Hello All,

The fruits of my borderline obsessive labors this league have finally paid off, and I am ready to showcase what is probably the most powerful, well rounded build I've played since I started in Breach. I've always wanted to play a genuinely strong self cast character, but this exceeded all expectations.

First off, a huge shout out to u/WootenSims for his guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/PathOfExileBuilds/comments/hobr8u/hailstormer_assassin_bladefall_and_blade_blast/

Anyone who wishes to learn the base mechanics behind the build should watch his video/read his guide. While browsing for a second build to play this league, I happened across this and saw huge potential for a SSF harvest crafted alternative (ironically I've dropped 2 Void Batteries after crafting my wand, the RNG gods like to toy with me). After some tinkering on the tree, many many hours of grinding and crafting, and no small amount of luck, I have reached the end of my optimization. Only thing left is rerolls to all T1 and vaals/double corrupts that I don't want to risk just yet. The only thing I'm missing is a goddamn Bottled Faith. It's my unicorn, the end of the rainbow, forever out of reach.

Gameplay Montage: https://youtu.be/yJxWAV10PFA

• A8 Conquerors

• A8 Sirus (bastard juked me hard 2nd phase, he teleported behind his giant clone then teleported again before I could fully lay the hammer on him. Thought I phased him until he trapped me, and then he juked me AGAIN after his ball phase)

• Shaper (almost) 100% HP

• Uber Elder

• Uber Atziri + Trio

• Cortex

• Simulacrum Wave 20 - Double Boss (Kosis)

• T16 HOGM

• Depth 529 Kurgal

T17 Mega Juiced 100% Delirium Burial: https://youtu.be/wKOFJgnazg0 (warning: very Laggy at times)

• Double Beyond

• 7 Breaches, 7 Strongboxes, 13 Harbingers, 2 Legions

• Elder+Constrictor

• Alva

• Full Garden

• No Headhunter

• 14 Reward Stacks

• One completely avoidable death. Let my guard down after a Legion, thought I was clear and didn't heal with flask immediately. Flasks were down (Ele Weakness curse) and I missed both spell blocks (2 hits). Elusive was down so the first larger hit could've been a crit. Hard to say for certain. Even white Delirium mobs pack a punch.

Survivability Montage: https://youtu.be/NZ9fg5_pq0M

• Got curious after hitting 100 and decided to push the limits of the build. Was not disappointed, though I almost accidentally dashed out of Shaper Slam out of habit. Had to force myself to stand still haha

Current POB: https://pastebin.com/R9k1RMVj

Current Profile: https://poe.ninja/challengessf/builds/char/ValonKarrde/UlfricVonFerrum?i=6&search=skill%3DBlade-Blast

Harvest Crafting Guide: https://pastebin.com/bwn4uYcC

Vaal RF + Max Intensify Stacks + Adrenaline from Banner = 1,455,690 Avg Damage per Blast hit

Current Defensive Layers:

• 7k+ life

• 75/72 Block with Glancing Blows and Rumi's, 5% Life Gain on Block

• Up to 19/24 Dodge with Temple boots and max Elusive

• Flesh and Stone in Sand Stance for Blind + reduced dmg from far enemies (Legion archers)

• Crit Immunity + Reduced Damage taken while Elusive

• 3 Endurance Charges, instant Enduring Cry w/ low cooldown (duration of buff is over 50% uptime)

• CWDT Immortal Call plus the above gives huge consistent mitigation

• Divine Flesh w/ 85% Chaos Res

• Freeze/Chill immunity possible through Boots + Brine King Pantheon + "10% reduced Chill Effect" jewel implicits (currently at 80% reduced effect)

• Very mobile build with high MS, Dash and Phasing on Kill

• High recovery through two LGoH rings and a shitload of hits per second, plus Consecrated Ground, as demonstrated in the Survivability montage

  • Can do Reduced Recovery maps but not "Cannot Regen" without a mana flask, even with Mana Gain on Hit. Like you can do it, but if you miss a cast or dash/warcry too many times before a pack, that's a portal. I don't hate myself THAT much

• Absurd single target DPS renders many boss mechanics irrelevant

I am currently at 38/40 Challenges, only missing 3 Winged Scarabs and Harbinger Upgrades (oh god I'm so sick of Beachheads). I do plan on hitting 40 before league end, but if RNG decides it is not to be, so be it.

My next goal after hitting 40/40 is to delve as deep as I possibly can to really test the limits of the build. I would've loved to find an Aul and showcase it, but this will take time.

Thanks for reading and watching. Stay safe out there.

EDIT: Cortex Simulacrum is not a thing