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Storm Burst Totem Hierophant Build

Storm Burst Totem Hierophant Build

A Storm Burst Hierophant Build which deals Lightning Damage via Totems

Storm Burst Totem
Hierophant build

Updated for Patch 3.22

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Guide notes
June 16, 2022
- Build created
October 23, 2023
-Updated for Patch 3.22
Build overview
Tags: [TOTEM] [ELEMENTAL] [LIFE] [STARTER]

Budget: 

Defenses: 

Boss DPS:

AoE:

 

Totem builds are often played by Hierophants, as the Pursuit of Faith and Ritual of Awakening Passive provides them with a significant advantage. It allows for an extra Totem, enhances their properties, and grants you more Damage and Mana Regeneration per active Totem. You will be able to summon up to nine or more of them, three of which will be responsible for the actual damage output via Storm Burst, others are Phantasmal Searing Bond Totems. They have a unique property of increasing the maximum number of summoned Totems per Gem Quality, but only the ones of their kind. With 9 Totems, your damage will grow by 45%, just from the Ritual of Awakening passive. The other Keystones from your Ascendancy Skill Tree to pick are Divine Guidance and Conviction of Power.

With Divine Guidance you have increased Maximum Mana, Transfiguration of Mind, and a portion of Damage taken from Mana before Life. It goes along nicely with Mind over Matter, and a vast, unreserved Mana Pool. This setup creates a very efficient defensive layer, where your Mana is able to absorb a lot of incoming damage before it's deducted from Life. It will require you not to reserve too much of your Total Mana, and that's why we recommend using only one Aura and linking it with Eternal Blessing Support. Having a lot of Mana matches with Arcane Cloak Guard Spell which grants extra Lightning Damage, scaling up with your Mana. With Viridi's Veil and Soul Mantle, the character will also be Hexproof. The build has a moderate Critical Strike Chance when combined with Conviction of Power, enhanced by Inner Conviction.

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1. Gameplay

For the majority of the time, using Storm Burst Totem will be enough as the damage is sufficient in itself, but for the boss fights deploy the six additional Searing Bond Totems and activate Vaal Righteous Fire to boost your damage. Storm Brand or Arcanist Brand can be used to apply numerous useful debuffs such as Curse or to grant you Culling Strike, Power Charges, or Innervation. The only Aura to be used is Wrath linked with Eternal Blessing. For a Guard Spell use Arcane Cloak, and for a movement Spell - Flame Dash. 

 

This video was recorded on a level 94 Hierophant in budget gear, including 1.5 Ex Cane of Kulemak, which was the most expensive item used in the entire build. Currently, we have upgraded the Staff to a Rare one with +3 Lightning Skill Gems, a bunch of Spell Damage, and Spell Crit. Chance, boosting the damage by approx 20% which allowed us several attempts at Uber Pinnacle Bosses - without a success, yet...


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2. Build's PROS & CONS

PROS
  • Storm Burst is capable of dealing very high damage
  • great defensives granted by Mind Over Matter and Hexproofness
  • requires cheap unique items
CONS
  • a good Cane of Kulemak might be expensive

 

3. Leveling tips

Follow our in-depth leveling guide - Templar Leveling Guide using Toems.

Bandits:

When dealing with the bandits you can either help Alira, or kill all of them for two Passive Skill Points. Alira grants Resistances, Mana Regeneration, and Critical Strike Multiplier - it's all useful.

 

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

105 Points Final Skill Tree (doesn't include Unique nor Cluster Jewels)
121 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

  1. Pursuit of Faith
  2. Ritual of Awakening
  3. Divine Guidance
  4. Conviction of Power

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Solaris: 6% additional Physical Damage Reduction while there; is only one nearby Enemy; 20% chance to take 50% less Area Damage from Hits

Minor God: Soul of Shakari: You cannot be Poisoned while there are at least 3 Poisons on you; 50% less Duration of Poisons on You

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Storm Burst Totem setup
Storm Burst Storm Burst - A Channeling Spell dealing Physical Damage, half of which is converted to Lightning. It creates orbs rapidly jumping toward targets and exploding after Channeling.
Inspiration Support Inspiration Support - Increases Critical Strike Chance and Elemental Damage, while lowering Mana Cost of Skill
Lightning Penetration Support Lightning Penetration Support - Damage Penetrates more Lightning Resistance
Elemental Focus Support Elemental Focus Support - Skill is unable to inflict Elemental Ailments but deals more Elemental Damage in return
Increased Critical Strikes Support Increased Critical Strikes Support - Critical Strike Multiplier for linked Skill is increased
Increased Critical Damage Support Increased Critical Damage Support - Increases Critical Strike Chance. If you don't have the source of Damage Conversion (more about that in the gear section of the guide), get Physical to Lightning Support Physical to Lightning Support here instead.
provided by Soul Mantle Unique Body Armour:
Spell Totem Support Spell Totem Support - It transforms any Spell to be cast by a Totem instead
[UTILITY] Searing Bond Totem setup
Searing Bond Phantasmal Searing Bond - Searing Bond dels Burning Damage but that's not important. Get the Phantasmal version which has +1 to the Maximum number of Summoned Totems per 10% of Gem Quality just to get more Totems and deal more Damage via Ritual of Awakening.
Multiple Totems Multiple Totems Support - you're able to summon three extra Totems, and double the speed at which these are summoned
Enhance Support Enhance Support - increases the Gem Quality of linked skills
[UTILITY] Storm Brand setup
Storm Brand Storm Brand - A Brand Spell that sticks to the enemy to periodically Hit it alongside nearby enemies. It won't do any damage as you've allocated Ancestral Bond.
Conductivity Conductivity - Curse that lowers Lightning Resistance
Hextouch Support Hextouch Support - Hits done by the linked Skill will apply the linked Curse
Divergent Innervate Divergent Innervate - with the Divergent version you have a chance to gain an Innervation buff each time Storm Brand Hits an enemy.
Power Charge on Critical Support Power Charge on Critical Support - Storm Brand has a chance to grant you a Power Charge on Critical Strike
Culling Strike Support Culling Strike Support - use it to kill enemies below 10% of their Maximum Life
[UTILITY] Arcane Cloak setup
Arcane Cloak Arcane Cloak - Arcane Cloak protects you from Hit damage by transforming the majority of your Current Mana onto a shield that prevents a big portion of incoming damage. It grants Lightning Damage too.
Empower Support Empower Support - increases the Gem Level of Arcane Cloak to make it more effective
Increased Duration Increased Duration Support - Arcane Cloak has increased Skill Effect Duration
Arcane Surge Support Arcane Surge Support - Casting the Spell will grant you an Arcan Surge Buff, for more Damage and Mana Regeneration Rate.
[UTILITY] Wrath setup
Wrath Wrath - Wrath makes you deal more and adds Lightning Damage to your Spells
Eternal Blessing Eternal Blessing - Linked Aura will reserve no Mana and be slightly less effective
[UTILITY] Vaal Righteous Fire setup
Vaal Righteous Fire Vaal Righteous Fire - Vaal Righteous Fire costs a lot of Life, but for a duration, it grants more Spell Damage
Increased Duration Increased Duration Support
[MOBILITY] Flame Dash
Flame Dash Flame Dash - a basic mobility Spell that allows you to teleport


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6. Gear Setup

The build requires a few Unique Items - Soul Mantle, Self-Flagellation, and Viridi's Veil are the most important. It's a very popular way in which you can make yourself Hexproof, make the Curses affecting you beneficial, and bear a lot of Curses at once at all times. Your Rare Items should provide Resistances, Maximum Life, and Maximum Mana - these are the most important defensive stats. For offense seek Spell, Physical, or Lightning Damage. To convert your Damage you can use Gloves Affix, Lighting Mastery, and/or Watcher's Eye. The Gem Level of Spell Burst is important too, try to get at least two extra levels for it. Critical Strike Damage is a big part of the build, but your Critical Strike Chance won't reach 100%, not at least without completely altering the whole gear and Skill Tree. There should be no problem with getting enough Attributes to wield all the Items and to socket all the Gems. Cast Speed is somewhat important, Storm Burst is a Channeling Spell, but still benefits from this stat.

Our recommended items will:

  1. Cap your resistances 
  2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully

Stat priorities on items:

  1. Elemental Resistances
  2. Maximum Life
  3. Gem Level of Storm Burst
  4. Maximum Mana
  5. Cast Speed
  6. Added Physical/Lightning Damage or extra Lightning Damage as Physical Damage
  7. Critical Strike Chance and Multiplier for Spells
  8. Chaos Resistance
  9. Mana Regeneration Rate
Viridi's Veil(Helmet) Viridi's Veil - It will require you to have one Magic Ring, but in return will render you Hexproof, which is very important. It grants some Resistances, Armour, Energy Shield, and Level to all Gems socketed in it.
+(1-2) to Level of Socketed Gems
(120-160)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
+(15-25)% to all Elemental Resistances
Damage of Enemies Hitting you is Unlucky while you have a Magic Ring Equipped
You are Hexproof if you have a Magic Ring in right slot
Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes if you have a Magic Ring in left slot
Helmet enchantments:
Strom Burst Enchantment
Cane of Kulemak(Weapon) Cane of Kulemak - Cane of Kulemak is potentially the best Staff you can have, given you have the right Affixes on it. The list of possible mods is extensive, but Spell, Lightning, or Physical Damage, Critical Strike, and Gem Level mods are always good. You can always replace it with a regular Rare staff with similar bonuses. You can also use the regular Wand/Shied setup if you can't afford such a Staff yet.
+20% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff
(60-90)% increased Unveiled Modifier magnitudes
Veiled Prefix
Veiled Suffix
Veiled Prefix
Soul Mantle(Body Armour) Soul Mantle - It's another mandatory piece, it basically allows you to seven-link your main damage setup while turning the penalty into favor.
Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Spell Totem
(20-25)% increased Spell Damage
(100-120)% increased Energy Shield
(20-30)% increased Totem Life
Inflicts a random Hex on you when your Totems die, with 80% more Effect
Rare Boots(Boots) Rare Boots - Rare Boots with high Maximum Life, Elemental Resistances, and Movement Speed are good enough, but for an upgrade, you can seek the mods for Tailwind and Elusive.
Min. requirements:
25% Movement Speed
+60 to Maximum Life
60% Total Elemental Resistances
Optional affixes:
chance to gain Elusive on Critical Strike
you have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently
Chaos Resistance
Rare Gloves(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves are able to convert your remaining 50% of Physical Damage into Lighting with a craftable Incursion or Crusader's Prefix, and with Eldritch modifiers.
Min. requirements:
+50 to Maximum Life
40% Total Elemental Resistances
25% of Physical Damage Converted to Lightning Damage
Optional affixes:
25% of Physical Damage Converted to Lightning Damage
Maximum Mana
Chaos Resistance
Attributes
Rare Belt (Belt) Rare Belt - Stygian Vise packed with Life, Mana, and Resistances will be a good choice, there aren't many modifiers unique to Belt to look for
Min. requirements:
+90 to Maximum Life
90% Total Elemental Resistances
Optional affixes:
increased Maximum Life
Chaos Resistance
Maximum Mana
Amulet(Amulet) Rare Amulet - Maximum Life and Mana can be found there in abundance, the same goes for the Critical Strike modifiers and Elemental Resistances. For the best outcome also get one or two mods for the increased Gem Level of Strom Burst.
Min. requirements:
+1 to Level of all Intelligence/Physical/Lightning Skill Gems
+50 to Maximum Life
Optional affixes:
Maximum Mana
Global Critical Strike Multiplier
Global Critical Strike Chance
Elemental Resistances
Replica Dragonfang's Flight(Amulet) Replica Dragonfang's Flight - This Amulet is great if you have the variant of it for Storm Burst Gem Level, which shouldn't be expensive. It grants tons of damage.
+(10-16) to all Attributes
+3 to Level of all <Random Skill> Gems
+(10-15)% to all Elemental Resistances
(10-15)% increased Reservation Efficiency of Skills
Items and Gems have (15-10)% reduced Attribute Requirements
Recommended Anointments:
Exceptional Performance
Divine Wrath
Divine Judgement
Doom Cast
Ring(Ring) Rare Ring - One of your Rings has to me Magic, with only one Suffix and one Prefix - it's a good opportunity to obtain the rarest mods here, like Conductivity on Hit. Get a lot of Mana, Life, and Resistances here.
Min. requirements:
+80 to Maximum Life
+60 to Maximum Mana
80% Total Elemental Resistances
Optional affixes:
added Spell/Elemental Damage
Curse Enemies with Conductivity on Hit
Global Critical Strike Multiplier
Critical Strike Chance
increased maximum Mana
Cobalt Jewel(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Maximum Life, Maximum Mana, Totem Damage, and Critical Strike mods are common on most of the Jewels
Recommended affixes:
Critical Strike Multiplier
Totem Damage
Critical Strike Chance
Elemental Resistances
increased Maximum Life
increased Maximum Mana
Large Cluster Jewel(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewel - Large Cluster Jewels offer a lot of great Notables for you to choose from, some of which are defensively-oriented, like Conjured Wall or Mage Hunter, while others can provide you with a substantial damage boost.
Recommended affixes:
1 Added Passive Skill is Sap Psyche
1 Added Passive Skill is Conjured Wall
1 Added Passive Skill is Mage Hunter
1 Added Passive Skill is Prismatic Heart
1 Added Passive Skill is Supercharge
1 Added Passive Skill is Scintillating Idea
Medium Cluster Jewel(Jewel) Medium Cluster Jewel - Medium Cluster Jewels can get you some of the best Critical Strike mods, but the most important is the Sleepless Sentris notable for near-permanent Onslaught.
Recommended affixes:
1 Added Passive Skill is Basics of Pain
1 Added Passive Skill is Pressure Points
1 Added Passive Skill is Sleepless Sentries
1 Added Passive Skill is Ancestral Echo
Self-Flagellation(Jewel) Self-Flagellation - Use it so that your damage will be increased by 20% per Curse on you. You will have a lot of Curses on you thanks to Soul Mantle.
(10-20)% increased Damage per Curse on you
An additional Curse can be applied to you
Militant Faith(Jewel) Militant Faith - Get the Dominus Variant. You won't be able to easily generate any Frenzy Charges, so you might as well get more Damage from the existing five or six Power Charges.
Carved to glorify (2000-10000) new faithful converted by High Templar Dominus
Passives in radius are Conquered by the Templars
Historic
<two random mods of devotion>
Impossible Escape(Jewel) Impossible Escape - Necromantic Aegis Keysone is surrounded by Forethought, Dreamer, and the Duration Cluster - allocate all of these notables for more Mana and SkillEffect Duration - it increases your Storm Burst Damage.
Passive in Radius of <<Keystone>> can be Allocated without being connected to your tree
watcher's eye(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - You're using only Wrath as an Aura, which can grant increases Critical Strike Chance, Lightingnin Resistance Penetration, Physical Damage as Extra Lightning, and Physical Damage converted to Lightning.
(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield
(4-6)% increased maximum Life
(4-6)% increased maximum Mana
<Two or Three random aura modifiers>
Rumi's Concoction(Flask) Rumi's Concoction - a Flask for an additional Armour, Spell, and Attack Block Chance
+1500 to Armour
+(8-12)% Chance to Block Attack Damage during Flask effect
+(4-6)% Chance to Block Spell Damage during Flask effect
The Wise Oak(Flask) The Wise Oak - Wise Oak reduces Damage taken and makes your Damage penetrate Lightning Resistance, given you have a correct Resistance setup
+35% to all Elemental Resistances
During Flask Effect, 6% reduced Damage taken of each Element for which your Uncapped Elemental Resistance is lowest
During Flask Effect, Damage Penetrates (5-8)% Resistance of each Element for which your Uncapped Elemental Resistance is highest

Other suggested Flasks:

  1. Bubbling Life Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal
  2. Diamond Flask with random ailment removal
  3. Quicksilver Flask with random ailment removal
The Wise OakQuicksilver FlaskDiamond FlaskRumi's ConcoctionLife Flask


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