Overview
This budget Mortar Cannon totem build proves that you don’t need mirror-tier gear, perfect corruptions, or expensive uniques to push end-game content in Path of Exile 2 0.5. The entire setup is assembled for roughly one Divine Orb, leaning on totems to carry the damage while the player stays at a safe distance and manages positioning. It plays as a Gambling Legionnaire, an ascendancy that converts heavy support-gem investment into raw power, so cheap gear ends up performing far above its price tag.
The core loop is simple: drop Mortar Cannon totems loaded with Cluster Grenades, throw Gas Grenade into packs to spread shock and extra hits, and keep moving while the totems fire. Against rares and bosses you stack your warcries and marks before the damage window instead of pressing everything at once. It is not the flashiest setup in the game, but for the price it delivers smooth, beginner-friendly mapping with solid damage and enough defensive tools to survive mistakes.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely cheap entry — the full setup targets around one Divine Orb
- Totem playstyle keeps you out of melee range and lowers the risk floor
- Beginner-friendly gameplay loop: place totems, throw a grenade, reposition
- Strong support-gem scaling from the Gambling Legionnaire ascendancy
- Good utility layers (Gas Grenade shock, warcries, Freezing Mark) for tougher fights
Cons
- Heavily dependent on hitting 10 support gems of each colour to unlock full power
- Damage relies on setting up before the damage window — sloppy play feels weak
- Key jewel (From Nothing with a Sacred Fate) fluctuates in price; budget version uses a normal jewel
- Not a face-tank build — you can still die if caught sprinting, stunned, or surrounded
Key Skills
- Mortar Cannon (Cluster Grenade) — the heart of the build; totems fire explosive cluster grenades
- Gas Grenade — clear and shock utility, spreads coverage across packs
- Shockwave Totem — added single-target pressure
- Infernal Cry / Seismic Cry — warcry burst layers for rares and bosses
- Rite of Restoration & Virtuoso’s Barrier — recovery and a defensive barrier
Gear & Anointments
The weapon is a Siege Crossbow rolled for increased physical damage, an additional crossbow shot, strength, and on-hit/on-kill sustain — the extra shot is especially valuable for clear. Armour pieces (Warmonger Great Helm, Ruin Master’s Ceremonial Mantle, Ornate Greaves) are cheap bases stacked with life, mana, and resistances; movement speed on boots is mandatory for repositioning. The amulet is the Idol of the Old One with Devastation allocated, which also helps cover the spirit requirement. The most important jewel is From Nothing with a Sacred Fate — price-check it before buying, as a normal jewel works for the budget version. For ascendancy take Essence of Virtue, Advanced Theology, Implanted Gems (Bolstering Implants), and Gem Studded, all building toward the 10-support-gems-per-colour goal.
Endgame Notes
The build is tuned for safe mapping rather than pinnacle bossing, but the warcry + Freezing Mark + totem stack gives it enough single-target to handle map bosses and tankier rares. Prioritise damage on the passive tree first (the Mortar Cannon does most of the work), then projectile damage, attack speed, and area, while keeping life, armour, and resistances for survivability.
Credits & Source
Build credited to KaidGames2. See the source video for the full build’s gameplay footage and commentary: This Totem Ballista Build Is Insanely OP In 0.5 Path of Exile 2.