Hey there, Path of Exile enthusiasts! If you're craving a bow build that's not only fun and fast but also tanky and budget-friendly in Affliction League, you've hit the jackpot! We were bringing you the ultimate guide for a Rain of Arrows Raider build in the 3.23 Affliction league. We've been rocking Rain of Arrows since 3.20, and it's been a phenomenal ride. This guide dives deep into the skill and ascendancy, but don't fret! Use the timestamps to hop around to the parts you need.

 

• Why Raider? Why Rain of Arrows?
• Leveling and Progression
• Gearing Up
• Flasks and Jewels
• Gem Links
• Pantheons and Bandits
• Playstyle and Map Progression

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/xNeKkdkBhjo0.

 

↖ Why Raider? Why Rain of Arrows?

• Raider Perks: Out of the gate, Raider offers unmatched speed, quality of life, and defenses. Post-campaign, enjoy perpetual Onslaught, 100% spell damage suppression, and phasing with budget-friendly unique boots.
• Rain of Arrows Mechanics: This skill is a gem straight out of the box, not relying on complex bow mechanics. Its simplicity is its strength at league start, though it may limit scalability in end-game.

 

↖ Leveling and Progression

• Ascendancy Order: Start with Rapid Assault, then Quartz Infusion and Avatar of the Veil. Finally, grab Avatar of the Chase after your first lab trial in yellow maps.
• Leveling Strategy: Rush to Precise Technique and focus on accuracy. Consider Point Blank for extra damage, though it's optional. Transition to crit around mid-80s for better performance.

 

↖ Gearing Up

• Helmet: Look for a lion pelt with life, resistances, and a slot for physical damage taken as fire.
• Body Armor: Go for evasion with dense fossils, ensuring an open prefix for physical damage taken as elemental.
• Accessories: Fractured rings for necessary attributes, aiming for chaos resistance and life.
• Unique Items: Here's Truth amulet for DPS and Three-Step Assault boots for evasion and elemental ailments avoidance.
• Bow and Quiver: Early game, aim for a bow with ~600-650 Elemental DPS. Quiver should focus on crit multiplier, life, and attack speed.

 

↖ Flasks and Jewels

• Flasks: Quick Silver, Divine Life (instant with corrupted blood immunity), Jade, Diamond, and Taste of Hate (or a cheaper alternative).
• Jewels: Aim for attack speed with bows, life, and crit multi. Lethal Pride for double damage and intimidate is a huge bonus.

 

↖ Gem Links

• Main Setup: V Rain of Arrows, Mirage Archer, Increased Crit Damage, Added Cold, Trinity, and Inspiration.
• Ballista Setup: Artillery Ballista, Added Cold, Focused Ballista, Hypothermia, and Inspiration.

 

↖ Pantheons and Bandits

• Pantheons: Lunaris for mapping, minor pantheon as per content.
• Bandits: Kill all for the two skill points.

 

↖ Playstyle and Map Progression

• Keep moving and firing. Life regeneration comes from Life on hit and leech.
• Use Vaal Rain of Arrows against tough packs for control and safety.
• Watch out for AoE physical attacks and manage your flasks well, especially for bleeds.

 

This Rain of Arrows Raider build is a robust affliction league starter, offering a balance of speed, survivability, and fun. While it's not the ultimate end-game scaler, it's perfect for comfortably farming and transitioning into more specialized builds. Check out the written guide for detailed progression through acts, gear crafting, and more.