Lightning Arrow Deadeye Build Guide for Path of Exile 2

Table of contents

Intro

The Lightning Arrow Deadeye is a fast, ranged build ideal for players who love clearing screens with ease. It excels in hybrid offense and defense, making it one of the most versatile and beginner-friendly options for Path of Exile 2. Lightning Arrow shoots projectiles that arc lightning to nearby enemies, freezing and shocking them, triggering explosive Herald effects for unparalleled clearspeed.

This guide will walk you through skills, rotations, passives, and ascendancy choices to ensure you’re optimizing your gameplay.

Skills

Core Skills

  • Lightning Arrow
    • Fires a projectile that arcs lightning on hit to nearby enemies, dealing area damage. Use Pierce to maximize the number of enemies affected.
    • Key Links:
      Main Skill Support 1 Support 2 Support 3 Support 4
      Lightning Arrow Pierce Added Lightning Damage Inspiration Elemental Damage with Attacks
  • Lightning Rod
    • Provides massive burst damage for bosses by targeting an area and applying multiple shocks. Modifiers to projectile count directly increase its effectiveness.
    • Key Links:
      Main Skill Support 1 Support 2 Support 3 Support 4
      Lightning Rod Increased Critical Strikes Power Charge on Critical Elemental Focus Cast on Shock
  • Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder
    • Provide passive buffs that trigger AoE explosions upon freezing and shocking enemies, increasing clearspeed.
  • Voltaic Mark
    • A curse that enhances shock chance and shock magnitude, increasing enemy damage taken. Essential for bosses.
  • Wind Dancer (Aura)
    • Boosts evasion and survivability. Quality it with Gemcutter’s Prism to increase its effectiveness.

Skill Rotation

Single Target

  • Apply Voltaic Mark to bosses for increased shock and damage.
  • Use Lightning Rod repeatedly for burst damage.
  • Let Cast on Shock trigger Ball Lightning for additional single-target damage.
  • Apply Herald effects through freezes and shocks.

Clear

  • Use Lightning Arrow to fire into packs.
  • Let Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder trigger explosions for massive AoE damage.
  • Use Voltaic Mark on tanky rares or map bosses.

Passives

Key Passive Nodes

  • Branching Bolts: Adds +1 chain to projectiles, increasing Lightning Arrow’s clear potential.
  • Pressure Points: Boosts your critical strike chance and freeze chance.
  • Flash Storm: Improves shock duration and damage scaling.
  • Mindful Awareness: Increases hybrid evasion/energy shield survivability.

Attributes Priority

  • Dexterity: Scales bows and evasion.
  • Intelligence: Required for Herald gems.
  • Strength: Improves survivability and supports red gems.

Ascendancy

  • Gathering Winds
    • Provides a stacking buff that increases movement speed and attack speed. Essential for maintaining fluid gameplay.
  • Far Shot
    • Increases projectile damage based on distance from enemies. Maximizes damage at range.
  • Endless Munitions
    • Grants +1 projectile to Lightning Arrow and Lightning Rod, enhancing both clear and single-target potential.
  • Wind Ward
    • Reduces damage taken after a large hit, scaling with Gathering Winds stacks.

Gearing

Attributes and Allocation

  • Focus on maximizing Intelligence, as it scales damage with the Hand of Wisdom and Action unique.
  • Allocate enough Dexterity and Strength to meet gem and equipment requirements, then respec excess nodes into Intelligence.
  • Prioritize intelligence-based scaling to enhance flat damage.

Solving Mana Issues

  • Equip a Sapphire Jewel with Recover 2% of Mana on Kill.
  • Gain Mana per Enemy Killed from your Quiver or Bow.
  • For Pinnacle Bosses, swap to Thief’s Torment with Reaver Catalysts for Mana and Life on Hit.
  • Use a well-rolled Mana Flask for non-boss encounters.

Offensive Scaling

Key Weapon Stats Notes
High Physical Damage Core scaling stat for all damage.
Adds Elemental Damage Look for Fire, Cold, and Lightning damage modifiers.
% Increased Attack Speed Boosts clear speed and damage output.
+# to Level of Projectile Gems Amplifies Lightning Arrow and its supports.
Additional Arrows Increases AoE and damage potential.
Chance to Shock Vital for triggering Cast on Shock.

Defensive Scaling

Stat Priority Benefits
Capped Elemental Resistances Reduces incoming elemental damage.
Energy Shield Synergizes with Grim Feast for overflow during mapping.
Evasion Main defensive layer against physical attacks.
Chills and Freezes Provides crowd control and safety.

Equipment Breakdown

Slot Key Stats & Notes
Weapon High-DPS Expert Dualstring Bow with added physical and elemental damage. Look for Additional Arrows.
Quiver Primed or Volant Quiver with damage, Projectile Speed, and Mana on Kill.
Body Armour Expert Waxed Jacket for hybrid Energy Shield and Evasion.
Helmet Expert Feathered Tiara with Energy Shield and resistances.
Gloves Hand of Wisdom and Action for damage scaling with Intelligence and Dexterity.
Boots Expert Hunting Shoes with high Movement Speed and defensive stats.
Rings Breach Rings with attributes, added damage, and resistances. Use Thief’s Torment for mana sustain.
Amulet Prioritize Spirit, Projectile Skill Levels, and Intelligence. Instill Doomsayer.
Jewels Use Emerald Jewels with Quiver Effect modifiers, Mana on Kill, and attack speed scaling.

Atlas Passives

This build excels in content with dense mobs like Breach and Ritual.

  • Prioritize Waystone sustain early to unlock and fill your passive tree faster.
  • Avoid map mods like Increased Ailment Threshold or Burning Ground as they disrupt core mechanics.
  • Respec passives into your preferred endgame farming strategy after progression.

FAQ

1. How do I solve mana issues?

Equip a Thief’s Torment for Mana on Hit during boss fights. Use Mana on Kill modifiers from your Bow or Quiver for regular mapping. Add a Mana Flask for emergencies.

2. Why aren’t my Heralds chaining explosions?

Ensure correct support gems are slotted. Instill Doomsayer for improved Herald clear potential.

3. I’m not freezing enemies. What’s wrong?

Make sure you have sufficient added cold damage from gear and jewels. Use Essence of the Mountain and slot Ice Bite for consistency.

4. What are my attribute priorities?

  • Dexterity and Strength for gear/gem requirements.
  • Intelligence for scaling Hand of Wisdom and Action.

Summary

  • Lightning Arrow clears maps with ease, arcing lightning and triggering Herald explosions.
  • Herald of Thunder and Herald of Ice amplify damage through freezing and shocking enemies.
  • Lightning Rod and Cast on Shock Ball Lightning deliver massive single-target burst damage for bosses.
  • Evasion and Energy Shield combine with Grim Feast and Ghost Dance to improve survivability.
  • Solve mana issues with Thief’s Torment and Mana on Kill modifiers.

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