Hello there, and welcome to this budget build guide for Path of Exile 3.21. In this guide, we'll be taking a look at the Herald of Agony Guardian, a powerful minion build that focuses on poisoning enemies and dealing chaos damage while also being incredibly tanky. With this build, you'll be able to comfortably face tank most of the game's content while still being able to clear maps quickly and efficiently.

 

• Introduction:
• Build Summary
• Pros & Cons
• Class & Ascendancy
• Tree + Pantheon & Bandit
• Gem Links
• Levelling Tips

 

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/-VWtFmuBY-Nw

 

↖ Introduction:

We'll be utilizing the Guardian ascendancy for its powerful offensive and defensive bonuses, as well as the Aegis Aurora shield for incredible survivability. This build can be played as early as level 35 and offers safe, relaxed, and amazing clear speed right through the acts into maps. While the build may not offer godlike damage on a budget when bossing, it scales really well with every bit of investment and gets the job done. 

 

Please keep in mind that the viability of the build is subject to change as some PoE items, mechanics, or even skill selections may change between patches. 

 

↖ Build Summary

Herald of Agony Guardian build a strong budget choice for players who want to be able to tackle all of the game's content while being able to face tank any map modifiers or boss mechanics. The build utilizes the Herald of Agony skill, which creates an Agony Crawler minion that gains increased attack speed, physical damage, and flat physical damage for every virulent stack it has. With 55 stacks, the minion becomes a potent damage dealer and can easily clear screens of enemies with Bathurst strikes.

 

The build also makes use of 20 raised spiders from Aricardi's Fang to deal extra damage during boss encounters and while mapping. A large cluster jewel Skin of the Lords with an empowered gem is used to raise the level of the Herald of Agony and Circle of Nostalgia rings without sacrificing survivability. The Guardian's ascendancy provides free Onslaught and unnerves minions with even more attack speed to ensure they deliver speedy poisonous attacks.

 

Defensively, the build uses several layers of defence to ensure survival. The first layer of defence is attack and spell block, with up to 75% block chance depending on gearing and skill tree conditionals. The second layer of mitigation consists of the Determination aura paired with the Aegis Aurora shield, which recovers 2% of total armour as an energy shield each time block is triggered. Additionally, as the build is Chaos Inoculation, it has a large energy shield pool and is immune to all chaos damage.

 

The final layers of defence come from Skin of the Lords, the keystones Molten Shell, Frost Shield, and Time of Need, which reduces the effects of curses and provides life regeneration every 4 seconds.

 

The playstyle of the build may feel clunky at first due to summoning spiders, but players will quickly become familiar with the mechanics. For mapping, players should desecrate twice, drop two storm brands, and use the Rathing Jar flask to kill worms. For bossing, players should keep at least two storm brands attached at all times and use ball lightning to keep virulence stacks high. Players should be cautious when summoning spiders, as the Agony Crawler can easily kill worms before the player has a chance to.

 

Overall, the Arachnophobia Herald of Agony Guardian builds is a solid budget choice that offers strong offensive and defensive capabilities for players looking to tackle endgame content.

 

↖ Pros & Cons

• + Tanky build that can handle tough content and modifiers comfortably.
• + Satisfying clear speed, which can make for a fun and rewarding play experience.
• + Relaxed playstyle that allows for more casual or laid-back gameplay.
• + Scalable build that can benefit from additional investments and gear upgrades.
• + Cheap and easy to get started with, making it a great option for league starters or new players.
• + Viable for hardcore play, which can add an extra level of challenge and excitement.
• + Able to tackle almost all content, which can provide a sense of accomplishment and mastery.
• - Djinns can be challenging to deal with, especially if not careful, and can be particularly problematic.
• - Boat can feel clunky and frustrating due to its uptime, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
• - Build can become very expensive once awakened gems and optimal gear are required, which may only be feasible for some players.
• - Minion playstyle may only be desired by some, as some players prefer a more active or hands-on approach to combat.

 

↖ Class & Ascendancy

The Templar's Guardian is a great choice for those looking for a well-rounded class that excels in both offence and defence. It provides a balance between strength and intelligence. It also has access to a variety of melee and spell-based skills, making it a versatile class for both new and experienced players.

 

The Guardian's ascendancy focuses on defensive and offensive options, making it the most solid choice for Templar players. Here are the recommended nodes to prioritize:

• Radiant Crusade:  Radiant Crusade provides much-needed elemental resistances and Onslaught, which grants increased attack and movement speed. This node also provides a 10% damage boost for minions, making it an excellent choice for minion builds.
• Unwavering Crusade: Unwavering Crusade makes your minions extra speedy with attack and movement speed. It also grants Intimidate, which makes enemies take 10% increased damage. This node is great for players looking for more offensive options.
• Time of Need: Time of Need allows you to ignore cursed modifiers on maps with 80% reduced effects. Every 4 seconds, you will regenerate 30% of your life over 1 second, providing extra sustain when taking big hits. This node is crucial for survival in difficult encounters.
• Radiant Faith/Bastion of Hope: Radiant Faith grants an extra maximum energy shield based on 10% of your reserved mana. Since Templars usually reserve most of their mana, this node provides a decent amount of energy shield. However, it can be swapped with Bastion of Hope, which grants extra attack and spell block. This swap frees up some nodes on the skill tree to spec into more damage but comes at the cost of an energy shield.

 

↖ Tree + Pantheon & Bandit

The following will outline a levelling tree, endgame setup, and recommended keystones, masteries, pantheon, and bandit choices for a Tree + Pantheon & Bandit build in Path of Building.

 

Levelling Tree:

• Start by taking the life and elemental damage nodes in the Witch area, then head towards the Templar area to grab the totem nodes and life nodes.
• After that, go towards the Shadow area to pick up the crit nodes and more life nodes.
• Finally, head towards the Scion area to grab the life, mana, and crit multi nodes.

 

Endgame Setup:

• Main Skill: Storm Brand
• 6-Link: Storm Brand - Controlled Destruction - Energy Leech - Chain - Elemental Focus - Increased Critical Strikes
• Helmet: Crown of the Inward Eye
• Body Armour: Shavronne's Wrappings
• Gloves: Fenumus' Weave
• Boots: Sin Trek
• Belt: Cyclopean Coil
• Amulet: Presence of Chayula
• Rings: Two rare rings with increased maximum energy shield, spell damage, and resistances

 

Keystones:

• Chaos Inoculation: You are immune to all chaos damage, so you can ignore getting any chaos resistance on gear.
• Zealot's Oath: Transform any life regeneration to energy shield regeneration.
• Wicked Ward: For the uninterrupted energy shield recharge if it began within the last four seconds.
• Divine Shield: Giving us three per cent of physical damage prevention to be regenerated as an energy shield.
• Ruin Band: Allows us to have two Storm Brands attached to an enemy at any given time.

 

Masteries:

• Gladiator: Extra block chance to defend with 120 per cent of armour.
• Occultist: Discipline mana reservation efficiency and extra energy shield dexterity per allocated mastery passive.
• Trickster: Mana reservation efficiency of skills.

 

Pantheon:

• Major: Solaris the Bronze King. This prevents us from being chain stunned but more so for the cannot be frozen and reduced effects of chill on us.
• Minor: Soul of Abberath. The less ignite duration on us and immunity to the burning ground as ignites or degens are the bull's weak spots.

 

Bandits:

• Kill all of the bandits for the two skill points.

 

↖ Gem Links

Here's a breakdown of the gem links for each item in the setup mentioned:

 

Weapon:

• Pair spiders with melee splash for faster screen clears.
• Withering Touch to inflict withered on enemies, increasing chaos damage taken by 6%, stacks up to 15 times for a total of 90%.
• Unbound Ailments to increase the duration and effects of set stacks.
• Vapour Strike ability for more damage from the poison they inflict.

 

Note: Multi-Strike can be used instead of Melee Splash during boss encounters.

 

Shield:

• Socket in Determination for a huge increase in armour.
• Discipline to further increase the total energy shield pool.
• Tempered Shield for spell block chance and immunity to shock.

 

Note: Evolved version can be used as an oh button.

 

Helmet:

• Utility gems such as Spirit Offering to give minions 30% of physical damage as extra chaos.
• Desecrate for summoning the spiders.
• Convocation to keep minions nearby.
• Flame Dash for escape.

 

Body Armor:

• Herald of Agony paired with Empower to raise the gem level up to 28.
• Pierce Support for an extra boost in clear speed during maps.
• Void Manipulation for even extra damage during boss encounters.
• Damage on Full Life for more damage due to the Agony Crawler always having a full life.
• Minion Damage and Vicious Projectiles for even more damage multipliers.

 

Gloves:

• Ball Lightning linked with Greater Multiple Projectiles and Chance to Poison to apply as many poisons as possible to enemies.
• Storm Brand for bossing to keep virulent stacks up and summon spiders.

 

Boots:

• Cast When Stunned linked to Vaal Molten Shell for the extra armour bonus and a last resort to survive one-shot mechanics.
• Frost Shield for mitigation during bossing or mapping.
• Sniper's Mark for extra projectile damage and to ignore the "cannot regenerate" map modifier.

 

↖ Levelling Tips

Whether you're starting a new league or transitioning from early to mid and endgame, levelling can be a breeze if you follow these tips. Here are some steps to take for a stress-free and enjoyable levelling experience:

 

Act 1:

• Create a Duelist and use Shattering Steel linked to Chance to Bleed and Onslaught for your main damage dealer.
• Check the vendors for a 3-link green-red-green or green-green-red item and mule it to your Templar character.
• Use swords as your weapon until Act 3.
• Pick up Leap Slam, Storm Brand, and Ancestral Protector, and link them with Added Fire Damage, War Banner, and Holy Relics.

 

Act 2:

• Pick up a Strength Belt and Dexterity Amulet to fulfil attribute requirements.
• Grab Faster Casting for later and link Leap Slam to Faster Attacks.
• Use Herald of Ash and Herald of Purity linked to Added Fire Damage and run the auras.

 

Act 3:

• Complete the lab request to gain access to new gems.
• Transition to Herald of Agony just before killing Dominus while doing the normal labyrinth.
• Drop your Holy Relic, Onslaught, Splitting Steel, Chance to Bleed, Herald of Ash, and Ancestral Protector.
• Herald of Purity should be linked to Feeding Frenzy, Summon Phantasm, and Minion Speed.
• Leap Slam or Shield Charge can be linked to Faster Attacks.
• Storm Brand must be linked to Faster Casting and Chance to Poison.
• Herald of Agony must be linked to Vicious Projectiles, Faster Attacks, Damage on Full Life, or Pierce.

 

Act 4:

• Use Summon Carrion Golem linked with Faster Attacks, Maim, and Culling Strike for extra utility.
• Transition to CR for early mapping, following the gearing and gem sections of the guide.

 

Some useful uniques to consider while going through the campaign include:

• Tabula Rasa
• Goldrim helmet
• Wanderlust boots
• Verm's Wound boots
• Perandus Signet rings
• Shivering or Edge of Madness weapons
• The Hoops of All Amulet
• Astramentis amulet
• The Baron helmet
• Aurumvorax ring
• Matua Tupuna shield
• Dusktoe boots
• Berek's Grip ring
• Xoph's Blood amulet
• Shadows and Dust gloves
• A Bout of the Deceiver amulet

 

Conclusion:

The conclusion states that starting the character was a great success, with the build outperforming expectations. The early mapping was easy with a laugh-based build, and switching to a budget CR variant made the way to great success smoother. With the acquisition of a shield and dagger, the build's performance increased significantly, making it one of the most solid builds played. It is recommended as an alternative minion build that is very tanky.