Post-Campaign Updated XBow+Bow Lightning Witchhunter (Galvanic/Rod/Shockburst/Stormcaller)
video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJVpub7XQag
original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile2builds/comments/1h9c9z0/lightning_witchhunter_crossbowbow/
I've made it to maps, and figured out the basic cores of the build. Cruel took about 6 hours since arriving to it in my last post. I am currently running maps with ~1400 life ~50 all res and a3 weapons, still pretty smooth.
TLDR build concept: use lightning bow skills to support lightning crossbow skills for solid clear and insane boss dps.
Skill list:
Clear setup (supports listed in order of importance):
Shoot Lightning Rod (Coursing Current - Lightning Pen) at packs.
Shoot Galvanic Shards (Martial Tempo - Lightning Infusion - Innervate) at rods and packs.
Galvanic Shards trigger Lightning Rods, both doing damage, stun, and shock.
Shocked kills activate Herald of Thunder (Magnified Effect - Vitality), buffing Galvanic Shards further.
Shocks build energy for Cast on Shock to trigger Voltaic Mark and Orb of Storms.
Voltaic Mark adds more clear, shock chance, and single target dps for rare packs.
Orb of Storm procs from Galvanic Shards, and "double dips" on proccing rods.
Flashbang as needed for cc. It heavy stuns packs almost instantly, great for escaping surrounded situations.
This mostly ends up being a two button build similar to OoS Lightning Conduit in poe1, with everything else occurring under the hood.
Single target setup:
Shoot Stormcaller Arrow (Conduction - Lasting Shock - Lightning Exposure) at target. Only one should be needed to guarantee an 8 second shock.
Shoot Flash Grenade (Overpower - Maim) while waiting for the shock to pop for utility and stun effect.
Shoot Shockburst Rounds (Scattershot - Elemental Focus - Primal Armament) for ~7 seconds.
Repeat
On heavy stun, pop Emergency Reload (Premeditation - Ingenuity) and continue blasting.
The damage on this skill is insane. https://streamable.com/iyhux0
Passive tree:
https://maxroll.gg/poe2/passive-tree/xe8xm0o9
Prioritize the 2h, weapon swap, lucky lightning, and attribute clusters. rest is flexible.
Ascension nodes taken: Zealous Inquisition -> Pitiless Killer
Skill gem progression:
Because Galvanic Shards is tier V and Shockburst is tier XI, you will need to use other skills in the interim. I personally levelled with the highlighted skills, blue for clear and red for single target. Don't bother with a bow/bow gems until at least Galvanic Shards is unlocked. Scattershot + assault rifle skills go hard.
Gear priority:
Weapons:
% phys > flat phys > flat lightning > % phys+acc. Salvage all socketed items for Artificer orbs, socket iron or storm runes. Check vendors for high %phys rolls and consider aug+regal.
Armour:
Boots - movement speed
Gloves - flat damage
Body, amulet - spirit
Everything - life, defences, resistances, attributes.
Socket resistance runes whenever possible.
Comments
Do you use the xbow base that fire an additional bolt? what kind of base do you use for bow? (and quiver maybe no idea if there are base for that)
I originally wanted to do witchhunter, and have something similar to this setup. But I'm starting to feel like gemling could be better than witchhunter. What do you think? And if so, what would you prioritize changing for that ascendancy?
Man thank you so much for making the guide. This means a lot of guys like me who suck at making own build. At least it motivates me to push through all the issues rn and know the build don’t suck at the end. Thanks mate
How much spirit do you use? Is it only the herald which takes it?
Im watching this on my phone and gotta say its like watching Helldivers. Fk you even kill aliens and bugs.
Hey, thanks for this! I'm actually using the same setup: Galvanic Shards w/ Innervate, Tempo + Lightning Rod but I'm a gemling legionnaire.
I'm only starting act 3, but I'm kinda planning on grinding a little bit because currency and gold is pretty hard to come by for both weapon upgrades. It feels mediocre now but your build gives me hope it will get better once I get cast on shock/exposure gems.
Like others have mentioned a Gemling version is probably better, but both seem good and viable.
Do you really need the rods? I feel like it slows down clear a lot when Galvanic and herald of thunder do so much already.
Which ascendancy points do you run
Nice, I ended up with almost this exact build by the time I made it into maps as well. Fun combo! I ended up calling it The Shock Trooper build lol
Was running galvanic + lightning rod and was struggling hard on singletarget. This saved it and it feels so smooth to play.
Deadeye would straight up be better wouldn't it? Either get tailwind for ms/as or point blank/+1 proj.
Did you ever consider the concentration path instead of culling?
Wow this is awesome. If you went gemling which supports would you double up on?