Archmage Spark Lightning Conduit Stormweaver Build Guide
The Spark Cast on Shock Lightning Conduit Archmage Stormweaver build is an endgame build with near-infinite scaling potential. Archmage is one of the best tools for scaling a spellcaster's offensive and defensive capabilities into the endgame. If you are looking for a build you can invest in indefinitely, with a very satisfying power curve where every upgrade is noticeable, look no further.
Spark is a spell that fires numerous erratic bouncing projectiles that provide excellent coverage for mapping. However, Lightning Conduit is your secret weapon. Your Spark projectiles inflict Exposure and massive Shocks on enemies, which rapidly fill your Cast on Shock energy to unleash a devastating burst of damage. The Strike Twice Ascendancy allows for doubling the power of Shocks, which you can heavily invest in to provide a massive more multiplier to damage enemies take, and the damage Lightning Conduit deals.
Note: The gear showcased features optimal affixes. Aim for these while maintaining 75% resistance caps.
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This guide assumes you are at least level 68 and have completed Act 3 Cruel, to learn more about the leveling process check out our Spark Stormweaver Leveling Guide.
Skills
- Spark is the primary skill you cast; it provides some damage to clear trash and applies Exposure and Shocks.
- Cast on Shock Energy fills when you Shock enemies. When full it triggers Lightning Conduit, a very powerful burst of damage that clears tougher enemies.
- Flame Wall and Orb of Storms are used to gain additional damage, which is great against tougher enemies to apply Shocks more easily.
- Use Conductivity on Bosses to lower their resistances, greatly increasing your damage.
- Note that for Cast on Shock to gain Energy as efficiently as possible, you need to reach a total of 150% increased Energy Gain. You gain 10% from the Cast on Shock gem's quality, placing you at 110% with the Impetus Support. The remaining 40% must be obtained from Jewels socketed in your passive skill tree. Refer to the gear section for more information.
You can use Gemcutter's Prisms on your Archmage of any level and Vaal Orb it in the hope of achieving +1 level. You can still level the gem after it is corrupted. Combined with Lightning Mastery, you can reach the level 21 breakpoint with a level 19 (+1) Archmage gem.
Skill Rotation
- Place down a Flame Wall and Orb of Storms in front of you.
- Apply Conductivity on the boss/enemy.
- Fire Spark.
- Maintain Flame Wall and Orb of Storms.
Your clear is very simple: maintain distance from packs and fire your Sparks continuously to cover the screen and trigger Lightning Conduit on rares.
Skill Leveling Priority
Passives
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- You can change any travel node to an Attribute you need to equip an item/gem. Otherwise, prioritize Intelligence.
- You need sufficient Chance to Shock to consistently apply them. Ensure these nodes are allocated as soon as possible.
- The required Mana Regeneration varies depending on the amount you have on gear; adjust your build accordingly.
- Make sure to check the Gear section of the guide for information on what kind of Jewels to place in your Jewel Sockets.
Ascendancy
Learn how to complete the Trial of the Sekhemas and Trial of Chaos to earn your first 2 Ascensions with our Ascension Guide!
- Constant Gale for 10% more cast speed and 20% more mana regeneration rate. Mind Over Matter builds can struggle with mana so any additional mana regeneration is always welcome.
- Strike Twice allows you to apply two shocks at the same time with your spells, making enemies take twice as much damage due to shock. As you are mostly Lightning damage-based, you'll innately shock, however, speccing into Shock Chance is mandatory for it to be consistent.
- Force of Will grants a way to scale your Arcane Surge effect with Mana netting you even more stats from Mana stacking.
- Scouring Winds is your final node. It grants an additional -20% to enemy resistances when inflicted with your Lightning Exposure. This makes Exposure effect twice as effective.
Gearing
Thanks to Archmage and Mind Over Matter, Mana becomes a way to scale both your defences and damage. This enables Eldritch Battery to convert Energy Shield gained from equipped items into Mana without negatively impacting your defences. Chaos Inoculation is allocated to grant immunity to chaos damage, and The Everlasting Gaze provides a substantial Energy Shield pool.
Archmage grants a % of Damage to Extra Lightning Damage per 100 Maximum Mana, enabling substantial damage gains through Mana stacking. Lightning Conduit, a spell that deals damage multiplicatively with Shocks applied to its target. Shock Magnitude and Ailment Magnitude increase the Shock value inflicted on monsters. Shocks cause enemies to take increased damage, doubled by your Ascendancy, Strike Twice. Additionally, for every 5% Shock effect, Lightning Conduit deals 100% more damage.
Mind Over Matter unfortunately comes with a significant downside of -50% total Mana Recovery. This means that you have to achieve a fairly high total Mana and Mana Regeneration to feel comfortable while mapping and bossing. Acquiring a near maximum roll on The Everlasting Gaze is important as it provides your base Energy Shield. It can be scaled by the % increased maximum Energy Shield stat and Maximum Mana to gain a substantial and scalable Energy Shield pool.
To activate your Cast on Shock and Archmage reservations, you require a minimum of 60 extra Spirit. This can be gained as a prefix on your body armour, making this piece crucial for the build. Ideally, obtain an Expert Keth Raiment or Expert Altar Robe base, as they also provide powerful implicits.
Energy gain is important on this build. you can find this stat if you open your gem menu with the default hotkey of G, then press open the skill panel for cast on shock. There you should find the Energy Gain Modifier stat %. You need a total of +40% Energy Gain Modifier from Jewels.
Offensive Scaling
- +60 to Spirit
- +# to Maximum Mana.
- % increased Maximum Mana
- % increased Chance to Shock
- % increased Magnitude of Shocks/Ailments you inflict
- +# to Energy Shield from equipped items to gain more Mana.
- % increased Mana Regeneration allows you to free-cast.
- % increased Lightning Exposure Effect
- +# to Intelligence because it gives you more maximum Mana.
- Cast Speed for a smoothness.
- % increased Projectile Speed makes projectiles bounce faster for more damage on smaller arenas.
- % Chance to Pierce an Enemy
- % increased Spell/Lightning Damage
Defensive Scaling
- Sufficient +#% to Fire, Cold and Lightning Resistance to cap your Resistances.
- +# to Maximum Mana.
- +# to Energy Shield from equipped items to gain more Mana.
- A high rolled The Everlasting Gaze to gain a portion of your Mana as extra Energy Shield.
- % increased Mana Regeneration to increase the rate at which you recover mana when casting or taking damage.
- +# to Intelligence because it gives you more maximum Mana.
- % increased Mana on Kill to keep your mana full while mapping.
- If you are still struggling check out our Survival Guide for additional useful information!
Here's how you should gear your Stormweaver. Sorted mostly in order of importance
You do not need a Bossing Weapon/Focus unless you are planning on doing Uber Pinnacle bosses.
Mapping Weapon
Widowhail is an excellent and relatively inexpensive weapon option for mapping. Spark's ability to cover ground and cut through packs is greatly enhanced by stats such as Pierce and Projectile Speed, both of which are found on Quivers.
The roll range on this item is significant; acquire one with the best possible roll. 250% is a breakpoint for an additional gem level granted by the Quiver. Socket two Soul Core of Xopecs into your empty sockets to gain an additional 30% increased Chance to Shock each.
Mapping Quiver
Bossing Weapon
Bossing Focus
Rings
Amulet
Belt
Helmet
Body Armour
Boots
Gloves
Jewels
Atlas Passives
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- This build excels at both mapping and bossing, performing well in all mechanics. However, some skillful play is required, as you cannot facetank until later and must leverage your strengths as a ranged spellcaster.
- Avoid the following Waystone modifiers:
- Monsters have (50–59)% increased Ailment Threshold
- Area has patches of Burning Ground
- This Atlas passive skill tree grants significant Waystone sustain, while also enhancing the reward potential and number of rares in your maps.
Learn about the endgame activities available to you in Path of Exile 2 with our guide!
FAQ
Why am I not shocking consistently
Several factors can contribute to inconsistent Shock application. Firstly, your hit damage must be sufficient to meet monster Shock thresholds. Some monsters have significantly more life or Lightning Resistance than others, making them more difficult to Shock. To mitigate these inconsistencies, allocate Chance to Shock on the passive skill tree and socket two Soul Core of Xopecs into your weapon. The Spreading Shocks amulet anointment spreads your Shocks between enemies, greatly increasing your Energy generation while mapping and causing Lightning Conduit to trigger much more frequently.
Why are you using a bow?
Is this build doable on a budget?
I struggle with my attributes, what should I do?
Is the build squishy?
What bonuses should I choose from relics in Act 2 and venom drought in Act 3?
Summary
- The Archmage Spark Stormweaver is a ranged spellcaster that triggers Lightning Conduit upon shocking enemies to deal devastating damage.
- Archmage converts Mana into an offensive stat, while Mind Over Matter converts it into a defensive stat. This synergy allows you to stack Mana for both significant offense and defense.
- Eldritch Battery converts all Energy Shield granted by equipment into flat Mana, providing even more damage without negatively impacting survivability.
- The Everlasting Gaze grants added Energy Shield equal to a percentage of your Mana pool, completing the balance between items and keystones.