Shadow Leveling Build Guide

This Armageddon Brand Cremation Shadow Leveling Build Guide teaches you the most efficient way to complete the Path of Exile Campaign; with All Skill Points and All Labs. Fire Shadow is a proven League Start Leveling Build; making it a great choice for leveling a new character, or when completing a fresh start speedrun.

Class Leveling Guides

This leveling guide is Class agnostic, however, Ascendancies offer a crucial early-game power spike. Use the tabs below for more information on which Ascendancy nodes to specialize in for a smoother leveling experience. Note that if you plan on respeccing in endgame you need a bunch of Gold or 5 Orbs of Regret per node.

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Shadow Leveling Build Act Progression

Act 1

• Level 2: After Hillock 
  • Cobra Lash - Chance to Poison Support
• Level 4: After Hailrake
  • Rolling Magma - Elemental Proliferation
  • Flame Wall
  • Frostblink - Arcane Surge
  • Check the Vendor for 1 to 2 Goat's Horn if necessary
  • Check the Vendor for a GG or GGG Weapon for Whirling Blades if necessary
  • Note: Delay the Arcane Surge purchase if you lack Wisdoms
• Level 8: After Lower Prison & Completing Dweller
  • Rolling Magma - Elemental Proliferation - Combustion (If 3B)
  • Flame Wall
  • Frostblink - Arcane Surge
  • Check the Vendor for 1 to 2 Goat's Horn if necessary
  • Check the Vendor for a GG or GGG Weapon for Whirling Blades if necessary
• Level 10: After Brutus
  • Add Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum to the above setup

Act 2

• Level 16: After Fidelitas
  • Add Herald of Thunder
  • Optional: Add Herald of Ice or Summon Skitterbots
  • Optional: Add Blood Rage
  • Optional: Purchase Arctic Armour to equip for Freeze Immunity in later Acts or to use in High Physical Damage Zones
• Level 18: After Weaver
  • Free Elemental Focus
  • Purchase Wave of Conviction
  • Purchase Desecrate
  • Purchase Concentrated Effect
  • Optional: You can delay this step until you have enough Alterations, usually after Vaal Oversoul
• Bandits: Help Alira
• After The Way Forward - Travel back to Act 1
  • Optional: Purchase Flame Dash

Act 3

• Level 24: After Tolman
  • Free Flammability from Maramoa
  • Purchase Haste
• Solaris 2
  • Rare Jade Amulet
  • Important: Acquire the Fire Damage Craft in the Room beside Lady Dialla
  • Important: Craft Flat Fire Damage to Spells onto your Weapons with 8 Transmutes
  • Important: The Craft requires Level 24
• Level 28: After Gravicius
  • Free Cremation
  • Optional: Purchase Firestorm --> Switch with Rolling Magma
• Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
  • Firestorm - Elemental Proliferation - Combustion
  • Cremation - Concentrated Effect - Elemental Focus -- Depending on Colours
  • Wave of Conviction, Flame Wall
  • Desecrate
  • Frostblink - Arcane Surge - Flammability
  • Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum
  • Haste
• Optional: Complete Library
  • Optional: Free Pinpoint -- To link with Cremation
  • Optional: Purchase Armageddon Brand --> Switch with Rolling Magma
  • Optional: Purchase Anger -- To use during Boss Fights

Act 4

• Level 38: After Malachai
  • Optional: Free Greater Volley Support --> Add to Cremation 4Link (Depends on Colours)
  • Optional: Free Summon Stone Golem from Oyun
  • Optional: Purchase Ignite Proliferation (1 Alchemy) --> Switch with Elemental Proliferation
  • Optional: Purchase Immolate Support (1 Alchemy) --> Add to Armageddon Brand 4Link

Act 5

• After completing The Key to Freedom
  • Free Ruby Flask

Act 6

• After Lily Roth
  • Purchase Anger -- To use during Boss Fights
  • Optional: Purchase Armageddon Brand --> Switch with Rolling Magma or Firestorm
• Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
  • Armageddon Brand or Firestorm - Ignite Proliferation - Combustion - Immolate
  • Cremation - Concentrated Effect - Elemental Focus - Cruelty
  • Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum
  • Blood Rage, Flame Wall, Desecrate
  • Frostblink - Arcane Surge - Flammability - Wave of Conviction
  • Haste or Anger | Summon Skitterbots or Arctic Armour
• Major Pantheon: Brine King
• Minor Pantheon: Ryslatha

Act 7

• After completing The Silver Locket
  • Granite Flask or Jade Flask

Act 8

• Run Arctic Armour for Freeze Immunity in zones with Cold Damage

Act 9

• After completing The Storm Blade
  • Free Rare Imbued Wand or Rare Alder Spiked Shield

Act 10

• After completing Safe Passage
  • Silver Flask
• After completing Death and Rebirth
  • Free Rare Blood Raiment or Rare Zodiac Leather

With experience, the Leveling Progression outlined above is all you need. However, if you're looking for additional guidance, then review the Important Leveling Tips listed below.

General Progression Tips

Weapon Progression

• Level 2 Glass Shank x2
  • This is your starting weapon! In most scenarios, it's not worth crafting whatsoever.
  • Keep the GG Glass Shank until you find a GGG for Whirling Blades
  • Keep the unlinked RGB Glass Shank, as it's normally used for the whole run

• Level 7 Goat's Horn x2
  • Use against Bosses or Rares for increased Single Target Damage.
  • Consider using any Alchemy & Essence for more damage

• Level 10 Whirling Blades Weapons
  • Use during Zone Progression to travel quickly
  • Use a Sword & Dagger to take advantage of the Dark Arts 60% increased damage dual wield mastery

• Act 3 Level 24 Craft Flat Fire Damage to Spells on your Whirling Blades Weapons
  • Requires 8 Transmutes
  • From this point onward, use your Whirling Blades Weapons for both Clear and Single Target Damage

• Act 7 Craft T2 Flat Fire Damage to Spells on your Whirling Blades Weapons (Optional)
  • Requires 2 Scouring & 4 Alchemy

• Act 6 to Act 10+ Rare High Damage Rune Dagger (Optional)
  • Any Magic or Rare Rune Dagger that improves your damage

Listed above is the ideal Fire Caster weapon progression. Fire Casters are strong enough to finish the run with Level 24 Crafts, especially so if you farm extra levels. That said, you can improve your damage in Part 2 of the Campaign by either: upgrading your T1 Flat Fire Damage to Spells craft to T2, or by upgrading your Whirling Blades Weapons to any Magic or Rare Rune Dagger that improves your DPS.

Early Links, Whirling Blades Weapons & Socket Colour Planning

To review, you are searching for the follow links during the early game:

• BBB for Rolling Magma / Armageddon Brand / Firestorm
• BBG or BGR for Cremation
• GGG Sword or Claw for Weapon Swap Whirling Blades
• Any items with Blue or Green sockets to assist with socketing gems

The ideal scenario is to acquire all necessary Linked Items during Act 1; in preparation of the Act 3 Armageddon Brand / Firestorm Cremation Setup, whilst also achieving the Level 10 Setup:

• Rolling Magma - Elemental Proliferation - Combustion (If 3B)
• Flame Wall
• Frostblink - Arcane Surge
• Whirling Blades - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum

However, Vendor Checks and Item Drop RNG isn't always so forgiving. In below average scenarios: killing extra monsters, Chroming 3 Links and checking the Vendor in Act 2 and beyond may be required. To assist with link prioritisation, you can remove the 1 Link gems & organise the remaining Links into the table below:

The table should impart the following conclusions:

• Acquiring a BBB for your main clear is of utmost importance
• Acquiring a GG Weapon to Whirling Blades with at Level 10 is necessary to travel quickly
• Cremation links can be delayed until Level 28

Note: Use your starting GG Glass Shank until you find a GGG Weapon or Linked Item. Furthermore, it's advantageous to acquire your GGG weapon as soon as possible, as lower level weapons have lower attribute requirements, and may be easier to chrome.

Goat Horns, Weapon Swapping & Playstyle

To maximise progression speed, this build uses Whirling Blades to traverse through zones quickly. However, until the Level 24 Crafts, Swords & Daggers offer no significant damage benefits.

Thus, from Level 7 until Level 24, equip 2 Goat's Horns in your second weapon set. The Flat Fire damage to Spells in combination with Rolling Magma's high Damage Effectiveness, significantly boosts your single target damage.

Versus Magic, Rare & Unique Monsters:

• Use your Goat's Horns.
• Use Flame Wall if necessary.

Versus Everything Else:

• Use your Whirling Blades Weapons.
• Consider casting Flame Wall if it avoids weapon swapping or an extra cast.

Rolling Magma Double Bounce

Before progressing further Rolling Magma's Bounce mechanic needs to be understood.

Simply stated:

• Rolling Magma Bounces multiple times per cast.
• Rolling Magma only deals damage when the projectile hits the ground (AKA the Bounce).

In practice, this means aiming slightly in front of the target, to potentially hit an enemy twice with a single Rolling Magma.

The Level 24 Fire Crafts Breakpoint

Continuing onward, at Level 24 it's imperative to craft Flat Fire Damage to Spells on your Whirling Blades Weapons. Doing so significantly boosts your damage.

Important: Note the 4 Transmute cost for the T1 Flat Fire craft. This means during campaign progression, you should loot and vendor as many Magic & Rare items as necessary.

Rolling Magma vs Armageddon Brand vs Firestorm

Unfortunately, Shadows cannot purchase Armageddon Brand after defeating Gravicius.

At Level 28, you have the following options:

• Continue to use Rolling Magma until Act 6 Twilight Strand & Swap to Armageddon Brand
• Continue to use Rolling Magma for the rest of the run
• Purchase and Use Firestorm until Act 6 Twilight Strand & Swap to Armageddon Brand
• Purchase and Use Firestorm for the rest of the run
• Complete A Fixture of Fate in the Library. Then Purchase and Use Armageddon Brand for the rest of the run

Author's Note: Which option you choose is a matter of personal preference. Currently, I prefer to complete the Library Quest; allowing me to use Armageddon Brand as soon as possible.

Act-by-Act Progression Tips

Act 1

• In the Submerged Passageway, place a Portal at the Bridge, to more quickly enter Flooded Depths Later.

Act 2

• In the Broken Bridge, search for and defeat the 3 Exiles beside the waypoint. Keep an eye out for item upgrades, jewellery, and gear to vendor.
• There are many Breaches in Act 2. The Breach in Riverways is often found on the way and can be a great source of extra experience and items while progressing.

Act 3

• Solaris 2
  • Important: Acquire the Fire Damage Craft in the Room beside Lady Dialla
• In Docks you can find a Unique enemy that drops a guaranteed Essence. They only drop Essences the first time you click them; so consider resetting the zone until you spawn an Essence you desire.

Act 4

• Get Level 32 before entering Kaom's Stronghold to avoid severe XP Penalties.

Act 5

• The Chamber of Innocence has many guaranteed Magic Monster packs. It's strongly recommended to go out of your way to farm them.
• Before entering the Reliquary to complete the Passive Skill Point quest, place a portal outside of the Cathedral Rooftop entrance, to progress faster.

Act 6

• In the Beacon, while progressing the fuel pylons, consider placing a Safety Portal as the enemies that spawn can occasionally be very dangerous.

Act 7

• After defeating Gruest, and progressing forward to the Causeway; consider placing a portal near the Dread Thicket entrance if you see it, to progress faster.
• Dread Thicket
  • Acquire the T2 Fire Damage Craft near Dreadstone.

Act 8

• Upon returning to the Harbour Bridge to complete the act, reset the zone by Ctrl + Clicking the entrance for more experience along the way.

Act 9

• Consider farming Blood Aqueduct for more experience and gear before progressing to maps.
• Consider rolling a Bleed Removal Flask and using Grace in the Belly of the Beast.

Act 10

• Upon entering the Ravaged Square, place a portal near the entrance, before travelling to the Ravaged Square waypoint. Then take the waypoint back to town, and go through your portal and head south, in search of The Control Blocks to defeat Vilenta.

The video below goes over all the leveling steps while also showing gameplay and playstyle tips.

Does this run acquire all Passive Skill Points & Complete all Labs?

Yes

Can I use Wave of Conviction instead of Cremation for Single Target?

Is there an alternate skill instead of Rolling Magma until Level 28?

What Ascendancy do you recommend for Speed Leveling?

• Complete the PoE Campaign with an Armageddon Brand Cremation Shadow Leveling Build in under 3 Hours
• Step-by-Step Leveling Progression through the Acts including Gem Swaps
• Tips and Tricks to help gear up as you level
• SSF Fresh Start League Start Viable

Credits

Written by: havoc616
Reviewed by: Crouching_Tuna
Language Reviewed by: Tenkiei