Overview
This Mercenary build runs Explosive Spear on the Gemling Legionnaire ascendancy and builds everything around keeping Frenzy Charges. The reworked Advanced Thaumaturgy notable gives every socketed gem a second quality effect. For Explosive Spear and Barrage, that effect is a chance to not remove Frenzy Charges on use. Once that chance gets close to 100%, every spear is a charged spear, and every charged spear detonates for a large fire-and-physical explosion.
Charge generation comes from several places that stack: the anointed secret notable Thaumaturgical Dynamism, the Fabled Stag node, an idol in the gloves, and a Chronomancy suffix on the boots. Barrage with Olroth’s Conviction fires spears in volleys, and a second weapon set with Quill Rain shoots Tornado Shot fast so the spears get thrown through the tornadoes for extra hits. The result clears maps quickly and stays strong on bosses, where the isolated-target bonus is always on.
Defence is a hybrid of evasion and energy shield, boosted by Virtuous Barrier. The creator says up front that this is an expensive, mid-to-late league setup and not a league starter.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Charged Explosive Spear explosions give very large area coverage, so mapping is fast
- Strong single-target: Vorana’s Siege’s isolated-target bonus works on almost every boss
- Maligaro’s Virtuosity fixes crit damage, so Pinpoint Critical and Careful Assassin have no downside
- Virtuous Barrier stacks up to about 80% increased evasion and energy shield from green gems
- Lots of room left to improve (Mageblood, a Paragon anoint, gloves with +2 to projectile skills)
Cons
- Expensive, and the creator says it is not a league starter
- Gear is specialised: Chronomancy boots, a desecrated amulet, the Split Personality jewel and several idols
- You need a balanced spread of all three attributes
- Barrage with Olroth’s Conviction needs Runic Ward on your gear
Key Skills
- Explosive Spear: main damage. Charged spears explode on impact, supported by Perpetual Charge, Long Fuse II, Pinpoint Critical, Vorana’s Siege and Rakiata’s Flow (Fire Penetration II if you don’t have Rakiata’s Flow yet)
- Barrage: multiplies spear throws, with Perpetual Charge, Heightened Charges and Olroth’s Conviction
- Tornado Shot: on weapon set 2 with Quill Rain. Throw spears through the tornadoes for extra explosions
- Sniper’s Mark: weapon set 2 only. Eternal Mark makes it last for a second hit and Charged Mark adds shock
- Ghost Dance + Wind Dancer: energy shield recovery when hit, plus up to 30% more evasion
Gear & Anointments
- Weapon: Akoyan Spear, chosen for its high base crit chance. Look for physical damage, + levels to projectile or attack skills, and flat base crit chance. Sacred Flame sceptre in the offhand for extra fire damage and spirit (Guiding Palm is the cheaper option)
- Gloves: Maligaro’s Virtuosity with the +1 maximum Frenzy Charges corruption, socketed with an idol that gives a chance for an extra Frenzy Charge
- Boots: evasion/energy shield base with movement speed. Use the Uhtred’s Sidereus rune for the Chronomancy suffix that gives a chance to not consume charges
- Body: Falconer’s Jacket (Sleek Jacket if you want more defence) with a Fox Idol and an Idol of Eramir
- Amulet: spirit, +3 to projectile skills, and a desecrated quality-to-all-skills suffix. Anoint Thaumaturgical Dynamism
- Jewels: Split Personality (to path from the Shadow/Monk start), From Nothing around Dance with Death, a Prism of Belief for +3 Explosive Spear, Heart of the Well, and a large-radius Time-Lost Emerald with crit and projectile damage
- Flask: Lavianga’s Spirits for permanent flask uptime, which keeps Crystal Elixir active
Endgame Notes
The creator is at about 90% chance to not consume charges and expects to reach 100% with more min-maxing. The planned upgrades are Mageblood, a helmet that can take a Paragon anoint, and rare gloves with +2 projectile skills and crit damage.
Credits & Source
Build credited to Dapper Goldie. See the source video for the full build’s gameplay footage + voice commentary: This Build is INSANE | Explosive Spear Gemling Legionnaire Build Guide | PoE2 0.5.