Path of Exile Bane Occultist Build Guide
The Path of Exile Synthesis League (Patch 3.6) gave us some new chaos oriented skills to play and experiment with. This build features the Bane Occultist Build which we will use to shred through maps and other content. Bane is a Chaos AoE Damage over Time Spell that can be purchased at ACT 3. Casting Bane will apply a chaos debuff to enemies in an area, which deals Chaos DoT. Any curses that you link to Bane are also applied to those enemies. The debuff deals more damage and lasts longer for each curse applied this way which makes it even more powerful.
Other Path of Exile Guides
- Legion Beginner's In-depth Leveling Guide
- Best Legion 3.7 Loot Filters
- 10 Best Beginner Synthesis 3.6 Builds
- Detailed Memory Nexus Synthesis League Mechanics Guide
- 6 Best Boss Killer Builds (3.7 Viable)
- 12 Best Beginner Legion 3.7 Builds
The information in this article applies to Path of Exile on PC, Xbox and PS4.
Soulrend Bane Build Pros & Cons
Pros
- High Damage Output
- High Energy Shield
- 3 Curses
- Ranged Damage
- CI is meta now
- Cheap early on (clears map on a 4 link)
- Great league starter
- Solid clear speed
- Delve and high tier Map viable
Cons
- Requires some time to get used to CI if you've never played it.
- High investment required for end-game bosses
- Can't do no regen maps
- Slow mobility-wise
- Lacks single target damage
Bane Build Playstyle
The Bane Occultist Build is focused around doing DoT damage in an AoE which means that you should distance yourself from the enemies whenever possible. Also being CI, you'll have to dodge hits quite often in order to proc the ES regen from Occultist. The high AoE allows you to have really high clear speed. This build works extremely well as a league starter, therefore even a 4l will carry you to maps but note that your ES may be low until you start reaching 70+ when you can have access to more powerful ES bases for crafting.
Note that you can also play this build with Soulrend instead of Bane.
Bane Build Passive Tree
Take the Chaos Innoculation keystone when you have access to solid ES gear (usually at level 50+ on SC, and if you're on HC go CI at 60-70.)
This Path of Building link is from Pohx, he theorycrafted an excellent Bane Occultist passive tree.
Import the above link into Path of Building.
Once you've imported the PoB link, you'll see that it has Passive Trees for all levels 1-100.
Bane Build Ascendancy Class
Occultist
Wicked Ward->Profane Bloom->Vile Bastion->Malediction.
Bane Build Pantheon
- Soul of Lunaris: or take Soul of Arakaali.
- Soul of Abberath
Bane Build Bandits
- Kill all for 2 passive points.
Bane Build Gems
Body - linked based on importance (1. gem being the best)
- Enfeeble (can be swapped for Temporal Chains too)
- Despair
- Efficacy
- Swift Affliction
- Void Manipulation
Helmet
- Blight
- Efficacy
- Controlled Destruction
- Void Manipulation
Boots
- Spell Totem
- Multiple Totems
- Wither
- Temporal Chains
Not necessary, but these totems help a lot.
Gloves
- Flame Dash
- Arcane Surge
- Faster Casting
- Empty slot for whatever you want (Golem)
Weapon
If you can get 3 Red slots use:
- CWDT
- Increased Duration
- Immortal Call
Else:
- Malevolence
- Discipline
- Empty (level another Bane here)
Shield
In case you can squeeze CWDT in the weapon or shield, use the "Else" setup here or level another set of 3 Banes if you can't.
Bane Build Equipment
Helmet
High energy shield helmet (200+) and at least +50% total resistances.
Gloves
Fingerless Silk Gloves with:
- 100+ total ES
- At least 70+% Total Resistances
- Dex if you need it
Boots
Rare boots with:
- +%25 or more Movement speed
- 140+ total ES
- At least 70+% Total Resistances
Or
Sin Trek Unique boots - they give high dexterity (which this build is desperate for) and solid ES.
Jewelry
Rings and amulet are a great source of elemental resistances so we're going to use them to cap resistances.
Rare ring mods:
- +30 or more ES
- At least 60+% Total Resistances
- Mana
- Mana regen
Weapons
The best weapon type to use in the Bane Occultist build are Wands, but you can use Sceptres as well, as long as it's one handed and has solid stats.
Rare weapon:
- +% To Non-Ailment Chaos Damage over Time Multiplier
- %Increased Chaos Damage
Body Armour
Rare - 6 Link with high Energy Shield and Resistances
Uniques - 6 link The Beast Fur Shawl if you can't afford higher ES chests.
Shield
High energy shield (150+), increased spell damage and resistances.
Flasks
Ideal flask setup for the Bane Occultist Build:
- Granite
- Sapphire
- Jade
- Quartz
- Quicksilver flask of Adrenaline
Jewels
Mods you should be looking for on Abyssal Jewels:
- #Increased DoT while holding a shield
- +# to maximum ES
- #Increased Damage if you've killed recently
- #% Increased Chaos Damage
- Phasing/Onslaught on kill
If you have the money - buy a Watcher's Eye with #% Faster Start of Energy Shield Recharge while affected by Discipline