In the vast and complex world of Path of Exile, where builds can range from the conventional to the downright bizarre, we present a build that may just combine humour with power - the Mace Bone Shatter Monk. This guide explores how to harness the power of Bone Shatter on a mace, turning a seemingly quirky idea into a potent force for both clearing maps and taking down bosses.
Core Concept
The Mace Bone Shatter Monk uses the dynamic nature of Bone Shatter, typically seen as a melee skill, on a mace from the Expedition boss Olof to create an unconventional yet effective build. Here's how:
Weapon mechanics
Mace from Olof:
Lightning damage stacks: Each hit with any skill increases your lightning damage, making your herald and bone shatter hits more deadly.
Dual Wielding Considerations: Bone Shatter benefits from dual wielding by hitting twice, but it is unclear whether it stacks more damage from the mace.
Mana management:
The build's high mana cost is a significant challenge, requiring smart gem choices and gear to sustain Bone Shatter's fast attacks.
Gear breakdown
Mace:
Look for a high attack speed (around 30% or higher). Soul cores should focus on elemental damage from attacks rather than increased attack speed due to mana limitations.
Armour:
Helmet: Energy shield, resistances and intelligence are key.
Body armour: Use Morror Invictus for global defences and attributes. Aim for at least 250 Energy Shield and good evasion for Spirit generation via Lead Me Through Grace.
Accessories:
Amulet: Attributes for gem requirements, especially Strength. Anoint with Deep Strance for skill cost reduction or Spaghettification for damage increase.
Rings: Focus on resistances and flat lightning damage.
Boots: Energy shield, intelligence and resistances.
Belt: Ingenuity for cooldown recovery on skills such as Unbound Avatar.
Gloves: Hand of Wisdom and Action for attack speed and extra damage per attribute.
Flasks: Ultimate mana flask like Melting Mana Storm to deal with mana issues during boss fights.
Charms: Thawing Charm for freeze immunity, although often unnecessary due to the speed of the build.
Skill Setup
Bone Shatter:
Supported by Lightning Infusion, Primal Armor, Marshall Tempo, Inspiration, and optionally Execute or Melee for additional effects.
Herald:
Herald of Thunder with Cold Infusion, Ice Bite, Glaciation and Lightning Mastery.
Herald of Ice with Inate, Magnified Effect and Long Shot for area damage.
Tempest Flurry:
Used for shock and exposure, possibly with lower level gems for mana efficiency.
Tempest Bell:
Combined with Rage Forge, Concentrated Effect and Rage for significant burst damage on bosses.
Utility:
Casts Shock to apply Marks and Curses.
Blink with Second Wind and Ingenuity for increased mobility and reduced downtime.
Passive Tree and Ascendancy
Ascendancy:
Lead Me Through Grace: Generates Spirit from Dodge and Energy Shield.
Unbound Avatar: Gives a significant damage boost when activated.
Passive Tree:
Focus on stat stacking, especially Intellect for damage scaling. Nodes for lightning damage, attack speed and mana management are crucial.
Jewels:
Against the Darkness for extra lightning damage, Ruby Jewels for attack damage, and Sapphire Jewels for energy shield and elemental damage. Include Mana on Kill for sustainability.
Gameplay Strategies
Mapping:
Bone Shatter serves as both a clear and a mobility skill due to its attack speed. The build thrives in high-density situations such as breaches, where Heralds can shine with extra lightning damage.
Bossing:
Use the weapon swapping system to switch from clear damage to single-target damage with Tempest Bell and Shock setups. Manage mana carefully, possibly lowering gem levels for efficiency.
Mana issues:
Experiment with lower level gems, mana regeneration, or mana on kill to maintain a balance between damage output and mana sustainability.
Possible improvements and considerations
Further testing: Consider whether dual wielding is really beneficial to this setup, or if it's better to focus on a high quality mace.
Equipment optimisation: Upgrade to higher item level bases for better mod rolls, especially for Dodge and Energy Shield.
Skill experimentation: The effectiveness of the build may vary with different skill combinations or by adding/removing skills based on gameplay feedback.
Thank you for Reading
This Mace Bone Shatter Monk build proves that even in a game known for its depth, there's always room for creativity and fun. With its unique mechanics and surprisingly high damage output, it's a testament to the endless possibilities in Path of Exile.
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