Here’s a comprehensive guide for a Blade Vortex Assassin build in Path of Exile 2 (POE2). This build focuses on maximizing damage output, survivability, and mobility while maintaining high uptime on Blade Vortex stacks. The guide is organized into tables for easy reference.
Blade Vortex Assassin Build Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Skill | Blade Vortex (Main Skill) |
| Class | Assassin (Shadow Ascendancy) |
| Playstyle | Fast-paced, close-range, stacking Blade Vortex for high damage over time |
| Primary Damage | Physical/Elemental (Converted or scaled) |
| Defenses | Evasion, Dodge, Energy Shield, Life Leech, and Mobility |
| Key Mechanics | Critical Strikes, Poison/Chaos Damage (optional), Spell Damage Scaling |
Skill Tree (Key Nodes)
| Node Category | Key Nodes |
|---|---|
| Critical Strikes | Heartseeker, Assassination, Deadly Infusion |
| Spell Damage | Arcane Potency, Quick Recovery, Growth and Decay |
| Defenses | Acrobatics, Phase Acrobatics, Ghost Dance, Evasion/Life Hybrid Nodes |
| Mobility | Onslaught, Frenzy Charges, Movement Speed Nodes |
| Utility | Whispers of Doom (Curse Effectiveness), Resourcefulness (Mana/Life Recovery) |
Blade Vortex Assassin Gear Recommendations
| Slot | Item | Priority Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Rare Dagger or Claw | High Spell Damage, Critical Strike Chance, Attack Speed |
| Offhand | Shield or Second Dagger/Claw | Spell Damage, Life, Resistances, Critical Strike Multiplier |
| Helmet | Rare Helmet or Unique (e.g., Crown of the Inward Eye) | Life, Resistances, Spell Damage, Mana Reservation Efficiency |
| Body Armor | Rare Armor or Unique (e.g., Carcass Jack) | Life, Resistances, Spell Damage, Area of Effect (AoE) |
| Gloves | Rare Gloves or Unique (e.g., Asenath’s Gentle Touch) | Attack Speed, Life, Resistances, Spell Damage |
| Boots | Rare Boots or Unique (e.g., Atziri’s Step) | Movement Speed, Life, Resistances, Dodge Chance |
| Belt | Rare Belt or Unique (e.g., Stygian Vise with Abyssal Jewel) | Life, Resistances, Flask Effectiveness, Increased Damage |
| Amulet | Rare Amulet or Unique (e.g., Presence of Chayula) | Critical Strike Multiplier, Spell Damage, Life, Resistances |
| Rings | Rare Rings or Unique (e.g., Mark of the Shaper) | Life, Resistances, Spell Damage, Mana Regeneration |
| Flasks | Quicksilver Flask, Diamond Flask, Life Flask, Utility Flasks | Movement Speed, Critical Strike Chance, Bleed/Poison Immunity, Curse Removal |
Gem Links
| Skill | Gem Links |
|---|---|
| Blade Vortex | Blade Vortex – Increased Critical Strikes – Controlled Destruction – Efficacy |
| Movement | Shield Charge – Faster Attacks – Fortify |
| Defense | Steelskin – Increased Duration – Cast when Damage Taken (CWDT) |
| Utility | Herald of Ash – Hatred – Precision |
| Curse | Assassin’s Mark – Blasphemy (or self-cast) |
| Single Target | Blade Vortex – Concentrated Effect – Added Fire Damage |
Ascendancy (Assassin)
| Ascendancy Node | Effect |
|---|---|
| Noxious Strike | Poison on Critical Strikes, Poison Damage Scaling |
| Toxic Delivery | Increased Poison Duration, Chaos Damage, and Critical Strike Multiplier |
| Ambush and Assassinate | Massive Critical Strike Multiplier against Full Life and Low Life Enemies |
| Mistwalker | Elusive Buff, Dodge Chance, and Movement Speed |
Blade Vortex Assassin Passive Tree Focus
| Priority | Details |
|---|---|
| Early Game | Focus on Life, Spell Damage, and Mana Regeneration Nodes |
| Mid Game | Invest in Critical Strike Chance, Multiplier, and Defensive Layers |
| Late Game | Optimize for AoE, Poison/Chaos Scaling, and Flask Effectiveness |
Playstyle Tips
- Stacking Blade Vortex: Maintain maximum stacks (10) by casting frequently while moving.
- Positioning: Stay mobile to avoid enemy attacks, using Shield Charge or Whirling Blades.
- Critical Strikes: Prioritize high Critical Strike Chance and Multiplier for massive damage.
- Defenses: Use Steelskin and Dodge mechanics to survive in close-range combat.
- Flasks: Keep flasks up for survivability and damage boosts.
Leveling Guide
| Level Range | Skills and Gear |
|---|---|
| 1-20 | Use Freezing Pulse or Stormblast Mine for leveling. Transition to Blade Vortex. |
| 20-50 | Equip a dagger or claw with spell damage. Focus on Life and Resistances. |
| 50-70 | Start scaling Critical Strikes and Spell Damage. Use Herald of Ash for clear. |
| 70+ | Optimize gear for endgame, focusing on AoE, Critical Strikes, and Defenses. |
Endgame Scaling
| Mechanic | How to Scale |
|---|---|
| Damage | Stack Critical Strike Chance/Multiplier, Spell Damage, and AoE. |
| Survivability | Invest in Dodge, Evasion, and Life/Energy Shield Hybrid. |
| Clear Speed | Use Herald of Ash and Increased AoE for faster map clearing. |
| Boss Damage | Swap Concentrated Effect for Added Fire Damage or other single-target links. |
Blade Vortex Assassin build Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High damage output with Blade Vortex stacks | Requires frequent casting to maintain stacks |
| Fast clear speed with AoE and movement skills | Squishy if defenses are not optimized |
| Versatile scaling (Physical, Elemental, or Chaos/Poison) | Reliant on Critical Strikes for maximum damage |
| Great for mapping and bossing with proper gear | Can be mana-intensive without proper management |
This guide should help you build a powerful Blade Vortex Assassin in Path of Exile 2 (POE2). Adjust the build based on your playstyle and available resources!
You can also check out the Guide to PoE 2 Farming: Best Builds Revealed.