[help needed] Brand SRS league starter

DISCLAIMER : this build is a work in progress, not a solid guide. I’m looking for help.
DISCLAIMER 2 : i've never played a summoner build nor a brand build, so I may miss some things.


Hello, I plan to make life based necromancer build using SRS and arcanist brand.

SRS build doesn’t shine because they have some trouble, that they need to solve, so it takes more investment to get to the same point as another build.
Using SRS with arcanist brand solve some of those trouble.


+ 20 SRS with two only brands = no need to cast those 20 SRS myself
+ No mana trouble
+ SRS cast directly on target, they don’t have to travel
+ I don’t have to care about minion defense, my SRS are truly disposable



- Only 4 links left to support my SRS
- Less damage from brand ? I’m not sure if it applies or not in this case.




How is it going ?

I already try it as a league starter and just killed kitava with it (with only one ascendancy, since I forgot to see Izaro since act 6), going to map today. For now the build feels good, clear speed is average but boss kill and stay in place event like harvest are a breeze.

Note : I’m not a good player for speed, I finished the story in 15h with this build, which may look slow but it’s actually my record, so I’m not sure if tit come from the build or me.


The build in short :

SRS is my main source of damage. Boosted by :

- Hatred and precision auras with generosity.
- Flesh offering
- Elemental equilibrium activated by orb of storm
- Elemental weakness curse
- Grip of the council
- +3 Carrion golem

Defense layers :

- Life + some energy shield
- Max resist of course
- Glancing blows max block chance + 5% recovery of life when block on shield
- Armor base item as much as possible
- Fortify (on shield charge)
- Meat shield zombies
- Cwdt + steelskin
- Flam dash to dodge

Casting :

- Brand-SRS every 4 sec to keep 20 srs and the “+ minion damage when you use a minion spell recently”
- Flesh offering when drop, 8 sec or so
- Orb of storm when drop, 8 sec or so
- Rest of the time is surviving, shield charge to fortify and drinking flasks


The build in detail :

Ascendancy : Necromancer

My actual tree : https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/AAAABAMDAAPuBAcEswceCPQLYRBRES0RlhVQFm8aOBpsHNwdvh4IIvQkqiWyKPoqEyqYLJwy0TOHNuk6xjrpPmVFR0WdSVFMs1NSU41VxlYuWfNaK1qRYPhihmL0Zp5o8mpDaqxrF2vbbAttGXGycg98g30Yf8aCx4PbiECLdo8akDOQVZMnlS6YTZitmuCbip69n0iiAKVnpqynCKh9qqmvbLiTvOq-T8BmwxPGrs8a04_T-9rd34rjaukC6-7sg_Af8NX60g==?accountName=shuruga2&characterName=BrandSpirit

My planned tree : www.poeurl.com/cVSB


Planned gear :

What I’m generally looking on rare : life, resist, str, dex and cast speed (since it applies to brand activation)

Wand : Rare convoke wand with +lvl to all minion gem, minion damage, minion accuracy, minion speed

Shield : rare shield with 5% recovery life on block + (with huge luck or budget) +1 level to all fire gem

Helmet : rare minion damage

Body : any 6L ; into belly of the beast ; into rare 6L with +1 to active gem or +1 to support gem not sure

Glove : Grip of the council

Boots : rare move speed, supported by inc duration (flesh offering and orb of storm curse on hit elemental weakness goes in there)

Amulet : Rare STR+DEX amulet anoint : Deflection

Ring 1 : Brinrot mark

Ring 2 : Rare crafted from Essence of Fear to get minion move speed

Mandatory jewel : careful planning to get the missing dex from tree

watcher eyes : hatred and/or precision depends on budget

Rare jewel : minion damage when cast a minion spell recently + minion damage + minion taunt chance

belt : rare stygian vise

Flask 1 : Blood of the karui or instant life flask
Flask 2 : Rumi’s concoction
Flask 3 : silver flask (for cast speed)
Flask 4 : move speed flask
Flask 5 : ?

Mods on flask : remove bleeding, remove ignite, remove freeze, move speed


Gem link :

Body : SRS + Arcanist brand + minion damage + melee physical damage +? +?

I’m not sure about the lasts ones my candidates are :
- summon phantasm
- empower
- elemental focus
- ruthless
- multistrike

Boots : flesh offering | orb of storm + curse on hit + elemental weakness

4L : Zombie + meat shield + minion speed + minion damage

4L : Hatred + Precision + generosity | Flam dash (or vaal haste)

3 L : shield charge + faster attack + fortify

3 L : Cwdt(2) + steelskin(11) + desecrate (8)

Brinrot mark : Carrion Golem


My questions :

Should I go low life to get more auras ? If yes what gem link should I drop ?

Should I go Victario’s charity + Necromantic aegis instead of max block + glancing blow and life recovery on block ?

Can SRS or phantasm taunt if I get taunt chance on my jewel ? Is it worth it ?

Minion instability + infernal legion + siege breaker ?

Devouring Diadem ? + Mom ?

Is zombies + meat shield efficient as a defense layer ? For now, it feels good I don’t know about maps.

Since I don’t really care about zombies damages ; is swaping minion damage or minion speed for life leach a good idea ? So I don’t have to summon them often ?

What 5th and 6th link to put on my SRS ? Summon phantasm looks good for clear, still usefull for bosses and I have seen some SRS build use it. But I really don’t know what to use.

5th flask ? For now, I use a mana flask, but the only use is to cast my 6 zombies in a row

Should I use Kiara’s determination instead of my rare silver flask ?

Since I use armor on this planned life build, is there a way to get endurance charges ?

Any other advice would be appreciated.



Thanks for reading, bye !