Lightning Strike Warden Gear, Jewels & Flasks
DISCLAIMER
Some modifiers will be listed as “ENDGAME” in this guide. This indicates that this modifier should be skipped in priority before you are trying to reach the endgame state of the build. Simply ignore the modifier in the list and move down from it if you’re still at the beginning (~lvl 0-70) or advanced (~lvl 70-90) stages of the character.
Gear
Capping your Elemental Resistances is essential and it should always be your top priority in any build; it should be the first thing you do when gearing up a character.
Obtaining a 6-link, while very powerful and certainly recommended, can potentially be very expensive (requiring an average of 1500 Orb of Fusing, obviously depending on your luck); as such, this should not really be a goal for you while gearing up, and you should instead settle for a 5-link until you can afford a 6-link.
Additionally, you might want to consider searching for 6-links with the correct colors specifically, as players usually put them up on the trading sites for cheap, if they receive one as a corrupted drop.
For crafting Rare items, you can check out all the affixes that can roll on an item base, depending on its level, influence, and many other factors, using our affix tool.
Helmet
A well-rolled Rare Evasion Helmet is best in slot. You HAVE to get some kind of evasion on this Helmet, otherwise the Spell Suppression Mastery will not procc and you will die.
For Labyrinth enchant, look for “Lightning Strike pierces 3 additional targets” as a huge QOL and offensive increase. This should be picked up as early as possible, as it will free up the two passive points we invest early into the piercing cluster near the ranger start.
The Rare affix priority is:
- ENDGAME: +#% to Chaos resistance (until capped)
- +#% total Elemental Resistances (until capped)
- # to maximum life (90)
- ENDGAME: +#% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as “any element” Damage (replaces the modifier below this one)
- Nearby Enemies have -#% Cold Resistances
Body Armour
There are some unique Body Armours that can do amazing work for the build: Belly of the Beast, and Loreweave. None of them really hit the mark, in terms of providing everything we’d like, however.
While those represent “cheap and easy” options, the ultimate end-goal for this build will be a rare item. The best possible option would be an Astral Plate base, featuring the mods listed below. If you cannot afford such a base, any other Evasion or Armour/Evasion base will work just as well.
You will want to find yourself a “Guatelitzi’s” Body Armour from Alva’s temple. You can search for them easily using the “+(110–119) to maximum Life” and “(8–10)% increased maximum Life” options for prefixes on the trading website. If you cannot acquire such a Body Armour, simply follow the affix priority below and ignore that mod.
The Rare affix priority is:
- ENDGAME: Guatelitzi’s Temple Modifier (see above)
- ENDGAME: +#% to Chaos resistance (until capped)
- +#% total Elemental Resistances (until capped)
- +# to maximum life (100)
- % Increased Maximum life (Elder mod)
Gloves
You HAVE to get some kind of evasion on this Glove-slot, otherwise the Spell Suppression Mastery will not procc and you will die.
The Rare Gloves to aim for are Gripped Gloves and the Rare affix priority should look as follows:
- ENDGAME: +#% to Chaos resistance (until capped)
- +#% total Elemental Resistances (until capped)
- (Elevated/Hunter) Strike Attacks target 1-2 Additional Nearby Enemy
- +# to maximum life (60)
- % Increased Attack speed
- Adds # to # Physical damage to Attacks
Any influence modifiers you would want can be added as well, but will likely be extremely expensive to craft with the above priority list in mind. Try to aim for these first and foremost, if you can slam a mod onto it, using one of the influence orbs (eg: Hunter's Exalted Orb) at the end, go for it.
Boots
You HAVE to get some kind of evasion on this Boot-slot, otherwise the Spell Suppression Mastery will not procc and you will die.
The best unique in slot here would be an Atziri's Step, for its movement speed bonus, decent Life roll, Movespeed bonus and the Spell Suppression before we’re at 100%.
A well-rolled Rare pair of Boots is superior, however, for the absolute ENDGAME. Aim specifically here for the Hunter’s influence and go for the “Tailwind on critical strike” mod.
For Labyrinth enchants, look for “% increased Attack and Cast Speed if you’ve Killed Recently”.
ENDGAME The Rare affix priority is:
- You have Tailwind if you have dealt a Critical Strike Recently
- +#% to Chaos resistance (until capped)
- +#% total Elemental Resistances (until capped)
- +# to maximum life (80)
- % increased Movement Speed (at least 30%)
Belt
The best in slot option for Belts doesn’t really exist. There’s a couple of different options you can consider.
You could consider a well rolled ###item:the-nomad###. It’s a fairly middle-of-the-road belt, in terms of prices, but grants us a whopping 90% increased damage, while also providing a great array of stats and some decent resists. It’s a solid all-rounder to pick up early and cruise to the end-game with.
Of course, here comes the Rare option that everyone expected, the Stygian Vise. The Rare affix priority for the belt is:
- ENDGAME: ANY HUNTER INFLUENCE MODIFIERS (Life > Flasks)
- ENDGAME: +#% to Chaos resistance (until capped)
- +#% total Elemental Resistances (until capped)
- +# to maximum life (80)
- +#% increased damage with Elemental Attack Skills (T1 or T2)
Remember to use Prismatic Catalyst to upgrade your jewelry to 20%, in order to more easily cap all your different resistances. Also use this slot to fix up any remaining Stat issues, such as Strength.
Amulet
Any damage-focused Amulet will do wonders here.
Look specifically for Critical Strike Chance, Critical Strike Multiplier, Elemental Damage with Attack Skills, Life, Stats and Flat Elemental Damage to Attacks.
Anoint
There are a couple of choices, mostly Crit Chance or Multiplier-related, but my personal favorite is “Forces of Nature”, as it’s very cheap and extremely effective.
Rings
You can opt into an easy setup here with the Mark of the Elder and a random Shaper-Influenced Ring featuring Assassin's Mark on-hit in the other slot.
Alternatively, a well-rolled Opal Ring can provide a great amount of damage, if your resistances are already covered. Check your POB to see which one will provide more damage overall for your build.
Focus on fixing your stats and resists on this ring, first and foremost.
The Rare affix priority is:
- ENDGAME:+#% to Chaos resistance (until capped)
- +#% total Elemental Resistances (until capped)
- +# to maximum life (at least around 50)
- +#% increased damage with elemental attack skills
Remember to use Prismatic Catalyst to upgrade your jewelry to 20%, in order to more easily cap all your different resistances.
Weapon
For the ENDGAME, one well-rolled Rare Imperial Claw or Gemini Claw is the best in slot for your main hand. However, be aware that “well-rolled” here means REALLY WELL, like 450+ eDPS. The off-hand slot will ALWAYS go towards your Shield of choice.
You Weapon progression could look something like this:
Random Rare Claw
-> lvl 60
The Wasp Nest
-> ???
- Well-rolled Rare Claw*
The Rare affix priority is:
- Adds # to # Cold Damage
- Adds # to # Lightning Damage
- Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate ##% Elemental Resistances
- % increased Attack Speed
- % increased Critical Strike Chance
- % increased Critical Strike Multiplier
Flasks
Instant or half instant Divine Life Flask is very important to have, preferably with Bleed removal.
Make sure to have Bleed and Curse immunity on your non-unique flasks.
My flask setup and priority:
- Panicked Divine Life Flask of Staunching (bleed removal)
- Atziri's Promise with 26% quality
- The Wise Oak with 26% quality (Make sure your cold/lightning resistances are ALWAYS the highest, to fully benefit from this flask)
- ENDGAME: Bottled Faith
- Experimenter’s Jade Flask of Reflexes
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.
Jewels & Cluster Jewels
This build does not require and Jewels or Cluster Jewels, aside from a well placed, large-sized Thread of Hope in the Duelist’s jewel socket. Check out our Cluster Jewel guide for help crafting or buying Cluster Jewels.
Regular Jewel Affix Priority
- % Increased Maximum life
- % to Critical Strike Multiplier with One Handed Melee Weapons
- % to Critical Strike Multiplier with Elemental Skills
- % to Critical Strike Multiplier with Lightning Skills
- % to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
- % increased Attack speed
Abyssal Jewel Affix Priority
- Maximum life (at least 30)
- Adds # to # Cold/Lightning Damage to Attacks
- Adds # to # Cold/Lightning to Attacks with Claws
- +# to Strength/Intelligence
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