Wintertide Brand Occultist Necropolis 3.24 Guide

Build Overview

Welcome to the Wintertide Brand Occultist Necropolis 3.24 Guide, presented by WowCarry. If you're intrigued by the prospect of a Damage Over Time (DoT) build that eschews the typical frailty for robust defenses, you've landed on the perfect guide. The Occultist build we're discussing not only layers defenses to the point of near invincibility but also delivers substantial damage output, all tailored for Path of Exile's (PoE) latest Necropolis expansion.

This Wintertide Brand Occultist boasts an impressive defensive setup, combining a solid base of Armour with remarkable Energy Shield recovery upon blocking. Coupled with a significant chance to Block and Spell Block, Immunity to Chaos Damage, and the innate recovery mechanisms of an Occultist's Energy Shield—which can reach up to 8,000—it's not an overstatement to classify this build as one of the tankiest you might ever pilot.

On the offensive front, Cold Damage Over Time shines when boosted by the Cold DoT Multiplier, making the Occultist an ideal ascendancy choice. This build not only promises substantial damage output but also enhances your survivability significantly. While the build performs admirably on a budget, allowing you to vanquish any obstacle in your path, investing further into your gear can propel this Wintertide Brand Occultist to new heights, surpassing the capabilities of many other DoT builds in PoE's Necropolis expansion.

Pros and Cons

When it comes to map modifiers that could hinder the Wintertide Brand Occultist build in the Necropolis expansion of PoE, there are a couple to watch out for. The "No Regeneration" modifier can prove particularly troublesome, as this build leans heavily on Energy Shield regeneration. Additionally, Elemental Reflect poses a significant threat, as using Vortex—or any other skill that deals damage on hit—could lead to self-inflicted demise. In these instances, avoiding the use of Vortex and similar skills, opting instead for purely Wintertide Brand-based strategies, is advisable.

Build Main Mechanics

The Wintertide Brand Occultist build, a cornerstone of PoE's Necropolis 3.24 Guide presented by WowCarry, leverages unique gameplay mechanics introduced with the brand skills in Path of Exile's 3.11 Harvest League. Among these, Wintertide Brand stands out for its ability to scale damage based on the duration of its attachment to enemies, gaining damage with every stage it reaches. This mechanic differentiates it from other brands like Penance Brand, by allowing it to retain damage stages even after detachment, thus reducing the urgency to rapidly scale its stacks.

One of the key mechanics of Wintertide Brand is its stage-based damage amplification, activating four times per second and capable of reaching up to 20 stages—or 24 with a specific Helmet enchant. This scaling with attachment duration is crucial, with cast speed serving as a significant multiplier for both damage output and quality of life. Increasing cast speed allows the brand to reach its maximum DoT DPS in less than 2 seconds, a significant improvement over the baseline 5 seconds.

Beyond its core mechanics, Wintertide Brand synergizes exceptionally with Vortex and Vaal Cold Snap, enhancing its damage potential. Vortex applies the Bonechill Support multiplier, while Cold Snap generates Frenzy Charges in the presence of enemies, both augmenting damage output substantially. Despite Vortex's transition away from being an instant cast, it's recommended to bind it to a convenient key for easy application of the Bonechill Debuff.

This Wintertide Brand Occultist build is acclaimed for its balance and versatility, adept at tackling all content in the game. It stands as an excellent introduction to Chaos Inoculation builds, thanks to its reliance on easily obtainable or Unique items, thereby simplifying the Energy Shield gearing process. The blend of Block, Mitigation, and Recovery mechanics allows it to withstand numerous foes simultaneously, making it a forgiving yet powerful build. All these features come together to deliver a build capable of achieving multiple millions of Shaper DPS, making it a formidable choice for the Necropolis expansion.

PoB, Passives and Gem Links

To fully grasp the intricacies of the Wintertide Brand Occultist build, we recommend consulting an optimized Path of Building, which can be found linked from WowCarry’s comprehensive guide for the Necropolis 3.24 expansion. This tool provides invaluable insights into passive skill allocations and gear recommendations tailored to enhance your gameplay experience in Path of Exile (PoE).

Gem Links

• Main Link (6-Link) for Wintertide Brand: Gem levels significantly influence Wintertide Brand’s base damage. As such, acquiring a 21/20 gem should be a priority. Incorporate Awakened Controlled Destruction Support, Awakened Elemental Focus Support, Hypothermia Support, Swift Affliction Support, and Inspiration Support for optimal performance. Advanced players should consider Awakened Swift Affliction, noting the additional Dexterity requirement it imposes.

• Chilling – Buffing with Vortex (In Rime Gaze): Assign Vortex to your left mouse button for ease of use and to ensure consistent damage output. This setup is essential for applying the Chill effect, benefiting from Hypothermia and Bonechill Support’s enhanced Cold Damage over Time against Chilled enemies. Maintaining Arcane Surge through Vortex is also crucial for maximizing damage.

• Trigger Wand Setup: Automate buffs, resistance reduction, Arcane Surge activation, and cursing through a Trigger Wand setup. This includes Arcane Surge Support (Level 13), Elemental Weakness, and Frostbite. Adjustments may be required for Frostbite’s mana cost and Arcane Surge application depending on gear and Enlighten Support level.

• Auras: Due to helmet reservation penalties, only a few auras fit into this build. Discipline and Malevolence are essential, with Vaal Righteous Fire available for burst damage against challenging foes. An Enlighten Support of level 3 or 4 aids in managing these reservations.

• Movement Skills & Utility: Flame Dash, favored for its synergy with Cast Speed, doesn’t require linkage to function effectively. Vaal Cold Snap and an Increased Area of Effect Support offer additional utility, generating Frenzy Charges for increased DPS. Lastly, ensure to include Tempest Shield and Summon Chaos Golem for enhanced defensive capabilities.

• Free Utility Skills: The remaining sockets should house Defiance Banner, Tempest Shield, and Vaal Righteous Fire. The latter is particularly useful in critical situations for a damage boost, while Tempest Shield helps cap your Spell Block chance.

Ascendancy, Pantheons and Deal with the Bandits

Ascendancy (Witch – Occultist)

• Void Beacon: A cornerstone for the Wintertide Brand Occultist, Void Beacon slashes enemy Cold Resistance by 20%, significantly amplifying overall DPS by approximately 13%. It also prevents enemies from regenerating health, enhancing your damage over time effects.
• Frigid Wake: Boosts cold damage by 15% and confers immunity to Freeze, eliminating the need for a specific flask affix. The added benefit of chilling enemies around you provides an effective 10% damage mitigation, making it an essential pick for both offense and defense.
• Vile Bastion: Offers reduced effectiveness for recharge-based Occultists due to Wicked Ward, but still provides valuable Energy Shield regeneration and stun immunity, crucial for maintaining casting and mobility.
• Malediction: Enables the application of an additional curse, allowing for both Frostbite and Elemental Weakness to be applied simultaneously, further reducing monster resistances and boosting damage.

Bandits

The unanimous choice for the Wintertide Brand Occultist in PoE's Necropolis expansion is to support Eramir by eliminating all bandits for the extra Skill Points. While Alira’s offerings of resistances and mana regeneration might seem tempting, achieving resistance caps through gear provides more flexibility and value.

Pantheons

• Major Gods: Soul of Lunaris is the preferred option, providing additional Physical Damage Reduction, a boon for any build looking to enhance its survivability.
• Minor Gods: Soul of Abberath is recommended to mitigate the impact of Burning Ground on Energy Shield regeneration. Alternatively, Soul of Garukhan can be considered for its benefits, though its utility does not justify frequent swaps between pantheons.

While upgrading Pantheon powers through Divine Vessels offers benefits, it’s not a critical focus for this build. If opportunity and resources allow, enhancing your Pantheons can provide modest improvements to your character's capabilities in Path of Exile's Necropolis expansion.

Gear

For the Wintertide Brand Occultist build in PoE's Necropolis 3.24 Guide, presented by WowCarry, selecting the right gear is crucial to maximizing both damage output and survivability. Here's a summary table of recommended gear to aim for:

Each piece of gear contributes significantly to the Wintertide Brand Occultist's performance, providing a delicate balance of damage, defense, and utility. The choice of items like Rime Gaze and Aegis Aurora not only enhance your damage output but also bolster your defensive capabilities, ensuring your Occultist can withstand the challenges of the Necropolis expansion. Prioritizing items with Energy Shield, Resistances, and specific attributes will support both your survivability and your ability to unleash devastating Cold Damage over Time effects on your enemies.

Summary

That wraps up our guide for the Wintertide Brand Occultist build in PoE Necropolis expansion. This build offers a blend of robust defenses and impressive cold damage over time, making it a fantastic choice for those looking to tackle the game's toughest content. We've gone through everything from the build's basics, gear recommendations, to the finer points of ascendancy and gem links, aiming to equip you with all you need to dominate in Necropolis. If any part of this guide seems tricky or if you're looking for a bit of extra help, remember that we at WowCarry have got your back. Our services include tailored assistance for this build, whether you need help piecing together the perfect gear or optimizing your passive tree. Don't hesitate to reach out; we're here to help you get the most out of your Wintertide Brand Occultist adventure!