Top 6 Storm Brand Builds in PoE 3.5 Betrayal

1. PoE 3.5 Templar Lightning Crit Storm Brand Build

Storm Brand is seriously very good. Adding Vaal Storm Contact to it trivializes the whole content material, syndicates ahead of the nerf had been a joke when numerous had been struggling (Program A: Vaal RF + Vaal Storm Call = insta kill Syndicates, if not Program B: Attach 2x Storm Brand and run). I've done all the things deathless with this build except for Uber Atziri which I have not unlocked, however.

Pros & Cons:
+ Looking at 4.2k life + 1.9k mana for MoM with the choice of pushing it further if you choose.
+ High tier clear speed.
+ High tier single target
+ Syndicates are a joke. You either burst them with Vaal Storm Call, or you attach Storm Brands and run.
+ SAFE playstyle for leveling
+ Great league starter, will get you into high yellow maps without Loreweave/Wands
- Ele reflects it will kill you, the Racecourse Boss will probably kill you at some point as well.

Bandits:
Kill all is the best option as this opens up jewel slots.

Ascendancy:
Soul of the Brine King for stun protection and Soul of Yugul for ele-reflect protection

Pantheon:
Sign of Purpose > Illuminated Devotion > Divine Guidance > Conviction of Power

Gem Links:
Storm Brand-Power Charge on Crit-Controlled Destruction-Lightning Pen-Faster Casting-Conc Effect/Increased AOE

Elemental Concentrate can are available in for Quicker Casting in case you will need harm.
Brand Recall-Arcane Surge (watch its level)-Empower (level two is okay)
Vaal Storm Call-Lightning Pen-Controlled Destruction-Less Duration
CWDT-Immortal Call-Warlord's Mark on Hit-Increased Duration
Flame Dash-Fast r Casting-Decoy Totem-Multiple Totems Support
Wrath inside your Essence Worm. Try to acquire a level 21 Wrath.
Herald of Thunder OR Purity of Lightning (should you do not have Loreweave) OR Aspect of your Spider (if you are fortunate, I replaced HoT together with the free gem slot having a level 1 Clarity).
Vaal RF and Summon Stone Golem elsewhere.

Leveling Guide:
The great issue about how smooth Storm Brand is that you'll be able to use it for the rest in the game till you choose it up. Utilized Spark and Orb of Storms till I got access.

Passive trees, this really is what I did:
Go straight to Explosive Runes and after that take Shaman's Dominion
Move left till you get Runebinder
Then generally go properly until you get Runesmith

Immediately after you get these important nodes, the decision is gear dependent.
When you need damage take the Crit multi-nodes.
If you require life/res take those nodes.
I took Mind more than Matter in Act six which can be where the damage actually ramps up.
Note that you just might be utilizing a Mana Flask using Acts.

I'd leave the Power Charges nodes out until you get a Void Battery. In the imply time, you may level Energy Charge on Crit inside the off-hand and replace it with Increased Essential Strikes.

You could do Lab at every single 1k interval, i.e., Initially lab at 1k health, second lab 2k overall health, third lab 3k well being.
Ascendency: Sign of Object ive > Illuminated Devotion > Divine Guidance > Conviction of Energy

Some good leveling things:
Mark of Submission ring (Warlord's Mark on Hit) for life/mana leech into Voideye at level 45 (put Brand Recall here).
The Praxis ring is very nice for mana issues also.
Some other weapons/gear you can use are:
Goldrim, Lifespring, Wanderlust, String of Servitude (All Res mod)

Video:

Uber Elder

T16 Minotaur

Shaper

PoB Link: https://pastebin.com/edinedF2

Skill Tree: https://tinyurl.com/y9yeom5m

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2. PoE 3.5 QotF Storm Brand Hierophant Map Farmer Build

This is a Map farming build using the new Storm Brand skill combined with Queen of the Forest, instead of a movement skill. This build is NOT Hardcore Viable. 

Pros & Cons:

+ It's a new skill!

+ Very fast clear speed

+ Easy to play. One button builds most of the time.

+ Brand Recall is one of the most satisfying skills in the game.

- A little squishy

- Pretty bad single target. You will kill Map bosses without too much trouble, but will not be killing Shaper, Elder, or anything like that.

- Some of the gear upgrades are quite expensive

Bandits:

Kill all or help Alira.

Ascendancy:

1.Sign of Purpose

Take this for your Normal Lab when leveling. Additional Brand, Brand Recall CDR, and attachment range is the real juicy stats here. The increased damage isn’t that big of a deal, but it’s something.

2.Illuminated Devotion 

While leveling you’ll want Arcane Surge linked to Flame dash to keep this up, but once you get your Merciless Lab, the node behind it will keep Arcane Surge up permanently.

3.Arcane Blessing 

Arcane Surge, whenever you hit an enemy with a spell, means you will always have it up. This node also the allows you to drop the “of Heat” and “of Grounding” suffix, as you can no longer be frozen or shocked.

4.Conviction of Power 

Charge generation. If you can generate power charges some other way, drop this node for Pursuit of Fath.

5.Pursuit of Faith 

I totally underestimated this node. If you can generate power charges without the Conviction of Power node, I highly recommend this node. Putting it into PoB with my gear, the damage is actually higher with this node than an Esh's mirror per stack. You will almost always have 50 stacks at the very least. I often have 100+ stacks.

Pantheon:

Really doesn't make too much of a difference. I'm using Soul of Solaris, and Soul of Shakari at the moment, but it's entirely up to you.

Video:

T16 Crater Map:

T10 Shaped UGS:

PoB Link: https://pastebin.com/spUvXvJR

Skill Tree: https://www.pathofexile.com/build/Kb4PtB

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3. PoE 3.5 Storm Brand Trickster Build

Pros & Cons:

+ Fast, efficient map clear. With high enough monster density, you can blow several screens in the single click

+ Very defensive play style pos, sable. As brand recall is instant, you can basically concentrate on manually dodging everything while still maintaining solid damage output

+ Good defenses. On maps, you will usually have 3 endurance charges, 6k+ EHP and almost instant life recovery. 

+ Huge cast speed bonuses from Trickster ascendancy will make lightning warp feel really good - almost similar as old Diablo II teleport

+ Good single target. While requiring some investment, solid damage output to single target combined with defensive play style makes the build very competent at running guardians, shaper and similar bosses deathless.

- Wander build without movement speed. This practically means that your movement is the limited to flame dash or lightning warp. 

- Life regen is not instant, so it is still possible to die to huge single hits. For example, some of the T15 betrayal encounters can instagib you if you stay in place and don't dodge the slams

- Leveling can be painful due to lacking single target before you get to the "runebinder" node. 

- Expensive. I will be adding budget options but means different and less efficient tree pathing due to a high amount of required life regen

- Cannot do elemental reflects maps

DPS:

POB doesn't take into account the helmet mod "nearby enemies have -X to lightning resistance," so the actual damage is a bit higher. Note that POB calculates the damage per brand - you can have 2 actives at the same time. I'm also missing the helmet enchant. That should increase the damage quite a bit. 

-1.21M Shaper DPS (potions active, no Vaal RF) 

-1.68M Shaper DPS (potions active, Vaal RF active) 

Gem Links:

Gems are mentioned in the order of importance. If you have 5L, just omit the last gem.

Mapping setup - you can use this up to T15 bosses, no need to switch gems before Shaper, Guardian or Elder

Storm Brand - Controlled destruction - Lightning Penetration - Power Charge on Critical - Added Lightning Damage - Faster Casting

Single Target Setup 

Storm Brand - Controlled destruction - Lightning Penetration - Power Charge on Critical - Elemental Focus - Concentrated Effect

Brand Recall Setup 

Brand Recall - Empower - Arcane Surge

Lightning Warp Setup

Lightning Warp - Less Duration - Faster Casting - Swift affliction

Herald Of Thunder Setup

Herald Of Thunder - Curse On Hit - Warlord's Mark - Onslaught 

Misc

Summon Stone Golem - Vaal Righteous Fire

Videos:

T15 Shaped Belfry

PoB Link: https://pastebin.com/dwnbPXvR
Skill Tree: https://tinyurl.com/yavnzf4s

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4. PoE 3.5 Templar Storm Brand Build

Pros & Cons:

+ Very cheap to play

+ Very fast map clearer

+ Bore your party members because when they get there, everything is dead

- Ultra-aggressive screen shake on immortal mobs (For me it's fun as hell, but party members cry a lot)

- No face tanking

Gem Setup:

All Gem Setups are in Order of importance!

Storm Brand: Storm Brand - Increased Critical Strikes - Concentrated Effect - Controlled Destruction - Faster Casting - Lightning Penetration

Even though the Crit Gem gives the least damage, you might wanna add it asap as it will help you to shock your enemies and shatter them.

Vaal Storm Call: Vaal Storm Call - Less Duration - Added Lightning Damage - Controlled Destruction

Utility 1: Flame Dash - Faster Casting - Increased Duration - Vaal Righteous Fire

Utility 2: Ice Golem (Level 3) - Cast when Damage Taken (Level 1) - Increased Duration - Immortal Call (Level 3)

Weapon: Brand Recall - Empower - Arcane Surge (Level 6)

Shield: Decoy Totem - Multiple Totems - Faster Casting

Ring: What

Bandits:

Help Alira

Ascendancy:

Hierophant

1. Sign of Purpose

2. Illuminated Devotion

3. Conviction of Power

4. Divine Guidance

Explanation: The only reason we use Sign of Purpose as the first Ascendancy is easy: Faster Brand Recall. This is the most important skill in this build. Read more about it in the "How to Play" section.

Lab Enchants:

Helmet: 12% Lightning Penetration

Gloves: Commandment of the Tempest

Bossing Options:

Boots: Damage Penetrates 10% of Enemy Elemental Resistances if you haven't Killed Recently

Boots: Adds 1 to 160 Lightning Damage if you haven't Killed Recently

Boots: Regenerate 2% of Life and Mana per second if you were Hit Recently

Mapping/Delving: 

Boots: Regenerate 2% of Life and Mana per second if you were Hit Recently

Boots: 16% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you've Killed Recently

Pantheon:

Well, for me the Pantheon is always the same and still a pure thing of taste, but this is my preferred setup:

Big God: Brine King - Because Stuns suck.

Small God: Gruthkul - Better Defense and slowed enemies

Leveling Guide:

Level 1-12: Just take whatever you want. I like Lightning Tendrils or Freezing Pulse. Just put them into a +1 Wand and support with Onslaught and Added Lightning Damage.

Level 12 - Endgame: Play Storm Brand

You do not need to wait for anything. Just take it instantly and smash in whatever supports you can get until you have access to the needed supports.

Really, that's it. Storm Brand does everything. 

How to make Leveling a breeze:

Tabula, Goldrim, Any Ring/Amulet with -Cost to Skills

You can use the Tabula until you can afford a 6L Loreweave.

Tree importances:

1. Rush B! erm I mean rush Runebinder

2. Holy Dominion, Light of Divinity, Amplify

3. Rune Smith

4. Explosive Runes

5. Mind over Matter (Save up 4 Points and take them together. Not one by one)

Video:

Introduction of Storm Brand

New Showcase

PoB Link: https://pastebin.com/LP2FvEVW

Skill Tree: https://tinyurl.com/ya4wrh8v

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5. PoE 3.5 Vowel's Storm Brand Elementalist 

Pros & Cons:

+ Super Fast

+ Very Tanky (enough to tank Shaper Slam)

+ Variety of ways to gear

+ Lots of ways to improve gear/build

+ Easy to start up on a budget

+ Very good Single Target DPS with Lightning Spire Trap

+ Excellent AoE DPS with Storm Brand

+ Brainless

+ Flexible

- Storm Brand needs LS to help Single Target when not geared.

- Lightning Spire Trap can sometimes not activate if a mob moves.

- Not Invincible

Gems Link:

Helm - Flame Dash - Cast when Damage Taken (7) - Warlords Mark (10) - Immortal Call(6)

Gloves - Lightning Spire Trap - Added Lightning Damage - Lightning Penetration Support - Controlled Destruction

Boots - Shield Charge - Fortify Support - Multiple Totems Support - Faster Attacks

Weapon - Herald of Thunder - Elemental Weakness - Curse On Hit

Shield - Brand Recall - Arcane Surge - Empower

Chest - Storm Brand - Added Cold Damage - Hypothermia - Lightning Penetration - Controlled Destruction - Concentrated Effect

Ascendancy:

Shaper of Desolation

Beacon of Ruin

Pendulum of Destruction

Mastermind of Discord

Bandits:

Kill all for the 2 Skill Points

Leveling Guide:

Level with Freezing Pulse and get Frost Bomb at level 4 - smooth sailing until you get Storm Brand at level 12. While leveling you also to want to use another skill for more DPS against bosses - I recommend Blade Vortex.

Links while leveling are: 

Storm Brand - Controlled Destruction - Elemental Focus - Added Lightning Damage

This is until level 31 where you get your Ascendancy first Ascendancy - Shaper of Desolation. At this point, replace Elemental Focus for Lightning Penetration. At level 38 you Replace Added Lightning Damage for Concentrated Effect.

Your new 4L at level 38 is:

Storm Brand - Controlled Destruction - Concentrated Effect - Lightning Penetration

If you can get a 5L or 6L (Tabula Rasa) - You can do:

Storm Brand - Controlled Destruction - Concentrated Effect - Lightning Penetration - Faster Casting - Added Lightning Damage

It's important to note this is the pure leveling setup. I personally take Hypothermia and Added Cold damage later on for survivability in maps.

This is pretty much the endgame tree. At this point, you can decide what you want more, life, damage utility.

This is level 82. At this point pick what you feel like you need most. 

My current 95 tree is this - I replace minion damage nodes for Jewels with Lightning Damage, Area Damage, and 7% Life.

Video:

Uber Elder

Uber Elder

Deathless Shaper

Simple Forge of the Phoenix Clear

Simple Lair of the Hydra Clear

PoB Link: https://pastebin.com/G0E9Csh0

Skill Tree:

Tree at 47 Points: https://tinyurl.com/yctnzc4v

Tree at 84 Points: https://tinyurl.com/y76bqydy 

Tree at 105 Points: https://tinyurl.com/y86wele2

Tree at Level 95 - 118 Points: https://tinyurl.com/ybt2vwny

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6. PoE 3.5 MoM Crit Storm Brand Inquisitor Build

Uber Elder - This was my 1st ever kill, so I cant say if it was challenging or not, but seeking at other folks do uber elder, I'd say the harm is fairly nice in all honesty as well as the ideal portion is the fact that the final 25% goes actually speedy when you otherwise are allowed to, due to the fact each boss are active, you gain a huge damage boost when they are close enough with each other, on the other hand due to the physical squishyness of this develop, you truly need to dodge stuff, you will get hit by 1 possibly two tentacles but soon after that you simply genuinely gotta dodge, the shaper balls 2 shots as well as the slam naturally one-shots. Elder portals were quick, shaper portal the identical, I killed all elder portals pretty quick.

Pros & Cons:

+ Strong, clear speed in all map tiers.

+ Fairly strong boss damage.

+ the No auras - you die, you release, you run the back in.

+ ~7k hp 

+ Uses Loreweave

+ Obliterates twinned/multi bosses

- Like most other builds, can be expensive to min-max

- Very squishy to physical damage

- ^ Not very tanky vs. syndicates

- Cant do ele reflect

- Does a little less damage vs. single target 

Leveling Guide:

Leveling with storm brand won't be an issue at any point honestly, it's just important to get the Runebinder passive somewhat early to not struggle with any bosses. It's important to notice that Runebinder works differently from "You can cast another brand" cause it doesn't give you an extra brand, it allows you to attach 2 brands to the same target. Initially, you can have 4 brands out on a boss fight, but only 1 can actually attach.

Gem Links:

Most of my gem links should already be visible in the gear section, but I use;

Brand - Ice Bite - Added Lightning Damage - Power Charge on Crit - Increased Critical Strikes - Conc Effect

Brand Recall - Arcane Surge (lvl 1) - Increased Duration - Empower

Flame Dash - Faster Casting // Vaal Haste (Vaal haste doesn't have to be linked)

Lightning Golem (lvl 20) - Cast when damage is taken (lvl 20) - Minion Life (lvl 20)

Power Siphon - Curse on Hit - Enfeeble // portal/optional

Immortal Call (lvl 3) - Cast when damage is taken (lvl 1) - Increased Duration

Video:

T16 Hydra Shaper Guardian map

Random red elder

Shaper

PoB Link: https://pastebin.com/XB0Ag1BW

Skill Tree: https://tinyurl.com/yamqn934

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