PoE Puncture of Shanking – Path of Exile

PoE Puncture of Shanking level 20 with 20% quality

• The Puncture Skill Gem now requires a Bow, while the new Puncture of Shanking Transfigured Gem requires a Dagger, Claw, or Sword.

PoE Puncture of Shanking 3.25 Build Guide

Introduction: Puncture of Shanking is a potent melee attack skill in Path of Exile, ideal for builds focusing on bleeding damage. This guide will explore the mechanics, advantages, disadvantages, and optimal build strategies for using this skill.

Skill Mechanics:

• Tags: Attack, Melee, Strike, Duration, Physical
• Level Requirement: (4–70)
• Dexterity Requirement: (10–98)
• Intelligence Requirement: (7–68)
• Mana Cost: (8–14)
• Attack Speed: 70% of base
• Attack Damage: (170–438)% of base
• Effectiveness of Added Damage: (170–438)%
• Base Duration: 6 seconds
• Quality Effects: +(0–20)% more Damage with Bleeding

Pros:

1. High Bleed Damage: Puncture inflicts a strong bleeding debuff, dealing substantial damage over time.
2. Critical Strike Synergy: Increased critical strike chance against bleeding enemies enhances damage potential.
3. Versatility: Can be used with daggers, claws, or swords, allowing flexibility in weapon choice.

Cons:

1. Mana Cost: Higher mana cost may require investment in mana regeneration or reduction.
2. Attack Speed: Slower attack speed compared to other melee skills.
3. Single Target Focus: Primarily effective against single targets, making it less optimal for clearing large packs of enemies.

Build Guide:

• Skill Setup: Link Puncture of Shanking with support gems such as Melee Physical Damage, Brutality, and Chance to Bleed to maximize its bleeding effect.
• Gear: Focus on weapons with high physical damage and increased bleeding duration. Look for armor and accessories that boost physical damage, critical strike chance, and bleed damage.
• Passive Tree: Invest in nodes that enhance physical damage, bleed duration, and critical strike chance. Consider nodes that provide life leech and mana management.
• Playstyle Tips:
• Positioning: Use Puncture strategically on high-priority targets and bosses.
• Mana Management: Ensure you have enough mana regeneration or mana leech to sustain the skill.
• Support Skills: Use mobility skills like Whirling Blades or Leap Slam to position yourself effectively and maintain distance when necessary.

Conclusion: Puncture of Shanking is a powerful choice for players focusing on bleed-based melee builds. With the right setup, it offers high damage potential and critical strike synergy, making it a formidable skill for both leveling and end-game content.

AI Guides

Puncture of Shanking is a lethal melee skill in Path of Exile, designed for high-level players who wield daggers, claws, or swords. This skill inflicts a powerful bleeding debuff, leveraging both direct and damage-over-time mechanics to devastate enemies. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to maximize the potential of Puncture of Shanking.

Key Features:

• Attack, Melee, Strike, Duration, Physical: Puncture of Shanking is a versatile skill that fits seamlessly into various melee builds. It combines direct strike damage with a lasting bleeding effect.
• Mana Cost and Attack Speed: The skill costs 14 mana and has an attack speed of 70% of base, providing a balanced mix of power and resource management.
• Critical Strike Chance: At level 20, the skill significantly increases your critical strike chance against bleeding enemies, enhancing its lethality.

Bleeding Mechanics:

• Base Duration: The base duration of the bleeding debuff is 6.00 seconds, allowing for sustained damage over time.
• Increased Critical Strike: The skill grants a 118% increased critical strike chance against bleeding enemies, ensuring higher damage output.
• More Damage with Bleeding: Puncture of Shanking deals 69% more damage with bleeding, making it exceptionally effective for builds focusing on damage-over-time effects.

Weapon Requirements:

Puncture of Shanking works with daggers, claws, or swords, emphasizing the need for players to focus on these weapon types to maximize the skill’s potential.

Damage Output:

• Attack Damage: At level 20, the skill delivers 437.9% of base attack damage and effectiveness of added damage, ensuring high direct damage with each strike.
• Causes Bleeding: The skill inherently causes bleeding, applying a powerful damage-over-time effect to enemies.

Usage and Placement:

To utilize Puncture of Shanking, players must place the skill gem into an item socket of the correct color. The process is simple and straightforward:

1. Socket Placement: Ensure your gear has the appropriate colored socket to accommodate the Puncture of Shanking skill gem.
2. Activation: Right-click on the gem to place it into the socket.
3. Removal: To remove the gem, simply right-click on it again.

Strategic Implementation:

Puncture of Shanking is best used in builds that focus on critical strikes, bleeding damage, and melee combat. Its powerful strike and bleeding mechanics allow you to effectively eliminate both single targets and groups of enemies. Consider pairing it with other skills and equipment that enhance critical strikes, bleeding effects, and attack speed.

• Synergy with Critical Strike Builds: Integrate Puncture of Shanking into builds that prioritize critical strike chance and critical damage. This ensures frequent triggering of the skill’s enhanced critical strike effects against bleeding enemies.
• Maximize Bleeding Damage: Use Puncture of Shanking to apply powerful bleeding debuffs, then follow up with other skills or attacks to maximize damage over time. This strategy is particularly effective in both PvE and PvP scenarios.

Conclusion:

Puncture of Shanking is a game-changing skill for melee-focused, critical strike-reliant characters in Path of Exile. Its high direct damage output, coupled with the bleeding debuff and increased critical strike chance, makes it a unique and powerful addition to your build. By carefully managing your weapon choice and positioning, you can unleash devastating strikes that leave your enemies bleeding and vulnerable. Equip this skill gem in the right socket, and you’ll be ready to puncture and shank your way through any challenge.