[Build Of The Week submission] "Thornheir: – The Maelstrom Shepherd *Live Update 3*

INTRODUCTION

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Welcome fellow path of exile community and GGG!! This is my first ever guide I hope you all enjoy it.

This guide showcases **The Maelstrom Shepherd**, a Tornado-centric Druid that weaponizes persistent tornados as its primary damage engine.

The build is a Diablo 2 LOD Druid inspired build.

Rather than using Tornado as a secondary proc or visual effect, this build is designed around **stacking multiple active Tornados (5+)**, scaling their **physical damage over time**, and using elemental ailments purely as **fuel for trigger systems**.

The result is a highly mobile, mechanically layered Druid that excels at clearing dense maps through controlled chaos, storm overlap, and continuous battlefield pressure.

The build is still in progress and I will be looking at making updates and changes every night.


VIDEO
TBA.


OVERVIEW

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Pros:

+ Tornado used as a primary damage engine
+ Capable of sustaining 5+ simultaneous Tornados
+ Excellent clear in dense / juiced maps
+ Strong visual clarity and theme
+ Scales well with investment and trigger optimization

Cons:

- Mechanically complex (not beginner friendly)
- Requires Spirit investment on gear


SKILL TREE

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Class: Druid

https://poe.ninja/poe2/profile/itaMcChicken-5426/character/Thornheir

Ascendancy Points:
• Using Shaman for spirit and Apocalypse

SKILL TREE EXPLANATION

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The passive tree prioritizes:

• Physical Damage
• Damage over Time
• Area of Effect
• Skill Effect Duration
• Swap Between Human and Wolf
• Aliments

Elemental damage is intentionally secondary. Tornado’s physical DoT scales independently, while elemental ailments are leveraged to **enable triggers**, not to serve as primary damage sources.

Wildsurge Incantation dramatically boosts damage density and cost efficiency, while duration penalties are countered through passives and supports.


JEWELS

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Look for jewels with:
• Physical Damage
• Freeze / Chill build-up


GEAR

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Weapon
Staff focused on:
• +Spell / Physical scaling
• +5 All Spell Level or +7 Physical Skill Level

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Secondary
Tailsman for:
• High Crit Hit Chance
• High Attack Speed

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Helm
TBA.

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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. One of the most important Spirit slots.

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Rings
TBA.

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Belt
TBA.


LINKS AND GEMS

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Main DPS Setup – 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.

Trigger Setup – 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 Setup – Cast on Critical

Cast on Critical
• Tornado
• Energy Retention
• Boundless Energy II
• Efficiency II

Adds supplemental Tornados during combat without manual casting.

Mobility Setup

Pounce
• Opening Move
• Fist of War

Charged Mark / Shocking Leap used for repositioning and engagement.

Utility & Defense

Barkskin
• Prolonged Duration II

Wolf Pack
• Blind
• Pinpoint Critical

Currently Working On

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• Testing wand + shield
• Stacking ES/EVA over armour
• Testing Orcale

THE END

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Thank you for reading! This build is still being refined and updated. Feedback and discussion are welcome.