If you are looking to explore a Totem build in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.2.0, the Artillery Ballista is an excellent choice. Amid a host of nerfs, this skill has received substantial buffs, making it a noteworthy option compared to previous top Totem skills like Shockwave Totem. This article outlines a build specifically designed to harness the full potential of the Artillery Ballista.
For those unfamiliar with Totem builds, they essentially function as automated turrets that deal damage on your behalf. You can experiment with the Artillery Ballista across various character classes by equipping a crossbow, with viable choices including the new Tactician or Smith of Kitava. In this build, we will focus on the Mercenary’s Gemling Legionnaire Ascendancy.
Leveling the Mercenary in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.2.0
The Artillery Ballista becomes your primary tool after you progress past Act 2 in this build. However, it requires a Level 9 Uncut Gem, so you’ll need to navigate earlier levels effectively. Some strategies to consider include the classic combination of Lightning Rod and Lightning Arrow.
Staying within the theme of the Mercenary Ascendancy, focus on skills from the crossbow tree early on. In my experience, options like Galvanic Shards or Gas Grenade are effective, but I preferred a straightforward pairing of Explosive Grenade and Gas Grenade alongside Explosive Shot.
Before acquiring Explosive Shot, rely on Explosive Grenade coupled with Scattershot and Expedite to manage crowds. Use your crossbow shot skill—starting with Armor Piercing Round until you reach Uncut Gem Level 3, switching to Incendiary Shot and ultimately Galvanic Shards—to pick off enemies at a distance.
Once you obtain a Gas Grenade, toss it and follow up with an Explosive Shot to initiate the explosion. For optimal effects, combine a Scattershot and Fire Infusion as your support gems for the Gas Grenade.
It’s crucial to have a crossbow that provides significant Physical Damage to enable smooth progression. The changes in patch 0.2.0 have made leveling slightly more challenging due to increased enemy health early in the game.
Collect all crossbow drops, prioritizing high-level items appropriate for your character level, and utilize Orbs to search for Physical Damage enhancements. Don’t forget to check vendor inventories at each level-up for potential upgrades.
Players engaged in trade leagues may also find it worthwhile to acquire a strong crossbow from other players to expedite their leveling process.
Skill Setup for the Artillery Ballista Build
Once you unlock your first Level 9 Uncut Gem, you’re ready to integrate the Artillery Ballista into your build, which will serve as your main damage dealer for the remainder of your journey.
Below is the recommended endgame Gem setup. The supports are arranged by their significance, so prioritize acquiring the left-most gems first:
- Artillery Ballista: Overabundance + Martial Tempo + Primal Armament + Inspiration + Cold Infusion
- Hypothermia: Cursed Ground + Heightened Curse + Expanse + Ritualistic Curse
- Frost Bomb: Arcane Tempo + Strip Away + Magnified Effect
The inclusion of Cold Infusion is critical, as it converts the fire damage dealt by the Artillery Ballista to Cold using the Blueflame Bracers gloves. This synergy is particularly beneficial if you previously played a Frost Sorceress in earlier patches, as the mechanics are quite similar. Pairing with Hypothermia allows you to lower Cold resistance on specific enemies and bosses, while Frost Bomb serves as an effective control tool enhanced in patch 0.2.0.
For buffs, Overwhelming Presence is worth considering, though with its range being nerfed, alternatives like Herald of Ash and Herald of Ice could prove advantageous since they also deal Cold damage due to conversion.
Optimal Itemization for the Artillery Ballista Mercenary Build
The primary unique item for this setup is the Blueflame Bracers gloves. For other gear slots, aim to maximize your resistances—particularly Chaos Resistance—while also boosting Maximum Life, Maximum Mana, and Movement Speed on your boots. Given the Gemling theme, adding attributes remains beneficial even after recent nerfs.
Your crossbow needs to function as a powerful stat-stick since it won’t be used directly. The preferred modifier here is +Level of all Projectile Skills, which directly influences your Artillery Ballista’s damage. Keep in mind, the Artillery Ballista utilizes its own phantom-weapon copy; therefore, you should seek out global modifiers like % increased Elemental Damage with Attacks that enhance damage output from Totem attacks.
Do note that +Level of all Projectile Skills can also appear on Amulets, so keep an eye out for those as well. When it comes to defenses, prioritizing Armor remains crucial, especially since the Cloak of Flame remains a top choice for damage mitigation through Fire Resistance.
Skill Tree Setup for the Artillery Ballista Build
Initially, focus on projectiles and attack-boosting nodes while progressing through Acts 1 and 2. Below is a snapshot of my Passive Tree at Level 25:
Once you transition to using the Artillery Ballista, it’s advisable to respec completely and adopt the following Skill Tree setup:
Additionally, you will want to incorporate Mana sustain into your build; the Mental Toughness node is ideal for this purpose. As it is located far from the lower-left quadrant, consider anointing it on your Amulet.
For your Gemling Ascendancy nodes, start with Skill Gem Quality and Crystalline Potential as your first two selections, then proceed to acquire the other nodes in that branch before targeting the right-most branch starting with Adaptive Capability.