Death's Oath Soulrend Occultist Build Guide (PoE The Forbidden Sanctum 3.20)

Introduction

Due to the latest balancing changes, we do not recommend playing this build anymore, as it does not meet the high standards we apply to our guides in terms of fun and performance. We are leaving it up as a reference and it might be revived in a later patch.

For those who already know, Death's Oath is a well-known unique chest piece that provides so much nostalgia of PoE’s earlier days. Over the years, Death's Oath has gone from being good, then great, and most recently, in the doghouse with a leaky roof. Most run Death's Oath as a faster way to clear and utilizing a bow and Caustic Arrow for single target after they have ran through the map like a bot. As of the last few leagues, a couple of mad lads who have way too much time on their hands finally felt that the concept was finally good enough for them to take another shot after 6 years of watching their favorite build slowly get nerfed into the ground.

The only disclaimer here is that though it would be difficult, you can league start this build IF you are a more experienced player, meaning you understand that some builds start using certain skills and gather materials and gear to prepare for the swap over to what you actually intend to build. Due to its level requirement of 62, we won’t realistically be able to use it until around the time we get to Blood Aqueducts. We will detail what we have found to be the best ways to level through the acts as generic/traditional ways of leveling a caster don’t really apply to this unique situation. If you do not think you are up to the challenge, we would recommend that you find a build that uses the witch (or any other class you’d like) to start and level that into maps and farm up some currency to respec or reroll.

Build Overview

In this section, we will outline the pros, cons, and general playstyle. This will help you to determine if this is the right build is for you!

Here is the PoB for this build: Path of Building Link

PROS:
+ Life Based Tank – Without utilizing the various forms of defensive layers, we choose to forgo those to maximize in other areas, but even with that, we can boast 78k EHP, 139k phys max hit, and 92k elemental and chaos max hit.
+ K.I.S.S. Rule – Keep It Simple Son. By that, once we get the chest piece, how we play is simple from here on out. Start map, run, loot, leave map.
+ League Start Viable – With the right amount of skill or determination, this build can effectively function from the ground loot and having a 1c investment for the chest (in most cases). 85% of the gems needed we get as quest rewards as well!
+ Satisfying Mechanics – If you are like us here at PoE Vault and just love the immersion you can have from playing a solid build, look no further as the Occultist’s Profane Bloom provides by far one of the best explosions/pops that PoE has to offer.

CONS:
– Late Starter – The build as noted, doesn’t truly come to fruition until we are level 62 and have the chest piece.
– Not End Game Bosser – Sorry to ruin any hopes you might have had, but this build, though while it is possible between insane investment, luck, and player skill, this build isn’t designed to push into Uber bosses. Will be able to hold its own in Pinnacle boss fights, but we are killing them in 2 seconds.
– Not for everyone – Though similar to RF in playstyle, Death's Oath build will more than likely remain to be a niche build that many may feel takes up too much time or currency to invest into.

Playstyle:

As said just above, this has a run out into mobs with reckless abandonment style that the complete opposite of 95% of the builds out there. This is the chaos version of Righteous Fire, while making use of Soulrend massive DoT (damage over time) for our single target Rare and Unique mobs. THAT’S RIGHT! No Caustic Arrowlike all the other DO builds out there! DO is one of two abilities that scales with damage over time, DoT multiplier, AND aura effect. Like RF, DO doesn’t scale with spell damage (sadly) but still does scale with generic % increased/more chaos modifiers. Our pure life approach is augmented by Petrified Blood, Life Recoup, and Glorious Vanity granting Divine Flesh. There are a handful of specific values we are looking for on the Jewel and those will be listed in the GEAR section.

Leveling

Due to the tediousness of the leveling and the couple of different ways to do it, we have a dedicated portion of the guide just for it. For those running a different build and planning to respec once comfortable, you are more than welcome to skip this section of the guide. For leveling, go to the PoB, Leveling Guide & Gem Links page you can find here

Questions?

If you have any questions, please join us in the PoE Vault Discord, go to the Guide Help section and make a post asking your question and one of the mods or Guiding Exiles will help you out the best they can. One of the 2 creators of this build is also one of the mods there so if you are unable to get your question answered, they will be able to assist directly.

Final Notes

We are always looking to upgrade this build as it always indirectly gets nerfed or buffed when other changes are made to Path of Exile. This build has been adjusted, mutated, thrown away, twisted, and morphed over the last 6 years by myself and a very good friend of mine. So please, provide feedback in the PoE Vault Discord. We love trying to make this build shine more brightly every chance we can. On behalf of my good buddy Reader and I, we hope you enjoy our build design and wish that our lord and savior, Chris Wilson, blesses you with many Divines and Magebloods.