PoE Vaal Reave Build 3.25 – Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur

The Vaal Reave skill in Path of Exile offers a powerful melee attack that combines high damage output with exceptional area-of-effect (AoE) capabilities, making it a prime choice for players focusing on dexterity-based melee builds. This guide provides a comprehensive look at how to build around Vaal Reave effectively in the 3.25 patch.

Key Features of Reave and Vaal Reave

Reave (Level 20):

• Attack, AoE, Melee: Reave attacks an area in front of you. Each hit grants stages, which increase the skill’s area of effect. Stages are lost after a short period without hitting anything.
• Mana Cost: 10 mana.
• Attack Damage: 534.6% of base.
• Effectiveness of Added Damage: 534%.
• Weapon Requirements: Requires Level 70, 98 Dexterity, 68 Intelligence, and Daggers, Claws, or One-Handed Swords.
• Stages Mechanics: Maximum of 4 stages, with each stage adding +0.2 metres to the radius and 50% more area of effect.
• Additional Mechanics: +2 to maximum stages.

Vaal Reave:

• Souls Per Use: 25, can store up to 3 uses.
• Soul Gain Prevention: 2 seconds.
• Attack Speed: 250% of base.
• Attack Damage: 613.6% of base.
• Effectiveness of Added Damage: 613%.
• AoE Mechanics: Repeatedly attacks a large area in different directions, with each hit granting stages. Stages are lost after a short period without hitting anything.
• Stages Mechanics: +0.2 metres to radius and 50% more area of effect for each stage, with a maximum of 6 stages.
• Additional Features: Can’t be evaded, corrupted (cannot be modified but offers significant power).

Building Around Vaal Reave

1. Weapon Choice:

• Daggers, Claws, One-Handed Swords: Choose high-damage weapons with added physical damage, increased attack speed, and critical strike chance to maximize your damage output.

2. Passive Skill Tree:

• Focus on nodes that enhance melee damage, attack speed, critical strike chance, and area of effect. Specific clusters to prioritize include those near the Shadow, Ranger, and Duelist start areas.
• Consider pathing to nodes that increase critical strike multiplier, physical damage, and skill duration to enhance both single-target and AoE damage.

3. Support Gems:

• Melee Physical Damage Support: Increases physical damage.
• Increased Area of Effect Support: Expands the AoE of Reave and Vaal Reave.
• Multistrike Support: Increases the number of strikes, ensuring more hits and faster attack speed.
• Increased Critical Strikes Support: Boosts critical strike chance.
• Ancestral Call Support: Allows Reave to hit multiple enemies, increasing its effectiveness in crowds.
• Fortify Support: Adds defensive capabilities, reducing incoming damage when active.

4. Armor and Accessories:

• Look for gear that boosts your dexterity, physical damage, attack speed, and critical strike chance.
• Prioritize items with high life, resistances, and evasion for increased survivability.
• Consider gear with bonuses to area of effect and critical strike multiplier to maximize the effectiveness of your attacks.

5. Flask Setup:

• Life Flasks: For quick healing during intense battles.
• Utility Flasks: Such as Diamond Flask for increased critical strike chance or Jade Flask for increased evasion.
• Mana Flasks: To manage the mana cost of your skills.
• Quicksilver Flask: To enhance movement speed, improving mobility and positioning during fights.

Combat Strategy

1. Engaging Enemies:

• Use Reave to engage single targets and small groups, leveraging its high damage and area of effect to deal significant damage and hit multiple enemies.

2. Utilizing Vaal Reave:

• Activate Vaal Reave during tougher encounters or when facing large groups of enemies. The increased number of stages and area of effect make it a powerful tool for both single-target and AoE damage.
• The buffs from Vaal Reave significantly enhance your damage output and crowd control, making it ideal for clearing large packs of enemies or dealing with boss fights.

3. Managing Buffs and Debuffs:

• Take advantage of the increased area of effect and critical strike mechanics to maintain a high level of damage output. The repeated attacks and increased radius ensure that enemies are hit multiple times, maximizing damage output.

Example Builds

1. Shadow Assassin Reave Build:

• Focus on high critical strike chance, critical strike multiplier, and evasion for survivability.
• Utilize Reave and Vaal Reave to deal massive damage and control enemies.
• Invest in critical strike nodes and area of effect nodes to maximize the effectiveness of your attacks.

2. Ranger Raider Reave Build:

• Prioritize high attack speed, Frenzy Charge generation, and evasion for sustained damage and survivability.
• Use Reave and Vaal Reave to clear large packs of enemies quickly.
• Enhance physical damage and critical strike damage with appropriate support gems and passive skill nodes.

Conclusion

The Vaal Reave build for Path of Exile 3.25 offers a high-speed, high-damage playstyle for melee enthusiasts who enjoy combining powerful strikes with extensive area of effect. By focusing on maximizing damage, attack speed, and AoE capabilities, players can effectively dominate both single-target and group encounters. Proper gear selection, passive skill tree planning, and strategic use of Reave and Vaal Reave will ensure that you unleash the full potential of this powerful skill. Equip your weapon, prepare your flasks, and carve through the battlefield with the devastating power of Vaal Reave.