Poe 3.13 was released on January 15th. This new league brings a large number of new players to the path of exile. The first thing these players enter the game is to create a suitable initial build.
The 3.13 patch notes initially spelled doom for both Trickster and ED Contagion builds but when one goes in and digs a little bit deeper, you can only admit that everything they did was just perfectly fine.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional map clear
- Functions on very cheap/accessible gear
- Does very potent DPS on bosses while being durable
- Ridiculous single target & clear on relatively limited gear
- solid at pushing clear-speed on league starts
Cons
- 2-Button build – you need to spam both to clear maps
- Some multimodal pieces can be a tad annoying to acquire
Gem Links
1. Essence Drain – Main Link (6-Link)
Essence Drain’s base damage scales fairly hard with gem levels! Try to pick up a 21/20 as soon as possible. For the Awakened Controlled Destruction, it’s a QoL big upgrade as it adds Cast Speed.
- Essence Drain (ideally level 21)
- Awakened Controlled Destruction Support
- Efficacy Support
- Awakened Swift Affliction Support
- Awakened Void Manipulation Support
- Empower Support (4)
2. Vaal Blight
Vaal Blight is your single target skill whenever the enemy is already affected by an Essence Drain DoT. Use regular Blight when you find intervals to stand next to the boss and channel it. Use Vaal Blight in AoE scenarios, as it is good at clearing packs.
- Vaal Blight
- Infused Channelling Support
- Efficacy Support
- Awakened Swift Affliction Support
3. Contagion
Contagion is what spreads your ED DoT when you’re running through maps. Since it doesn’t matter how much damage it deals whatsoever, you’re linking it to utility supports!
- Contagion
- Arcane Surge Support (8)
- Awakened Increased Area of Effect Support (4)
- Intensify Support
4. Wither Totems
Since Wither increases the amount of damage taken by your ED DoT tremendously, you’re going to put down Wither Totems on any target that’s giving you any type of challenge!
- Wither
- Spell Totem Support
- Multiple Totems Support
- Faster Casting Support
5. Mobility
For the mobility spell of choice, we chose Flame Dash, as I feel like it’s the most mobile of the movement skills at our disposal.
- Flame Dash
- Arcane Surge Support (6)
- Faster Casting Support
6. Auras
The Auras you’re using on this build are Malevolence for damage and Flesh and Stone for the sick blind aura you get from it. Malevolence is there to boost your Damage over Time.
- Malevolence
- Flesh and Stone
- Despair
