Kinetic Blast/Power Siphon Pathfinder Build Guide - "Fastest Clear Speed Around" (PoE Sentinel 3.18)

Introduction

Due to the latest balancing changes, we do not recommend playing this build anymore, as it does not meet the high standards we apply to our guides in terms of fun and performance. We are leaving it up as a reference and it might be revived in a later patch.

Kinetic Blast has been acknowledged by many of the game’s most seasoned veterans to be one of the best skills in Wraeclast for reaching the absolute maximum experience rates. Packs are torn apart in an instant — the screen exploding in a satisfying shatter — while most bosses wither before Power Siphon‘s single-target damage. Kinetic Blast builds, also known as KB Wanders, are also widely considered to be among the most delightful builds to play. Why, you ask? Largely due to the speed, strength, and unique style that a wander presents. If you have tuned in to any of the biggest Path of Exile streamers over the last few leagues, you have doubtless seen them playing a Kinetic Blast build at some point. It’s the kind of built that’s difficult to put down.

While Kinetic Blast is a fantastic skill for clearing, it lacks the heavy and sustained punch of a proper single-target skill. We also prefer to play builds that do not require you to constant swap out Greater Multiple Projectiles Support with a single target special, such as Slower Projectiles Support, each and every time you approach a boss. Not only is this a needless annoyance, but inevitably you end up accidentally dropping one of the gems instead of placing it in your inventory. This deficiency is easily addressed by using Power Siphon as our single-target skill and main six link, allowing us to approach any end-game boss — even the Uber Awakener — with confidence.

This build is well-balanced and especially suited for players looking to reach Level 100 efficiently, and is equally suitable for Softcore, Hardcore, and Solo Self-Found Leagues.

Build Assessment

A Tier 16 Summit Map with Sea Witches and their spawn, double Beyond, and Crusader influence

Pros

+ One of the fastest builds in Path of Exile — very high clear and movement speed (capped Queen of the Forest speed bonus)

+ Extremely Evasive defenses (95%+ chance to avoid attacks)

+ Top tier experience per hour

+ Suitable for Hardcore (with some adjustments) and Solo Self-Found leagues

+ Extremely fun to play (in most players’ eyes)

+ Excellent League Starter AND Finisher

+ Satisfying Herald of Ice shatter-chains

+ Deals with practically all content

Cons

– Not recommended for inexperienced players — Pathfinders require prescient Flask usage

– Mistakes are punished heavily due to low health and Armour — you must be able to take advantage of the very high movement speed to avoid mechanics

– Not a suitable leveling skill — Wanders shine in the mid 80s and beyond

– High single target damage is conditional on certain items ( Power Siphon enchantment, good Rare wand, and Dying Sun)

– Poor choice for Blighted Maps and 100% Delirious Maps

Path of Building

Path of Building for Furty’s Level 100 character used for this build is available here.

Included is an example set of gear, a full skill tree, and all the gem links needed to get the build to tick.

We use the Path of Building Community Fork for all of our builds, which is highly recommended. If you are encountering errors importing the build, please ensure you are using the Community Fork.

Playstyle

The primary purpose of this build is to achieve the fastest clear speeds possible while remaining safe and secure. Power Siphon‘s single target can also get quite grotesque — up to 15 Million DPS in top-tier gear (though most players will probably experience closer to 3-5 Million) — as you approach the games toughest opponents. Due to the massive amount of Evasion we accrue, Queen of the Forest propels us to lightning-quick movement speeds, allowing us to zip through the maps while shattering everything on — and a lot of what is off — the screen.

Players looking to maximize their experience rates will find this to be the ideal build, because it does the two most important things incredibly well: it rips apart maps, and it is very safe. It is well suited to players who enjoy zippy, high tempo builds and enjoy the gratifying sensation of seeing everything around them explode into bits of ice. This build makes an excellent league starter, but newer or less experienced players who lack the knowledge to generate currency at the start of a new league may find they struggle to acquire the core items as quickly. Only a few Exalted Orbs are needed to get the build fully online; decide for yourself whether or not you consider this to be “expensive”.

Kinetic Blast is a wand skill, and one of the only wand builds that still remains a contender for the throne. Many players, even those who have played thousands of hours, have never actually played a wander. If this is the case for you, we definitely recommend giving this build a chance – you will almost certainly not regret it.

Passive Skill Tree

This is our recommended Level 100 Passive Skill Tree.

For more information, be sure to check out the Passive Skill Tree page.

Passive Skill Tree and Gem Links

Gems

We go over all of the gem links this build uses in the end-game on our Gem Link page.

Passive Skill Tree and Gem Links

Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheon Powers

Our Ascendancy, Bandit, and Pantheon Power page goes into detail about all the choices you need to make in these regards.

Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheon Powers

Gear

The Gear page explains, in depth, what the best item is for each slot of your character, and also provides recommendations for jewels and flasks.

Gear, Jewels, and Flasks Breakdown

Leveling

As a reminder, we have several guides to help you level up a character.

• Our step-by-step leveling walkthrough, which allows even more experienced players to save time and speed through the leveling process.
• Our guide to Unique Items for leveling, which helps you gear up your characters for the leveling process.
• Our beginner leveling guide, which answers many of the questions new players might have and will set you on the right path.

There are a variety of ways to level with this build, as it will not work straight from Act I. If you are not league starting as this build, the most convenient way to do it is as a Bow build, but you will need basic leveling uniques such as the Storm Cloud in order to actually comfortably deal with Act bosses. Rain of Arrows and Lightning Arrow are both fine choices, though it is a little easier to flesh out your links with the former.

1. Rain of Arrows
2. Elemental Damage with Attacks Support
3. Added Lightning Damage Support
4. Elemental Focus Support

If you are using a Tabula Rasa, you can add in additional support gems depending on your preference. If your leveling gear is good, for example, you can put in Increased Area of Effect Support and clear entire screens. Controlled Destruction Support (while you are low on Critical Strike), Added Cold Damage Support, and Mirage Archer Support are great choices here. Grab Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder as soon as possible for the added elemental damage.

If you are league starting as this build, you will have a more difficult time leveling as a bow build, but it is still doable. If you do not want to subject yourself to it, you will instead have to adjust your build and items to use a different skill until Piscator's Vigil can be acquired; for example, Soulrend or Essence Drain are good choices.

FAQ

I Feel Squishy

This build relies a lot on evasion and mobility, particularly when dealing with bosses. It is very unlikely you will be able to tank more than one hit in a row from an end-game boss like Sirus, however, due to the high movement and attack speed, you should be able to avoid everything relatively easily with proper movement. Get into the habit of attacking with one burst of Power Siphon and side-stepping, and try not to line up your attacks with enemy swing timers. For example, if you are doing Minotaur, you want to be moving as he starts his attack animation and then unload on him during that period where he is not able to attack yet.

Annointment Advice

• Prism Weave

How Do I Get Maximum Movement Speed from Queen of the Forest?

Using a Jade Flask of Reflexes and Stibnite Flask pushes us well over 50,000 Evasion rating, which is past Queen of the Forest‘s Movement Speed bonus cap (45,000 Evasion). Since we are playing Pathfinder and this build is fundamentally focused on clearing above all else, Flasks can be considered a virtually permanent bonus and a fundamental part of the build’s power and purpose — that is the entire reason of playing Pathfinder to begin with.

I Can’t Afford the Item You Recommend

Most of the items recommended in the guide, especially the Jewels, are not necessary right out of the gate. You can be smashing through maps in under 2 minutes without much gear at all. Once you have your Piscator's Vigil, Thunderfist (great for early in the league due to the all the flat damage), and Queen of the Forest, you will already be a race car. Many of the other recommended Uniques, like Atziri's Step and Rat's Nest, can also be obtained either day one or very early for only a few Chaos Orbs.

Should I Use Grace?

Check this comment response to see why we only bother to use the active component of Vaal Grace, and not the base Grace aura itself.

I’m Struggling to Level

Leveling Rangers is not always the most convenient, as many of the end-game builds that favor the use of this class are Critical Strike based and thus not as strong early in the game. If leveling very smoothly and efficiently is a priority, consider planning out another build purely for leveling that you can easily switch over once you have your feet under you in the league.

Why Don’t You Have an “of Heat” Flask?

The Master Alchemist node provides Elemental Ailment immunity during any Flask effect.

Is This Build Viable as Low-Life?

While it is viable as Low-Life, the movement speed from Queen of the Forest is one of the staple benefits of this build. By adapting it to use Shavronne's Wrappings, or as Chaos Innoculation entirely, you are sacrificing the effectiveness of one of the build’s main strengths.

Check out the rest of the guide for more information:

Passive Skill Tree and Gem Links

Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheon Powers

Gear, Jewels, and Flasks Breakdown