Overview
This is a Twister build for the Huntress using the new Spirit Walker ascendancy introduced in patch 0.5. The engine is a stacking loop: cast Whirling Slash three times to charge Twister, then unleash an empowered Twister that benefits from the elemental ground Frost Nexus lays down. Barrage, ice-tipped arrows and dodge-rolling feed into the rotation, and the Spirit Walker’s Primal Bounty acts as an extra empowered skill on top.
The creator’s character reaches level 94 with capped resistances, a 2,000+ life and 1,000 energy-shield hybrid pool, and roughly 91,000 tooltip DPS on Twister. They report clearing 99% of all content, a fully maxed Atlas tree, and four maxed mechanic trees — so it is presented as a complete, do-everything endgame build rather than a leveling option.
Much of the build’s power comes from cheap, high-impact lineage support gems layered onto a fast Whirling Slash that builds Twister stacks as quickly as possible. It’s flashy, fast, and strong in both clear and single target, at the cost of a fairly busy multi-button rotation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong in both mapping and bossing — creator reports completing 99% of all content
- Several power spikes come from budget lineage gems (e.g. the culling-strike Head Hunter-style buff for ~2 exalts)
- Hybrid evasion + energy-shield defence with Ghost Dance, Spectral Ward and Subterfuge Mask synergy
- Twister’s empowered effect and Frost Nexus create constant freeze and amplified damage
- Very high skill speed makes the gameplay feel smooth
Cons
- Heavy reliance on lineage support gems, some of which are expensive (Trinity ~12 div, Conviction, Ramirez ~10-12 div)
- Busy rotation: ice-tipped arrows, dodge, three Whirling Slashes, Barrage, then Twister
- You can’t move while casting Twister, so positioning and Deliberation matter
- Endgame-gear dependent — not a fresh-league starter
Key Skills
- Twister — main damage; empowered after three Whirling Slash stacks, supported by Deliberation, Frost Nexus, projectile acceleration
- Whirling Slash — the stack builder; kept at level one with rapid attacks, rage and culling strike for fast stacking
- Barrage + ice-tipped arrows — feed the rotation and apply cold pressure with Frost Nexus synergy
- Freezing Mark — applied to bosses to amplify damage
- Primal Bounty — Spirit Walker ascendancy skill, empowered by Olaf’s Conviction for large damage
Gear & Anointments
A spear build that swaps between two weapon sets: set one is a high-attack-speed spear (with attack-speed runes/soul cores) for Whirling Slash stacking, set two is a high physical DPS spear for Twister damage. Defence is hybrid: an energy-shield helmet that synergizes with the Subterfuge Mask notable, plus a high-evasion body armour for Spectral Ward. Amulet of choice is Rand Fragility instilled with serrated edges for cheap damage and skill speed. Rings and gloves want added elemental/physical damage to attacks plus resistances. Sacred Flame and a unique Twister jewel (+2 levels) are optional endgame upgrades. Confirm specific item rolls against the source video.
Endgame Notes
The creator demonstrates deleting an 18-20 million health boss in seconds once Freezing Mark and infusions are applied. With a maxed Atlas and four maxed mechanic trees, the build is positioned to handle essentially all of the 0.5 endgame, including pinnacle content.
Credits & Source
Build created by Xilareth. See the source video for the full gem links, passive tree and gameplay: Twister Spirit Walker Build Guide - Endgame 0.5 Return of the Ancients.