[3.15] STD Magic Find as Caster (brands) | CI based | 10x Blue Balls |

Forum thread tree in spoiler, in case you wanted to view my service thread (stuff I do for hire), shop (some GG tier STD quantity rings), my collection of items, and my MF Caster based guide:


Hello Assassin players, this is my guide to make your builds gain a bit of MF as a self-caster in order to get better farming rates out of your generic mapping gameplay or thick target farming maps. Items presented are meant for Standard players, though a league section may possibly be added. This guide is meant for solo players who were looking into MF but did not want to do Ranger-based builds.



What is "MF"?

MF is a term from Diablo for "Magic Find" where the end game goal would be to equip as many modifiers to increase the likelihood to have a higher rarity tier from your original dropped item. This meant (in Diablo terms), if you were to have a 100% +MF on your character, you would directly have an added 10% chance for an item to drop as magical or higher (rare, set, or unique).

In Path of Exile, there is Quantity stacking and Rarity stacking, both of which do as their respective names do, drop more items or likely to drop more magic, rare, or unique items. In The Standard meta of solo play, it is best to have as much item quantity as you can get on your gear in order to directly drop more currency-based items or more equipment, with rarity being more chances for unique jewels or equipment. This is usually achieved by having legacy items containing the modifier(s) "#% increased Quantity of Items found" or "#% increased Rarity of Items found" (respectively). In group play or temporary league, it is normally preferred to have your quantity boosted via unique equipment and to stack as much rarity as possible in order to drop unique items more frequently.



Why would anyone play an Assassin-based MF build over Ranger?

Assassin is better than Ranger because:
Significantly more cost-effective than Rangers. What rangers invest into a good Windripper/Rare bow, Quiver of choice depending on build, and abyss jewels for lightning damage stacking, you could instead purchase a Badge of the Brotherhood (for my version) and save on some currency with Unique weaponry or some Rare shield for a max block variant.
Fewer calculations are needed during the map clear process. A thick MF Ranger could use Lightning Arrow/Tornado Shot with a plethora of pierces, chains, and forks. Since Assassins excel via stacking power charges, critical hits, and the ascendancies alone grant Elusive and Culling Strike, area-based spells can instead be used to save a lot of computing power for map clearing.
A Chaos Inoculation (CI) based build can let you be tankier than a high base life pool. With CI, you can essentially forget about poisons and caustic ground and tank a lot more against delirium monsters while speed clearing maps.
As a spellcaster, you can potentially utilize a higher maximum resistance. For the cost of three flask slots you can infinitely cast your spells (for a couple of seconds). This derives from the combination of using a Soul Catcher and Lavianga's Spirit. The legacy variant of Divination Distillate is also included as the third flask because upgrades include obtaining either a 4 or 6% to all maximum Elemental Resistances during Flask effect. With a resist cap of 79% or 81% and CI (and potentially max block), you are essentially immortal whilst farming 100% pure delirious T16 thick maps.

Assassin is worse than Ranger because:
The "Endgame Build" is currently undefined or more likely impossible to reach compared to Ranger-based MF. Since the Ranger meta is already established by others along with mirror-tier legacy rare items, finding a way to do an Assassin variant keeping as much quantity gear has been a struggle for me to think of. On top of that, as of the time of this writing I only really know of two other people doing this with me. For instance, all of my gear as of the nearing end of 3.13 Ritual is optimized to solo thick T10 pack size harvest-bugged maps with beyond, but I struggle to keep up the DPS pace with T15 burials. I think there is potential to make it clear thick T16s, but until then I would need to craft more gear.
Proximity Shield and Cannot die aura are the biggest problem to most self-cast builds. Usually projectiles that can fork or chain can get around this problem, but as self-cast, you would have to walk into the Proximity Shield or somehow find and kill the monster with the Other Allies Cannot Die tag.

Even with all of these differences in Shadow/Ranger, it is still required to have a good computer to be able to do thick maps. With the meta being harvest legacy maps (increased IIQ or Packsize) on top of your base map, item drops or raw pack size of monsters can crash your instance or game. Alternatively, meta-based maps are not needed to run on Magic Find-based builds but they definitely help out with profits compared to any regular map craftable in the league(s).



What skills could be used as an MF Assassin/Caster?
Any spell skill can work for MF. The only downside is that skills that do not originate from you will not receive the bonuses from your equipped gear. In other words, skills that summon minion, trap, mine, or totem do not benefit from your equipped gear mods, and will only benefit from Item Quantity Support or Item Rarity Support when linked to it.

Currently, Explode modifiers from passive cluster points, Crusader body mod, or Herald explosions via Ice/Ash will not benefit from a socketed Item Quantity or Item Rarity Support but will benefit from global modifiers from your worn equipment.



How do I transition my build into MF?
For Standard, all rare helmet, glove, belt, ring, and amulet items can be crafted with the legacy modifier "17-20% increased Quantity of Items found". Most of these items range at the item level of 75-77, with 78-80 being rare due to how unavailable they are. You can find a local player-owned forum shop to get your own copy and craft.
For League, most items will be replaced with uniques. The Shaper influence on amulet items can obtain "8-10% increased Quantity of Items found". Example uniques and amulet can be found in the spoiler below.
Spoiler

These are only examples. There are more items that modify Quantity that are not shown here.

Item Rarity is usually obtained as a luxury in order to drop more unique items. The Shaper influence on body armor can obtain the new Elevated modifier "Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Item Rarity, 19-25% increased Rarity of Items found from Slain Unique Enemies" and can provide a huge boost to unique drops.



Why is Chaos Inoculation (CI) the choice form of tank?
Simply put, you don't instantly die to the first chaos monster. Caustic ground and poison mean nothing to a CI build, resulting in lazier gameplay (such as strongboxes spreading caustic ground) or enemies poisoning on hit. CI is also close to the Shadow passive skill tree, so this is not a problem to take upon. CI could also be combined with other mechanics, such as maximum block and the Shaper/Crusader Shield modifier "Recover (3-5)% of Energy Shield when you Block."
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Last edited by SQUAKO on Sep 20, 2021, 10:31:53 AM
Last bumped on Sep 19, 2021, 12:59:20 AM
Penance Brand based Caster


Videos
Spoiler
Against T5 Port (stacked strongboxes PRE ATLAS PASSIVE TREE. I was not very experienced at the time so the drops were not as good) https://youtu.be/aCy5TpNn19w
Against Harvest-bugged T2 Tower maps. Increased packsize still exists in Standard from legacy fractured copies, though this map cannot be replicated anymore. https://youtu.be/n9jPyjU_DCg



Build fundamentals:
Spoiler
Essentially, Penance brand is a spell skill that, as a brand, will attach itself to an enemy. With each attachment some stacks are added to that enemy, and either they will pulsate with damage or explode with a burst of damage; both dealing AoE damage based on the attached target's location. The damage is based fully on physical damage with 50% converted into lightning damage.

So, because this is a physical spell skill, Penance Brand is able to utilize damage conversion stacking, similar to Blade Vortex, Divine Ire, Ethereal Knives, and other physical spell skills. I have chosen Penance Brand as the base build as this is a skill that has an area damage, and with certain passive points, can automatically target enemies, thus making gameplay almost as lazy as a bow-based MF build. Since bow-based builds will have arrows chaining/forking to clear the map, brands can do the same in a similar fashion without the help of Explode or herald explosions, thus ensuring Standard players can ensure they get the full quantity bonus from gear and the Item Quantity Support gem.

The plan for the damage conversion is to have 0% physical damage, some lightning damage, and converting as much damage possible into cold. This way, Penance Brand will have the benefit of shock, chill, and freeze. To ensure reliable aliment application the ascendency of choice will be Assassin for an extra power charge, and with more power charges this would mean a high chance for a critical hit to apply aliments.

With Power Charge stacking you are able to reach super high critical chance rates, varying from 80% to even 100% under the right conditions. Thus, damage can be amplified even further with increased critical multiplier, normally found on jewels (triple multi jewels with ES% is likely best in slot for DPS). Each explosion individually will have its own critical strike chance, and therefore reaching a high critical chance will boost burst damage more than elemental conversion.

As Penance Brand is under the Brand skill category, the theory is that you should be casting as many times as you can, as fast as you can. This way, with the right combination of duration, cast speed, and brand frequency you can always tag an enemy (possibly with two brands), instantly reaching 20 Energy, and causing mass pulsating burst explosions for maximum DPS. With passives from clusters this could be amplified to automatically attach to new enemies, increase range, brand frequency, or damage. As a result, the maximum brand limit should be kept as low as possible (preferred 2, but 3 is acceptable) with cluster jewel passives to help boost this (explained in the next block). Therefore, as a brand caster, Runebinder must be taken.

As a Brand caster, you should always have 3 passives for Remarkable, in order to have a guarantee to cast two brands at once. One cluster jewel should also contain Holy Conquest for reattachment to new enemies. Great quality of life passives to pair up with Remarkable can be Seeker Runes for the increased range and increased damage. Grand Design can be used as a way to get extra cast speed and duration, if needed. Because Penance Brand relies on mass casting of the skill, Chip Away is not needed (as it is for Brand Recall, but Penance Brand builds play just as fine without).

For the final Trump card, in order to remove corpse-lag without using some form of removal via gems, I believe the easiest method to corpse removal is through the passive skill Cremator, found on Large Cluster Jewels for Fire Damage. With Ignited Enemies are Destroyed on kill, the brand caster would just need a source of Fire damage found anywhere. I found that using an Abyss Jewel with some Added Fire Damage to Spells works just as fine, as with essentially guaranteed critical hits, the enemy WILL be ignited, and therefore removed from the map.



Items Required for build (and Passive Tree):
Spoiler
Jewels
Spoiler
Cluster Jewels
For Large Cluster Jewel, I will be using one Increased Cold Damage and one Increased Fire Damage.

I have chosen the Cold Damage cluster for Blast-Freeze, a good defensive layer in order to freeze packs of enemies. I will also be using Sadist, for the 60% Elemental Damage bonus, since a critical hit with all elements will guarantee chill, shock, and ignite. Widespread Destruction is my last choice in case I wanted to go with a large AoE for my penance bursting.


I have chosen the Fire Damage cluster for Cremator, as stated earlier. Sadist is also available on this cluster type, so this is another 60% increased elemental damage. Widespread destruction is also listed here once again as an option for a large AoE, but mainly so that I am able to reach Cremator.



Medium Cluster Jewels were discussed earlier, but here is a TL;DR for them.

As stated earlier, Remarkable is a must-own on all Medium Cluster Jewels, up to 100%. Holy Conquest is also needed on one of the jewels.


I have also stated that Seeker Runes could come in handy, I would pick those if the Energy gain on Penance Brand is fine.



Jewels
Although synthesised implicit jewels can be powerful for damage, I prefer to aim for stun avoidance on the jewel implicits. For corruption implicits I reccomend getting one with Corrupted Blood cannot be inflicted on you and You cannot be Cursed with Silence, with other immunities or elemental penetration as an optional choice.

In order to utilize Cremator (as there is no innate Fire damage on Penance Brand), a budget option can be to use Anomalous Penance Brand, as quality converts a percentage of physical damage into Fire damage. Alternatively, you can also use an abyss jewel with fire damage to spells, or a ring with added fire damage, or anoint for a passive point to convert physical to fire.


On a budget build, your rare jewels can be made of a bunch of jewels that give #% increased maximum Energy Shield and two resist mods, such as #% to all Elemental Resistances and a dual-resist mod. Luxury upgrades include triple/quad critical multiplier jewels. I have 5 spare jewel slots, but this is also with an equipment mod having 1 abyssal socket.


For Unique Jewels, I am using a Large Thread of Hope to obtain notable passives, Energy From Within for some more Energy Shield, and Transcendent Flesh for critical multiplier. Note on Standard there is the legacy Tempered Flesh which is outright better than the current Transcendent Flesh, assuming corruption implicits are not taken into account.



Watcher's Eye

The choice of Watcher's Eye mod can boost the capability of the build beyond the entire passive tree. Mods I would reccomend are in the spoiler below:
Spoiler

(25-40)% of Physical Damage Converted to Cold Damage while affected by Hatred

Adds (58-70) to (88-104) Cold Damage while affected by Hatred

+(1.2-1.8)% to Critical Strike Chance while affected by Hatred

Damage Penetrates (10-15)% Cold Resistance while affected by Hatred

(40-60)% increased Cold Damage while affected by Hatred

Gain Arcane Surge for 4 seconds when you create Consecrated Ground while affected by Zealotry

30% increased Maximum total Recovery per second from Energy Shield Leech while affected by Zealotry

Critical Strikes Penetrate (8-10)% of Enemy Elemental Resistances while affected by Zealotry

(100-120)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground while affected by Zealotry

Consecrated Ground you create while affected by Zealotry causes enemies to take (8-10)% increased Damage

(10-15)% increased Cast Speed while affected by Zealotry

+(20-30) Energy Shield gained for each Enemy Hit while affected by Discipline

Regenerate (1.5-2.5)% of Energy Shield per Second while affected by Discipline

(30-40)% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge while affected by Discipline

(10-15)% increased Energy Shield Recovery Rate while affected by Discipline

+(20-30)% to Critical Strike Multiplier while affected by Precision

(70-100)% increased Critical Strike Chance while affected by Wrath

(40-60)% increased Lightning Damage while affected by Wrath

(1-1.5)% of Lightning Damage is Leeched as Energy Shield while affected by Wrath

Gain (15-25)% of Physical Damage as Extra Lightning Damage while affected by Wrath

+(30-50)% to Critical Strike Multiplier while affected by Precision (note this is a legacy mod)

(20-30)% increased Energy Shield Recovery Rate while affected by Discipline (note this is a legacy mod)


Note that there is no real priority within which mod to pick, just having two or three of all mods listed feel powerful for a one-slot jewel. Wrath is a good alternative to Zealotry depending on your budget and mod of choice.



Passive Tree
Spoiler
Path of Building: https://pastebin.com/5BuSL5LB
NOTE! This pastebin link requires the extention Path of Building Community. Alternatively, the spoiler below contains two images of the Passive Tree.
Spoiler


https://i.imgur.com/NaY8tcp.png

https://i.imgur.com/PNvfSE6.png

The blackened border is to make the passive tree a little more obvious to the newer player.

How to build your Passive Tree:

•The must-have keystone passive skills are Chaos Innoculation and Runebinder, with Zealot's Oath as a bonus keystone passive skill when you feel you have enough regen to transfer to Energy Shield.

•In order to power charge stack, the notable passive skills, Overcharge, Instability, Infused, and Disciple of the Forbidden are allocated. From there, the left side of Sovereignty and Influence are allocated in order to reserve enough mana for our auras.

•From here, there are five Basic Jewel Sockets that will be allocated. These sockets will be filled with jewels to boost damage or give more defenses. The jewels of choice will be covered later throughout this list.

•Allocate for the two Large Jewel Sockets and put in your two Large Cluster Jewels. These can vary based on your preference, wether to copy mine, go full DPS-based, or to use Voices.

•Put in your Medium Cluster Jewels. In my build, I am using three, but feel free to use four.

•Allocate the four Small Jewel Sockets. It is up to your disgretion to use jewels for Critical Multiplier, or for added elemental damage to spells. Small Cluster Jewels for Energy from Naught are also applicable in these locations.

•From here, the fundamentals of the build have been allocated. Now, damage nodes and defenses can be built. I feel the most relevant damage nodes (in order) will be Divine Judgement, Assassination, Arcane Potency, Doom Cast, and Throatseeker.

•For the left-most Basic Jewel Socket, the Transcendent Flesh (or legacy Tempered Flesh) will be the best-in-slot DPS boost here, giving +56% Critical Multiplier.

•For the top-middle Basic Jewel Socket, a Thread of Hope (Large Ring) is the best-in-slot jewel for offences and defenses. In order of most relevant, Heart of Ice, Light Eater, Snowforged, Heart of Thunder, Lightning Walker, Utmost Intellect and Arcane Focus have been the chosen notable passive skills.

•For the Basic Jewel Socket near the starting tree, I have chosen to use Energy from Within and allocated for Melding. Alternatively, a different jewel can be used in its place and Small Cluster Jewels with Energy from Naught can be allocated instead, which may give more defenses based on your setup.

•All other Basic Jewel Sockets that are available should be filled up with Jewels that have triple Critical Multiplier mods along with increased Energy Shield, or quadruple Critical Multiplier mods for pure DPS. Alternatively, Abyss Jewels can be used in place, with numerous upgrades such as added elemental damage to spells, penetration, Critical Multiplier, etc.



Equipment
Spoiler
Each gear piece will go with varying levels of budget to a rare variant found only in Standard.

Weapon
Spoiler

Low budget: Void Battery is the ultimate budget weapon for any power charge stacker.
Medium budget: Look for a wand or sceptre with +Gem level, conversion, critical multiplier, etc. Normally, I would not reccomend to go for a medium budget weapon as if you plan to use Badge of the Brotherhood, the Void Battery will scale better as it gives two additional frenzy charges, granting more cast speed thus more burst dps with each cast.
High budget: Profane wands with cast speed and damage additives such will suffice, such as Golem Spire, Profane Wand. Alternatively, an elemental conversion stacker can work, such as Woe Grinder, Void Sceptre.


Helmet
Spoiler

Low budget: Any hat with resists, Energy Shield will work. Ideally, a dual-rarity helmet with crafted rarity will work just as fine.

Medium budget: In Standard, some people may be selling "bricked" or fractured helmets with Quantity. These can be cheap upgrades compared to a magic base or rare base. Alternatively, you can also purchase a fractured Quantity base and craft with an abyssal socket.

High budget: A Hubris Circlet with Quantity, +1 to Maximum Power Charges, and optionally +#% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier, or #% increased Elemental Damage.


Body Armor
Spoiler

Low budget: Vaal Regalia with the Shaper suffix Socketed Gems are Supported by Level # Item Rarity, (#)% increased Rarity of Items found from Slain Unique Enemies. Vaal Regalia is used because it will help boost Energy Shield. If you do not plan to use the Maven's Orb, I reccomend awakening T1 rarity with Redeemer's "10% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Hit". This body armor was originally made in Delirum League, and thus had no purpose but for the Maven's Orb.

Medium budget: Shaper body armor with +1 to Level of Socketed Active Skill Gems, You and your Minions take 100% reduced Reflected Elemental Damage, and Socketed Gems are Supported by Level # Item Rarity, (#)% increased Rarity of Items found from Slain Unique Enemies. This can be relatively easy to craft using a Prime resonator with Faceted, Metallic, Pristine, and Shuddering.

High budget: Medium budget body armor but with a prefix for T1 increased energy shield, elevated +1 Active Skill Gems for +10% Quality, Elevated Rarity, Elevated Spell Critical Strike Chance. During fossilcraft, you could also gain +Socketed Intellgience Gems for more levels to Penance Brand, or to strength for higher quantity from the support gem.


Gloves
Spoiler

Low budget: Sadima's Touch with a curse corruption will boost damage. Alternatively, critical strike chance corruption can be used.

Medium budget: In Standard, some people may be selling "bricked" or fractured gloves with Quantity; these can be cheap upgrades compared to Sadima's. Alternatively, you can also purchase a fractured Quantity base and craft with an abyssal socket.

High budget: Rare Sorcerer Gloves with Quantity, along with Wardlord influence for Culling Strike, and #%Increased Spell Damage. Aisling reveal for #% increased Global Critical Strike Chance, #% increased Elemental Damage if you've dealt a Critical Strike Recently.


Boots
Spoiler

Low budget: Goldwyrm, preferrably with the attack/cast speed enchant or penetrate enchant, depending on Penance Brand energy rate. Optionally, a corruption for gem levels can be used to increase auras.

Medium budget: In Standard, some people may be selling "bricked" or fractured boots with Quantity; these can be cheap upgrades compared to Goldwyrms. Alternatively, you can also purchase a fractured Quantity base and craft with an abyssal socket.

High budget: If you have an Abyssal Socket located somewhere else, you can find Rare Sorcerer Boots with Quantity, along with Hunter influence You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently.


Amulet
Spoiler


Low budget: Badge of the Brotherhood is simply the best DPS boost amulet compared to Rare amulets. Frenzy charges will be matched with Power charges, therefore giving more cast speed to spam cast Penance Brand.
Medium budget: Rare Amulet with the Shaper Influence #% increased Quantity of Items found can be used. Optional to awakener orb with Crusader modifiers, such as #% increased Damage per Power Charge or Zealotry has (20-25)% reduced Reservation
High budget: I've had ideas of something along the lines of the imgur link. To my knowledge, no amulet like the one from that image exists.


Belt
Spoiler

No other belt that isn't a Headhunter can do what it does better.


Flasks
Spoiler

Soul Catcher and Divination Distillate are a must-own in order to make the playstyle feel smooth when casting Penance Brand. Lavianga's Spirit will help with the smoothness of casting when Divination Distillate does not have enough flask charges. A legacy Cinderswallow will help with defenses. Atziri's Promise or Bottled Faith are huge DPS boosts, and both may be better than the other depending on your build. Atziri's Promise will give a huge amount of Chaos Damage, while Bottled Faith will give you near/full 100% Critical Strike Chance, guaranteeing critical ailments. Either are a good option, or even replacing Cinderswallow, if you feel your spell leech can keep you at full Energy Shield.



Gems
Spoiler



MF Skill: Item Quantity Support - Penance Brand - Anomalous Swiftbrand Support - Anomalous Inpsiration Support - Power Charge On Critical Support - Anomalous Ice Bite Support
With Item Quantity Support, Penance Brand will essentially be a 5-Link that grants 43% increased quantity.


Big Auras: Enlighten Support (Level 4) - Discipline - Hatred - Anomalous Zealotry
With the reservation from the allocated passive tree and anointed amulet, these thre auras can be comfortably reserved. Alternatively, three passive skill points can be saved if four jewels are corrupted for 1% Reduced Reservation of Skills implicit.


Support Auras: Enlighten Support (Level 4) - Vaal Clarity - Divergent Precision (Level 1) - Divergent Vaal Righteous Fire
A level 1 Precision can be activated alongside the Big Auras. Vaal Clarity and Vaal Righteous Fire are used for their Vaal Skills to boost consistency in casting and damage respectively.


Hextouch Setup: Anomalous Hydrosphere - Awakened Hextouch Support - Elemental Weakness
Hydrosphere will give us some extra damage with the brand and can apply Elemental Weakness.


Travel Setup: Anomalous Flame Dash - Anomalous Second Wind Support - Divergent Frost Bomb


CWDT Defenses: Anomalous Cast When Damage Taken Support - Anomalous Steelskin - Increased Duration Support
This is for a lazy Steelskin cast. Immortal Call may also be used here, depending on your preference.
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Last edited by SQUAKO on Sep 20, 2021, 10:33:08 AM
WINTER ORB SELF CAST SOON???

Spoiler
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Last edited by SQUAKO on Sep 19, 2021, 12:02:51 AM
Reserved #2

Spoiler
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Last edited by SQUAKO on Mar 30, 2021, 4:18:50 AM
First >.>
18 September 2021: Penance Brand based Caster fully updated and published
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