PoE Vortex Build 3.25 – Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur

The Vortex build in Path of Exile 3.25 is a cold damage-based spell that utilizes the power of chilling effects to control and decimate enemies. This guide will cover the essential mechanics, recommended gear, passive skill tree, and gameplay strategies to maximize the potential of the Vortex build.

Key Mechanics

Vortex

• Type: Spell, AoE, Cold, Duration, Nova
• Level: 20 (Max)
• Cost: 25 Mana
• Cast Time: 0.75 sec
• Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
• Effectiveness of Added Damage: 170%
• Quality: +20%
• Requirements: Level 70, 155 Int

Skill Mechanics:

• Damage: Deals 779 to 1169 Cold Damage.
• Damage Over Time: Deals 2316.1 Base Cold Damage per second.
• Chilling Area: Creates a chilling area that deals cold damage over time and slows enemies.
• Duration: Base duration is 3.00 seconds.
• Radius: Base radius is 2 metres, with a secondary radius of 2 metres.
• Modifiers: Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill’s Damage Over Time effect.

Recommended Links

To optimize the performance of Vortex, link it with support gems that enhance cold damage, area damage, and damage over time:

1. Elemental Focus: Increases elemental damage significantly.
2. Controlled Destruction: Increases spell damage and reduces critical strike chance, which is compensated by high damage output.
3. Hypothermia: Increases damage against chilled enemies.
4. Increased Area of Effect: Enhances the area of effect for better coverage.
5. Efficacy: Increases damage over time and skill duration.
6. Swift Affliction: Increases damage over time at the cost of reduced skill duration.

Link Setup:

• Vortex – Elemental Focus, Controlled Destruction, Hypothermia, Increased Area of Effect, Efficacy, Swift Affliction.

Gear Recommendations

Weapons:

• Wands/Scepters: Prioritize increased spell damage, cold damage, cast speed, and critical strike chance.

Armor:

• Chest Armor: Focus on increased maximum life, resistances, and energy shield.
• Helm, Gloves, Boots: Look for increased life, resistances, energy shield, and cold damage.

Jewelry:

• Amulet and Rings: Aim for increased elemental damage, spell damage, and resistances.

Flasks:

• Utility Flasks: Use flasks that boost damage, provide life recovery, and mitigate damage taken.

Passive Skill Tree

Focus:

• Invest in nodes that enhance cold damage, spell damage, damage over time, and critical strike chance.
• Include nodes that increase energy shield and life for better survivability.

Keystones:

• Elemental Overload: Increases elemental damage after dealing a critical strike.
• Mind Over Matter: Converts a portion of damage taken to mana.

Playstyle and Tips

1. Positioning: Utilize Vortex’s instant cast and chilling effect to control enemy movement and create strategic zones of damage.
2. Damage Over Time: Stack damage over time effects to continuously damage enemies caught in the chilling area.
3. Survivability: Use defensive skills and life/energy shield recovery flasks to manage incoming damage.
4. Area Coverage: Use Increased Area of Effect to cover a wider area and hit more enemies with Vortex.

Example Vortex Setup

Vortex Link Setup:

• Vortex – Elemental Focus, Controlled Destruction, Hypothermia, Increased Area of Effect, Efficacy, Swift Affliction.

Defensive Setup:

• Discipline (Aura for increased energy shield)
• Flame Dash (for mobility)
• Immortal Call (linked with Cast when Damage Taken)

Conclusion

The Vortex build in Path of Exile 3.25 offers a unique and powerful playstyle that excels in dealing substantial cold damage while controlling the battlefield with chilling effects. By optimizing gear, passive skill tree nodes, and support gem selection, players can create a highly efficient and potent build. Experiment with different support gems and gear setups to find the perfect balance for your playstyle. Embrace the power of Vortex and freeze your enemies in their tracks with its devastating damage and chilling effects!