Winter Orb Hierophant Necropolis 3.24 Guide

Build Overview

Introducing the Winter Orb Hierophant, a powerhouse in the realm of mapping within the Path of Exile Necropolis expansion. Winter Orb has long been celebrated for its efficiency in mapping, owing to its unique interaction with cast speed. By investing in cast speed, you not only enhance your channeling efficiency, allowing for more fluid movement through maps, but you also significantly boost your damage output. However, scaling Winter Orb to meet the contemporary demands of Path of Exile has been a challenge, primarily since a notable nerf. As a fan of Winter Orb, ranking it among my top three favorite builds, I was driven to devise a version that meets my expectations for speed and efficiency.

This build is designed for those who desire to swiftly clear T16 maps in less than two minutes, demolish hordes of enemies with Heralds, and enjoy decent mobility without being overly fragile. The Winter Orb Hierophant strikes a perfect balance, offering substantial power without the fragility that leads to frequent deaths, unless due to player error.

Disclaimer: This Winter Orb Hierophant build incorporates several specialized techniques to achieve its full potential. It's crucial to familiarize yourself with the build by reviewing this guide multiple times. Understanding each component is essential, as overlooking any aspect can significantly diminish your strength. While this build can be initiated from league start, it shines brightest when key items are acquired. If you're willing to start slower and grind for the essential gear, the Winter Orb Hierophant can rapidly escalate your progress, making it an excellent choice for both new and seasoned players in the Necropolis expansion of PoE.

Pros and Cons

Regarding Map Modifiers to be Avoided, flexibility is a hallmark of this build, as demonstrated by my approach of rolling all maps with 25% pack size and tackling them head-on. However, certain modifiers pose challenges. Elemental Reflect maps are a no-go without the appropriate sextants. Maps featuring both No Leech and No Regeneration are particularly deadly, as survival against any pack becomes a daunting task. Additionally, individual modifiers, while manageable on their own, can become problematic. For instance, Eldritch Altars that diminish your damage output can significantly impede your efficiency if you're not vigilant. It's crucial to be mindful of these potential hindrances to maintain the build's efficacy in the Necropolis expansion of PoE.

Build Main Mechanics

The mechanics and playstyle of the Winter Orb Hierophant build in the Necropolis expansion of PoE are intricate, blending an array of charges, unique items, and strategic defenses for an unparalleled mapping experience. Charges play a central role in this build's operation. Traditionally, Endurance, Power, and Frenzy charges are fleeting buffs, but our build innovates by ensuring these charges are perpetually active, leveraging items like Tulfall, Malachai's Loop, and Willclash to maintain a high count of minimum Power Charges.

To circumvent the loss of Power Charges and fully exploit the benefits of these items, our strategy includes securing a significant number of minimum Power Charges—reaching a baseline through the Hierophant ascendancy, passive skill tree, and Grand Spectrum jewels. This foundation enables us to consistently hold 10 Power Charges, amplifying critical strike potential, elemental damage, and defensive capabilities. The integration of Grand Spectrum jewels further enhances our build's flexibility and power, with alternative crafting options available for early gear optimization.

The defensive strategy of this build is as innovative as its offensive tactics. Employing the Cloak of Defiance in conjunction with the Hierophant's Ascendancy and the Eldritch Battery keystone allows us to redirect a portion of incoming damage from our life pool to our mana, which effectively doubles as an energy shield. This, along with Petrified Blood, provides a robust defensive layer that excels in high-damage environments, ensuring survivability through a combination of life recoup, regeneration, and leech mechanisms. Spell and attack mitigation are addressed through a mix of spell block, evasion, armor, and crucially, movement speed, which is a cornerstone of avoiding damage in fast-paced mapping scenarios.

Mechanically, Winter Orb serves as the linchpin of this build, offering a dynamic and engaging playstyle. While we forego the traditional duration stacking of Winter Orb for a more spellcaster-oriented approach, the skill remains highly effective and enjoyable for clearing maps. The synergy between our chosen mechanics and Winter Orb's functionality creates a powerful and efficient mapping build, capable of swiftly navigating through the most challenging content in the Necropolis expansion of Path of Exile.

PoB, Passives and Gem Links

For those seeking to maximize the potential of their Winter Orb Hierophant build in the Necropolis expansion of PoE, an optimized Path of Building (PoB) setup is essential. This guide outlines the core Gem Links and aura configurations to enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Gem Links

• Winter Orb (Main Link): This setup focuses on maximizing Winter Orb's damage output. Key gems include:
  • Winter Orb
  • Increased Critical Strikes Support
  • Awakened Greater Multiple Projectiles Support
  • Power Charge On Critical Support
  • Increased Critical Damage Support
  • Awakened Added Cold Damage Support (opt for Hypothermia Support if you're using the non-awakened variant)
• Aura Setup: A strategic arrangement of auras and supports, considering an Enlighten of at least level 3, includes:
  • Determination, Hatred, and Herald of Ice (with a 21/20 corruption for enhanced clear) alongside Increased Area of Effect and Increased Critical Strikes Support
  • Enlighten Support (level 3 or 4)
  • Petrified Blood, to synergize with the low life mechanics
  • Haste, Increased Duration Support, and Divine Blessing Support for a flexible duration enhancement
  • Vitality and Arrogance Support, paired with Tempest Shield for an effective low life activation
  Tip: Enhance Herald of Ice's effect by socketing it in +1 Gems corrupted boots.
• Remaining Sockets: For additional mobility, Flame Dash is recommended. The remaining slots can be filled based on personal preference, such as a Cast on Death and Portal setup for quick re-entry upon death in challenging maps, or a 3-link curse setup with Vortex, Hextouch Support, and Enfeeble for defensive utility.

This configuration represents a balanced approach, optimizing the Winter Orb Hierophant for explosive damage, efficient clearing, and durable defenses in Path of Exile's Necropolis expansion. Adapting gem links and auras to fit individual playstyles and available resources will further enhance this powerful build's effectiveness.

Ascendancy, Pantheons and Deal with the Bandits

Ascendancy (Templar – Hierophant)

• Conviction of Power: A foundational node enhancing both offensive and defensive capabilities significantly through endurance and power charges. It provides a notable increase in critical strike chance, physical damage mitigation, and elemental resistances.
• Divine Guidance: Chosen for its essential role in enabling full aura utilization. This node is particularly crucial for those who may delay completing their Uber Lab. It also boosts Energy Shield, benefiting Mind over Matter interactions.
• Sanctuary of Thought: Key to running all auras efficiently and boosting Energy Shield for improved defense. Additionally, it reduces the mana cost of Winter Orb, facilitating easier spell casting.
• Arcane Blessing: Provides a significant damage boost by granting the effects of Arcane Surge, enhancing overall performance despite the build's reliance on Energy Shield for casting.

Bandits

For the Winter Orb Hierophant, the optimal choice is to eliminate all bandits in favor of receiving two additional skill points from Eramir. The benefits offered by aligning with any single bandit do not outweigh the value of these points for this build.

Pantheons

• Major God: Soul of the Brine King is non-negotiable, offering crucial immunity to freeze when upgraded, which is indispensable for this build.
• Minor God: Soul of Abberath is the preferred choice, primarily for its immunity to burning ground upon upgrading, mitigating the annoyance and potential danger posed by such environments.

To enhance the powers of your chosen Pantheons, Divine Vessels should be utilized within the Map Device alongside the relevant maps. Capturing the soul of the designated boss not only upgrades your Pantheon powers but also unveils additional lore, enriching your Path of Exile experience.

Gear

Choosing the right gear is paramount for optimizing the Winter Orb Hierophant build in the Path of Exile Necropolis expansion. Here is a summary of our recommended gear to maximize both the build's potential for clearing maps efficiently and its survivability in challenging content.

This gear setup for the Winter Orb Hierophant is designed to enhance the build's core strengths: rapid map clearing, high damage output, and robust defenses. By carefully selecting each piece, players can significantly boost their performance in the Necropolis expansion of PoE, navigating through even the most daunting maps with ease.

Summary

And there you have it, folks—the Winter Orb Hierophant guide for smashing through the Necropolis expansion of PoE. This build is a killer combo of speed, damage, and a bit of tactical play that'll have you clearing maps faster than you can say "Winter Orb." Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, this guide's got you covered from gear to gems and everything in between. But hey, if you find yourself hitting a wall or just want to skip the grind, remember that we at WowCarry are here to lend a hand. We've got services tailored to this build that can help you out with any part of it, or even take on the heavy lifting for you. So, give it a whirl, and let's blast through those maps together!