Pillar of the Caged God. From A to Z. [3.25]

<--15.08.2024--> Build with number "1" is updated
Changed description of the build
Improved support of the feature "Loadout" for Path of Building (v.2.44.0. and higher)

<--26.07.2024--> Builds with numbers "1" and "3" are updated to 3.25
Updated description for builds numbers "1" and "3"
Added support of the feature "Loadout" for Path of Building (v.2.44.0. and higher)
("Pillar of the Forged God" (#1) build only)

<--29.03.2024--> Builds with numbers "1" and "3" are updated to 3.24

<--08.01.2024--> Finishing update to of statuses of builds ("Chapter 2")
Re-added "Chapter 3"

<--25.12.2023--> Small update to clarify statuses of builds

<--05.12.2023--> Improved the quality of text "Chapter 1"
The section "News" removed
The section "Q&A" updated

<--25.09.2023--> Updated the sub-section "Trials" of section "Y2023" ("Chapter 1").
Updated link to the Maxed version of Builds 1 and 3 ("Chapter 2")
Added link to Maxed version of Build 2 ("Chapter 2")

<--04.05.2023--> Updated the sub-section "Crucible" of section "Y2023" ("Chapter 1").
Added link to Maxed version of Builds 1 and 3 ("Chapter 2")

<--05.04.2023--> Updated the guide to 3.21.

<--19.12.2022--> Updated the guide to 3.20.

<--02.12.2022--> Updated the section "News".

<--31.10.2022--> Released massive update of the guide.
Renamed "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2"
"Chapter 1" represents 'Pillar...'-builds of the creator of the guide on the actual Challenge League
"Chapter 2" is the compilation of different 'Pillar...'-builds
"Chapter 3" removed

<--13.05.2022--> Changed the general idea of the guide.
Updated the sections "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2".

<--16.04.2021--> Updated information in the Guide before 3.14 "Ultimatum".

<--28.09.2020--> Improved guide structure before releasing a new big update.

<--18.06.2020--> Updated section "News".

<--07.04.2020--> Updated section "Delirium".
Update section "Q&A" in "Chapter 1".
Update sections "Gems" and "Pantheon" in "Chapter 2".
Update structure of "Chapter 3"

<--29.03.2020--> Added the section "Delirium" in "Chapter 1"

<--19.01.2020--> Update PoB-Link in the section "Metamorph"

<--18.12.2019--> Update PoB-Link in the section "Metamorph"

<--18.12.2019--> Added section "Metamorph" in "Chapter 1"
PoB-Links from 3.8 don't change, but they have full compatibility with Passive Tree 3.9

<--09.10.2019--> Update all PoB-Links in "Chapter 2" (section "Passives")
(include update 'Gearing'-links for Blight Challenge League).
Added link on archive with 'xml'-files in "Chapter 1"

<--07.10.2019--> Update all PoB-Links
(without update 'Gearing'-links for Blight Challenge League)

<--06.10.2019--> Improved the quality of text "Chapter 2" and "Chapter 3"

<--09.09.2019--> Added the section "Craft" in "Chapter 3"

<--05.09.2019--> Added the section "Blight" in "Chapter 1".
Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Gems", "Passives")

<--04.09.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News").

<--26.08.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News").

<--21.08.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News").

<--13.08.2019--> Added section "Q&A" in "Chapter 1".

<--01.08.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Gems").
Update text in "Chapter 1" (section "News")

<--30.07.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Items")

<--28.07.2019--> Added headline text and image in "Chapter 3".
Update PoB-Links in "Chapter 2" (section "Passives").

<--27.07.2019--> Added headline text and image in "Chapter 2".
Update text and links in "Chapter 2" (section "Passives").
Improve text structures in "Chapter 2" (section "Items")

<--24.07.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2" (section "Gems", "Pantheon", "Leveling").

<--21.07.2019--> Improve structures of "Chapter 2".
Update text in "Chapter 2". Release "Chapter 3"

<--19.07.2019--> Merge "Chapter 2. Part 1" and "Chapter 2. Part 2" in "Chapter 2"

<--07.07.2019--> Rename "Disclaimer" in "Notice". Improve the quality of text

<--07.06.2019--> Update text in "Chapter 2. Part 1". Release "Chapter 2. Part 2"

<--05.06.2019--> Release "Disclaimer", "Chapter 1" and "Chapter 2. Part 1"

NOTE! Q&A is outdated now. It will update later.

Q: Why you don’t use [Unique Item Name]?
A: In one of the sections Chapter 4 we shall focus in detail on the potentially useful Unique Items. In the current moment notably 2 facts:
- using the Rare Items provides a compromise among maximum combat effectiveness and balance of defensive mechanics;
- using the Rare Items provides more “flexibility” in future build planning.

Q: Why you don’t use Timeless Jewel?
A: At this moment, we are all very suspicious of the mechanics of working and situations about the trading. We use these jewels only in 2 ways now:
- as an instrument to replace passive tree Keystones on a regular basis;
- as an instrument to maximise effectiveness in specific cases of builds.

Q: Why show Amulets at first and (are later) Talismans at second (but they are better)? May be better to show Talismans instead of Amulets?
A: We consider, that approach gives an understanding of the reasons for choosing Items (and reasons, on which Talismans are better). Also, this means avoiding difficulties in case, Talismans are not available (no longer for sale or the budget does not allow it to be sold).
A: Update (07.04.2020). We have some problems with preparing "Chapter 4" for publishing.

Q: Resistance is one of the most important problems of ‘Pillar of the Caged God’-builds, but I don’t really see this in the thread.
A: Chapter 2 sections “Concept” and “Items”.

Q: Why you don’t use Cyclone?
A: Exist many threads of the ‘Pillar of the Caged God’-builds, which used Cyclone and channeling mechanics. The show is set to a different of the combat results. We recognise, that the gem “Cyclone” is a valuable and strong choice for ‘Pillar of the Caged God’, but we would not have considered it necessary to review this conception in the current day.

Q: Why thread don’t have a video?
A: It is a complex problem. We don’t have much more time. And we don’t have time for setting, preparation, footage, and assembly of video. Also, this makes it harder to the actualization of builds — we are going to need to create a video instead of changing PoB-link and text descriptions.

Q: Are you reached 100 level with this build?
A: No. None of us will ever achieve level 100 with any build. Regrettably, we don’t have much more time.
Although, in Challenge League “Incursion” we have reached 95 level with ‘Pillar’-build.

Q: You have other builds (don’t ‘Pillar’)?
A: Yes. But at the current moment, we are publishing only ‘Pillar of Caged God’-builds.

There are various combinations of gem links for leveling. They depend on the player's personal choice. For example, you can use the following combinations:

In Acts 1-2:
“Ground Slam” + “Added Fire Damage” + “Additional Accuracy” + “Ruthless”

After Act 2:
“Ground Slam” + “Added Fire Damage” + “Chance to Bleed” + “Ruthless”

Tips & Tricks:
- Precision is a good choice to accumulate Accuracy Rating (without “Resolute Technique” Keystone);
- Pick up Accuracy Mastery "+500 to Accuracy Rating; ‒2 to Accuracy Rating per Level" to accumulate Accuracy Rating on the first levels;
- Herald of Ash is a good choice to boost effective damage and widen AoE;
- The main sources of incoming damage are:
** Physical in Acts 1-4;
** Elemental in Acts 5-10;
- Acts 5-6 are the most dangerous ones; They have a lot of incoming Elemental damage, and the character doesn’t have the required resistance (especially in the fight with Innocence).

Leveling Items

Status: Active

Short List of Features
- Melee Physical Staff build with Crtis (Wow!)
- Low-Budget Strength stacking (you should stack only 800-1000 STR for comfortable mapping T11-T14)
- Simple leveling & cheap T1-T8 mapping (a Fistful of Chaos')
- uses Cluster Jewels (1 Large (is optional) and 1-2 Medium)
- Transfigurated Gems are optional
- 4.5-6.5k Life ; 35-55k Armour without Flasks (+20-23 stack of Fortify)
- 1.5-3M of pDPS (+1-3M of Impale DPS) with “Boneshatter” & low-budget gear

Concept
The main concept is built around creating physical melee build with critical strikes. It was a long journey with uncountable attempts (both of them, successes and failures), but now it is a very flexible and adaptive system for comfortable cleaning of content (excluding T17 Maps and Uber Pinnacle Bosses):
- stack Strength and “Added # to # physical Damage to attacks”;
- boost effective DPS using “Abyssus” and Trauma stacks;
- combine Armour, Fortify and Endurance Charges to negate “Abyssus” and Trauma stacks;
- use Cluster Jewels to sustain crits (strike chance and multiplier) from Warcries.

Note

"

It is an important remark here ‒ build CAN be capable of killing some Uber Pinnacle Bosses, but it will be very long and annoying fights. As for T17, I have not enough of those maps for tests and have not bought them for it.

Status: Outdated (3.22)

Reference(-s)
** Pukiz
** Kalan_Bos

Short List of Features
- Melee Physical Build with Staff (Wow!)
- Medium-Budget Strength stacking (required rare items for stacking)
- Simple leveling & cheap early mapping (a Fistful of Chaos')
- uses Cluster Jewels (1 Large and 1-2 Medium)
- Alternate-Quality Gems are required for Endgame (Divergent Boneshatter)
- 4-6k Life; 35-55k Armour without Flasks (+20-23 stack of Fortify; +3-8 Endurance Charges)
- 1.0-2.5M of pDPS (+0.5-1.5M of Impale DPS) with “Boneshatter” with 5 Trauma stacks in budget gear

Concept
It is a new option for ‘Pillar…’-builds, which was born after “Precise Technique” Keystone was added in game. Now (last three Challenge Leagues) It is the most popular variation of ‘Pillar…’-builds if you “poe.ninja”. I tried to understand and, possibly, improve the mechanisms of that build.
- stack a lot of Attributes (especially Strength);
- stack a lot of Armour to negating self-damaging from “Boneshatter”;
- use Cluster Jewels for sustaining Strength and Attack Speed.

Status: Active

Reference
** Decranix

Short List of Features
- Melee Elemental Build with Staff (Wow-Wow!)
- Medium-Budget Strength stacking (required “Abyssus”, "Astramentis" and “Shaper’s Touch”)
- Simple leveling & cheap early mapping (a Fistful of Chaos')
- uses Cluster Jewels (1-2 Large and 1-2 Small)
- uses Timeless Jewel (only for conquer Keystone)
- Transfigured Gems are optional
- 4-5.5k Life + 2-3k ES; 25-35k Armour without Flasks (+20-23 stack of Fortify)
- 1.5-4M of eDPS (from the first stage) with “Ice Crash” & medium-budget gear

Concept
This is a really interesting concept, which uses expected items for unexpected synergies (please, check above for reference of the original creator).
- stack a lot of Attributes (use “Shaper’s Touch” to maximise effect from Attributes);
- take Armour to negating penalty from “Abyssus”;
- use Cluster Jewels for sustaining Attack Speed and non-Physical Leech.

Status: Inactive

Reference
** Original Thread

Work in Progress (WiP)

Mixed useful Charm mods

You cannot use Runecrafting of the unique items (exclude "Serle's Masterwork").
Sorry, but there is no valuable information here.