Patch 3.23 is here, bringing with it the Affliction, and we've got a Manabond Hierophant build that's not just wallet-friendly but also a blast to play. This guide is all about starting with a shoestring budget (think 4-5 divines) and scaling up to afford those big-ticket items purely through Delving. Want to be a speed demon, a single-target destroyer, or a Delving tank? This build morphs to your playstyle!

• Manabond Update in PoE 3.23
• PoB Overview
• Ascendancy: Why Hierophant?
• Gear
• Why Mjolnir?
• Gear Continued
• Flasks
• Jewels and Skills

↖ Manabond Update in PoE 3.23

So, what's the deal with Manabond? It's a unique skill that scales off your unreserved mana. The more mana you have unreserved, the larger the area of effect. Plus, it adds damage equal to half of your missing mana. This isn't your typical Archmage build; instead, we're focusing on a mana-indigon approach, leveraging a large mana pool to maximize damage output.

New Additions:

• Now deals base Lightning Damage equal to 54% of your missing Unreserved Mana.
• Adds +6 to length for every 25% of your Unreserved maximum Mana.

Removed Features:

• The previous 10% increase in Area of Effect has been removed.
• The old base Lightning Damage, which was equal to 44% of missing Unreserved Mana, is no longer applicable.
• The previous increment of +6 to length per 25% of Unreserved maximum Mana has been superseded by the new addition.

↖ PoB Overview

We won't bore you with a leveling guide, but we'll drop some quick leveling tips: Spark, Righteous Fire, or Hollow Palm techniques work great until you can transition into Manabond around level 80-90. Remember, patience is key; this build really shines once you're comfortably into mapping.

Link: https://pobb.in/Y45y3JSk8uA9.

↖ Ascendancy: Why Hierophant?

Hierophant is a no-brainer for our purposes. It gives us tons of mana, essential for maximizing Manabond's potential. We're grabbing Arcane Blessing for that always-on Arcane Surge, Conviction of Power for charge generation, and Divine Guidance plus Sanctuary of Thought for massive mana boosts.

↖ Gear

• Mjolnir: Crucial for making Manabond mana-cost-free, thanks to its unique property that socketed lightning gems have no cost to trigger.
• Prism Guardian: Allows us to reserve life for auras, freeing up mana for Manabond.
• Indigon: The centerpiece of this build, ramping up spell damage based on mana spent.
• Astramentis: A budget-friendly amulet for sorting out our attribute requirements.

↖ Why Mjolnir?

Mjolnir is key because Manabond's base mana cost, which is scaled up by Indigon, would otherwise be unsustainable. By putting Manabond in Mjolnir, we bypass this mana cost entirely.

↖ Gear Continued

• Prism Guardian: Ideal for fitting in multiple auras on life, maintaining our unreserved mana.
• Shaper's Touch Gloves: Unbeatable for this build, boosting accuracy, evasion, mana, and ES.
• Ivory Tower Chest: Essential for converting mana to ES and supporting our life reservation strategy.
• Rings, Belt, Boots: Focus on mana, strength, and resists.

↖ Flasks

Your flask lineup should include Ruby, Topaz, Sapphire, Jade, and Granite flasks. Coruscating Elixir is a must-have to avoid chaos damage draining your mana shield.

↖ Jewels and Skills

• Cluster Jewels: Aim for lightning cluster jewels with Dazzling Idea and Storm Drinker.
• Split Personality: Ideal for maximizing the effect based on pathing distance.
• Skills: Focus on Cyclone linked with Mana Leech, Awakened Control Destruction, and Awakened Lightning Penetration in your Mjolnir. In your chest, a Cast While Channeling setup with Cyclone is key.

This Manabond Hierophant build is not just fun and versatile but also incredibly budget-friendly. With the right setup and progression, it can evolve into a super tank or a high-damage character. Whether you're aiming for the stars or just want something fun and different, this build has you covered. Dive in, experiment, and enjoy the explosive power of Manabond!