Arc
Assassin Build

Updated for Patch 3.28

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It's an Arc self-caster build, which, as of patch 3.28, is at its strongest because of the new Greater Chain Support. Arc deals more Damage per each remaining Chain, and the new Support Gem is much more powerful than its last version, and has no drawbacks. The first enemy struck by Arc will receive much more damage, making it a great boss-killing build. The damage is scaled with Power Charges, thus Critical Damage, but Critical Charges are critical. With Inner Conviction, you get more damage per Power Charge. With The Badge of the Brotherhood, your Maximum Frenzy Charges limit is equal to Power Charges, which is high. Ralakesh's Impatience will fix these Frenzy Charges that would otherwise be impossible to obtain. Now you can benefit from Increased Crit Chance, more damage, and increased Cast Speed. The explosions on kill and Elusiveness will make this build even more proficient at fast mapping.

The Assassin is one of the ascendancies specializing in Power Charges and Critical Strikes with their Unstable Infusion, Mistwalker, and Assassination Style. It's the most direct route to cap Crit Chance at 100% and reach a high Crit Multiplier. The last point can be assigned to Opportunistic to deal more damage in solo fights and take less damage in crowded areas and crucibles. The build also implements The Sands of Time Sceptre in combination with Triggerbots from Saboteur's Perfect Crime, obtainable with a pair of Forbidden Jewels. The suspended-in-time Mirages are considered Triggerables, which, to put it simply, drastically increase your cast rate. Defensively, the build has a mediocre Block Chance; that's pretty much it. We can add Leech for Recovery and seek items with Maximum Life, but it's still a glass canon that relies on movement and killing things quickly. Assassins are not exactly known for their durability.

1. Gameplay

Use arc on all sorts of enemies. The Mirages will persist until there are three of them, so the damage is much higher against stationary targets. To boost damage, cast Conductivity Hex and deploy Orb of Storms of Squalls. It won't last long, but neither will enemies. The build uses two Golems; take care of them since they can easily die, and re-summon them if they do. Move around with Frostblink. Steelskin is automated. Your passive skills are Wrath, Zealotry, Tempest Shield, Purity of Lightning, and Clarity.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

Start as a Cold Exsanguinate Miner. It's one of the fastest ways to get through the campaign. It differs quite a bit from this build, but not in the skill tree - you can retain a bulk of the points whenever you swap. You can begin to do so after acquiring the necessary unique items, including Forbidden Jewels. Until then, the Exsanguinate Mines are simply better.

Bandits:

An additional Passive Skill Point seems like the best option, but you may need to help Alira to get the additional Elemental Resistances.

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

96 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster or Unique Jewels)
119 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Mistwalker
2. Unstable Infusion
3. Knife in the Back
4. Opportunistic

Pantheon:

Major God:  Soul of the Brine King: You cannot be Stunned if you've been Stunned or Blocked a Stunning Hit in the past 2 seconds; 100% chance to Avoid being Frozen

Minor God: Soul of Abberath: 60% less Duration of Ignite on You; 10% increased Movement Speed while on Burning Ground; Unaffected by Burning Ground

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Arc setup
	Arc - Arc is one of the more powerful Spells for single targets and clearing alike, given you improve its chaining. It deals Lightning Damage.
	Empower Support - Gem Levels increase the damage of Arc.
	Increased Critical Strikes Support - Improved Critical Strike Chance.
	Increased Critical Damage Support - Additional Critical Strike Multiplier.
	Inspiration Support - More Damage, increased Crit Chance, and reduced Mana Cost.
	Greater Chain Support - Additional Chaining for the Arc with no drawbacks.

[UTILITY] Reservation setup
	Wrath - Here, it grants more Spell Lightning Damage.
	Zealotry - Increased Critical Strike Chance and more Damage for Spells.
	Tempest Shield - Spell Block Chance and Shock immunity.
	Enlighten Support - Linked Spells Reserve less Mana. It's optional.

[UTILITY] Life Reservation setup
	Clarity - Mana Regeneration that undoubtedly will be needed.
	Purity of Lightning - Lightning Resistance that has no Reservation due to the Foulborn Inpulsa's Broken Heart.
	Arrogance Support - Clarity and Purity of Lightning have increased Aura Effect, and Clarity Reserves Life instead of Mana.

[UTILITY] Orb of Storms setup
	Orb of Storms of Squalls - A bit stronger, more mobile, and cooldown-free version of the original Orb of Storms. Use it to boost your DPS.
	Increased Critical Strikes Support
	Increased Critical Damage Support
	Inspiration Support

[UTILITY] Golems setup
	Summon Lightning Golem - Lightning Golem increases Cast Speed and Mana Regeneration.
	Summon Stone Golem - Stone Golem increases your Defences and Regenerates Life. You can summon the second Golem after allocating Golem Commander notable.
	Elemental Army Support - Elemental Resistances and Maximum Elemental Resistances for Golems so that they won't die too quickly.
	Meat Shield Support - Minions take less damage and have increased Movement Speed.

[UTILITY] Conductivity
	Conductivity - A Hex Curse that lowers Lightning resistance of affected foes.

[UTILITY] Steelskin setup
	Steelskin - A Guard Spell to stop Bleeding and prevent a portion of incoming damage for a while.
	Automation - Automates Steelsking casting.

[MOBILITY] Frostblink
	Frostblink - A simple mobility Skill to dash from place to place. You can use the Wintry Blast variant if your Cast Speed is very high.

5. Gear Setup

The build uses a lot of Unique Items for the well-established Frenzy Charges with Inner Conviction synergy, so the burden of Resistances and Attributes can make gearing up difficult. Free Purity of Lightning helps, so focus more on Fire, Cold, and Chaos Resistances. Block Chance for Spells and Attacks is load-bearing, but you will also need Maximum Life. That's it for defences. To get more damage, look for Gem Level for Arc, added Lightning Damage for Spells, increased Damage, Crit Multiplier, and Cast Speed. Be sure you have a source of Onslaught, Arcane Surge, and Exposure. Maximum Power Charges help immensely, but items with them are expensive. Attributes and Reservation Efficiency are easy to get. Mana Cost may be overwhelming without investment into Reduced Mana Cost of Skills and Mana Regeneration Rate. It's overall a rather simple build with not many moving parts.

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - If you can afford one, search for a Synthesised Helmet with +1 max Power Charge. There, get the basic Maximum Life with Resistances or Attributes. If you have space for the Eldritch mods, get Lightning Penetration and either Cast Speed or Damage per Power Charge.

Min. requirements: +90 to Maximum Life 60% total Resistance Optional affixes: +1 to Maximum Power Charges (Synthesized Implicit or Warlord Prefix) Attributes

(Body Armour) Foulborn Inpulsa's Broken Heart - We have used Inpulsa's because of the explosions on kill, Maximum Life, and increased Effect of Shock. The foulborn version makes your Purity of Lightening free, so get that.

+(60-80) to maximum Life Purity of Lightning has no Reservation (15-25)% increased Effect of Shock Shocked Enemies you Kill Explode, dealing 5% of their Life as Lightning Damage which cannot Shock Unaffected by Shock

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - A regular Body Armour will provide you with more robust defensive stats like Defences, Maximum Life, and Resistances. For the Eldritch mods, get Crit Multiplier with Block Chance or increased Effect of Wrath or Zealotry.

Min. requirements: +120 to Maximum Life 80% total Resistance high Evasion rating and/or Energy Shield Optional affixes: Spell Suppression Chance

(Weapon) The Sands of Time - Sands is a key feature of this, and many other self-caster builds. It creates Mirages that will cast the Spell once there are three of them. It only lacks gem levels, which lowers your flat damage, making that stat more valuable.

26% increased Elemental Damage Trigger level 20 Suspend in Time on Casting a Spell (60-80)% increased Spell Damage (60-80)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate (10-15)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate 10% increased Cast Speed for each different Non-Instant Spell you've Cast Recently

(Off-hand) Rare Shield - On a Shield, you can go for +1 to level for Lightning Spells with Spell Damage, or focus more on defences with Maximum Life and Block Chance. As was the case with the Helmet, aim for the +1 max Power Charge Synthesized Implicit.

Min. requirements: +80 to Maximum Life +1 to Level of all Lightning Skill Gems high Attack and Spell Block Chance Optional affixes: +1 to Maximum power Charges (Synthesized Implicit) increased Spell Damage increased Lightning Damage Resistances

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - On Gloves, look mainly for Maximum Life and Resistances. For the Eldritch mods, seek Lightning Exposure on Hit with Shock proliferation or Unnerve on Hit.

Min. requirements: +90 to Maximum Life 80% total Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes

(Boots) Ralakesh's Impatience - You will need the Frenzy Charge version of Ralakesh's Impatience, since there is no other way to obtain them with Inner Conviction.

+(15-25)% to Cold Resistance +(15-25)% to Chaos Resistance (15-25)% increased Movement Speed Corrupted Blood cannot be inflicted on you <Random charge modifier>

(Belt) Rare Belt - On a Belt, there is not much to choose from, so getting as much Life with Resistances is preferable. Strength and Flask mods may be of use.

Min. requirements: +120 to Maximum Life 80% total Resistance Optional affixes: Attributes increased Maximum Life (Hunter Prefix) flask mods

(Amulet) Badge of the Brotherhood - This Amulet, combined with Ralakesh's Impatience for Frenzy Charges, will provide lots and lots of Elusiveness, Cooldown for Frostblink, Damage, and Cast Speed.

+(16-24) to Dexterity and Intelligence (7-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate of Travel Skills per Frenzy Charge (7-10)% increased Effect of Elusive on you per Power Charge (20-25)% chance to lose a Frenzy Charge when you use a Travel Skill (20-25)% chance to lose a Power Charge when you gain Elusive Your Maximum Frenzy Charges is equal to your Maximum Power Charges

Recommended Anointments: Overcharge

(Ring) Mark of the Shaper - It has added and increased Damage, Maximum Life, and Energy Shield. To unlock its full potential, the other Ring has to be Elder's or Shaper's (or both).

(15-25)% increased Elemental Damage 20% chance to Trigger Level 20 Summon Volatile Anomaly on Kill Adds (13-18) to (50-56) Lightning Damage to Spells (6-10)% increased maximum Energy Shield (6-10)% increased maximum Life (60-80)% increased Spell Damage if your opposite Ring is an Elder Item Cannot be Stunned by Spells if your opposite Ring is a Shaper Item

(Ring) Call of the Void - With this Ring, you can Chill with Lightning, which now causes enemies to deal less damage and Shatter. It has the Shaper and Elder influences, which synergise with Mark of the Shaper.

+(20-30)% to Cold Resistance +(20-30)% to Cold Resistance All Damage with Hits can Chill All Damage Taken from Hits can Chill you Enemies Chilled by your Hits can be Shattered as though Frozen Enemies Chilled by your Hits lessen their Damage dealt by half of Chill Effect

(Ring) Foulborn Berek's Respite - You may consider Foulborn Berek's Respite for explosions on kill (that's the exact same mod as the one on Inpulsa's, so having two of these is a bit of an overkill).

+(12-16)% to Fire and Lightning Resistances Adds (20-25) to (30-50) Fire Damage to Spells and Attacks (25-30)% increased Lightning Damage +(30-40) to maximum Mana Shocked Enemies you Kill Explode, dealing 5% of their Life as Lightning Damage which cannot Shock When you Kill an Ignited Enemy, inflict an equivalent Ignite on each nearby Enemy

(Jewel) Militant Faith - You need the Dominus variant of Militant Faith to gain Inner Conviction for more Damage per Power Charge. We have socketed in near Pain Attunement since there are not many notables it can ruin, but feel free to place it wherever after double-checking.

Carved to glorify (2000-10000) new faithful converted by High Templar <Avarius • Dominus • Maxarius> Passives in radius are Conquered by the Templars Historic <two random mods of devotion>

(Jewel) The Light of Meaning - You can socket it in a place where it affects the most passives, so that each grants "increased Lightning Damage".

<Random modifier that grants bonus stats to passive skills in radius>

(Jewel) Forbidden Flesh & Flame - You should definitely get the Perfect Crime passive, because Skitterbots double the rate at which you spawn mirages for Suspend in Time.

Allocates <random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flame Allocates <random Ascendancy Notable> if you have the matching modifier on Forbidden Flesh

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Jewels should get you additional Critical Strike Multiplier for your Lightning Spell. Increased Maximum Life, Corrupted Blood immunity, and Resistances are also good.

Recommended affixes: increased Maximum Life Critical Strike Multiplier (various applicable types) Attributes Resistances

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - Your Auras are Zealotry, Clarity, Purity of Lightening, and Wrath. You want Cast Speed, increased Spell/Lightning Damage, Elemental/Lightning Penetration, and reduced cost of Skills.

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - The most sound option is to get a 12-passive Large Cluster Jewel with improvements to its passives, increased Cast Speed, and Damage. Attributes or Resistances will work too.

Recommended affixes: Added Small Passive Skills grant: 12% increased Lightning Damage Added Small Passive Skills have 35% increased Effect Added Small Passive Skills also grant: #% increased Cast Speed Added Small Passive Skills also grant: #% increased Attack and Cast Speed with Lightning Skills Added Small Passive Skills also grant: #% increased Damage

(Jewel) Megalomaniac - Aim for Electric Presence, Righteous Path, or Pure Aptitude for Reservation, Storm Drinker for damage and Leech, Mage Hunter, Mage Bane, or Powerful Ward for Block Chance, or something for Chaos Resistance, Maximum Life, or Critical Damage.

Adds 4 Passive Skills Added Small Passive Skills grant Nothing <3 Random notable mods>

Other suggested Flasks and Tinctures: Life Flask with immunity to Corrupted Blood Diamond Flask with increased Critical Strike Chance Quicksilver Flask with increased Movement Speed Sulphur Flask with reduced effect of Curses Silver Flask with ES Leech from Spells

If you have any other build requests, please leave that in the comments below.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.