Best Occultist Builds In Path of Exile [Settlers of Kalguur 3.25]

Occultist is undeniably one of the more interesting ascendancies in Path of Exile. When played right, it can deal an ungodly amount of damage. There’s a reason Occultists often hold the top spot for having the highest DPS builds in PoE.  With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best Occultist builds in Path of Exile 3.25.

#1: Hexblast Occultist

For many veteran players, Hexblast Occultist is the only true way of playing this class. It’s a build that’s worth every Divine Orb spent on it and then some. Best of all, it’s remarkably easy to develop and play.

Although the build is specialized in taking down powerful single entities and bosses, it’s also remarkably effective at mapping as well. Here’s what you need for the build.

The Key Gem — Hexblast

For this build, you’ll need the regular version of Hexblast. The transfigured variants are decent, but they change the functionality of the spell too much for this build to be effective.

Every other gem you socket should be in support of your Hexblast skill. Things like Power Charge on Critical, and the Mine Support gems are crucial. Additionally, make sure you add Automation Support to your Detonate Mines skill. For mines, the Bear Trap is your best pick.

The Perk Tree For Hexblast Occultist

Since Hexblast Occultists rely on large alpha strikes to deal with their foes, you’re going to want to spend your perk points on increasing your initial strike damage. To do that, go for the following perks:

• Forbidden Power
• Void Beacon
• Withering Presence
• Unholy Authority

Those are the four most important Ascendancy Perks to have. Once you’ve allotted those, pick up the following passive perks:

• Eldritch Battery
• Inner Conviction
• Pain Attunement
• Charge Mastery
• Critical Mastery
• Mana Mastery
• Reservation Mastery
• Endurance
• Overcharge
• Sovereignty
• Purity of Flesh
• Arcane Potency
• Deep Thoughts
• Disciple of the Forbidden
• Instability
• Hex Master
• Throatseeker
• Efficient Explosives
• Written in Blood
• Devastating Devices
• Volatile Mines
• Infused
• 2x Large Cluster Slots
• 6x Medium Jewel Slots

Optimal Item Loadout for Hexblast Occultist

Securing the ideal items for this build might be a bit difficult as it has very specific requirements. You might even have to buy PoE currency. If you do, know that it will be money well spent. Here’s what you should get:

• Tulfall
• Replica Restless Ward
• Malachai’s Loop
• Sandstorm Visage
• Hypnotic Grip
• Ralakesh’s Impatience
• Mageblood
• Badge of the Brotherhood
• Precursor’s Emblem
• Kalandra’s Touch

For flasks, skip on the mana & life ones and get the following instead: Bottled Faith, Dabbler’s Silver Flask of the Cheetah, Abecedarian’s Quicksilver Flask of the Rainbow, Dabbler’s Granite Flask of the Order, and an Alchemist’s Ruby Flask of the Armadillo.

#2: Kinetic Blast Occultist

Compared to the Hexblast build, the Kinetic Blast Occultist relies on the pure unadulterated violence of nature to get the job done. It’s an especially effective build for mapping, which stands in contrast to most Occultist builds which specialize in taking out bosses.

The point of this build is to maximize the amount of AoE damage you can do by installing the right support gems and equipping the right item loadout. Here’s what skills you’ll need.

Kinetic Blast & Co.

Kinetic Blast is the key player in this build, however, it would be nothing without the correct supporting gems. Increased Area of Effect and Elemental Damage with Attacks are the two must-haves. Multiple Projectile Support, Increased Critical Damage Support, and Fork Support are also useful to have.

Aside from those, you’ll probably need some sort of minion summoning skill and a dash-type ability or two for survival, as this build isn’t very durable in a fight.

Perk Loadout of Kinetic Blast Occultist

Let’s start by looking at the Ascendancy perks.

• Forbidden Power
• Void Beacon
• Frigid Wake
• Withering Presence

Those are the four most important perks for this build. Now let’s look at the passive perk tree.

• Zealot’s Oath
• Charge Mastery
• Cold Mastery
• Wand Mastery
• Disintegration
• Elder Power
• Utmost Intellect
• Instability
• Disciple of the Forbidden
• Prism Weave
• Enigmatic Reach
• Fingers of Frost
• Deep Wisdom
• Blast Radius
• Infused
• Split Shot
• 3x Large Jewel Slots
• 6x Medium Jewel Slots

Ideal Item Loadout of Kinetic Blast Occultist

Your item loadout should be comprised of items that increase your overall AoE and spell damage. Your flask choice should also reflect that philosophy.

• Pain Bane
• Malachai’s Loop
• Pain Suit Full Dragonscale
• The Fledgling
• Ghoul Talons
• Ralakesh’s Impatience
• Headhunter
• Crystallised Omniscience
• Nimis
• Death Rush

For your flasks, you’ll need to procure the following uniques: Dying Sun, Atziri’s Promise, Alchemist’s Sulphur Flask of Incision, Taste of Hate, and the Cinderswallow Urn. They’re some of the best unique flasks in PoE , and their potency is apparent.

#3: Penance Brand of Dissipation Occultist

Sometimes the silliest builds give the best results, as is the case with this one. The Penance Brand of Dissipation Occultist turns your enemies into walking tesla coils and you into a goth ballerina that can avoid every hit.

The obvious downside to this build is that you’ll have to get into the thick of it every single engagement, however, if you manage your potions right and avoid the enemy’s crowd controls, you should be just fine.

Why the Penance Brand of Dissipation?

The Penance Brand of Dissipation is the preferred variant of the Penance Brand skill gem as its effect is the most reliable compared to the other versions. Compared to the others, this version deals less damage and doesn’t explode at the end.

It does, however, scale better with hits and Ailments, which is what makes it the superior choice. This version also benefits from attack speed buffs, which makes it easier to spam, leading to even more DPS.

Perk Allotment for Penance Brand of Dissipation Occultist

As with the other two builds, the Ascendancy perks are the most important here, so we’ll start with those.

• Withering Presence
• Void Beacon
• Frigid Wake
• Forbidden Power

And for the regular perk tree, here’s what you’ll need to get.

• Eldritch Battery
• Inner Conviction
• Pain Attunement
• Runebinder
• 2x Brand Mastery
• 2x Reservation Mastery
• Charge Mastery
• Critical Mastery
• Mana Mastery
• Endurance
• Overcharge
• Runesmith
• Purity of Flesh
• Sovereignty
• Grand Equity
• Disciple of the Forbidden
• Explosive Runes
• Cruel Preparation
• Deep Thoughts
• Instability
• Hex Master
• Throatseeker
• Nimbleness
• Influence
• 2x Large Jewel Sockets
• 4x Medium Jewel Sockets

Desirable Items Loadout for Penance Brand of Dissipation Occultist

The main stat you should look to increase with your item loadout is your evasion rating, everything else is secondary. Once you have ample evasion, increase your critical strike modifier and maximum power charge count. Something like the following is desirable.

• Void Battery
• Replica Restless Ward
• Malachai’s Loop
• Heatshiver
• Death Caress
• Ralakesh’s Impatience
• Mageblood
• Badge of the Brotherhood
• Call of the Brotherhood
• Kalandra’s Touch

Your flask array should increase your survivability even further. Pick up the following and you should be more than fine: Catalyzed Divine Life Flask of Allaying, Dabbler’s Quicksilver Flask of the Cheetah, Abecedarian’s Silver Flask of the Rainbow, Dabbler’s Granite Flask of the Armadillo, and an Alchemist’s Diamond Flask of Bog Moss.

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