Vaal Fireball
Ignite Prolif. Elementalist build

Updated for Patch 3.16

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Estimated budget: moderately low

Fireball is the most basic of all Spells and it's used to introduce fundamental game mechanics to the new players. It's a ball of fire that explodes on impact. You shouldn't really care about the hit damage itself, but the Burning damage that is inflicted right after - it's one of the Ignite builds that are extremely popular as of path 3.16. Use two-handed Staff - the Searing Touch is one of the cheapest and best suited for your purposes. Elementalist Ascendancy is an obvious choice for Elemental Damage builds as it increases your Elemental Damage and grants you some unique buffs such as Convergence, better Elemental Exposure, and guaranteed Ignite and Shock on Hit. When using Fire Projectiles and dealing mostly Burning Damage it is great to have a Flame Wall skill in one of your setups. Flame Wall not only deals a fair amount of damage on its own but it also makes your Projectiles that passes through it deals extra Fire Damage and applies Fire Wall's additional Secondary Debuff - which is more Damage over Time.

The build is not very tanky, but you won't be completely helpless against damage, especially Physical Damage and Hits. Your Armour can prevent around 70% of Physical Damage received, and Your Block Chance for Spells and Attacks can reach 40 to 50%. Your Maximum Life can reach 4 or 5k with some ES on top of that. Your Damage comes in a form of Burning Damage. The best way to increase your DPS is to look for mods that will make your Damage Ailments (Ignite) Deal Damage Faster. Look for Damage over Time and Fire Damage too. Allocate Elemental Overload since you don't really deal damage with Hits so Critical Strike is close to useless for you.

You can also find our other Path of Exile builds right over here: Odealo's Crafty Guides - Full List

1. Gameplay

This Fireball Elementalist is a typical spell-caster character, who quickly moves around maps with Flame Dash skill and Ignites entire packs with just a single cast of the Fireball Spell. Thanks to Herald of Ash you don't have to worry about Clear Speed - it sets up a chain reaction to kill all the enemies on the screen almost instantly. If you don't want to use Herald of Ash you can replace it with Ignite Proliferation Support on your Fireball Setup, equip Berek's Respite, or have a Cluster Jewel with Fan of Flames. Use Wave of Conviction with Flammability on Hit to increase your Damage against tough opponents. The same goes for the Flame Wall and Flame Surge - these Skills are mostly used only during boss fights. Recommended Mana-Reserving Skills are Maleveloence, Herald of Ash, Determination or Defiance Banner, and Tempest Shield.

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

You can level up this Witch character with the regular version of the Fireball spell. It has decent "on Hit" DPS as well as has increased Damage with Ignite, making it a great weapon for all occasions. There are also plenty of Fire-related unique items that can be used to amplify your DPS during early levels which are listed below. The final version offers some flexibility - we've spent 30 passive skill points for Cluster Jewels, but these can be used to reach Searing Het Cluster which offers a lot of Damage, you can go for Glancing Blows, more Armour, or some of the Notables near Discipline and Training.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Fireball setup
	Fireball - your primary DPS source. Later on, it should be replaced with the Vaal version of this skill
	Faster Casting Support
	Lesser Multiple Projectiles Support
	Combustion Support - grants an increased chance to Ignite and Fire Damage

Utility Gems
	Flammability - the recommended Curse for this build
	Flame Golem - may perform better during leveling as the monsters' damage is significantly lower
	Herald of Ash - grants increased Burning Damage and causes slain monsters to Ignite nearby monsters for a percentage of the overkill damage
	Clarity - provides increased Mana Regeneration rate
	Flame Dash - your primary mobility skill

Bandits:

We recommend killing all the Bandits for two additional Passives Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

30 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Fire Walker 2) Heart and Soul 3) Hearth of Flames 4) Breath of Flames 5) Quick Recovery

64 Points Skill Tree
Priorities: 1) Elemental Overload 2) Acrimony 3) Holy Fire 4) Purity of Flesh 5) Divine Judgement 6) Light of Divinity 7) Discipline and Training

Recommended leveling items:

Praxis - one of the best spellcaster's leveling rings in Path of Exile

+(20-25) to maximum Mana +(30-60) to maximum Mana (3-6) Mana Regenerated per second -(8-4) to Total Mana Cost of Skills 8% of Damage taken gained as Mana over 4 seconds when Hit

Pyre - a great leveling ring that grants an amazing Burning Damage bonus

+(20-30)% to Cold Resistance +(25-35)% to Fire Resistance (60-80)% increased Burning Damage 40% of Cold Damage Converted to Fire Damage 10% increased Light Radius Ignited Enemies Killed by your Hits are destroyed

Goldrim - amazing leveling helmet which covers up all your needs for Elemental Resistances during early levels

+(30-50) to Evasion Rating 10% increased Rarity of Items found +(30-40)% to all Elemental Resistances Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers Level Requirement reduced by 100 (Hidden)

Wurm's Molt - provides decent Life and Attribute bonuses

+(25-40) to maximum Life +(20-30) to Strength +(20-30) to Intelligence +(10-20)% to Cold Resistance 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Life 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana

Lifesprig - good leveling Wand which can be dual-wielded for great Spell Damage and Cast Speed bonuses

(8-12)% increased Spell Damage +1 to Level of Socketed Spell Gems (20-28)% increased Spell Damage (5-8)% increased Cast Speed +(15-20) to maximum Life +(15-20) to maximum Mana Regenerate (6-8) Life over 1 second when you Cast a Spell

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

83 Points Skill Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels nor Intuitive Leap)
119 Points Path of Building(PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Shaper of Flames
2. Mastermind of Discord
3. Heart of Destruction
4. Shaper of Storms

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Lunaris 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%; 1% increased Movement Speed for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%

Minor God: Soul of Gruthkul 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Vaal Fireball
	Vaal Fireball - your primary DPS spell. Is used to Ignite enemies for the amazing DoT. The Vaal version of this skill fires a powerful projectile on each nearby enemy melting the entire screen. You can check the Anomalous and Phantasmal versions of this Gem - they're interesting.
	Unbound Ailments Support - Ignite and Shock you Inflick lasts longer and have increased effectiveness
	Swift Affliction Support - more Damage over Time and Less Duration of Ailments
	Burning Damage Support - increases the damage of your Ignites
	Greater Multiple Projectiles Support - increases the number of Fireball's projectiles
	Deadly Ailments Support - increases the Damage you deal with Ailments but decreases Hit Damage

[DPS] Flame Wall setup
	Flame Wall - Creates a wall of fire that deals DoT and applies a secondary Debuff to all enemies leaving its area and the ones getting hit with a Fireball that passes through it
	Elemental Focus Support - Massively increases Elemental Damage. Flame Wall won't be able to cause Ignite nor Shock but it's not an issue since it can't Hit anyway.
	Controlled Destruction Support - Flame Wall can't Hit so it can't Crit and it's another downside that won't affect you. It increases DoT of Flame Wall.
	Efficacy Support - increases the Effect Duration and Damage over Time of supported skills
	Burning Damage Support
	Swift Affliction Support

[MOBILITY] Flame Dash
	Flame Dash - your primary movement Skill that teleports you over a short distance leaving a trail of Burning Ground behind

[UTILITY] Tempest Shield
	Tempest Shield - grants immunity to Shock, casts an Arc-like Skill on Block, and provides you with additional Chance to Block Spells Damage

[UTILITY] Flame Surge
	Flame Surge - use this Spell on Ignited Enemy - it creates a Burning Ground that deals damage equal to the 25% of Ignite Damage you caused with your Fireball per second and that's a lot

[UTILITY] Aura and Herald setup
	Malevolence - an Aura that increases your DoT and Skill Effect Duration
	Herald of Ash - Herald Skill to increase your Burning Damage and cause enemies to catch on fire when one of them dies
	Determination - adds and increases your Armour for better Physical Damage reduction
	Enlighten Support - reduces the Mana Reservation Cost of all linked Skills

[UTILITY] Flammability and Exposure setup
	Flammability - The recommended Curse for this build, it increases Fire Resistance Penetration
	Wave of Conviction - applies Fire Exposure on Hit which reduces Fire Resistance by another 25%
	Hextouch Support - Flammability is applied via Wave of Conviction
	Combustion Support - enemies Ignited by Wave of Conviction have their Fire Resistance reduced by 10%

5. Gear Setup

Below you will find all the recommended and required items for this build. As usual, all required stats are listed (items are also included in the PoB link). This is a rather inexpensive build, which should not cost more than a few Exalted Orbs.

At this point, we would love to invite you to visit our Path of Exile Marketplace where you can buy cheap PoE Currency in case you are unable to complete your build.

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances 
2. Give you enough DPS/Life to start mapping successfully

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - Great pick for this build. There's not a lot of uniquely useful mods, simply look for the Life and Resistances.

Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Dexterity Nearby Enemies have -9% to Fire Resistance

Helmet enchantments: 40% increased Fireball Damage

(Weapon) The Searing Touch - it's one of the best weapons for this build, it has all the stats you need and additional two Levels for your Fireball Gem which significantly improves your damage

+18% Chance to Block Attack Damage while wielding a Staff +(40-60)% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier (70-90)% increased Fire Damage 10% increased Cast Speed +2 to Level of all Fire Spell Skill Gems

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - Again, look for Maximum Life and Resistances. You can seek the more high-end modifiers such as the one for an additional Curse to boost your DPS.

Min. requirements: +90 to maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Dexterity +1 to Level of Socketed Active Skill Gems You can apply an additional Curse increased maximum Life

(Body Armour) The Brass Dome - The lack of Elemental Resistances is one of your most exploitable weaknesses. You can improve it and gain some other great defensive perks by equipping this Body Armour. It lowers your maximum Life by around 500.

(350-400)% increased Armour +(1-5)% to all maximum Elemental Resistances Strength provides no bonus to Maximum Life Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes

(Boots) Rare Boots - Maximum Life, Movement Speed, and Elemental Resistances are your priorities

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life 25% increased Movement Speed Optional affixes: Chaos Resistance Dexterity Elemental Resistances Cannot be Frozen (crafted)

(Belt) Rare Belt - try to get as much Maximum Life and Elemental Resistances as you can - Hunter's Influence can help you with that

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Chaos Resistance Strength increased maximum Life increased Elemental Damage

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - It's an item slot granting you an amazing opportunity to expand on your DoT potential. You can increase the level of your Fire and Intelligence Gems by two with Hunter's and Warlord's Influence. You could upgrade your Burning Damage with many different affixes, it can grant you Dexterity, Life, and Resistances.

Min. requirements: +50 to maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Dexterity Damage over Time Multiplier +1 to Level of all Intelligence Skill Gems +1 to Level of all Fire Skill Gems Non-Channelling Skills have -7 to Total Mana Cost (crafted)

Recommended Anointments: Searing Heat Dirty Techniques

(Ring) Rare Ring - A regular Ring with basic defensive mods and some Dexterity is good enough. If you can apply more than one Curse you can look for a mod that applies one on Hit.

Min. requirements: +40 to maximum Life +50% to Elemental Resistances 30 Dexterity Optional affixes: Adds Fire Damage against Ignited Enemies Chaos Resistance increased Fire Damage

(Ring) Circle of Anguish - you can modify and enhance your Herald of Ash to increase its effectiveness, lower Mana Reservation, or increase your Fire Damage and Fire Resistance

<One to three random Synthesis implicit modifiers> +(20-30) to Strength Adds (20-25) to (26-35) Fire Damage +(20-30)% to Fire Resistance <Two Random Herald of Ash modifier>

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - you can easily find some Dexterity and Damage over Time mods, especially on Apothecary's Gloves

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances 30 Dexterity Optional affixes: Fire Damage over Time Multiplier increased Damage over Time Culling Strike

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - all Jewels should provide extra Maximum Life and at least one Damage amplification mod, "Damaging Ailments deal damage faster" is the best one

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life Optional affixes: increased Burning Damage Damaging Ailments deal damage faster increased Spell Damage increased Damage over Time increased Spell Damage while wielding a Staff Elemental Resistances Dexterity

(Jewel) Intuitive Leap - You can put it near Instability and allocate Prodigal Perfection, Mystic Bulwark, Enigmatic Defence, Deep Thoughts, Discord Artisan, and Presage

Passives in Radius can be Allocated without being connected to your tree

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - One of the most expensive, but ultimately optional jewels. Look for the mod that increases your DoT Multiplier when affected by Malevolence

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

(Jewel) Large Cluster Jewels - Spell Damage or Fire Damage are the ones to look for. Conjured Wall and Mage Hunter can increase your Block Chance.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Conjured Wall 1 Added Passive Skill is Mage Hunter 1 Added Passive Skill is Thaumophage 1 Added Passive Skill is Cremator 1 Added Passive Skill is Doryani's Lesson 1 Added Passive Skill is Sadist

(Jewel) Medium Cluster Jewels - Smoking Remains, Blowback, and Wasting Affliction are the three best Notables in terms of raw DPS

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Blowback 1 Added Passive Skill is Wasting Affliction 1 Added Passive Skill is Fan of Flames 1 Added Passive Skill is Cooked Alive 1 Added Passive Skill is Smoking Remains 1 Added Passive Skill is Cremator

(Flask) Rumi's Concoction - grants Armour and increases Block Chance against Spells and Attacks

+1500 to Armour +(8-12)% Chance to Block Attack Damage during Flask effect +(4-6)% Chance to Block Spell Damage during Flask effect

(Flask) Dying Sun - grants you more Projectiles, more AoE, and reduces Fire Damage taken

+50% to Fire Resistance 20% less Fire Damage taken (125-150)% increased Charges per use (60-40)% less Duration (10-20)% increased Area of Effect during Flask Effect Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles during Flask Effect

(Flask) Cinderswallow Urn - Recovers your Resources, increases your Damage, and depending on the Veiled Affix it can provide you with other utility tools such as Reduced mana Cost of Skills

Onslaught +90 to Maximum Charges Recharges 5 Charges when you Consume an Ignited corpse (175-200)% increased Charges per use Enemies Ignited by you during Flask Effect take (7-10)% increased Damage Veiled Suffix <One of the three modifiers>

Other suggested Flasks: Quicksilver Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal Life Flask with random ailment removal

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.