Today we are presenting a ranged Chaos damage Pathfinder build that can kill the strongest of enemies and mobs while running around and killing from range. Spectral Shield Throw remains one of the best shield-related skills in the game due to its uniqueness in the game. The skill utilizes damage from Defensive stats like Armor and Evasion and increases its crit rating stats from the energy shield value of the Shield. As soon as it hits enemies, the Shield splits into smaller projectiles to deal more damage.
Let's look into different aspects of this build so you can earn currency in the game fast to make this build as fast as you can.
Overview of the Build
Budget – Low
Defences – Sufficient
Damage to Bosses – Great
AoE Damage – Awesome
Gameplay Basic Mechanics
You charge into maps throwing your Shield and letting it explode into multiple projectiles for mob clear on any map. You can enhance your damage by adding wither you get from Spell Totems plus the Tornado skill. With our high defenses, you can be close to enemies and deal damage. Kiting enemies to utilize the projectiles is the best way to lure in more mobs at greater difficulties.
Pros and Cons of the Build
Pros
● Great single-target DPS with fast map clears
● This build can start at a low-cost budget and eventually scales well with passing time and better gear in the end game
● Fun and smooth to kite around and kill enemies
● Good tanky build
Cons
● One projectile effective at one time
● Requires good targeting skills
Essential Tips and Guidance When Levelling
Starting for this build, if finding a decent shield is difficult, you can start with Spectral Helix or Lightening Strike skill. As soon as you build up a good setup, you can start using you're Shield Throw and invest as many points into Projectile Attack Passives for easy-going while using Ranger Exile.
Using flasks early on efficiently will enhance your leveling process that much more. This can be coupled best with Suppression Passive Tree nodes. As mentioned at the start, you can also invest in Point Blank Passives to deal massive damage when closer to enemies.
Important Skill Gems Setups
You can use these skill gems setups during leveling as these provide a mix of damage, mobility, and defense to level up fast and efficiently for the late game.
Spectral Helix Skill Gems Setup
● Spectral Helix – This skill is excellent when kiting, as when you cast it; the helix will rotate around that point to deal damage
● Chance to Bleed Support – Adding PHY Damage and bleeding
● Onslaught Support – Upkeep of Onslaught for movement speed
● Vicious Projectile Speed – Adding DMG to projectiles
Ancestral Protector Skill Gems Setup
● Ancestral Protector – Attack Speed Bonus
● Maim Support – Adding Maim chance increases DMG
● Ancestral Call Support – Increases Range
● Melee Physical Damage Support – Increasing PHY DMG
Auras Skill Gems Setup
● Grace – Increased Evasion
● Precision – Adds Accuracy and Crit chance
● Clarity – Mana Sustenance
Important Passives Early Game
● Heart of Oak
● Fangs of Viper
● Assassination
● Revenge of the Hunted
● Inveterate
● Acuity
● Herbalism
● Point Blank
● Lethality
● Hearthseeker
● Marked for Death
● Entrench
● Thick Skin
Good Gear for Early Game
Following are some fantastic gear choices for an excellent start to reaching the end game
● Le Heup of All – Ring – Gives generic defenses and damage with elemental resistances.
● Goldrim – Helmet – Best helm for capping Resistances
● Tabula Rasa – Best chest giving you 6-link at level 1
● Oni-Goroshi – Weapon – Expensive but impressive to level up, and tons of damage
● Ewar's Mirage – Weapon – Great for elemental damage you can equip at 26
● Mightflay – Dagger – PHY DMG and life sustain for level 30 Exiles
● Emperor's Vigilance – Shield – Can be your first Shield at 46 granting absurd amounts of damage
● Maligaro's Virtuosity – Gloves – For Attack Speed and Crit chance
● Perandus Blazon – Belt – Good attributes plus an increasing duration of flasks
End Game Priorities
To fully realize the potential of this build, we recommend you add the following setups to your builds
Vital Skill Gems and Links
Most are essential but not all of them. You can also mix and match based on what you like.
Spectral Shield Throw Setup for DPS
● Spectral Shield Throw – Staple skill gem and must-have for this build
● Vicious Projectile Speed – Adding DMG to projectiles
● Void Manipulation Support – Boost to Chaos DMG
● Increased Crit Strike Support – To reach 100% Crit chance
● Damage on Full Life Support – Increased DMG at full life
● Increased Critical Damage Support – Enhanced Crit DMG
Auras Skill Gems Setup
● Grace – Increased Evasion
● Precision – Adds Accuracy and Crit chance
● Herald of Purity – Enhance PHY damage
● Defiance Banner – Increased Armor and Evasion, reduces enemy crit chance
● Herald of Purity – Blinds enemy and reduces ranged damage by using Sand Stance
Tornado Skill Gems Setup
● Tornado – Adding Tornado bonus damage with your Shield Throw
● Onslaught Support – Upkeep of Onslaught for movement speed
● Power Charge on Critical Support – Generate Power Charges for single target DMG
Assassin Mark Skill Gems Setup for Utility
● Assassin's Mark – Marked enemies, enhance crit chance to generate Power Charges. You can also use the Sniper Mark Skill gem in its place
● Mark Hit on Support – The support skill will get activated whenever a hit is registered
Wither Setup Skill Gems for Utility
● Wither – Part and parcel for our Spectral Shield Throw skill and build as it can add tons of Chaos damage to your build as it is a stacking debuff allowing you to deal tons of damage to the enemies
● Spell Totem Support – Adding to the Wither support, you can enhance Wither by casting Totems
● Multiple Totems Support – Your max Wither will reach faster if you have more Totems
Shield Charge and Other Skill Gems for Movement
● Shield Charge – Great distance closing skill and allows you to get out of a sticky situation, further enhanced by your Movement and Attack speed
● Flame Dash – To bypass obstacles because it is not as fast as Shield Charge, so don't use this as your primary movement tool
● Withering Step – This gem adds more wither to your setup, and you can use this in place of other movements/relocation skills if you want more movement speed
Gear Setup
The following are Vital gear for this setup
● Rare Helmet – Helmet – For enhanced Max life and Elemental Res, but you can look for Spell Suppression and Chaos DMG Reduction
● Obliteration – Weapon – Unique wand for tons of damage, and corrupted version enhances charging with crits
● Emperor's Vigilance – Shield – Core item for this build as it has very high Armor and Energy Shield.
● The Covenant – Body Armor – Enhances Max life and Level 29 Support Gem, needed for a good setup for this build
● Skin of Lords – Body Armor – Helps your Skill gems to reach 24 for the main skill gems. This armor also doesn't have any level requirements
● Ming's Heart – Ring – is the best slot ring, as it adds a lot of Chaos damage to your DMG. You can boost this damage further by using Noxious Catalyst, but it reduces your Shield
● Watcher's Eye – Jewel – This jewel gives you 2-3 random Aura modifiers, which enhances your build along with other stat boosts
● Seething Fury – Jewel – Magnificent jewel to enhance your Crit chance and damage, especially for your offhand based on your Max Energy shield
● Replica Conqueror's Efficiency – Jewel – Best for lowering the mana cost of your skills if you are running into issues
Ending Notes
Shield Throw is a fun build that changes the meta and your gameplay, allowing you to experience a new way to play with Pathfinder. If you need more information about what other builds are there and how to start a good season, don't forget to visit MmoGah.