Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant – The best starting build in Path of Exile Expedition 3.15

One of the best things introduced in Path of Exile 3.15 was the new skill gem Forbidden Rite combined with Spell Totem Support and used by Hierophant Ascendancy Class.

Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant is currently one of the most popular builds on Poe Ninja site. This build uses Forbidden Rite as the main skill gem. In Path of Exile 3.15 Expedition, GGG has introduced Forbidden Rite as a new skill gem with the main tag Chaos Spell that fires multiple projectiles at nearby enemies. This gem consumes the character’ maximum life and energy shield to increase its base damage.

Normally, this mechanic can be very harmful to you, but the damage will be hugely increased at the cost of your Totem’s Life instead by using Spell Totem Support. This combination will create insane Chaos Damage while negating the Forbidden Rite’s downside. Since Forbidden Rite deals its damage with Hits, players can further increase it by Critical Strikes. That’s why we use Hierophant Ascendancy.

For that reason, this Hierophant setup will offer great damage by increasing your maximum totems to 7 and powerful defences. You are going to utilize Mind over Matter and Agnostic Passives. MoM passive will reduce damage taken from Hits, and Agnostic quickly regenerates your missing Life.

In this article, we will discover why Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant is one of the most popular builds in 3.15 Expedition.

You can check our Golden Horse’ Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant Special Build to do Red Map content here!

Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant Gameplay

This build is common for beginners that basically uses two active Skills on top of mobility Skills. You will summon up to 7 Spell Totems (with the assumption that you have Energy Shield and Soul Mantle Armour) and channel Wither Buff yourself to apply powerful debuffs on enemies that will increase Chaos Damage enemies taken from other sources of damages (mainly from your Totems).

With movement skill slot, you will use Flame Dash to move faster, dodge enemies’ attacks, and possible Sheild Charge with Fortify Support to increase your defence ability (this skill is optional if you want to max your layer of defends). All other skills will be triggered automatically while you cast a spell (by the support of Triggered spell mod or link it with Cast when Damage Taken or Cast when Stunned Support). That will make this build easy to play and progress at the beginning of the league.

This Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant Gameplay Video is from Zizazan – Path of Exile Content Creator. You can find it in the PoB (https://pastebin.com/fbn40RMc). This build is tanky with mind over matter hybrid build and immunity curse from Atziri’s reflection. Overall, this is the best build we must try in 3.15, and we can definitely recommend it for both League Start and End-game Content.

Build Pros and Cons:

PROS:

• Good clear speed and bossing.
• Base on Zizaran content and tested by our expert.
• Excellent defences due Mind over Matter and Agnostic Passive.
• Can do most Map mods by placing your totem and crush your foes.
• New imba Skill and work with Totem to avoid life cost.

CONS:

• Totem playstyle does not fit everyone.
• Require great source of Life/Mana. In other words, this build is hard to run in No Regen/Reduced Regen Maps Mod.

Overall, Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant is a decent build to try in 3.15 Path of Exile (New skill gem, Easy to Start, Low Budget, Good DPS to do content,…). There are, however, some disadvantages like you will play Totems Playstyle, or Life/Mana Regen will be problems. In conclusion, Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant is worth trying in Expedition League.

Leveling Tips:

Actually, Leveling with Totems is not hard at all. For the first 16 levels, you can play with Holy Flame Totem and Freezing Pulse until Forbidden Rite Skill Gem become available to use. And then, at level 16, you should start using Forbidden Rite Totems. Since Multiple totems aren’t available that early, you can rush for Ancestral Bond Passive on your Tree.

Gearing Setup:

Last but not least, you will need to set up a proper build that meets all recommend and required skill gems and items. This build is a great League Starter Build to be used with a leveling set for caster build.

Our standard requirement for this build will be:

1. Cap all elemental resistance above 75%
   1. Life
   2. Elemental Resistances
   3. Maximum Mana
   4. Chaos Spell Damage
   5. Critical Strike Multiplier
   6. Critical Strike Chance
2. Mana Regeneration RateGive you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully

Stat priorities on items:

Helmet Slot:

Firstly, we will use a rare Helmet (Spirit Crown, Solaris Circlet) – a Rare Helmet with Maximum Life/ Energy Shield and Resistances is the best option. Later on, you can invest into influenced modifiers like Add Chaos Damages to Spells, Crit Multiplier or Chaos Resistance reduction for increase survivability.

Standard Requirement:

• +37 to Dexterity (Optional)
• +28 to maximum Energy Shield
• + 82 to maximum Life
• +22 to maximum Mana
• +18 to Fire Resistance
• +35% to Lightning Resistance (Crafted Mod)

Weapon Slot 1: 

Secondly, rare Wand (Dusk Goad, Demon’s Horn) – aims for bonus Mana and Spell Damage/ Global Critical Strike Multiplier could be fine

Standard Requirement:

• 32% increased Spell Damage
• 90% increased Spell Damage
• +36% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
• +139 to maximum Mana
• Life gained for each Enemy hit by Attacks/ Accuracy Rating/ Adds to Physical Damage… (Optional)

Weapon Slot 2: 

In addition, a unique Shield (Atziri’s Reflection Golden Buckler) aims for high defensive stats. For instance, some mods are like Chance to Block, Evasion Rating, Energy Shield, Elemental Resistances,..), bonus movement speed to run map, …

Body Armour Slot:

 Unique Body Armour (Soul Mantle – The Best in Slot Body Armour for this build) gives you more Spell Damage, Totem Life, Maximum Number of Totems, Energy Shield, and most importantly mod: “Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 20 Spell Totem.”

Standard Requirement:

• Level 20 Spell Totem supports socketed Gems
• (20-25)% increased Spell Damage
• (100-120)% increased Energy Shield
• 50% increased Totem Life
• +1 to the maximum number of Summoned Totems
• Inflicts a random Hex on you when your Totems die, with 80% more Effect

Boots Slot:

 Unique Boots (Torchoak Step Antique Greaves – the best pair of boots for this Forbidden Rite Totem Hierophant. They increase the maximum Life of your Totems, increasing the base damage of Forbidden Rite Gem.

Standard Requirement:

• (80-120)% increased Armour
• (30-50)% increased Totem Life
• 25% increased Movement Speed
• (30-50)% increased Totem Placement speed
• Totems Reflect 25% of their maximum Life as Fire Damage to nearby Enemies when Hit.

Gloves Slot:

 Rare Gloves (Gale Nails, Conjurer Gloves) can increase your survivability with extra mods. For example, it can contain Maximum Life, Elemental Resistance,.. mods.

Standard Requirement:

• +89 to maximum Life
• +64 to maximum Mana
• +39% to Fire Resistance
• +44% to Cold Resistance
• +44% to Lightning Resistance

Belt Slot:

Unique Belt (Coward’s LegacyChain Belt)

Standard Requirement:

• +(9-20) to maximum Energy Shield
• +(15-20) to all Attributes
• (5-10)% increased Movement Speed
• 50% increased Effect of Curses on you
• You count as on Low Life while you are Cursed with Vulnerability
• You are Cursed with Vulnerability, with 80% increased Effect

Amulet Slot:

 Rare Amulet (Vortex Noose Tur Quoise Amulet) will provide Elemental Resistance, maximum Life,…or other mods your character needed

Standard Requirement:

• +34% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
• +82 to Maximum Life
• +50 to Maximum Mana
• +37% to Fire Resistance
• +24% to Lightning Resistance

Ring Slot:

Double Unique Rings: Essence WormUnset Ring  + Dream Fragments Sapphire Ring

With Essence WormUnset Ring, you can equip Zealotry Aura Skill Gem to gain bonus damage and critical strike chance of spells. In addition, Dream FragmentsSapphire Ring, you could benefit from “Can not be Chilled” and “Can not be Frozen” mod to run maps easier and safer.

Flask Setup:

Unique Flask – The Overflowing Chalice Sulphur Flask is one of the best Flasks for Hierophant in the game. Above all, it creates Consecrated Ground on Use to maximize this ascendancy power. By the way, if you want to upgrade this flask slot, you can equip Bottled Faith instead.

• 40% increased Damage
• Creates Consecrated Ground on Use
• 100% increased Charge Recovery
• (10-20)% increased Duration
• Gains no Charges during Effect of any Overflowing Chalice Flask
• 100% increased Charges gained by Other Flasks during Flask Effect

Other suggested Flasks:

• Bubbling Eternal Life Flask of Curing (increase Recovery Rate)
• 2x Experimenter’ Diamond Flask of Dousing (increase Duration, increase Global Critical Strike Chance)
• Perpetual Quartz Flask of Staunching (Phasing/ Dodge Attack, Spell/ …)

In conclusion, I hope you enjoy this build and 3.15 Path of Exile Content. If you have any other build requests, feel free to contact us on web-chat, Facebook. Golden Horse Gaming are always open to suggestions and feedback from the community and customers.