Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder Build Guide (The Forbidden Sanctum 3.20)

Introduction

Poisonous Concoction is a poison-based attack skill introduced in Path of Exile’s 3.16 Scourge League. It offers incredibly clear and an old overlapping style of scaling its damage to the point where it becomes an absolute powerhouse. For players who like to blast through the game on a budget and want a build that is minmaxable with an acceptable amount of currency and incredible returns, this is a one of a kind build.

Mechanics

This build relies on Pathfinder and the insane innate damage of Poisonous Concoction to be able to scale defenses out of this world. In the endgame version it stacks Armour, Evasion, Suppression, Life and Elemental Damage reduction to achieve a very durable build. Whilst doing so, it maintains millions of Bossing DPS and way above acceptable clear speed.

The way the build works is by using Life Flask charges to scale up your damage. This is because of the flat added chaos damage you’re getting from the Poisonous Concoction gem. Other than that, there’s a couple of debuff mechanics such as curses ( Despair), damage increments ( Wither) and additional clear speed Plague Bearer which round out the build to have it all.

The path of building offers you a starter set of gems & gear and a more optimized lategame selection of items.

Build Viability in Numbers

This is where I’ll rate the build in numbers. The lower the number the worse I actually think the build is in that compartment.

• Durability : 9/10
• Damage : 8/10
• Playstyle : 9/10
• Gearing : 9/10
• Complexity : 7/10

Path of Building & Skill Tree

You can find an optimized Path of Building here. Every build I release will use the community fork of Path of Building, which is maintained and updated in a much more regular fashion than the original one. You can find PoB’s Fork, by LocalIdentity, here.

If you are not comfortable with Path of Building, we also have a PoePlanner for you. Do note that PoE Planner does not support Cluster Jewels and some specific unique jewels and it is highly recommended you install Path of Building to follow builds most optimally.

Gem Links

Endgame

Main Link: Poisonous Concoction Greater Volley Support Awakened Greater Multiple Projectiles Support Awakened Unbound Ailments Support Awakened Void Manipulation Support Awakened Vicious Projectiles Support

Auras: Vaal Grace Malevolence Herald of Agony Defiance Banner Determination Enlighten Support

Make sure to link them all to an enlighten level 3 (by splitting them up in different items).

Utility 1: Withering Step Vaal Molten Shell Cast when Damage Taken Support Ancestral Protector

Utliity 2: Plague Bearer Increased Area of Effect Support Enhance Support Blood Rage

League Start

Main Link: Poisonous Concoction Greater Volley Support Greater Multiple Projectiles Support Unbound Ailments Support Void Manipulation Support Vicious Projectiles Support

Auras: Vaal Grace Malevolence Herald of Agony Defiance Banner

Utility 1: Withering Step Vaal Molten Shell Cast when Damage Taken Support#

Utility 2: Plague Bearer Increased Area of Effect Support Blood Rage Despair

Utility 3: Wither Ancestral Protector Multiple Totems Support Faster Casting Support

Gear Summary

Early Game – Leaguestart Environment:

Item Slot	Item Name
Head	Rare Evasion Helmet with Life, Resistance, Spell Suppression & a Poisonous Concoction AoE enchant
Amulet	Agate Amulet with Life & some Damage over Time Multiplier
Chest	Rare Chestpiece with Life, Spell Suppression & Maximum Life as Energy Shield craft
Gloves	Rare Evasion/Energy Shield with Life, chance to Suppress Spell Damage, Resistances (Potentially Attack Speed)
Boots	Rare Evasion Boots with Life, Movement Speed, chance to Suppress Spell Damage & Resistances or Atziri's Step
Belt	Rare Belt with Strength, Life, Resistances
Rings	Rare Rings with Life, Resistances & Attributes
Shield	Lycosidae

Lategames:

Item Slot	Item Name
Head	Rare Evasion Helmet with Life, Resistance, Nearby Enemies take 9% increased Chaos Damage & a Poisonous Concoction AoE enchant
Amulet	Catalysed Agate Amulet with Life, Malevolence Reservation Efficiency, -8 Mana Cost, Area of Effect
Chest	Rare Chestpiece with Life, Spell Suppression & Maximum Life as Energy Shield craft
Gloves	Rare Evasion/Energy Shield with Life, Attack Speed, Chaos DoT Multi, Resistances
Boots	Atziri's Step
Belt	Rare Belt with Strength, Life, % increased Life, Flask Effect, Resistances
Rings	Catalysed Iolite Rings with Life, Resistances, -8 Mana Cost, Despair on hit & Attributes
Shield	Lycosidae

Flasks

1	Granite Flask of the Armadillo
2	Sulphur Flask of the Owl
3	Silver Flask of Dove
4	Saturated Eternal Life Flask
5	Quicksilver Flask of the Cheetah

The Cheetah affix should be swapped to a Catarina Benchcraft for Reduced Mana Costs once you swap to the late game aura setup to reduce the cost of your Poisonous Concoction to 7.

Be sure to check out our Flask Crafting Guide to learn everything you need to know about how to set up your non-Unique flasks.

Questions & Support

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Short Guide Disclaimer

Due to the sudden rise in popularity and the necessity we feel to cover the guide on our platform, we opted to write this guide out in a short version. Feel free to come around on Discord and ask our thriving community for feedback or extra help if this guide didn’t cover all the information you sought.