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.