[3.27] Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice CoC Occultist

Imperial Skean (best base for CoC) with the following mods (in order of priority):
- (crafted prefix) Hits can't be evaded OR empty prefix
- #% increased Attack Speed (local)
- #% increased Critical Strike Chance (local)
- #% increased Spell/Chaos Damage
- #% increased Spell Critical Strike Chance
- +#% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier

Crafted mod is necessary as this build does not stack any Accuracy Rating. It's relatively cheap (3 ex). You can search for compatible weapons using COUNT = 1 condition with this mod and "# empty prefix" = 1 in the same group (that is, search for items that have this mod already crafted or have at least 1 empty prefix).

Don't be fooled by weapons with +1 to all Chaos skills mod. FRoSS scales primarily with ES, not levels. This mod provides marginal benefit.

Harvest enchants:
- Attack Speed (recommended)
- Weapon Range - much better than AoE enchant but you need Quality on Cyclone for it to work (upgrades Cyclone radius from 19 to 21)

Aegis Aurora is the backbone of this build. It is THE item that grants its survivability. Note that you need to have some armour (20-50k) for it to work.

When buying, focus on the ES/Armour roll as well as Base Defence Percentile roll (or use Sacred Orb later). Elemental damage roll doesn't matter.

Best corrupt: +4-5% Block.

There is also Foulborn Aegis Aurora with "Damage cannot be Reflected" which can be treated as reservation upgrade (frees Void Manipulation link on Tempest Shield).

Another option is to use rare ES Shield with Shaper or Crusader suffix mod "Recover (3–5)% of Energy Shield when you Block" although in such case you lose a ton of Armour and max Cold Resistance (this one can be reobtained as +(1-2)% on Base Jewels). IMO not really an upgrade.

There are no special requirements here. Focus on obtaining as high ES as possible as the body piece is additionally scaled by Armour and Energy Shield Mastery.

For suffix mods focus on resists and attributes.

Exarch/Eater influence is preferred over Shaper/Elder/Conqueror.

Because the build requires 4G2B (3G3B is also possible but suboptimal in late game), it is recommended to first craft colors using the Crafting Bench (force 3G, then apply 4/3 sockets until 4G is hit, then apply 6 sockets, then link with Bench or manually). If you already have it linked, force 3G throuh bench and hope it hits additional green socket randomly.

Best Enchant (Tailoring Orb): 6%/8% increased Explicit Defence Modifier magnitudes.
If 8%, best penalty mod is no red sockets. 200% increased Attribute Requirements is too much (879 int on Twilight Regalia).
Note: the orb can break links and sockets.
Note: undesirable enchants can be removed on Crafting Bench.

Exarch implicit mod:
- +(20–31)% to Critical Strike Multiplier for Spell Damage (recommended)
- (15–30)% increased Chaos Damage
- Flesh and Stone has (15–32)% increased Area of Effect
- Tempest Shield has (15–32)% increased Buff Effect
- (9–20)% increased effect of Non-Curse Auras from your Skills
- Flasks applied to you have (6–17)% increased Effect
- +(1-2)% to all maximum Resistances (2% on T5)
- +(1-3)% to maximum Fire/Cold/Lightning/Chaos Resistance (3% on T5)
- Gain an Endurance Charge every (15-10) seconds (requires duration from Charge Mastery)

Eater implicit mod:
- (10-12)% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Chaos damage (12% on T5) (recommended)
- (5-10)% Chance to Block Attack/Spell Damage
- (6–17)% increased maximum Energy Shield
- Zealotry/Determination/Discipline/Purity of <Element> has (19–36)% increased Aura Effect

Expensive late game mods:
- (suffix from Essence of Loathing): (9–10)% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills
- (Redeemer suffix) 10% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Hit
- (Crusader suffix) 15% chance to gain a Power Charge on Critical Strike
- (Shaper suffix) +(1.1–1.5)% to Spell Critical Strike Chance
- (Hunter suffix) +(1.1–1.5)% to Spell Critical Strike Chance

Expensive Grasping Mail mods (requires Recombination):
- 50% increased Global Defences
- Armour is increased by Overcapped Fire Resistance
- Critical Strike Chance is increased by Overcapped Lightning Resistance

Crown of the Inward Eye
- gives huge amount of ES (it has both local and global mods)
- gives huge damage increase thanks to Transfiguration of Soul
- has Armour to satisfy Armour and ES Mastery

Best corrupt: +1 max Power Charge

There are alternatives for specific build variants:
- Dark Monarch (Golems)
- Rare ES helmet with +1 max Power Charge Warlord prefix (Bound by Destiny)
- Eber's Unification (-20% Chaos Resist debuff)

When not using Crown, change annointment to Tranquility.

Use Hybrid ES/Armour base for Mastery.

Mods to search for:
prefix: ES, attack speed
suffix: resists, attributes

Like with Body, Exarch/Eater influence is preferred (unless you go Bound by Destiny).

Exarch mods:
- (15-40)% chance to Unnerve Enemies for 4 seconds on Hit (recommended)
- (8-13)% increased Attack Speed (use when lacking Attack Speed prefix)
- +(1-2)% to maximum Cold Resistance (2% on T5) (when using Melding of the Flesh AND not using (Mageblood OR Aurora))

Eater mods:
- (6–17)% increased Effect of your Marks (recommended)
- Withered you Inflict expires (10–24)% slower
- (3-4)% increased Damage per 100 Intelligence (4% on T5) (only when stacking int)

Early
Exarch/Eater rare with ES, movement speed and resists. Should be Hybrid ES/Armour base for Mastery.

Exarch:
- (5-10)% increased Movement Speed (recommended)
- (4-6)% increased Action Speed (6% on T5) (recommended if you lack Attack Speed)
- +(13–24)% to Fire/Cold/Lightning Resistance
- (33–50)% chance to Avoid being Shocked (only if not using any of: Charge Mastery (Shock), Tempest Shield, Mageblood)

Eater:
- (33–50)% increased Armour from Equipped Helmet and Gloves (recommended)
- (5-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate (useful only if you lack levels on Awakened CoC)
- (15–32)% chance to Avoid Elemental Ailments

Late (after Mageblood)
Double-influence:
- prefix: ES and Movement Speed
- Shaper/Crusader Elevated suffix: Cooldown recovery (necessary for 3rd CoC threshold, min 18% roll)
- Hunter suffix: "You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently"

The build-enabling unique: Whispers of Infinity (drops from Uber Incarnation of Dread). Only ES roll matters.

Best corrupt: plenty of options, see https://poedb.tw/us/Amulets#VaalOrbCorruptedImplicit

Annoint:
- Force of Darkness (when using Crown of the Inward Eye)
- Tranquility (otherwise)

Prefix:
- +#ES (bench/natural) or %ES (Crusader)
- +# Evasion (for Evasion and ES Mastery, highly recommended)
- #% Damage (bench)

Suffix:
- resists
- attributes
- #% Global Crit Multi (Essence of Scorn/Elder/Warlord)

Best bases:
- Two-Stone (Fire/Lightning - avoid Cold due to Purity of Ice)
- +1 max Power Charge (Synthesis)
- Heist Bases for stronger suffixes

Optional Uniques:
- Kalandra's Touch (to duplicate very good rare)
- Double-Foulborn Le Heup of All (#% Global Defences instead of #% Damage and #% Crit Multi instead of #% IIR) (good and cheap alternative)

Early
- base: Stygian Vise, Crystal Belt
- prefix: ES, Armour
- suffix: strength, resists

Late
- Mageblood
- Foulborn Mageblood (practically equivalent)

Headhunter is not an option because the randomness of its buffs will destabilize CoC triggers.

In most cases, attributes roll will be more important than resists.

Corrupt (if you really fancy vaaling MB):
- #% to Critical Strike Multiplier during any Flask Effect
- #% increased Intelligence

Large - Early
2x 8-passive Large with Chaos damage, with 3 notables from:
- (prefix) Unwaveringly Evil (30% increased Chaos Damage)
- (prefix) Touch of Cruelty (10% Hinder Chance, Hindered enemies take 10% increased Damage)
- (prefix) Wicked Pall (30% increased Chaos Damage)
- (suffix) Unholy Grace (30% increased Chaos Damage, 10% increased Attack and Cast Speed)
- (suffix) Unspeakable Gifts (10% chance to Explode as 25% Chaos)

Allocate all notables. Unholy Grace can be used or avoided depending on CoC timing setup.


Large - Late
2x 12-passive Large with Chaos damage, with:
- (prefix, ilvl 84) Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect (mandatory)
- (prefix) Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +(10–12) to Maximum Energy Shield (mandatory)
- (suffix) Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +(2–8) to Intelligence
- (suffix) Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +(2-4) to All Attributes
- (suffix) Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +(2–7)% to Fire/Cold/Lightning Resistance
- (suffix) Added Small Passive Skills also grant: +(2-4)% to all Elemental Resistances

Try to get 35% mod effect + highest tier of flat ES + any beneficial suffix. If you got +10 or +11 ES it is worth divining because at 12, increased mod effect grants additional point (11 * 1.35 => 14, 12 * 1.35 => 16).

Allocate as many points as you can. With both prefixes and at least 1 good suffix, these are one of the most efficient points spent in the entire build.

Optional clusters
0-2x 4/5-passive Medium with Critical Strike Chance, with 2 notables from:
- (prefix) Pressure Points (5% chance to deal Double Damage, 30% increased Crit Chance)
- (prefix) Basics of Pain (20% increased Damage, 30% increased Crit Chance)
- (prefix) Precise Retaliation (60% increased Crit Chance if not blocked recently, +30% Crit Multi if blocked recently)
- (prefix) Quick Getaway (5% Attack and Cast Speed, 25% increased Crit Chance, 5% Movement Speed)
- (prefix) Skullbreaker (+15% Crit Multi)

0-2x 4/5-passive Medium with Projectile Damage, with 2 notables from:
- (prefix) Shrieking Bolts (35% Projectile Damage)
- (prefix) Eye to Eye (60% Projectile Damage)
- (prefix) Repeater (30% Projectile Damage, 8% Attack and Cast Speed)

0-1x 2-passive Small with Armour with notable Enduring Composure (gain Endurance Charge each second if hit recently).
If you use this one then also allocate Charge duration in Charge Mastery.

Best corrupt on any jewel: Corrupted Blood can not be inflicted on you.


Militant Faith (Dominus) (mandatory)
Place it near Instability (Witch's Power Charge). Before buying, check in PoB that it does not break Instability Notable.
Ideal bonuses (you will have 65 Devotion):
- +2% to all Elemental Resistances per 10 Devotion
- 1% increased effect of Non-Curse Auras per 10 Devotion

Forbidden Flesh/Flame (optional)
There is only 1 strong passive: Liege of the Primordial (usually very expensive). See Golem-based variant description.
Alternatively, for some experimental builds, any of desirable Occulist's Notables to reallocate 2 Ascendancy Points to new Bloodline Ascendancy.


Watcher's Eye (optional)
Nothing is particularly strong in this build. I never felt the need to buy ES gain on hit (perhaps due to instant Leech Leech Mastery). I would recommend not to buy it except when upgrading from Glancing Blows to real Block, having both Block mods.

Useful mods:
- +(600-1000) to Armour while affected by Determination
- +(5-8)% Chance to Block Attack Damage while affected by Determination
- (5-8)% additional Physical Damage Reduction while affected by Determination
- +(5-8)% Chance to Block Spell Damage while affected by Discipline
- (best defence mod) Gain (20-30) Energy Shield per Enemy Hit while affected by Discipline
- Regenerate (1.50-2.50)% of Energy Shield per Second while affected by Discipline
- (10-15)% increased Attack Speed while affected by Precision
- +(20-30)% to Critical Strike Multiplier while affected by Precision
- (with Melding of the Flesh) (6-10)% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage while affected by Purity of Ice
- Consecrated Ground you create while affected by Zealotry causes enemies to take (8-10)% increased Damage
- (100-120)% increased Critical Strike Chance against Enemies on Consecrated Ground while affected by Zealotry

Rational Doctrine (optional)
Useful when combined with Bottled Faith and/or Zealotry and/or Curse investment.

Balance of Terror (optional)
Only if going for 2 curses. Take 2 mods from:
- Inflict Withered for 2 seconds on Hit if you've cast Despair in the past 10 seconds
- Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes if you've cast Enfeeble in the past 10 seconds
- +(30-40)% to Critical Strike Multiplier if you've cast Enfeeble in the past 10 seconds
- (20-25)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate if you've cast Temporal Chains in the past 10 seconds

Sublime Vision (optional)
Discipline variant (+1 max Power Charge).
Usually played on Ralakesh's Impatience variant.
Note: you can still use non-Aura buffs like Tempest Shield and Arctic Armour (this one doesn't work well with Cyclone though). Flesh and Stone unfotunately has an Aura tag.

Thread of Hope (Large Radius) (optional)
Saves 4 points to reach Glancing Blows at the cost of resistances and Jewel socket.
Additionally offers Light of Divinity and Sovereignty and 1 small reservation passive.

Unntural Instinct (optional)
Generally not useful but I saw some people placing it near Scion Start (Skittering Runes or True Strike) and then combining it with nearby The Light of Meaning (their radiuses overlap).

The Light of Meaning (optional)
One of:
- 6% increased Chaos Damage
- 3% increased Energy Shield
Put it near Overcharge. This Jewel is effective only when allocating Glancing Blows manually.


Impossible Escape (optional)
Good for:
- capping Block
- allocating Notables when using Elegant Hubris (Supreme Ostentation variant)

Typical spots:
- MoM (for Elegant Hubris)
- Blood Magic (3 points: +20% Attack Block, +3% max Attack Block)
- Glancing Blows (3 points: +7%/7% Blocks, +6% all Resist)
- Glancing Blows (5 points: +10%/10% Blocks, +6% all Resist)
- Runebinder (2 points: +14% Spell Block)
- Runebinder (3 points: +16% Spell Block, +8% all Resist)
- Runebinder (4 points: +20% Spell Block, +8% all Resist)
- Runebinder (5 points: +23% Spell Block, +8% all Resist)


Replica Reckless Defence (optional)
Efficient Block Capping. Non-replica is good too but has a much worse downside (enemy crit instead of ailments, which is a free mod on Mageblood).

Split Personality (optional)
+5 int, +5 ES. Put on the left side of the tree, near Resolute Technique (26-30 distance, depending on Large Cluster used). IMO not worth it - this build does not stack attributes.

Grand Spectrum (optional, 3 or none)
There is no other useful combo than:
- +3 minimum Endurance Charges
- +3 minimum Frenzy Charges
- 75% increased Critical Strike Chance
Typically very expensive and because there is no efficient third Spectrum, I do not recommend it.

Megalomaniac (not recommended)
Medium Cluster Jewels are usually just better: -1 Notable but +1 Jewel socket. Could be useful if you are playing Golem and/or Curse variant and want to stack specific Notables that are not obtainable together on the same base.

Notables


Rare Cobalt Jewel (optional, any amount)
prefixes:
- (14–16)% increased Spell Damage while holding a Shield
- (9–13)% increased Chaos Damage
- (4–6)% increased Attack Speed while holding a Shield
- (6–8)% increased maximum Energy Shield (best prefix)
- +(2–3)% Chance to Block Attack Damage while holding a Shield
- +(2–3)% Chance to Block Spell Damage while holding a Shield
- (2–3)% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills (usually not needed)
suffixes:
- (10–12)% increased Projectile Damage
- (10–12)% increased Spell Damage
- (8–10)% increased Damage
- (10–12)% increased Area Damage
- (3–5)% increased Attack Speed
- (2–4)% increased Attack and Cast Speed
- +(12-16) to <1 attribute>
- +(8-10) to <2 attributes>
- +(6-8) to all Attributes
- +(9–12)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- +(12–15)% to Critical Strike Multiplier for Spell Damage
- +(12-15)% to <1 resist>
- +(10-12)% to <2 resists>
- +(8–10)% to all Elemental Resistances


Rare Abyss Jewel (optional, any amount)
prefixes:
- +(181–250) to Armour
- +(36–40) to maximum Energy Shield
- (2-3)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate (only if going for 3rd CoC threshold)
suffixes:
- +(12-16) to <1 Attribute>
- +(8-10) to <2 Attributes>
- +(6–8) to all Attributes
- +(12–15)% to <1 Resistance>
- +(10–12)% to <2 Resistances>
- +(8–10)% to all Elemental Resistances
- (8–12)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance (weak mod)
- +(9–12)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- Adds (14–16) to (18–22) Chaos Damage to Spells (weak mod)
- (15–20)% increased Damage if you've Killed Recently
- +(8–14)% to Critical Strike Multiplier if you've Killed Recently
- (6–8)% increased Attack Speed if you've dealt a Critical Strike Recently


Stormshroud (after Mageblood)
Completely removes ailment problems (thanks to MB-boosted Flask suffix). Allows to change Pantheon from Brine King to Lunaris or Solaris.


Melding of the Flesh (after Mageblood)
Significantly increases effective health against elemental damage. Though it can be used before Mageblood, its penalty is so severe that it makes no sense to use it earlier.
Focus on perfect max resist roll. Will fit ideally (-4% + 9% from Flask + 4% Purity of Ice + 1% Aura effect + 5% Aurora => +15%).
Required Aura effect is easily obtainable - just allocate Sovereignty and Influence.

Before Mageblood
No strong opinions here - pick what you like.

I used the following:
- Basalt
- Granite
- Diamond
- Quicksilver
- Bottled Faith

All magic preferably with "charge on crit" prefix.
All magic with "used when charges reach full" enchant.
Any unique with "used when hitting a rare or unique enemy" enchant.


After Mageblood
4 of the following flask bases (mod effect counted in):
- Sapphire: +97% to Cold Resistance +9% to maximum Cold resistance
- Diamond: 195% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
- Silver: Onslaught (granting 39% increased Attack, Cast and Movement Speed)
- Basalt: 39% more Armour
- Granite: +2925 to Armour
- Quicksilver: 78% increased Movement Speed

Recommended:
- Sapphire (necessary if going Melding of the Flesh + Aegis Aurora)
- Silver (necessary if going 3rd CoC threshold, otherwise take Basalt/Granite)
- Quicksilver (not necessary but very desirable in practice)
- Diamond (more offence) or Basalt/Granite (more defence, check in PoB which grants more Armour)

4 of the following flask suffixes (mod effect counted in):
- of the Rainbow: +39% to all Elemental Resistances during Effect
- of Bog Moss: 107% chance to Avoid being Shocked
- of Incision: 107% increased Critical Strike Chance
- of the Armadillo: 117% increased Armour
- of the Curlew/Kakapo/Owl: 126% reduced Effect of Curses on you during Effect
- of the Iguana: Immunity to Bleeding and Corrupted Blood
- of the Cheetah: 27% increased Movement Speed

Recommended:
- of the Rainbow (if going Melding of the Flesh)
- of Bog Moss (if going Stormshroud) (min 52% roll to achieve 100% with mod effect)
- of the Curlew/Kakapo/Owl (min 52% roll to achieve 100% with mod effect)
- of the Armadillo
- of Incision (only if not using Diamond base)

Note: it is much better to use Diamond base + Armour suffix than Granite/Basalt base + Crit suffix.

1 of the following Unique:
- Bottled Faith (all rolls matter) (synergy with Rational Doctrine)
- Dying Sun (synergy with ES on hit Watcher's Eye)

IMO the skill doesn't matter (except Jolt, which I dislike due to increased damage taken penalty).

Best mods (can have only 1 of these on each Graft):
- (3–16)% increased maximum Energy Shield
- +(9–18)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- (5–55)% increased Spell Damage

- Cyclone OR Cyclone of Tumult (as you like)
- (Awakened) Cast on Crit
- Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice
- Greater Volley
- Power Charge on Critical
- (Awakened) Void Manipulation OR (in early game) Increased Critical Strikes/Damage

Cyclone is by far the best skill for triggering CoC:
- has built-in mobility
- has built-in huge attack speed multiplier
- low mana cost (not relevant for this build)
- hits multiple targets

Cyclone has constant attack rate. Cyclone of Tumult brings back old Ramping stages mechanic and can reach better rate than normal Cyclone but is not as stable and sacrifices a lot of triggers on targets with short damage windows.

Lancing Steel of Spraying can be used in place of Cyclone. Instead of a huge attack speed multiplier, it relies on a large number of projectiles. Viable alternative with different playstyle.

Greater Volley has identical behavior to Greater Multiple Projectiles - in both cases projectiles have homing behavior (gem overrides) but Greater Volley has lower damage penalty.

Awakened GMP grants +5 projectiles but wiki says "The projectiles appear to have an expanding ring-based hit distribution, and it is recommended not to get more than +4 additional projectiles from various sources due to the tendency for projectiles to miss on smaller single targets.".

PCoC is necessary because Forbidden Power will not grant Power Charges (no mana is spent).

In the early stages of the build Void Manipulation can be replaced with Increased Critical Strikes or Increased Critical Damage. They offer almost as good damage increase and simplify body colors from 4G2B to 3G3B.

Setup 1
- Frostblink of Wintry Blast (keep on level 1 to avoid reflect)
- Faster Casting

Setup 2
- Shield Charge
- Faster Attacks
- Momentum

Setup 3
- Mageblood
- Silver Flask
- Quicksilver Flask
- just run (will also occasionally trigger Withering Step)

Note: Flame Dash is not an option because it shares its cooldown with Withering Step.

None of the setups contain Zealotry because I think it has too small benefit (I use Bottled Faith) while Determination is pretty much mandatory to reach sensible amount of Armour (or for Watcher's Eye). Maybe on Mageblood you could drop Determination if you invested into some Armour on the tree.

Setup 1 - early/low budget
Passives: Sovereignty, Influence (+36% total)
Helmet: Discipline, Determination, Tempest Shield, Flesh and Stone (135% total)
Gloves/Weapon: (optional) Precision

Setup 2 - endgame
Passives: Sovereignty, Influence, Runegraft of Treachery (+51% total)
Helmet: Discipline, Determination, Flesh and Stone (110% total)
Gloves/Weapon: Tempest Shield + Void Manipulation (32.5%), Precision

Setup 3 - Mageblood
Passives: Sovereignty, Influence, Runegraft of Treachery (+51% total)
Helmet: Discipline, Determination, Purity of Ice, Enlighten 3 (120% reduced to 110.4%)
Gloves/Weapon: Tempest Shield + Void Manipulation (32.5%), Precision
Note: quality on Purity skills grants additional resistances