Storm Brand Elementalist Build Guide (PoE Lake of Kalandra 3.19) (2024)

Introduction

Storm Brand has become one of the most popular and all-round powerful skills in the game, as well as one of the best skills for leveling and league-starting. It remains a relatively strong skill overall and a competitive all-rounder. Shifting the build to a more Critical Strike based version gives more punch and feels a little smoother once you hit the proper end-game gearing phase.

Build Assessment

Pros

+ High clear speed and mobility
+ Very safe when played correctly
+ Excellent at league starting and leveling with plenty of investments to make throughout the league
+ Gameplay is accessible for all levels of player
+ Excellent “all-rounder”; great for Exiles that want one character to work on

Cons

– Deep delving is difficult after a certain point (~450 depth)
– End game can be expensive in order to hit high single target damage
– Can be difficult to set up cluster jewels and auras for new players

Path of Building

Path of Building for this build is available here.

Included is the recommended set of mid-game 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 .

Playstyle

Storm Brand is a ranged skill that attaches to a target for its duration, pulsing periodically and dealing damage in a small area of effect. If the target dies Storm Brand will automatically leap to a nearby target and immediately trigger, and with the right passive skill tree you can have several brands active simultaneously. Using Brand Recall also allows you to reposition your brands to a new area or monster pack and have them instantly trigger. The result is a build that has a high-tempo feel through managing Brand Recall, mobility skills, and creating new Storm Brands — all the damage, however, is automated as your Storm Brands leap from target to target, tearing packs apart in a flash.

There are a few advantages that are unique to brands versus other types of skills. For example, during early gearing progression, tougher opponents can be easily dealt with by attaching your brands before retreating to a safe distance. This style of guerrilla play is especially beneficial versus dangerous enemies and league mechanics.

General mapping gameplay matches the style of other fast-clearing spells, with much of the focus being on the correct utilization of movement skills. Storm Brand itself will typically deal with all standard packs, including Rare enemies, in only a single cast. This allows for a greater focus on speed and positioning, which allows for superlative efficiency in clear and a really entertaining and “zippy” playstyle.

Most of your clearing is done by activating several Storm Brands, then using Flame Dash to zip onwards to the next pack(s). After charging into a pack, immediately hit Brand Recall to bring all your damage to bear. You will generally be hitting your Brand Recall nearly on cooldown. Storm Brand is only really used to “maintain” your brands, so that they are active, but is not used as the primary clearing button itself.

Passive Skill Tree

“This is our recommended tree for this build“https://pobb.in/TJQYm3D3YzA6
For more details on the Passive Tree, skill acquisition order, and more, be sure to check out the Passive Skill Tree page for in-depth information.

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

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

Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheon Powers

Gear Summary / TL;DR

These items strike a balance between power and cost-effectiveness. If you want to explore more options for Gear (both budget and high-end), Flasks, or get more information on alternatives and specialty items, please ensure you read the Gear, Jewels, and Flasks page thoroughly.

These items strike a balance between power and cost-effectiveness.

Item Slot	Item Name
Head	Rare Archdemon Crown — Ideally with pseudo support gems from Shaper/Elder influence
Amulet	Rare Amulet — +1 Gems if possible
Chest	Inpulsa's Broken Heart
Gloves	Rare Fingerless Silk Gloves
Boots	Rare Boots
Belt	Rare Stygian Vise
Ring 1	Call of the Brotherhood
Ring 2	Call of the Brotherhood
Weapons	Rare Wands

For in-depth recommendations for gear, flasks, jewels, and crafting advice be sure to read our Gear, Jewels, and Flasks page.

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.

We recommend starting with Freezing Pulse, which works well with Lifesprig if you have one. Once you are Level 12, and enter the Cavern of Wrath, pick up Storm Brand from Nessa and start using it as your main clearing skill.

In order of priority, the Storm Brand links are:

1. Storm Brand
2. Elemental Focus Support
3. Added Lightning Damage Support
4. Controlled Destruction Support
5. Added Cold Damage Support
6. Hypothermia Support

Once you talent out of Elemental Overload in the latter half of the leveling process (around the time you do Cruel Lab and invest into Critical Strike on your tree), you will want to adapt your links to the recommended ones in the main portion of the guide.

If you are using a Tabula Rasa, simply fill in the other gem sockets with whatever supports are available from the vendors until you reach Act II and Act III for the other gems.

Link Brand Recall to Arcane Surge Support (Level 3) and Flame Dash. This is a great leveling link and should be acquired as soon as possible.

At Level 12 you can also acquire Blade Vortex. Link it to Added Cold Damage Support, Added Lightning Damage Support, and Controlled Destruction Support as soon as possible.

Herald of Ice, Herald of Thunder, and Clarity should be used as early as possible.

Once you reach Level 28, be sure to get Lightning Spire Trap from Maramoa after dealing with General Gravicius. This will greatly bolster your single target damage and make Normal Lab a complete pushover. This should replace your Blade Vortex link:

1. Lightning Spire Trap
2. Added Lightning Damage Support
3. Controlled Destruction Support
4. Trap and Mine Damage Support

FAQ

What Annointment Should I Use for my Amulet?

• Charisma is simply the best choice as it allows you to run an extra aura.

For more information be sure to read through the rest of the guide:

Passive Skill Tree and Gem Links

Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheon Powers

Gear, Jewels, and Flasks Breakdown