If an explosive map experience is your choice, then the Chieftain Herald of Ash Blade Vortex Bomber build will be the best choice in 3.23 Affliction. Leveraging Lone Messenger, Supreme Ostentation, and a host of tattoos to create a whirlwind of fiery destruction. Robust tankiness and sensational map clearing capabilities, Ideal for dense maps and delving. 

 

• What's This Build All About?
• Key Mechanics and Playstyle
• Leveling Up
• Gear Up
• Skill Gems and Links
• Tree, Ascendancy & Pantheon
• Mapping and Bossing
• Endgame Potential
• Budget and Upgrades

 

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/k-boLMO-FMc7.

 

↖ What's This Build All About?

• Mapping Specialist: Excelling in clearing densely packed maps with ease.
• Hardcore Ready: Built tough to survive the roughest encounters.
• Delving and Heisting: A great choice if you fancy a break from standard mapping.
• Not a Boss Farmer: While it handles map bosses and conquerors, it's not cut out for Pinnacle bosses. Leave Uber bosses to other builds.

 

↖ Key Mechanics and Playstyle

• Herald of Ash: The heart of the build, used for its Overkill burn effect.
• Blade Vortex (BV): Your primary damage dealer. Keep those stacks high and watch enemies melt.
• Lone Messenger & Supreme Ostentation: These key nodes boost your Herald of Ash to absurd levels.
• Tattoos Galore: Utilizing tattoos for maximum effect, especially with Lone Messenger.

 

↖ Leveling Up

• Not a League Starter: While it's not recommended as a starter, if you do, consider leveling with Righteous Fire or Blade Vortex for minimal respec later.
• Ascendancy Order: Tasalio for comfort in gearing, Hinekora for damage, and Arohongui for extra tankiness.

 

↖ Gear Up

• Cloak of Flame vs. Lightning Coil: We're choosing Cloak of Flame for its synergy with Chieftain, shifting physical damage into fire, which we're heavily resistant to.
• Dawnbreaker: Essential for further shifting physical damage and mitigating bleed or corrupted blood.
• Rare Gear Pieces: Focus on life, chaos, and fire resistances. Eldritch implicits for added oomph.
• Voidforge: Ideal for converting flat physical damage into massive elemental hits.

 

↖ Skill Gems and Links

• Main 6-Link: Val Blade Vortex, Unleash, Combustion, Inspiration, and both Awakened Fire Penetration & Added Fire Damage.
• Herald of Ash Link: Maximizing the Herald of Ash buff effect for unparalleled map clearing.

 

↖ Tree, Ascendancy & Pantheon

• A Tattoo Lover's Dream: Supreme Ostentation lets you ignore attribute requirements, perfect for tattoo maximization.
• Skill Tree Artistry: Focus on maximizing life, damage, and buff effects. Don't forget the skill effect duration wheel!
• Chieftain Ascendancy: Embrace Hora, Tasalio, and Vako for maximum fire resistance and juicy damage pops.
• Pantheon Power: Ralakesh for bleeding resistance and Lunaris for that sweet movement speed.

 

↖ Mapping and Bossing

• Mapping: Your forte! Dive into dense maps for the best experience. The more monsters, the merrier.
• Bossing: Capable against map bosses and guardians but struggles with Pinnacle content. Uber bosses are a no-go.

 

↖ Endgame Potential

• Weapon: A wand or scepter with gem levels and fire damage is key.
• Flasks: Taste of Hate for physical damage shift and extra damage.
• Eldritch Implicits: Aim for maximum fire resistance and additional area of effect.
• Endgame Upgrades: Look for double corrupted Cloak of Flame, better rare items, and perhaps a higher-tier weapon for that extra kick.

 

↖ Budget and Upgrades

• Investment Insight: Hardcore trade economy might set you back around 85 divine orbs, but you can get started with less.
• The Upgrade Path: Looking for more boom? Aim for double-corrupted Cloak of Flame and spell suppression crafts on gear.

 

This build is a dream for hardcore mappers. While it might not be the king of boss fights, its map clearing speed and survivability make it a top choice for those who love to blaze through content. Give it a try and watch as your enemies turn to ash!