[3.5] Pure Uniques Molten Strike HOWA. 4 Mill Shaper DPS, Good Defences

The HOWA scion got hit in the 3.2 nerf which made me turn to the guardian option which I now prefer. The two options are both similar HOWA characters and are both described in this guide. The flexibility of the scion means it may return to best option again in future patches

HOWA Guardian
+ Best Rapid Hits prevention through block + evasion
+ Best overall defense from layering mechanics
+ Better Damage

HOWA Scion
+ Best movement speed

New
My recency bias has me preferring my new Brutus lead Sprinkler character best as it felt smoother to put together and plays the same as a HOWA character. It wins in damage and ES number but the HOWA guardian has more varied defensive mechanics that are hard to quantify.

BLS Scion
+ Best damage
+ Stun immunity
+ Best raw ES number
+ Best clearspeed options

Link: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2172248

Mechanics
I use ancestral call as a clearspeed skill but also as a single target. How this works is that on bosses you need to be standing close to the target while still being far enough away that your ancestral 'ghost' appears and is hitting the target doubling the number of projectiles being produced.

This takes practice and skill but when done correctly turns ancestral call into a DPS boost on par with concentrated effect.

There are some bosses that like to charge right into you and prevent this from happening effectively and because of this some people choose to run Conc effect instead of damage on full life so they can swap ancestral call into dmg on full life for bossing giving a more reliable DPS.

I respect this and recommend giving it a go yourself to see which playstyle suits you more.

Personally I enjoy not needing to change gems each boss. Ancestral call also increases your range which enables getting in a few attacks in places that would otherwise be too dangerous or just result in missing

DPS calculation
I used https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1903956/page/1 as my basis
which calculates that the chance for each ball to hit on a normal sized target is 0.47. This is still an estimation and probably flawed but its the best I've been able to find

Its worth noting that path of building doesn't apply multistrike to the balls which is why we need to take the balls average damage and multiply it by our molten strike attack speed instead of using their DPS number

Molten balls average damage(not dps)x Molten strike (Strike not balls)attack speed x 0.47 + Molten strike hit dps = Estimated DPS

So as an example to calculate with ancestral call doubling projectiles to 14 but no enchant or flask
ball average damage 38,961 x
attack rate 9.12 x
chance to hit 0.47 x
number of projectiles 14 +
Molten hit DPS 241,904
= 2,579,938

Guardian
Tier 16 Minotaur Map
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3Ncv1RbjE&feature=youtu.be

Scion

Tier 15 Carcass map
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBGoxYpSbY4&feature=youtu.be

Tier 15 Elder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbN_h-aWp6M&feature=youtu.be

Scion Gear


Guardian Gear

These two items are the only difference. Guardian gets enough ES that Its easier to justify swapping into Heart. Guardian gets good block and rainbowstride is an easy option for some spell block and covering resistances

Gear Breakdown
Weapon
Hand of Wisdom and Action to scale damage off intelligence. Hand of thought and motion are the preupgraded form for leveling

Rings
Int scales damage and %ES so it has really high value. These rings turn each unique item we pick up into a 4% more Int item. This is really solid value as most of the good ES/evasion gear is unique. The guardian version scales through Int even more heavily as it converts mana into flat ES

Gloves
Here is where the synergy really kicks in. Shapers gloves are really the core of the build, their accuracy give us more dps then any other item while also give us massive evasion scaling which is what allows us to reach such high evade chance without evasion focused gear. The build also incidentally gets a hefty amount of strength which is converted into %ES through these gloves.

Amulet
Astramentis is best in slot here. Up to 116 Int while also solving Dex and Str problems. Good rares can come close but no rare can beat this item in endgame

Helmet
The vertex. Pretty boring but its unique and got great evasion and ES. +1 to socketed gems is just a bonus that pushes it over the edge as best. When you have some more currency you can buy a high ES roll one but a cheap rolled one will do until then

Chest
Splendor for scion. Best base ES total in a unique and covers resistances. Guardian can afford to lose ES more to swap into incandescent heart for leech, less ele damage taken and a bit of damage.

Belt
Since its introduction Cyclopean Coil has dominated the other options for belt slot and luckily its even cheap. 15% increased all stats gives more DPS and ES then the previous options plus the 5% increased damage for lowest stat is wonderful for this build since it gets alot of all 3 base stats. The build should end up with Int highest and Dex lowest which means it grants immune to shock and ignite for extra bonus.

Shield
Atziri's mirror is best in slot due to its Int and resistances. It happening to have good evasion, movement speed and extra block is just a bonus. Can be upgraded into Atziri's reflection which makes it even better

Boots
Sin Trek are such good boots. They just have everything we want, Int, Evasion, Move speed and the best ES you'll find. Pity they don't have resistances but they can't be perfect and they still beat any rare.

Guardian takes rainbowstride as it has greater block and so takes advantage to convert some into spell block. Also covers resistances for convenience.

There are two uber lab options that give great DPS on boots. 1-160 lightning damage if you haven't killed recently and 10% penetration if you haven't killed recently so you have a 1/7.5 chance of getting a good one whenever you run lab. I got lucky and got one on my 5th run.

When to corrupt gear
Incursion league brought many good corruptions and double corrupting in the temple. This works well with a build that uses many uniques as its easier to replace gear with an identical version when your corruptions go bad. This is luck based and a currency investment, I would only start doing this after getting all your gear up to a high standard.

Gloves
Since the rolls on these don't really matter this is a cheap item even including the cost of applying 20% quality, 4-linking and getting the colours correct

Good corruptions include
- Increased Attack Speed
- Elemental Weakness on Hit
- Enfeeble on Hit
- Temporal Chains on Hit
- Increased Maximum Energy Shield

Belt
This item is next in value. There is no point corrupting low rolled ones as even if you hit a good implicit it wouldn't beat a well rolled belt, only buy 13% Increased attributes or higher

Good corruptions include
- Increased intelligence
- Discipline has Increased Aura Effect
- # To All Elemental Resistances
- Increased maximum Energy Shield
- Increased Quantity of Items found

Weapon
There is only 1 good corruption so harder to hit it.
Corrupt and hope for
- Increased Attack Speed

Rings
Getting more expensive but great possabilities
- Increased Intelligence
- Increased Attack Speed
- Discipline has (15–20)% increased Aura Effect
- % to all Elemental Resistances

Helmet
If you plan on upgrading into the molten strike enchant then you cannot get a corrupted implicit. This means that corrupting this helmet is more an idle choice then something to invest much currency in

Good corruptions include
- Socketed Skill Gems get a 90% Mana Multiplier
- +2 to Level of Socketed AoE Gems
- +2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems
- Increased maximum Energy Shield

Amulet
Decently rolled amulets cost more and the implicit was already good so this item has a large chance of not being worth it. An amulet with a +90 or higher roll that corrupts with Increased intelligence will be better but not by that much. There is other good options but its questionable as to if they are actually better then the base +16 to all attributes implicit.

Hitting a double corrupt with 2 good things will beat the base implicit but this harder to get.

Chest
I would never corrupt this as I'd be too scared to lose my 6-link. There is some neat possible results but nothing I'd say was really worth the risk

Make sure that you have a removes bleed and freeze flask.

Onslaught flask isn't needed on the scion as it gets free onslaught on bosses. On both classes it speeds up map clear

If you get a dying sun flask for better DPS then its best to swap out Silver and Sulpher flask for Dying sun and Topaz flask so you still have lightning resistance tied for highest for wise oak

Vessel of Vinktar penetration version is cheaper and the best damage in a flask since it shocks nearby enemies and we already have shock immunity but it only gets 1 use before running dry and I have not yet bothered to get one


Is a solid defensive option

Make sure none of your jewels have a random "+% fire or cold resistance" on them or it will mess up your Wise oak flask that only works while lightning resistance is highest or tied for highest

Unique Jewels

Wildfirex2 is needed to add extra projectiles to molten strike. One just below scion start and one over near templar

Fertile Mind between duelist and scion converts a whole lot of dex into Int

Pure Talent is needed for the scion to get leech. Before you can get one you'll need to take the vitality void leech in the tree instead of connecting to the duelist start. The guardian does not use this jewel.

Watchers eye with at least one of these will be best

"Gain 18% of Maximum Mana as Extra Maximum Energy Shield while affected by Clarity"
Is the most efficient ES and you can either keep the high ES or cut ES nodes to take more damage ones and end up with higher DPS. This is the highest value watchers jewel.

"Damage Penetrates 15% Lightning Resistance while affected by Wrath" has better damage then a 4 stat rare jewel

There are several good affix's that you hope to pair with one of the above but that are not worth a whole jewel slot by themselves. Wrath mana leech, Discipline ES on hit, purity taken as elemental etc

Emperor's Mastery beats 4 stat rares but not by enough to warrant its high cost

Emperor's Wit is better then a 3 stat jewel but worse then a 4 stat one. Not worth the cost

Normal Jewels

Priority is Attack Speed > Intelligence > %Increased damage

Prefix List
Attack speed while holding a shield
Attack speed with One Handed Melee Weapons
Increased energy shield
Increased Lightning damage
Increased attack speed with claws

Suffix List
Increased attack speed
Increased area damage
+# to intelligence
+# to dexterity and intelligence
+# to strength and intelligence
+# to all Attributes
Increaed damage

Search for jewels with at least 3 of of any of these and it'll be fine

Abyss Jewels

Abyss jewels can roll with flat ES which is the best way to obtain a higher ES total so If you want to focus on ES total then this will be your preference

Flat lightning damage is worse damage then the same tier attack speed so in terms of dps normal jewels tend to beat out Abyss ones. Normal jewels are also much more likely to roll with 4 relevant stats since Abyss jewels don't have as many desirable rolls.

Guardian
Radiant Faith is the core of the ascendancy. It is best first and gives this build 35% of its total ES. It turns good mana nodes into more efficient ES nodes. If you need ES then mana is probably going to do better then %ES nodes for this character

Harmony of Purpose generates frenzy charges. Enough said. Basion of hope gives +12% block and occasional stun immunity. Neat.

The other notables are not that valuable to the build. 6% ES is a better option then 3% physical damage reduction or any of the life regen options.


Scion
- Raider is best damage as it sustains frenzy and onslaught against bosses which normally wouldn't be possible. You can run blood rage for onslaught while mapping if you don't mind dealing with the constant degen

- Champion is currently my secondary choice. Intimidate for 10% more damage and continuously taunts for another 10% more damage. Additionally gives 8% movement speed and access to 'path of the duelist' for more efficient pathing.

Alternatives

- Inquisitor has some good damage, pen and int. Also has good pathing options using path of the templar. This is my second choice

- Occultist's damage is less reliable as it relies on applying double damage curses instead of enfeeble. Its advantage is the stun immunity for those who have trouble with stuns

- Elementalist would have slightly more damage then Inquisitor but it needs to reliably shock every 2 seconds to do so which just won't happen with this builds low shock chance. Still an option if you are willing to lose 10% damage in order to get immunity to elemental reflect

Guardian
www.poeurl.com/bX3x
https://pastebin.com/jTEZ0nMF

Scion
www.poeurl.com/bYbQ
https://pastebin.com/iufXmZuE

These trees are assuming the base gear. Clarity watchers eye or atziri's reflection shield are both good ES upgrades that might have you cutting some ES for more damage.

The scion uses a pure talent jewel for leech. The guardian uses its lvl 70 chestpiece. Both probably take vitality void in the tree during leveling.

Chest - There are 7 options here. Multistrike gives the least damage but often makes things 'feel' a bit smoother as it creates more orbs per second and shortens the time before everything gets hit by one. The rest all give pretty much the same damage boost.



Helm - Before you have the Vertex and a level 3 Enlighten use herald of thunder instead of Wrath



Gloves - CWDT setup. I like auto casting golem and curse for convenience. I added tempest shield in there because there was space so might as well get +3% block



Claw - Ancestral Protector for attack speed and to apply blind



Shield - I put the shield charge in here.



Boots - Vaal gems or clearspeed skill or blood rage or CWDT setup or leveling gems for profit
There is a few options, depends on personal preference

Soul of the Brine King Pantheon for the stunlock immunity. Your evasion will keep you from getting stunlocked from attacks but you'll want to be able to charge away from a firestorm that was stunning you

Soul of Abberath is my preferred minor pantheon bonus. Immunity to burning ground is really neat

Skill Choice
Molten strike with ancestral call from level 1

You can also use better clearspeed skills like frostblades, wildstrike, spectral throw etc but molten strike has best dps and will melt bosses and I prefer not changing skill all the time

Gear Progression
Leveling gear and path into endgame stuff. The highlighted items cost 1c or less. You should be able to start mapping wearing just these highlighted(cheap) items. For a smoother experience keep an eye on level requirements and upgrade right when you hit them

Chest - Zahndethus Cassock Lvl 37 - Geofri's Sanctuary lvl 64 - Atziri's Splendour lvl 75 or Incandescent Heart lvl 70
Weapon - Hand of Thought and Motion lvl 22 - Hand of Wisdom and Action lvl 68
Helm - Doedre's Scorn lvl 39 - Vertex lvl 62
Gloves - Asenath's Gentle Touch lvl 25 - Shaper's Touch lvl 66
Boots - Shavronne's Pace lvl 32 - Sin Trek lvl 62
Belt - Bated Breath lvl 22 - Cyclopean Coil lvl 68
Shield - Crest of Perandus lvl 8 - Atziri's Mirror lvl 54
Ring - Timeclasp lvl 22 - Perandus Signet lvl 1
Amulet - Astramentis lvl 20

Priority order for gear upgrades
Assuming you are already wearing the highlighted cheap items mentioned above this is the order I would look to buy the final gear.

Shaper's Touch > Astramentis > Vertex > Cyclopean Coil (14% or 15% increased attributes) > Hand of Wisdom and Action > Perandus Signets > Atziri's Splendour (500+ ES)

Check the FAQ for some common questions about gear choices/alternatives

Once fully geared there is still room for improvements, don't forget to check possible rolls on the items. Getting a near perfect Atziri's Mirror, Sin Trek and Astramentis is usually achievable. There is also a big ES difference between a min rolled Vertex and a max rolled one.

Skill Tree

The endgame leech comes from items you won't have during leveling. Vitality void is often taken during leveling for leech.

Scion has an easier time leveling then Guardian as its closer to the good keystones. Do the entire bottom part first getting a wildfire jewel, leech nodes, vaal pact and point blank. Then start on the top section.

Guardian gets its wildfire jewel first then also wants to head down to the section under scion for the same highlights. Cutting across from harrier to get them faster is probably better then going around like you will do in the final tree

Defense
The build paths near plenty of life nodes and its recommended that you pick up several of these while leveling then unspec out of them later when you swap into pure ES. How many you get will depend on how squishy you are comfortable being.

I recommend picking up mind over matter while leveling especially if you are already using the Perandus rings. While using mind over matter the only aura you would be using is discipline so it can absorb more damage along with mana flasks

CI
When your Es is large enough that things are not hitting through it and making you rely on life as a backup swap mind over matter into CI. I generally swap sometime after level 60 when I have enough gear to reach about 5k ES. Just keep a life flask on you and watch for chaos damage until then

Jewels
If you don't have good jewels while leveling then don't take the jewel sockets yet.

Why Atziri's Mirror not a ES shield or second HOWA?


What about a Shaper/Elder ring or amulet?


Why do you only use Incandescent heart on the Guardian?


I can't run all the auras, whats wrong?