Warbringer Totems Leveling Build

Build Introduction

This is a concise Guide on how to league-start with a Warrior and transition into my Totem Master build in Patch 0.3.0 – The Third Edict. You can find the build HERE. Just like before, we will transition into totems during the campaign phase.

In Patch 0.3.0, the build received a couple of important changes. For the moment, we will no longer use Ancestral Warrior Totems, since they now require 3 Endurance Charges to be summoned. Instead, we’ll be using Shockwave Totems in combination with Volcanic Fissure.

---

Strengths and Weaknesses

---

Video Guide

In this video, I also explain and visually demonstrate how Act 1 should be completed. Act 1 tends to be the most challenging for many new players.

---

Ascendancy

You will be able to select your Ascendancy after completing the Trial of Sekhemas during Act 2. This leveling build was made specifically for Warbringer; if you wish to use another Ascendancy, Path of Exile 2 now allows you to respec, and it can be done at any point after completing the initial Trial during the campaign.

The two major nodes for Warbringer we’ll be taking are:

• Answered Call – This node is very important. It will give us +1 extra Totem and summon minions for us. Take your first Ascendancy around level 26 in Act 2.
• Wooden Wall – Will also provide us with some extra damage mitigation. Complete the Trial of Chaos towards the end of Act 3.

For the third and fourth Ascendancy points, you don’t need to worry. You can complete the campaign easily without them.

---

General Leveling Advice

For Patch 0.3.0, the most important thing in the campaign is to consistently upgrade your gear as you progress through the Acts, especially your weapon! Remember, in Patch 0.3.0, our damage will depend heavily on the physical damage of your weapon.

In the first Act, we will use a two-handed mace. Later, after our first Ascendancy, we can also swap to a one-handed mace and a shield. This is entirely personal player preference.

In addition to your weapon, look for rings and gloves with added physical damage whenever possible. For the other items, focus on Life and Elemental Resistances.

Always upgrade your flasks as you progress.

Do not skip the essential side-quests that grant Skill Points, Maximum Life, and Resistances. Make sure that you do not have negative elemental resistances.

---

Leveling Passive Tree

Patch 0.3.0 leveling Skill Tree:

You can cycle through the points to see the order in which you need to allocate the Skill Nodes!

Skill Gems

Listed below are all the Skill Gems you should be using during the leveling process.

Act 1-2 Notes

[READ!] In Acts 1 and 2 (and early Act 3) you’ll want to use a two-handed weapon with high physical damage. Make sure to upgrade your weapon every 7–12 levels, and remember that you can buy powerful weapons cheaply from the trade website.

Enter the town, and you will receive an Uncut Skill Gem as a quest reward. You will pick Boneshatter. You will want to use a two-handed weapon for this Act. Use Rolling Slam until enemies get highlighted, then use Boneshatter to trigger an AoE explosion.

Once you reach Level 6, you will want to pick Shockwave Totem. The main purpose of this totem in the early acts is to attract and distract monsters.

Single Target Skill Rotation should be Shockwave Totem (Bleed I+ Brutality) followed up by Mace Strike (Rage + Rapid Attacks I).

Map Clearing Rotation should be Shockwave Totem (Bleed I + Brutality) followed up by Boneshatter once the enemies get highlighted with Primed for Heavy Stun.

Upon getting your first Spirit Gem, unlock Herald of Ash. This helps with monster pack clears. You can also add to the mix Earthquake (Rage + Rapid Attacks I). This will give us Jagged Ground that will greatly boost the damage of our Shockwave Totem. Jagged Ground is a great addition for harder monsters like Rares and Bosses, just make sure one of your totems is near the Jagged Ground. Remember, I explained this rotation visually HERE.

Since Fire Penetration II Support ignores enemy Fire Resistance, we won’t allocate any Fire Penetration nodes in the Skill Tree.

---

Rotation

• Drop Shockwave Totem.
• Spam Volcanic Fissure.

The more totems you have and the faster they attack, the more damage you will deal. Make sure to always level up your gems as you progress through the campaign!

Make sure to upgrade your weapon every 7-12 levels or so. You want Maces with a lot of physical damage!

---

Gearing Progression

The most important thing in the early campaign is to consistently upgrade your gear as you progress through the acts, especially your weapon! Remember, in Patch 0.3.0, totem damage scales heavily with the physical damage of your weapon.

In addition to your weapon, look for rings and gloves with added physical damage whenever possible. For the other items, focus on Life and Elemental Resistances.

Try to get a Rise of the Phoenix unique shield. It gives a lot of life regeneration! Idol of Uldurn is another great unique item that will grant you one additional totem and one extra Ancestral Spirit.

Flasks and Charms

While leveling, you will find several flasks and Charms. Upgrade your flasks as you go along, and if you fail to find flask upgrades, check vendors to buy them with gold.

• Health Flask
  • Prefix: Increased Amount Recovered
  • Suffix: # Charges gained per second
• Charms
  • Thawing Charm
  • Grounding Charm

---

Campaign Buffs

During the acts, there are some quests that activate additional bonuses for your character:

• Valley of the Titans (Act 2)
  • 30% Increased Charm Charges Gained.
• Venom Draught (Act 3)
  • Stun Threshold. Since Time of Need helps us with the Elemental Ailment removal and because we don’t use mana in our build, for the first Vial Quest, our best pick will be 25% increased Stun Threshold.
• Tattoos (Act 4)
  • All Blank Tattoos should be elemental resistance.
• Qimah Pillars (Interlude)
  • Your choice, these can be changed whenever.

For more details, check the guide on Campaign Difficulties and Permanent Stat Bonuses.

---

Changelog

• August 30th, 2025: Added 0.3 Skill Tree & Swapped out Earthquake for Volcanic Fissure with Shockwave Totem.
• August 28th, 2025: Guide created for Patch 0.3.0, The Third Edict