In Path of Exile 2, leveling can be an exciting journey with countless skill combinations. One of the most satisfying and powerful setups is the Shockwave Totem Warbringer build. This build capitalizes on the Poe 2 Currency synergy between totems and shockwave skills to provide both high damage and effective area control as you progress through the game. Here's a comprehensive leveling guide to help you get the most out of this powerful playstyle.
Overview of Shockwave Totem Warbringer Build
The Shockwave Totem Warbringer build focuses on summoning totems that deal massive area-of-effect (AoE) damage with the Shockwave skill. Shockwave Totems send out shockwaves that stun and deal significant damage to enemies in a radius around the totem, making it an ideal choice for both clearing packs of enemies and facing off against tougher bosses.
This build thrives on being able to place multiple totems that deal massive damage from a distance while keeping you out of harm's way. The Warbringer ascendancy provides significant buffs to totem damage, as well as the ability to have more totems active simultaneously. This makes the build incredibly versatile and capable of clearing content quickly while maintaining a safe position behind your totems.
Leveling Path
When starting as a Marauder, you'll want to focus on gearing up with items that boost your totem damage, life, and resistances. Early on, you may need to rely on generic totem skills, but as you progress, you’ll transition into the Shockwave Totem setup.
Act 1-3: Early Progression
Start by using Flame Totem or Summon Raging Spirit as your main skill to get through the early acts. These skills will help you deal with most enemies while focusing on picking up totem-related passive skills. Prioritize nodes that increase your totem damage and survival.
In Act 2, when you unlock Shockwave Totem, start using it in combination with your totems. While leveling, you'll likely use Fire Penetration Support or Spell Echo Support to increase the damage output of your Shockwave Totems. You can also invest in Added Fire Damage or Elemental Focus to further bolster your damage, depending on your early gear.
Act 4-6: Mid-Level Transition
By Act 4, you should be using Shockwave Totem as your primary skill. This is when you can start focusing on more totem-centric passives like Ancestral Bond (which allows you to have an additional totem) and Totemic Zeal (which increases the speed at which you cast your totems).
You’ll want to start picking up defensive nodes at this point, as the game begins to ramp up in difficulty. Focus on life and resistances while still pushing for totem damage.
Act 7-10: Endgame Leveling
As you approach the endgame, you should have your Shockwave Totem fully upgraded, and you will start focusing on the Warbringer ascendancy. Warbringer gives you buffs that make your totems even stronger, including the ability to deal extra damage through Warcry and Totemic Might. These will increase both your damage and your survivability.
At this stage, you’ll want to maximize your critical strike chance and critical damage. This can be achieved through gear and passive skill nodes like Critical Damage or Elemental Crit.
Key Ascendancy and Passive Choices
Warbringer Ascendancy:
Totemic Might: Provides additional totem damage and AoE effect.
Ancestral Bond: Grants the ability to summon one additional totem, further increasing your damage output.
Warcry: Enhances your totem’s effectiveness by boosting their damage output with additional warcry bonuses.
Passive Skill Tree:
Focus on nodes that increase totem damage, life, elemental resistances, and area of effect.
Important nodes to Poe 2 Currency for sale look out for include Totemic Mastery, Ancestral Knowledge, and Totemic Zeal.