Path of Exile 3.25: Volcanic Fissure of Snaking Ascendant Build Guide

Sep-23-2024

 

In this Path of Exile 3.25 guide, we introduce the Volcanic Fissure of Snaking Ascendant build. This build centers around the Volcanic Fissure skill, which excels in both area-of-effect (AoE) and single-target damage. The unique feature of this skill is its ability to "snake" toward the target, hitting enemies off-screen and providing both control and damage. If you're a fan of melee totem builds, this strength-stacking Ascendant setup is perfect for clearing tough content, including four Voidstones and Tier 17 maps.

 

 

Build Overview

At the core of this build is linking Volcanic Fissure to Dawnstrider boots, enabling your totems to slam the ground for you. This frees up your character from direct melee combat while scaling both offense and defense through high Strength stacking. Strength becomes the primary source of power in this build, allowing you to maximize both damage and defense through clever gear choices.

However, using Dawnstrider forces the exclusion of Alberon's Warpath, a pair of boots that can increase Strength by a percentage. To compensate for the lack of these boots, alternative methods to boost Strength are required. On the plus side, the build offers an extra 6-link, which can be used to slot in Pyroclast Mine for added fire damage, especially helpful for tougher enemies and boss fights.

For your Ascendancy, Ascendant is the prime choice, offering +1 maximum totem and flexible class points. However, there are alternatives. Champion provides taunt and aura effects. Chieftain is excellent for Strength boosts and Warcry skills. Juggernaut focuses on tankiness. Warden is great for Spell Suppression and defensive layering.

When properly built, you can expect this build to reach up to:

- 10 million Pinnacle DPS in regular maps.

- 20 million Pinnacle DPS with Pyroclast Mine against bosses.

- Defensive stats include 80% attack block, 100% spell suppression, capped elemental resistances, and 100% elemental ailment avoidance.

By sacrificing some spell suppression for Versatile Combatant, you can push your damage even further, easily breaking 30 million DPS. For those opting to incorporate Tectonic Slam with this build, DPS potential skyrockets to 100 million, delivering devastating power.

 

How to Scale Your DPS

While the core damage comes from Volcanic Fissure totems, DPS scaling comes primarily from Strength Stacking. Here are key items and strategies.

- Brutus' Lead Sprinkler: A cost-effective weapon that converts Strength into fire damage, providing 4-7 additional fire damage for every 10 Strength points. Even budget-conscious players can obtain this weapon early on.

- The Iron Fortress: This chest armor increases Strength and provides Strength-based attack block. With the Iron Will Keystone, the Strength bonus to melee physical damage also applies to spells, boosting overall damage.

- Crown of Eyes: A unique Hubris Circlet that makes spell damage apply to attacks, providing 150% of attack damage to spells. Combined with Strength Stacking, this synergy dramatically amplifies damage output.

 

Defense

Playing as a totem-based build has inherent defensive advantages—your totems take on the risk while you stay at a safe distance. Early on, you may not prioritize block or spell suppression, but as you progress, strengthening your defense becomes important, particularly as you face tougher endgame content.

Iron Fortress provides strong defense against physical attacks but lowers your spell defense. To counter this, focus on increasing spell suppression. Using Astramentis amulet for Dexterity and pairing it with Split Personality jewels enables you to reach high levels of spell suppression.

At 100% spell suppression, you can opt for Ancestral Vision for 50% elemental ailment avoidance. With additional nodes and gear, you can achieve 100% avoidance. The Snaring Spirits cluster from Cluster Jewels adds further utility by hindering enemy movement speed, reducing their effectiveness in combat.

 

Skill Tree

Early on, prioritize Strength Stacking nodes to take advantage of Brutus' Lead Sprinkler. By the time you reach level 62 and can equip Dawnstrider, switch to the totem playstyle and adjust the skill tree to accommodate this. Lethal Pride Timeless Jewel is an essential part of the tree, offering significant bonuses for Strength stacking.

Before reaching Act 10, consider playing around with Spell Suppression versions of the build and experimenting with skills like Tectonic Slam or Endurance Charge-based abilities. Once you've obtained key items like Dawnstrider and Brutus' Lead Sprinkler, switch fully to Volcanic Fissure totems.

 

Conclusion

The Volcanic Fissure of Snaking Ascendant offers a flexible, powerful, and engaging playstyle for Path of Exile 3.25. Whether you're aiming for fast map clears or taking on bosses, this Strength Stacking melee totem build has all the tools to succeed. With multiple ways to scale DPS, a solid defensive foundation, and the ability to customize the build to your liking, this build has the potential to carry you through the endgame.

Experiment with gear and passive tree adjustments to find what suits your playstyle best, and enjoy smashing enemies with the fiery power of Volcanic Fissure!