Welcome, Exiles! Today, we're exploring an intriguing build for 3.23 Affliction: the Animate Weapon with Bows. While still in the rough draft stage, this guide aims to provide you with a flexible strategy that can be easily adapted to future changes in the league.

• Build Overview
• PoB Link
• Key Components
• Gameplay Strategy
• Equipment and Jewels
• Advanced Tactics
• Pantheon Choices
• Build flexibility

↖ Build Overview

This build revolves around using a lingering blade bow, a variant of the traditional one-handed weapon approach.

It maintains impressive stats such as 1.5 APS and 6% base crit strike chance.

This low Poe Currency budget build boasts a staggering 5.3 million Shaper DPS, making it a formidable choice.

↖ PoB Link

• Low Budget: https://pobb.in/Gyc8rID5-2lx
• High Budget: https://pobb.in/PaPttmDW4aVk

↖ Key Components

• Animate Weapon Choice: Initially, level with skills like Absolution or SRS. Transition to ranged Animate Weapon upon completing the first lab.
• Skill Tree: Focus on a generic minion skill tree, emphasizing nodes like Sacrifice and Spiritual Command.
• Quality on Animate Weapon: Adjusted to reflect changes, with 20% quality offering two extra minions.
• Support Gems: Includes Minion Damage, Predator, Hypothermia, and eventually, Elemental Penetration.
• Gear: Key items include Triad Grip gloves, a variety of support gems, and a Lingering Blade setup.

↖ Gameplay Strategy

• Early Game: Smooth leveling with Absolution or SRS, transitioning to Animate Weapon post-first lab.
• Minion Management: Pay attention to the duration and range of your animated weapons.
• Gem Swaps: Optimize clearing setup by swapping gems like GMP, Minion Speed, and Pierce.

↖ Equipment and Jewels

• Armor: A Replica Covenant offers a substantial DPS boost. In lower budgets, a Tabula Rasa can suffice.
• Accessories: Focus on minion-enhancing mods, particularly on rings and amulets.
• Jewels: Aim for mediocre flat physical rolls, with resistances where needed.

↖ Advanced Tactics

• Medium/High Budget Version: Incorporates higher-quality gear, more efficient jewels, and an improved Enemy Guardian setup.
• Damage Optimization: Achieves approximately 27 million Shaper DPS with high-quality gear and optimized support setups.

↖ Pantheon Choices

Immunity and environmental resistance are improved by Brine King and Abberath.

↖ Build flexibility

The build is currently focused on low to medium Poe Currency budgets, but may be modified based on additional league information.