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

The Vaal Smite skill in Path of Exile combines powerful lightning strikes with melee attacks, providing both direct damage and supportive auras. This guide provides a comprehensive look at how to build around Vaal Smite effectively in the 3.25 patch.

Key Features of Smite and Vaal Smite

Smite (Level 20):

• Lightning, Attack, AoE, Duration, Melee, Strike, Aura: Smite is a versatile skill that performs a melee attack and causes lightning to strike a nearby enemy, dealing damage in an area and granting an aura for a duration.
• Mana Cost: 12 mana.
• Attack Speed: 85% of base.
• Attack Damage: 488.6% of base.
• Effectiveness of Added Damage: 488%.
• Weapon Requirements: Requires Level 70, 98 Strength, 68 Intelligence, and a Sword, Axe, Mace, Sceptre, Staff, or Unarmed.
• Damage Conversion: 50% of physical damage is converted to lightning damage.
• Duration: Base duration of 4.00 seconds.
• Aura Effects: Grants an aura that adds 12 to 220 lightning damage and 19% chance to shock.
• Radius: Base radius of 2.1 metres for the attack and 4.2 metres for the aura.
• Lightning Strike: Hits one target within 5 metres, with each target only being hit once.

Vaal Smite:

• Souls Per Use: 20, can store up to 2 uses.
• Soul Gain Prevention: 6 seconds.
• Attack Speed: 50% of base.
• Attack Damage: 753.9% of base.
• Effectiveness of Added Damage: 753%.
• Damage Conversion: 50% of physical damage is converted to lightning damage.
• Duration: Base duration of 8.00 seconds, with skill effect duration modifiers applying to soul gain prevention.
• Additional Features: Can’t be evaded, 10% more area damage.
• Radius: Base radius of 2.1 metres for the attack and 4.2 metres for the aura.
• Lightning Strike: Hits up to 30 targets within 10 metres.
• Aura Effects: Grants an aura that adds 17 to 330 lightning damage, 19% chance to shock, and makes Smite strike +1 target with lightning.
• Corrupted: Cannot be modified but offers significant power.

Building Around Vaal Smite

1. Weapon Choice:

• Swords, Axes, Maces, Sceptres, Staves, or Unarmed: Choose high-damage weapons with added physical and lightning damage to maximize your damage output.

2. Passive Skill Tree:

• Focus on nodes that enhance melee damage, lightning damage, attack speed, and critical strike chance. Specific clusters to prioritize include those near the Templar and Duelist start areas.
• Consider pathing to nodes that increase skill effect duration to extend the duration of Smite’s aura and Vaal Smite’s effects.

3. Support Gems:

• Melee Physical Damage Support: Increases physical damage.
• Elemental Damage with Attacks Support: Boosts elemental damage from attacks.
• Increased Area of Effect Support: Expands the AoE of Smite and Vaal Smite.
• Lightning Penetration Support: Reduces enemy resistance to lightning damage.
• Multistrike Support: Increases the number of attacks, ensuring more hits and lightning strikes.

4. Armor and Accessories:

• Look for gear that boosts your strength, lightning damage, attack speed, and critical strike chance.
• Prioritize items with high life, resistances, and armor for increased survivability.

5. Flask Setup:

• Life Flasks: For quick healing during intense battles.
• Utility Flasks: Such as Diamond Flask for increased critical strike chance or Quicksilver Flask for increased movement speed.
• Mana Flasks: To manage the mana cost of your skills.

Combat Strategy

1. Engaging Enemies:

• Use Smite to engage groups of enemies, leveraging its high damage and AoE capabilities. The lightning strikes from each hit ensure that multiple enemies are damaged, maximizing output.

2. Utilizing Vaal Smite:

• Activate Vaal Smite during tougher encounters or when facing large groups of enemies. The increased number of lightning strikes and the enhanced aura make it a powerful tool for both single-target and AoE damage.
• The buffs from Vaal Smite 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 lightning damage and chance to shock from the aura to maintain a high level of damage output. The lightning strikes provide excellent coverage and ensure that enemies are hit multiple times.

Example Builds

1. Templar Inquisitor Smite Build:

• Focus on high elemental damage, critical strike chance, and shock effectiveness.
• Utilize Smite and Vaal Smite to deal massive lightning damage and control enemies.
• Invest in elemental damage and critical strike nodes to maximize the effectiveness of your attacks.

2. Duelist Champion Smite Build:

• Prioritize high attack speed, critical strike chance, and life leech for sustained damage and survivability.
• Use Smite and Vaal Smite to clear large packs of enemies quickly.
• Enhance AoE and damage with appropriate support gems and passive skill nodes.

Conclusion

The Vaal Smite build for Path of Exile 3.25 offers a robust and versatile playstyle for lightning damage melee enthusiasts. By focusing on maximizing damage, lightning capabilities, and crowd control, players can effectively dominate both single-target and group encounters. Proper gear selection, passive skill tree planning, and strategic use of Smite and Vaal Smite will ensure that you unleash the full potential of this powerful skill. Equip your weapon, prepare your flasks, and electrify the battlefield with the devastating power of Vaal Smite.