Overview
This league-start guide covers the Disciple of Varashta djinn minion Sorceress from level 1 through the end of the campaign. The build comes online after the first Ascendancy trial, when Barrier of Kelari unlocks Kelari, a permanent djinn that cannot be damaged. Kelari brings two command skills, Kelari’s Brutality and Kelari’s Deception. They level automatically and gain support sockets as the character levels.
The build scales through +levels to minion skills on sceptres, helmets and amulets, minion damage, and command-skill cooldown and damage nodes. Archon of Undeath adds a strong temporary buff of more minion damage and much faster command cooldowns. The Master support, available from the Act 3 side-area chest, gives a big multiplier: 7% more damage per type of revivable minion you have out.
Before ascending, Act 1 uses Contagion and Essence Drain, then Ember Fusillade. After the respec, Thunderstorm with Living Lightning and Pounce’s mark adds damage, and Pain Offering buffs the minions. Patch 0.5.5 had no balance changes for it, so the creator reuses the previous league’s guide.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very fast campaign: Act 2 and Act 3 bosses melt once the djinn has supports
- Minimal investment; +1 minion gear from Act 1 vendors is a large boost
- Command skills are cast from a safe distance
- Scales cleanly into maps (see the endgame follow-up)
Cons
- Weak until the first Ascendancy trial, so rush it in Act 2
- Filler minions and Pain Offering are fragile early
- Respec needed after ascending, including strength for Thunderstorm
Key Skills
- Kelari’s Brutality / Kelari’s Deception — main damage from the djinn
- Thunderstorm — Living Lightning minions plus Pounce mark synergy
- Pain Offering — Dance Macabre minion buff aura
- Skeletal minions — one of each type to power Master support
- Ember Fusillade / Essence Drain — pre-ascendancy leveling
Gear & Anointments
Look for +1 to minion skills on sceptres and helmets from Act 1 vendors before ascending. After that, prioritise life, armour, energy shield and resistances. Grab the Books of Specialization along the way, and take the Act 3 Master support from the chest in the first side area.
Credits & Source
Build credited to Visualize The Win Gaming. See the source video for the full build’s gameplay footage + voice commentary: POE 2: One of the BEST STARTER BUILDS for Patch 0.5.5: Disciple of Varashta Djinn Minion Build.