchen Knife Slaughter Knife — 30% global crit chance, 49% crit chance on the dagger, +21% global crit multi, +18% chaos res, and the critical on-poisoned-kill line that infects every enemy within 3 metres with poison and regenerates 400 life per second for allies in radius. At CI the life regen is moot, but the 3-metre poison proliferation is the core clear mechanic — one killed poisoned enemy infects every nearby enemy, which chain-kills packs without additional strikes. Off-hand Essentia Sanguis Vaal Claw carries the leech: 2% attack damage leeched as life (routes to ES via Ghost Reaver), 1-736 lightning damage, 21% attack speed, +233 ES, and the line that keeps ES leech effects from being removed at full ES. That last mod is the sustain pillar — leech keeps running at full ES, so every hit refills the chunk that the next incoming damage chews through.
The 6-link body armour (Loath Ward Sadist Garb, evasion+ES hybrid) runs Viper Strike of the Mamba + Melee Physical Damage Support + Nightblade Support + Vile Toxins Support + Swift Affliction Support + Greater Ancestral Call Support. Greater Ancestral Call Support is the exceptional support hitting additional targets per strike — massively lifts clear speed on a slow-attack-rate build. Vile Toxins Support adds more damage per poison stack, which compounds with the build's stacking poisons on bosses.
Ascendancy at this tier is Opportunistic + Toxic Delivery + Mistwalker + Assassination Style — notably the Assassin ascendancy focuses on Toxic Delivery (which adds 20% chaos damage + 40% increased poison duration + 100% increased crit multi with poison) instead of Ambush or Assassinate. Mistwalker delivers ailment immunity and Elusive on crit. Tree notables: Fatal Toxins, Soul Thief, Mind Drinker, Master of Blades, Fangs of the Viper — the poison+claw rosary.
4.9k ES, EHP 28k, 92% spell suppression with 43% effect, 12% physical damage reduction, -22% chaos resist (moot under CI for chaos-hit damage but matters for chaos DoT). Ghost Dance's Ghost Shrouds absorb hits before ES is touched. Mistwalker provides ailment immunity — no chill, no freeze, no shock, no brittle or scorched, which removes a whole class of pack-clear anxiety. Essentia Sanguis's leech-doesn't-stop-at-full line means every hit refills ES. The thin spot is no spell suppression cap at this tier (92%, needs to climb to 100%) and negative chaos res. Pantheon is Brine King + Tukohama.
Melee dash-in, strike once, dash out, watch the chaos DoT pool melt the target. Whirling Blades in the weapon 1 slot handles movement. Cyclone of Tumult in the helmet is a fortification generator and hybrid movement skill. General's Cry + Autoexertion Support in the helmet runs free warcry uptime — the Mirage Warriors summoned by General's Cry re-execute Cyclone of Tumult on their own, effectively spamming fortification and target multiplication. Packs die to the poison proliferation chain: strike the first enemy, it dies poisoned, Bino's infects a 3-metre radius, the infected die poisoned, the chain rolls through the whole pack without additional strikes. Bosses take stacked poisons + the Opportunistic in-presence more-damage multiplier + Despair curse from the ring. The rotation is: dash in with Whirling Blades, strike 2-3 times, dash out, watch the DoT pool tick, dash to the next pack. Elusive uptime from Mistwalker means you're nearly always +40% attack/spell dodge-equivalent during combat.
Passive tree (127 points)
The desktop app shows this tier's full tree on an interactive canvas.
Endgame L85–94
- The L94 reference keeps the same core shell — Bino's Kitchen Knife + Essentia Sanguis claw pair, Whispers of Infinity + Shavronne's Revelation, Chaos Inoculation + Perfect Agony + Ghost Dance — and layers Mageblood on the belt plus Melding of the Flesh cobalt jewel. Melding of the Flesh is the signature endgame trick: -75% all elemental resistances, -4% all max elemental resistances, elemental resistances are capped by your highest max elemental resistance instead. With lightning res cap lifted via helm and chest +2% max lightning res prefixes, all three elemental resistances get dragged up to 90% cap, which the sheet reflects directly (90/90/90% fire/cold/lightning). Tree and ascendancy stay the same — Opportunistic, Toxic Delivery, Mistwalker, Assassination Style.
- Trade into Mageblood (if not already) — every endgame build runs it, flask uptime is the defensive pillar
- Pick up Brutal Restraint timeless jewel conquering a dexterity-adjacent cluster with Asenath seed — adds Maraketh node density with big life/attribute rolls
- Swap to Cruelty Support for single-target bosses and Damage on Full Life Support if you're running the clear spec with Elusive uptime providing the full-life trigger window
Viper Strike of the MambaGreater Ancestral CallMelee Physical DamageNightbladeVoid ManipulationDeadly AilmentsFull gear (34 items)
Bino's Kitchen Knife Weapon 1
- 30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
- Adds 154 to 235 Physical Damage
- 50% increased Critical Strike Chance
- +22% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- +18% to Chaos Resistance
- On Killing a Poisoned Enemy, Enemies within 3 metres are Poisoned, and you and
- Allies Regenerate 400 Life per second for the Poison's duration if within 3 metres
Essentia Sanguis Weapon 2
- Quality does not increase Physical Damage
- 1% increased Critical Strike Chance per 4% Quality
- 2% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life
- Adds 1 to 759 Lightning Damage
- 28% increased Attack Speed
- +293 to maximum Energy Shield
- Energy Shield Leech Effects from Attacks are not removed at Full Energy Shield
- Maximum Recovery per Energy Shield Leech is Doubled
- Ghost Reaver
Sol Blast Weapon 1 Swap
- 18% reduced Attribute Requirements
- Adds 33 to 65 Cold Damage
- Adds 30 to 507 Lightning Damage
- 26% increased Critical Strike Chance
- +8% to Quality of Socketed Gems (crafted)
Maloney's Mechanism Weapon 2 Swap
- Has 1 Socket
- Has 2 Sockets
- Trigger a Socketed Bow Skill when you Attack with a Bow, with a 1 second Cooldown
- 10% increased Attack Speed
- +54 to maximum Life
- 5% chance to Blind Enemies on Hit with Attacks
Corpse Star Helmet
- 7% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Chaos Damage
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- +60 to maximum Energy Shield
- +56 to Intelligence
- 136% increased Energy Shield
- 42% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- +20% to Fire and Lightning Resistances (crafted)
Dread Hide Body Armour
- 6% increased Explicit Defence Modifier magnitudes
- 6% increased Explicit Resistance Modifier magnitudes
- 11% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Chaos Damage
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- +280 to Evasion Rating
- +67 to maximum Energy Shield
- +19% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- 116% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
- +22 to maximum Energy Shield
- 48% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
- +30 to maximum Life
- +50% to Fire Resistance
Apocalypse Fist Gloves
- +8% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- Non-Vaal Strike Skills target 2 additional nearby Enemies
- +56 to Intelligence
- +479 to Accuracy Rating
- +36 to maximum Energy Shield
- 136% increased Energy Shield
- 15% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- +30 to Strength (crafted)
Miracle Slippers Boots
- Poisons you inflict deal Damage 5% faster
- 4% increased Action Speed
- +14% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- +43 to Intelligence
- 15% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
- +48% to Cold Resistance
- 30% increased Movement Speed
- 9% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- 70% increased Evasion and Energy Shield (crafted)
Whispers of Infinity Amulet
- Allocates Sione's Ambition
- 10% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
- 12 to 30 Added Attack Chaos Damage per 100 Maximum Mana
- +118 to maximum Energy Shield
- 44% reduced maximum Mana
- Skills Cost Energy Shield instead of Mana or Life
Damnation Coil Ring 1
- +30 to maximum Energy Shield
- Adds 8 to 13 Cold Damage to Attacks
- +13 to maximum Energy Shield
- +25 to maximum Mana
- +41% to Fire Resistance
- +1 to Minimum Endurance Charges
- Curse Enemies with Despair on Hit
- 3% chance to gain an Endurance Charge on Kill
Shavronne's Revelation Ring 2
- +24 to maximum Energy Shield
- +75 to Intelligence
- Right ring slot: You cannot Regenerate Mana
- Right ring slot: Regenerate 6.4% of Energy Shield per second
- Right ring slot: +354 to maximum Mana
- Left ring slot: You cannot Recharge or Regenerate Energy Shield
- Left ring slot: Regenerate 39.5 Mana per Second
- Left ring slot: +305 to maximum Energy Shield
Mageblood Belt
- +42 to Strength
- +42 to Dexterity
- +20% to Fire Resistance
- +16% 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
Soul Bliss Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to Cold Resistance
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Melding of the Flesh Jewel
- -75% to all Elemental Resistances
- -4% to all maximum Elemental Resistances
- Elemental Resistances are capped by your highest Maximum Elemental Resistance instead
Spirit Ruin Jewel
- +10 to Dexterity and Intelligence
- +15% to Critical Strike Multiplier with One Handed Melee Weapons
- 8% increased maximum Mana
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
Kraken Prism Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4% to Cold Resistance
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
Blight Solace Jewel
- +16 to Strength
- 5% increased Attack Speed while Dual Wielding
- 10% increased maximum Mana
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
Voices Jewel
- Adds 3 Jewel Socket Passive Skills
- Adds 5 Small Passive Skills which grant nothing
Rapture Ember Jewel
- You cannot be Cursed with Silence
- Corrupted Blood cannot be inflicted on you
- +3% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff
- 4% increased Attack Speed with Two Handed Melee Weapons
- +12% to Melee Critical Strike Multiplier
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
Voices Jewel
- Adds 3 Jewel Socket Passive Skills
- Adds 3 Small Passive Skills which grant nothing
Dragon Eye Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to all Elemental Resistances
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5% to Fire Resistance
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Watcher's Eye Jewel
- 4% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 4% increased maximum Life
- 6% increased maximum Mana
- 16% of Cold and Lightning Damage taken as Fire Damage while affected by Purity of Fire
- Gain 10% of Maximum Mana as Extra Maximum Energy Shield while affected by Clarity
- Unaffected by Poison while affected by Malevolence
Forbidden Flame Jewel
- Allocates Escape Artist if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh
Fulgent Stone Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to Fire Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: Regenerate 0.1% of Life per Second
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
Forbidden Flesh Jewel
- Allocates Escape Artist if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame
Brutal Restraint Jewel
- Denoted service of 6448 dekhara in the akhara of Asenath
- Passives in radius are Conquered by the Maraketh
- Historic
Spirit Ornament Jewel
- Adds 5 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Cold Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5 to Strength
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
The Light of Meaning Jewel
- Passive Skills in Radius also grant 3% increased Energy Shield
Chimeric Desire Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5 to Intelligence
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4 to Strength
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
- +60 to Maximum Charges
- 40% increased Charges per use
- Grants a random Divination Buff for 20 seconds when Used
- 31% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 15% of Damage Taken from Hits is Leeched as Life during Effect (crafted)
- 31% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 52% increased Critical Strike Chance during Effect
- 32% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 55% Chance to Avoid being Stunned during Effect
- 30% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 19% additional Elemental Resistances during Effect
All gem links (9 groups)
- Greater Ancestral Call 3/20
- Melee Physical Damage 21/20
- Nightblade 20/20
- Void Manipulation 20/20
- Deadly Ailments 20/20
- Viper Strike of the Mamba 20/20
- Desecrate 3/20
-
Vaal Grace L20 - Precision L21
-
Cast when Damage Taken L2
- Clarity L1
- General's Cry 10/20
- Autoexertion 10/20
- Withering Touch L3
-
Cyclone of Tumult 20/20
-
Brutality L20 - Whirling Blades 20/20
- Frostblink 20/13
- Faster Attacks 20/20
- Empower 2/20
- Purity of Elements 20/20
-
Flesh and Stone L20 - Discipline L21
- Enlighten L4
- Despair L1
How this stage plays (mechanics, defences)
The 6-link body armour now runs Viper Strike of the Mamba + Melee Physical Damage Support + Nightblade Support + Void Manipulation Support + Deadly Ailments Support + Greater Ancestral Call Support. Void Manipulation Support replaces Vile Toxins Support for more chaos damage (a cleaner scaler now that poison stacks cap out faster with Toxic Delivery's duration bonus), Deadly Ailments Support adds raw ailment damage at the cost of hit damage (fine — Viper Strike of the Mamba's hit is negligible compared to the poison DoT). 1.4M DPS sheet, 98.7% crit chance, 1.41 attacks/sec. Median DPS at this tier is 4.4M, so the reference is a defensive/mid-budget build — the stronger endgame crit-poison builds push harder on weapons and clusters.
Mageblood keeps four utility flasks permanently up: Wine of the Prophet (Gold Flask for rarity + random div buff), Dabbler's Topaz (15% leech as life during effect), Dabbler's Quartz (52% crit chance during effect), Dabbler's Bismuth (55% avoid stun) + Dabbler's Quicksilver (19% additional elemental resistances). That's permanent crit chance boost + permanent phasing + permanent stun avoidance + permanent res overcap. Whispers of Infinity adds 12 to 30 chaos damage per 100 max mana to attacks — with 1.3k mana, that's roughly +400 average chaos damage per hit, scaling poison further.
Corpse Star rare helm (Lich's Circlet) adds 7% phys taken as chaos (survivability via chaos-routing under CI), +2% max lightning res feeds Melding of the Flesh, and the 42% stun/block recovery stabilizes the build against stun-chain deaths. Damnation Coil ring curses with Despair on hit (-44% chaos res) and adds +1 min endurance charge. The second curse comes via Penance Mark from a socketed gem, converting the no-life CI build into a mark-based curse-delivery setup. Tree adds From the Shadows, Clever Thief, Dire Torment, and Whispers of Doom (extra curse limit) for the double-curse scaling.
8.4k ES, EHP 56k, 100% spell suppression with 43% effect (full cap), 1 endurance charge baseline lifted to 2 with Damnation Coil, Melding of the Flesh pulls all resists to 90%, chaos resist -32% (CI bypass, mostly moot). Ghost Dance layers Ghost Shrouds on top. Mistwalker keeps ailment immunity. Essentia Sanguis's permanent ES leech + Shavronne's Revelation's 6% ES regen/s from the right-ring slot gives ~530 ES/s sustained regeneration in addition to leech refill. Purity of Elements + Discipline + Flesh and Stone + Clarity reservation through Enlighten Support. Pantheon is Lunaris + Gruthkul.
Smoother than early mapping. Mageblood's permanent crit chance + permanent leech + permanent stun avoid means every attack windows into the next cleanly. Whirling Blades + Faster Attacks Support + Frostblink gives double movement options. General's Cry + Autoexertion Support + Cyclone + Withering Touch Support in the helmet auto-applies Wither via the Mirage Warriors — wither stacks add up to 15% increased chaos taken per stack, which the Mirage Warriors apply through Cyclone hits while you're busy striking the boss. Boss rotations are stutter-step: Whirling Blades in, 2-3 Viper Strike of the Mamba stacks, dash out, watch the chaos DoT + Wither + Despair + Opportunistic in-presence multiplier tick the boss down. Maloney's Mechanism weapon swap quiver triggers Penance Mark via attack on bow swap — the reference uses the swap for Raise Spiders + trigger setups rather than as a combat weapon.
Passive tree (134 points)
The desktop app shows this tier's full tree on an interactive canvas.
Aspirational L95–100
- The L100 reference tightens every slot but keeps the build identity. Bino's Kitchen Knife moves to off-hand, Essentia Sanguis is promoted to main hand for the 849 lightning damage roll (vs the endgame's 759), both Whispers of Infinity and Shavronne's Revelation stay. Helmet becomes a rare Lich's Circlet with a +2% max lightning res prefix (feeding Melding of the Flesh). Body is Woe Carapace carrying another +2% max lightning res prefix plus 17% suppress and 12% phys taken as chaos. Gloves are Foe Nails Warlock Gloves with +6% suppress, +52 int, 99% ES, +67 max mana and a target-one-extra-nearby-enemy prefix, plus an abyssal socket carrying Whispering Oculus Murderous Eye Jewel with maim immunity, corrupted blood immunity, +2-4 phys, +157 accuracy, and +25 max mana. Belt is Foulborn Mageblood (rightmost 4 utility flasks instead of leftmost — a corrupted implicit twist). The L100 keystone triangle is the same: Chaos Inoculation + Perfect Agony + Ghost Dance, with Forbidden Flame + Forbidden Flesh allocating Born in the Shadows for the defensive elusive borrow.
Viper Strike of the MambaGreater Ancestral CallNightbladeVoid Manipulation
Swift AfflictionMelee Physical Damage
Damage on Full LifeFull gear (33 items)
Essentia Sanguis Weapon 1
- Quality does not increase Physical Damage
- +0.1 metres to Weapon Range per 10% Quality
- 2% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life
- Adds 1 to 849 Lightning Damage
- 24% increased Attack Speed
- +283 to maximum Energy Shield
- Energy Shield Leech Effects from Attacks are not removed at Full Energy Shield
- Maximum Recovery per Energy Shield Leech is Doubled
- Ghost Reaver
Bino's Kitchen Knife Weapon 2
- 30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
- Adds 148 to 224 Physical Damage
- 49% increased Critical Strike Chance
- +19% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- +27% to Chaos Resistance
- On Killing a Poisoned Enemy, Enemies within 3 metres are Poisoned, and you and
- Allies Regenerate 400 Life per second for the Poison's duration if within 3 metres
Bramble Spell Weapon 1 Swap
- 19% increased Spell Damage
- 32% increased Spell Damage
- Adds 6 to 14 Physical Damage
- 6% increased Cast Speed
- 32% increased Spell Critical Strike Chance
- 23% chance to Ignite
Morbid Veil Helmet
- 7% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Chaos Damage
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- +55 to Intelligence
- +57 to maximum Energy Shield
- 135% increased Energy Shield
- +34% to Lightning Resistance
- 17% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- +25 to Strength and Dexterity (crafted)
Woe Carapace Body Armour
- 8% increased Explicit Defence Modifier magnitudes
- 12% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Chaos Damage
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- +17% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- +399 to Evasion Rating
- 161% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
- +83 to maximum Energy Shield
- +38% to Cold Resistance
- 18% increased Stun and Block Recovery
- +25 to Strength and Intelligence (crafted)
Foe Nails Gloves
- +6% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- Non-Vaal Strike Skills target 1 additional nearby Enemy
- Has 1 Abyssal Socket
- +52 to Intelligence
- +44 to maximum Energy Shield
- 99% increased Energy Shield
- +67 to maximum Mana
- +216 to Accuracy Rating (crafted)
Brood Spur Boots
- Poisons you inflict deal Damage 7% faster
- 4% increased Action Speed
- +14% chance to Suppress Spell Damage
- +69 to maximum Mana
- +47% to Fire Resistance
- +40% to Cold Resistance
- 30% increased Movement Speed
- 74% increased Evasion and Energy Shield (crafted)
Whispers of Infinity Amulet
- Allocates Sione's Ambition
- 15% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
- 12 to 32 Added Attack Chaos Damage per 100 Maximum Mana
- +88 to maximum Energy Shield
- 51% reduced maximum Mana
- Skills Cost Energy Shield instead of Mana or Life
The Hateful Accuser Ring 1
- 50% increased Elemental Ailment Duration on you
- 50% reduced Effect of Curses on you
- Grants level 20 Penance Mark
- 7% increased Cast Speed
- +42 to maximum Life
- +8% to Chaos Resistance
Shavronne's Revelation Ring 2
- Your Meteor Towers create Burning Ground for 3 seconds on Hit
- +15 to maximum Energy Shield
- +73 to Intelligence
- Right ring slot: You cannot Regenerate Mana
- Right ring slot: Regenerate 6% of Energy Shield per second
- Right ring slot: +300 to maximum Mana
- Left ring slot: You cannot Recharge or Regenerate Energy Shield
- Left ring slot: Regenerate 48 Mana per Second
- Left ring slot: +250 to maximum Energy Shield
Foulborn Mageblood Belt
- +42 to Strength
- +49 to Dexterity
- +22% to Fire Resistance
- +22% to Cold Resistance
- Magic Utility Flasks cannot be Used
- Magic Utility Flask Effects cannot be removed
- Rightmost 4 Magic Utility Flasks constantly apply their Flask Effects to you
Chimeric Bliss Jewel
- Adds 5 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +4% to Fire Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3 to Strength
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Forbidden Flame Jewel
- Allocates Born in the Shadows if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh
Blight Spark Jewel
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- 6% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 10% increased maximum Mana
- 18% increased Damage with Bleeding
Luminous Eye Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2 to All Attributes
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +2% to Fire Resistance
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Entropy Ornament Jewel
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- 6% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 10% increased maximum Mana
- 34% reduced Ignite Duration on you
Voices Jewel
- Adds 3 Jewel Socket Passive Skills
- Adds 5 Small Passive Skills which grant nothing
Oblivion Hope Jewel
- +2% to maximum Lightning Resistance
- +12% to Critical Strike Multiplier for Spell Damage
- 6% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 10% increased maximum Mana
Voices Jewel
- Adds 3 Jewel Socket Passive Skills
- Adds 3 Small Passive Skills which grant nothing
Foe Wound Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Chaos Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: Regenerate 0.1% of Life per Second
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Melding of the Flesh Jewel
- -72% to all Elemental Resistances
- -4% to all maximum Elemental Resistances
- Elemental Resistances are capped by your highest Maximum Elemental Resistance instead
Forbidden Flesh Jewel
- Allocates Born in the Shadows if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame
Rapture Eye Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +5 to Intelligence
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: Regenerate 0.15% of Life per Second
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
Watcher's Eye Jewel
- 4% increased maximum Energy Shield
- 5% increased maximum Life
- 5% increased maximum Mana
- 12% increased Energy Shield Recovery Rate while affected by Discipline
- Gain 10% of Maximum Mana as Extra Maximum Energy Shield while affected by Clarity
- Unaffected by Frostbite while affected by Purity of Ice
Rational Doctrine Jewel
- 3% increased Melee Damage
- 4% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
- +4 to maximum Energy Shield
- You have Consecrated Ground around you while stationary if Strength is your highest Attribute
- 25% chance to create Profane Ground on Critical Strike if Intelligence is your highest Attribute
- Effects of Consecrated Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds
- Effects of Profane Ground you create Linger for 4 seconds
Loath Glimmer Jewel
- Adds 4 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to Fire Resistance
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: 4% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
The Light of Meaning Jewel
- Passive Skills in Radius also grant 3% increased Energy Shield
Pandemonium Shine Jewel
- Adds 5 Passive Skills
- 1 Added Passive Skill is a Jewel Socket
- Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Chaos Damage over Time
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +3% to all Elemental Resistances
- Added Small Passive Skills also grant: 4% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Eldritch Inspiration
- 1 Added Passive Skill is Low Tolerance
- +60 to Maximum Charges
- 46% increased Charges per use
- Grants a random Divination Buff for 20 seconds when Used
- 30% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 59% reduced Effect of Curses on you during Effect
- 27% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 50% Chance to Avoid being Stunned during Effect (crafted)
- 31% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 20% additional Elemental Resistances during Effect
- 29% reduced Duration
- 25% increased effect
- 15% of Damage Taken from Hits is Leeched as Life during Effect (crafted)
All gem links (8 groups)
- Frostblink 20/20
- Clarity 1/20
- Precision 10/20
- Whirling Blades L20
- Faster Attacks 20/20
-
Ambush L20
- Enlighten 4/22
- Flesh and Stone L20
- Purity of Elements L21
- Discipline L21
- General's Cry 11/20
- Autoexertion 12/20
- Brutality L20
- Cyclone 20/20
- Withering Touch L1
- Greater Ancestral Call 4/23
- Viper Strike of the Mamba 20/20
- Nightblade 20/20
- Void Manipulation 20/11
- Swift Affliction 20/20
- Melee Physical Damage 20/20
- Damage on Full Life L1
- Despair 20/20
- Desecrate 20/20
-
Portal 1/20
- Penance Mark L20
How this stage plays (mechanics, defences)
6.9M DPS sheet, EHP 86k, 95% suppress, 9.2k median ES, and 90/90/90 fire/cold/lightning via Melding of the Flesh. The 6-link stays Viper Strike of the Mamba + Melee Physical Damage Support + Nightblade Support + Void Manipulation Support + Deadly Ailments Support + Greater Ancestral Call Support at the reference — but the 88% aspirational share for Nightblade, 95% for Melee Physical Damage, 88% for Swift Affliction, 79% for Greater Ancestral Call shows the meta 6-link is Viper Strike of the Mamba + Melee Physical Damage Support + Nightblade Support + Swift Affliction Support + Greater Ancestral Call Support + Void Manipulation Support. Nightblade Support scales Elusive's more-damage-while-Elusive component — with Mistwalker's crit-triggered Elusive uptime at near-permanent, Nightblade Support is effectively a permanent +40-50% more damage support.
Foulborn Mageblood keeps four utility flasks up: Wine of the Prophet + Dabbler's Silver (curse immunity) + Alchemist's Bismuth (stun avoid) + Dabbler's Quartz (phasing + damage leech) + Dabbler's Topaz (leech life). The 1.76 attacks/sec at 100% crit chance means every attack window applies two poisons (Spell Echo equivalent from Greater Ancestral Call on melee), each crit, each scaling through Perfect Agony + Void Manipulation + Nightblade + Mistwalker Elusive + Opportunistic in-presence. The Hateful Accuser ring grants Penance Mark level 20 — a mark-on-hit curse with Culling Strike on marked kills. Cluster jewels are Medium clusters with Eldritch Inspiration + Low Tolerance for flask charge recovery and res scaling. Voices Large cluster jewels (98% aspirational share) open the tree's socket economy for 3+ additional medium clusters.
Brutal Restraint timeless jewel conquers a Shadow-side radius for Maraketh seed passives. The Light of Meaning prismatic jewel adds +3% ES per passive in radius. Watcher's Eye carries the aura-multiplier stack (Fire/cold/lightning-taken-as-fire while affected by Purity of Fire, gain max mana as ES while affected by Clarity, unaffected by poison while affected by Malevolence). Ascendancy stays Opportunistic + Toxic Delivery + Mistwalker + Assassination Style.
EHP 87k median, 9.2k ES, 95% suppress at 43% effect, 90/90/90 max elemental resists via Melding of the Flesh, -12% chaos resist (CI bypass). Ghost Dance Ghost Shrouds + Essentia Sanguis's permanent leech + Shavronne's Revelation's 6% ES regen/s stack into a sustain pool that regenerates the whole ES bar in under 2 seconds of clean play. Mistwalker + Born in the Shadows borrowed via Forbidden Flame/Flesh means Elusive uptime is near-permanent and the Born in the Shadows less damage taken while Elusive line layers on top. Whispering Oculus abyss jewel solves the corrupted-blood-immunity gap (a common Viper Strike problem on breach/ultimatum content). Pantheon is Lunaris + Abberath for chain mitigation and burning-ground immunity.
The apex Viper Strike of the Mamba Assassin rotation: strike in, 2-3 poison stacks, dash out with Whirling Blades, watch chaos DoT + Wither + Despair + Penance Mark + Opportunistic in-presence tick the target to zero. Movement is Whirling Blades + Faster Attacks Support + Frostblink. General's Cry + Cyclone + Withering Touch Support applies Wither through Mirage Warriors without the player interrupting their Viper Strike rhythm. Foulborn Mageblood keeps flasks permanently up. Pack clear through Bino's Kitchen Knife's 3-metre poison proliferation + Greater Ancestral Call Support's target multiplication means a single swing kills 4+ enemies, which chain-propagate poison to the next 4+ via Bino's, and the pack disappears in under a second. Pinnacle bosses fall to permanent Elusive + Opportunistic + stacked poisons + double-curse (Penance Mark + Despair). Perfect Agony scales crit multi into DoT, so every tree crit-multi roll and every Dabbler's crit flask boost lifts the poison tick rate directly.
Passive tree (135 points)
The desktop app shows this tier's full tree on an interactive canvas.