The Trap Assassin build in *Path of Exile* (PoE) is a deadly and thrilling way to play, offering players a high level of mobility, damage, and control. Whether you are new to the concept or a seasoned veteran, the Trap Assassin can provide a unique and satisfying playstyle. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the specifics of optimizing your Trap Assassin build, from selecting the right skills to fine-tuning your gear and passive tree for maximum effectiveness. This guide is designed to give you all the information you need to make your Trap Assassin a force to be reckoned with.
Why Choose Trap Assassin?
Trap Assassins in *Path of Exile* have the perfect balance between tactical gameplay and devastating damage output. The key to this build is setting up traps that explode on contact, dealing massive amounts of elemental damage. The Assassin ascendancy, with its bonus to critical strike chance and power, further enhances this playstyle, making it one of the most versatile and efficient builds in the game.
With traps, you can hit enemies from a distance while staying safe in the background, letting your traps do the work. Add in the Assassin’s ability to boost critical damage and evade incoming damage, and you have a build that excels in both offense and defense.
Core Skills for Trap Assassin Build
At the heart of the Trap Assassin build is the **Trap Support** skill gem. It allows you to throw traps that explode with deadly force, dealing huge amounts of elemental damage to anyone caught in their blast radius. Pairing this with **Elemental Focus** or **Controlled Destruction** support gems will further enhance your damage output.
One of the most popular skill choices for a Trap Assassin is **Flame Dash** for mobility, allowing you to quickly traverse through dangerous areas and set up your traps in strategic locations. Coupled with **Clarity** for mana regeneration and **Herald of Ice** or **Herald of Thunder** for additional elemental damage, these skills create a harmonious playstyle where your traps do most of the damage while you move around the battlefield effortlessly.
Passive Skill Tree and Ascendancy
The passive skill tree is crucial in maximizing the potential of your Trap Assassin. You’ll want to focus on nodes that increase trap damage, critical strike chance, and overall survivability. Some key nodes to look for include **Increased Trap Damage**, **Critical Strike Chance**, and **Elemental Damage**.
As for the Ascendancy, the Assassin’s **Ambush and Assassinate** ascendancy node provides a significant boost to critical strike chance and multiplier, which is crucial for maximizing your damage. In addition, the **Deadly Infusion** node enhances your critical strikes further and gives you the ability to poison enemies, adding even more layers of damage to your build.
For those seeking extra survivability, **Noxious Strike** (another Assassin ascendancy node) offers an additional boost to poison damage, making this build incredibly potent against both bosses and regular mobs alike.
Gear Choices
When it comes to gear, there are a few important things to focus on. Since the Trap Assassin build relies heavily on elemental damage and critical hits, you’ll want to prioritize equipment that boosts your **elemental damage**, **critical strike chance**, and **energy shield**.
Here are some key pieces of gear to aim for:
– **Weapons**: Look for a **high critical strike chance** and **elemental damage** bonus. A wand or dagger is ideal.
– **Helmet**: A helmet that boosts **trap damage** and offers **energy shield** will provide both offensive and defensive stats.
– **Body Armour**: Choose an armour that grants **energy shield** and possibly some **resistances**. The higher your energy shield, the better your chances of surviving endgame content.
– **Rings and Amulet**: Opt for items that increase **critical strike chance**, **elemental resistances**, and **energy shield**.
– **Flasks**: Don’t forget to equip a **Quartz Flask** or **Diamond Flask** for boosting critical chance and defensive bonuses.
Playstyle and Strategy
The Trap Assassin build requires careful planning and positioning. Use **Flame Dash** to maneuver around the battlefield and place traps in optimal locations where enemies are likely to move. Be mindful of your positioning, as you will need to keep your distance while relying on your traps to do the damage. The key is in timing and anticipation. Set your traps ahead of time and let them unleash devastation when the enemies get close.
Since your critical hits and elemental damage are the bread and butter of this build, ensuring your trap placement is perfect will allow you to tear through maps quickly.
Tips for Success
1. **Trap Placement**: Always try to place your traps in areas where enemies are likely to pass. This gives you a better chance of catching them in the explosion.
2. **Mobility**: Use **Flame Dash** to stay on the move. Being able to reposition quickly helps you avoid damage while staying offensive.
3. **Defensive Layers**: While focusing on offensive power, don’t neglect your defenses. The Assassin’s ability to evade and mitigate damage through crits and poison is strong, but adding **energy shield** and **resistances** will significantly improve your survivability.
Final Thoughts
The Trap Assassin build is an exhilarating and powerful playstyle in *Path of Exile*, allowing players to devastate their enemies with carefully placed explosive traps while staying safe in the background. Whether you’re pushing through maps or taking on bosses, this build offers both the thrill of high damage and the satisfaction of strategic gameplay. With the right gear, passive tree, and skill choices, you’ll become an unstoppable force of destruction, laying waste to everything in your path.
If you’re looking for a build that offers both complexity and sheer power, the Trap Assassin is a perfect choice. Happy hunting!
