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A Solid Build For Minion Enthusiasts In Path Of Exile 3.24 Necropolis League - Lightning Summon Skeletons

Mar 27, 2024

If you have an affinity for minion-based builds and seek a reliable option in Path of Exile 3.24 Necropolis, consider opting for the Lightning Summon Skeletons build.

This particular build is viable on both the Necromancer class in Softcore or the Champion class in Hardcore. It promises to offer a sturdy minion-centric approach, particularly suited for players comfortable with a more engaged playstyle.

If you're interested in pursuing and refining this build, ensure you have an ample supply of POE Currency at your disposal.

A Solid Build For Minion Enthusiasts In Path Of Exile 3.24 Necropolis League - Lightning Summon Skeletons

Mechanics & Playstyle

The Lightning Summon Skeletons build boasts formidable damage output, enhanced movement speed, impactful Vaal skills for burst damage, and the potential for solid resilience.

At the heart of the Lightning Summon Skeletons build lies the unique one-handed sword known as The Iron Mass, obtainable from Grand Heists. Equipping The Iron Mass in your main hand grants all Warrior skeletons wielding it the ability to deal triple damage for 4 seconds after you've recently struck with your weapon.

During mapping, maintaining the triple damage buff is typically achieved through the use of Whirling Blades or Leap Slam. While Leap Slam offers superior overall mobility, its triple damage uptime tends to be lower compared to Whirling Blades. The choice between them largely boils down to personal preference.

For single-target encounters and boss fights, Smite becomes the primary skill. It not only triggers the triple damage buff for 4 seconds but also bestows a substantial lightning damage aura upon minions. Moreover, when paired with Avatar of Fire, Smite triggers Elemental Equilibrium's 25% lightning exposure. Admittedly, the playstyle of consistently maintaining the triple damage buff may not suit every player, but it proves rewarding with proficient execution.

As is customary, most of the flat lightning damage originates from Wrath, Smite, and Generosity gems socketed within March of the Legion, all of which are then tripled by The Iron Mass. Ghastly Jewels serve as another excellent source of flat lightning damage.

In Softcore, playing as a Necromancer allows for a crit-based approach. However, in Hardcore, especially when playing as a Champion, investing in crit can be challenging due to limited passive points, thus generally leading towards a non-crit setup.

Path of Exile The Iron Mass

Skeleton Minions

Skeletons present an intriguing mechanic: despite their aggressive nature, they exhibit a tendency to dash towards foes, aiding significantly in map traversal due to their moderate speed compared to other minions.

Regrettably, the sole practical means of enhancing their aggression in this setup is through the Feeding Frenzy Support, which proves beneficial for mapping endeavors if damage isn't a concern. A Summon Skeleton gem at 20/20 grants a maximum of 8 minions and summons 3 with each cast, increasing to 4 at level 21.

When utilizing Vaal Summon Skeletons, opting for level 5 Awakened Minion Damage typically serves as the most straightforward route to achieving gem level 21. Additionally, there are two sources of extra skeletons available on the passive tree, offering a considerable boost to damage output.

Unlike the majority of minions, skeleton damage isn't affected by increases in gem level, as they directly utilize and inherit the stats of The Iron Mass sword. Nonetheless, higher gem levels do provide a slight improvement in accuracy.

Offensive Vaal Skills

The build boasts several impressive offensive Vaal skills.

Vaal Summon Skeletons stands out by conjuring a vast array of diverse skeleton types, proving surprisingly effective for single-target burst damage. 

Vaal Haste grants substantial boosts to attack speed, cast speed, and movement speed for both you and your minions. 

Meanwhile, Vaal Smite bestows a notable portion of flat lightning damage upon your minions.

There's considerable flexibility in selecting these skills. Typically, opting for any two out of these three Vaal skills is advisable, as relying on all three can strain Vaal Souls reserves. It's recommended to utilize them together when facing resilient rare enemies, Essences, or formidable map bosses.

Path of Exile Vaal Smite

Tactical Approaches For Mapping

When mapping, summon skeletons amidst a cluster of monsters, then either leap slam into the group or whirl through them with blades before continuing onward.

Dealing with rare enemies involves casting skeletons twice and following up with a strike from Smite. It's essential to uphold the Wrath Aura granted by Divine Blessing consistently.

When facing map bosses or Essences, initiate by applying curses and your offering, then utilize Smite before activating all offensive Vaal skills to swiftly dispatch them.

Boss Battle Strategies

During boss encounters, frequently apply Smite to the boss while ensuring the maximum number of skeletons are engaged. If employing a crit-based strategy, maintain the Fresh Meat buff by summoning skeletons at least twice every 4 seconds.

Continuously manage Divine Blessing, Wrath, and Arcanist Brand alongside any curses and offerings. Save your powerful skills for opportune moments to maximize damage output.

Methods For Successful Leveling

Regarding the leveling process, utilizing skeletons might not be optimal until you acquire the necessary unique items, but it remains achievable.

For Necromancers, popular options for leveling include Detonate Dead or the Blink Arrow technique with Bombarding, commonly referred to as Bama, provided you obtain the gem. 

As for Champions, transitioning from Slayer Bone Shatter to a Champion respec later is likely the most effective option. Additionally, Explosive Arrow or Toxic Rain Champion builds can serve as viable alternatives for leveling.

Essential Items & Gems

Essential items include The Iron Mass, March of the Legion, and Blessed Rebirth. Blessed Rebirth ensures a guaranteed 4 seconds of uptime per cast, allowing for the neglect of minion defenses if support minions aren't utilized.

Path of Exile March of the Legion

In Softcore Necromancer crit runs, consider employing the Ancient Skull Helmet for a significant damage boost. For Champions, The Devouring Diadem proves invaluable for addressing mana issues and enabling Divine Blessing.

Due to the reliance on several unique items, managing suppression can be challenging in certain setups unless utilizing a rare chest. Ensure to invest in the Lucky Suppression Mastery if not already capped. Ailment immunity can typically be resolved by utilizing Stormshroud in conjunction with a high-roll shock avoidance abyss jewel housed within Darkness Enthroned.

During mapping, utilize Melee Splash, swapping it out for Multistrike when facing bosses. Experiment with Feeding Frenzy Support for mapping to gauge the effectiveness of skeleton dash. For crit builds, always incorporate Fresh Meat Support and ensure a minimum of 40 seconds of Summon Skeleton duration.

Ascendancy Flexibility: Necromancer VS Champion

When it comes to ascendancy choices, this build is viable for both Necromancer and Champion.

Necromancer presents an easier option for league starters with fewer gear requirements. Additionally, Necromancer allows for the inclusion of specters or animate Guardian, though socket availability may be limited.

On the other hand, Champion offers increased durability and is better suited for hardcore play, although it poses greater challenges for league starters. It's advisable to refrain from using support minions with the Champion ascendancy. An alternative endgame setup, such as The Adorned, may be considered, albeit it often comes with a substantial cost. 

Initially, I designed this build around chaos damage, utilizing Severed in Sleep in the offhand for enhanced reliability with wither and crit. However, upon transitioning to a lightning setup, I found it to be significantly more effective and never looked back.

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