0.4 [Build of the Week Submission] "Thornheir: – The Maelstrom Shepherd *Oracle Live Update 3*
 INTRODUCTION Welcome, fellow Exiles and GGG! This is my first ever build guide, and I hope you enjoy reading and playing it as much as I enjoyed creating it. This guide showcases my Druid Thornheir, the Maelstrom Shepherd — a Tornado-centric Druid that weaponizes persistent storms as its primary damage engine, layering physical damage over powerful elemental ground ailments. The build is heavily inspired by the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Druid, reimagined through Path of Exile 2’s systems with a modern trigger-based twist. There are two distinct versions of the build featured in this guide: Shaman Ascendancy Oracle Ascendancy While both versions share the same Tornado core, they play very differently. The Shaman version excels at mapping, utilizing multiple active Tornados, strong area coverage, and light shapeshifting to maintain speed and flow. With enough investment, the shapeshifting elements can be minimized or removed entirely for a more traditional caster playstyle. The Oracle version focuses on powerful trigger interactions and burst damage, making it exceptional for bossing. It trades some clear speed for explosive damage potential and consistency, allowing it to “nuke” high-priority targets with ease. This guide will continue to evolve as I test, refine, and push both versions further into endgame content. Shaman Version
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 This Shows my Shaman Version, which is great for mapping but not end game boss viable. I would start here before swapping to Orcale. In this version I used armour stacking but if can invest more or craft energy shield would be more viable. OVERVIEW Pros: + Tornado used as a primary damage engine + Capable of sustaining 5+ simultaneous Tornados + Excellent clearing maps + Strong visual clarity and theme + Scales well with investment and trigger optimization + Off-Meta Build + End Game Mapping viable Cons: - Mechanically complex (not beginner friendly) - Requires Spirit investment on gear - Not ENDGAME boss viable - Crafting cost a lot VIDEO & LINKS ▶ Thornheir: Druid – Full Build Guide & Mechanics Breakdown ▶ Thornheir: Druid – Final D2 Inspired Build Guide & Mechanics Breakdown ▶ Thornheir: Druid – T6 Mapping Showcase ▶ Thornheir: Druid – T13 Mapping Showcase ▶ Thornheir: Druid – T15 Mapping Showcase ▶ Thornheir: Druid – POE2 Ninja ▶ Thornheir: Druid – Path of Building Link SKILL TREE Class: Druid Ascendancy Points: • Using Shaman for spirit and Apocalypse SKILL TREE EXPLANATION The passive tree prioritizes: • Elemental Damage • Elemental Exposure • Physical Damage • Area of Effect • Skill Effect Duration • Swap Between Human and Wolf • Ailments Elemental damage is primary. Tornado’s physical DoT scales independently, while elemental ailments are used to boost and enhance elemental DoT damage when ground ailments are present. JEWELS Look for jewels with: • Physical Damage • Freeze / Chill build-up • Prism of Belief Jewel (3+ Tornado) MY JEWELS
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  GEAR Weapon Staff focused on: • +Spell / Physical scaling • +5 All Spell Level or +7 Physical Skill Level
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 Secondary Talisman focused on: • 5% Crit Hit Chance (Spiny Base preferred) • High Attack Speed • Minimum total physical DPS
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 Helm • High armour base
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 Chest • High Spirit is a priority • Defensive stats secondary
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 Gloves • Attack speed • Utility • Ailment support
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 Boots • Movement speed • Resistances
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 Amulet • Spirit • Damage scaling
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 Rings • High resistance • Life
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   Belt • Darkness Enthroned • Headhunter
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 LINKS AND GEMS
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Main DPS – Tornado Tornado • Catalysing Elements • Advancing Storm • Prolonged Duration II • Considered Casting • Overabundance II Tornado is the core damage engine. Supports enable stacking, infusion, and duration control. • Swap Overabundance II for Physical Mastery when bossing. Current Damage  Trigger – Cast on Elemental Ailment Cast on Elemental Ailment • Tornado • Elemental Weakness • Burning Inscription • Boundless Energy II Ailment frequency fuels consistent trigger uptime and additional Tornados. Trigger – Cast on Critical Cast on Critical • Tornado • Energy Retention • Boundless Energy II • Efficiency II Adds supplemental Tornados without manual casting. Starter / Ailment Setup Pounce • Opening Move • Fist of War • Charged Mark • Shocking Leap Lunar Assault • Rapid Attacks II • Magnified Area II • Frost Nexus • Pinpoint Critical Lunar Assault exists primarily to apply ailments and trigger effects. Utility & Defense Barkskin • Prolonged Duration II Wolf Pack • Blind • Pinpoint Critical Possible Upgrades and Notes • Testing wand + shield • Stacking ES/Evasion over armour • Tempolaris Armour for Blink Orcale Version
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 This Shows my Orcale version, which is great for bossing but a little slow on mapping. This is more of an end game build and can be made two different ways depending on time and investment. OVERVIEW Pros: + Tornado used as a primary damage engine + Excellent at nuking bosses + Strong visual clarity and theme + Scales well with investment and trigger optimization + Off-Meta Build + End Game viable Cons: - Slow mapper - 1/2 Tornados Max - Requires Spirit investment on gear - Mana Hungry VIDEO & LINKS ▶ Thornheir: Druid – Full Build Guide & Mechanics Breakdown ▶ Thornheir: Druid – T15 Mapping Showcase ▶ Thornheir: Druid – POE2 Ninja ▶ Thornheir: Druid – Path of Building Link SKILL TREE Class: Druid Ascendancy Points: • Using Orcale for secrete passive tree nodes SKILL TREE EXPLANATION The passive tree prioritizes: • Skill Effect Duration • Elemental Damage • Elemental Exposure • Physical Damage • Area of Effect • Ailments Elemental damage is primary. Tornado’s physical DoT scales independently, while elemental ailments are used to boost and enhance elemental DoT damage when ground ailments are present. JEWELS Look for jewels with: • Spell Damage • Energy Shield • Prism of Belief Jewel (3+ Tornado) MY JEWELS
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    GEAR Weapon Staff focused on: • +Spell / Physical scaling • +8 Physical Skill Level
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 Secondary Staff focused on: • +7 All spell levels • High Cast Speed (min 40%) • Mana
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 Helm • Vertex for +3 all spell skills (this allows us to get level 40 tornado and no gem requirements which I will explain in my video guide)
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 Chest • High Spirit is a priority • High Energy Shield (min 800) • Dual or Triple Resi (min 30% each)
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 Gloves If you are unable to sustain MANA look for rare gloves • Physical damage leech mana • Energy shield • Resistance If able to sustain swap to Doedre's
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 Boots • Movement speed • Resistances • Energy shield
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 Amulet • Spirit • Damage scaling
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 Rings • High resistance • Cast speed • Damage on energy shield
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  Belt • Shavronne's from energy shield regen with life pots
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 LINKS AND GEMS
Show Gem Setups
Main DPS – Tornado Tornado • Swift Affliction II • Considered Casting • Prolonged Duration II • Catalysing Elements • Dialla's Desire Current Damage; Level 40 Tornado  Trigger – Cast on Elemental Ailment or Cast on Critical Cast on Critical • Comet • Pinpoint Critical • Energy Retention • Boundless Energy II • Efficiency II Starter / Ailment Setup Companion: Quadrilla; Trail of Lightning and Lightning Storms • Shock Conduction II • Persistent Ground III • Encroaching Ground • Brutus' Brain Elemental Weakness • Burning Inscription • Spell Cascade • Doedre's Undoing • Focused Curse • Efficiency II Frost Bomb • Overabundance I • Spell Cascade • Short Fuse II • Harmonic Remnants II • Frost Nexus If frost bomb doesnt apply chilling ground affect use; Ice Nova • Freeze • Frost Nexus • Astral Projection • Zarokh's Refrain • Rapid Casting II Utility & Defense Elemental Conflux • Prolonged Duration II • Fire Mastery • Mysticism II Convalescence • Oisín's Oath • Second Wind II Possible Upgrades and Notes • Testing wand + shield • STR stacking ( will explain more in video) Final Notes Thank you for reading and all your support, feedback and question. Together we will make this build great :D  Last edited by itaMcChicken#5426 on Jan 7, 2026, 10:16:14 AM Last bumped on Jan 7, 2026, 10:17:36 AM
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cool, might never play it.
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I like tornado and i think this build can easily be endgame viable. I'm a bit confused on the direction though.
1. From what i've heard, stacking tornadoes does not increase damage. not sure if this is a bug or if its because of the nature of Tornado doing DoT damage, but extra limit basically won't increase its DPS. 2. Is Catalysing Elements with its 1 second cooldown and limited damage numbers actually doing that much DPS? 3. Your tornado should probably have a bit more damage supports as its main DPS right? |
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" Hello ^_^ thank you for your questions and feedback; also happy holidays :) 1. Yes this is true, as tornado is Dot based it only affects 1 monster at a time, stacking 3+ allows me to clear maps faster to spread the damage across multiple targets. It is also a visual thing as having fun spamming tornados on the screen. 2. Good question, to be honest I haven’t tested it without the support gem so I am unable to provide you with an answer. But I will test tonight and let you know the outcome. 3. This is why I currently swap in Physical Mastery into my main Tornado skill for bossing + the damage from Apocalypse nukes bosses fast. I have T13 mapping video up for 6mod Map, breach, Abyssal, Expedition and double boss which you can see above to show you the damage. I have also made a few changes over the past few days and haven’t updated my current gear and gem set up, I will be doing a new build guide covering all the changes this weekend. |
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Hmm... Is it just a personal choice to use this "clunky" way to produce Frozen ground with the Werewolf to fit the Druid theme or I'm missing something ? I mean Frost Bomb + Astral Projection Ice Nova seems to be the most obvious choice to make it as it's a Spell that would scale more naturally into the build, you can make it from a safe distance and you can make it without needed to actually freeze something. Frost bomb also lower enemies elemental resistance making you deal more damage.
Again, if it just for the flavor, don't mind me but I was just curious if I was actually missing something here. Last edited by Djirane#4170 on Dec 22, 2025, 9:48:05 PM
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" Hello ^_^ thank you for your question and feedback; also happy holidays :) You are correct, which is why the build is still in progress. At the moment I am wanting to replicate the windy Druid as the build is Diablo 2 inspired, I am currently only using my set up to count for this. I am testing the waters to see how far I can take it with using this set up with armour and shapeshifting. Once I have reached end game I will be switching to energy based build and will use other skills like frost bomb to trigger chilling ground, but as this wouldn’t be a mechanic you would see in Diablo 2 I haven’t done it yet. But having said that, the more endgame version will also be more likely with oracle ascendancy. But once I get Temporalis to finish my inspired Diablo 2 version I will be switching the build to a more viable version. This is just a base layer which is why I’m open to any and all feedback to enhance the build to make it end game viable, frost bomb is something I have taken into account in my path of building set up along with some other skills to apply shocking ground so I can free up my boots. |
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One easy way to apply Shocked ground is with the Invoker Ascendancy (25% on Shocking enemies to created Shocked Ground). With Thunderstorm (Lightning Damage + Drenched Debuff) supported by Shock Conductivity II (Damage always Shock Drenched enemies) you are guaranteed to shock enemies even without investing anything into shock or Thunderstorm damage.
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" Thank you and happy holidays. I will keep this in mind when I test out other classes 🙏 |
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