The Storm Chorus Hierophant build in Path of Exile 2 is an exciting and powerful combination of lightning damage, spellcasting, and energy shield sustain. To fully realize the potential of this build, understanding the right skill gems, passives, and Click Here Ascendancy nodes is crucial. This article will walk through the essential components of the build, providing a detailed breakdown of the key skills and the passive tree that will help you optimize your Storm Chorus Hierophant.

Choosing the Right Skills for the Storm Chorus Hierophant

The Storm Chorus Hierophant thrives on the use of lightning-based spell skills. There are several powerful options that can fit into your build, depending on your playstyle. Here are some of the most effective skills to use with this Ascendancy subclass:

Storm Brand:
Storm Brand is a signature skill for the Storm Chorus Hierophant, as it deals massive lightning damage over time and chains to nearby enemies. This skill excels in clearing large packs of monsters while applying consistent damage to bosses. By placing multiple Storm Brands on enemies, you can ensure that the lightning damage is spread across multiple targets, maximizing your DPS.

Arc:
Arc is another excellent skill choice for the Storm Chorus Hierophant. This spell sends out a lightning projectile that chains between enemies, causing significant damage. The chaining mechanic allows you to hit multiple enemies at once, making it perfect for clearing packs of monsters. With proper investment in elemental penetration and spell damage, Arc becomes an incredibly potent skill.

Chain Lightning:
For a more direct damage approach, Chain Lightning is a great choice. This skill releases a bolt of lightning that chains between enemies, dealing damage to each target it hits. It is especially effective against large groups of enemies and can be used to take down bosses quickly when combined with the right damage-boosting support gems.

Divine Blessing (Aura Support):
As a Hierophant, you’ll be using a lot of mana, so it's important to boost your mana regeneration and energy shield sustain. The Divine Blessing aura support can provide an additional boost to your energy shield recovery while making sure you don’t run out of mana in the middle of combat. This aura is essential for ensuring that you stay alive during long boss fights.

Passive Tree and Cluster Jewels for the Storm Chorus Hierophant

The passive tree for the Storm Chorus Hierophant revolves around maximizing spellcasting efficiency, boosting lightning damage, and ensuring your energy shield stays intact. Here's a breakdown of some key passive tree nodes that you should focus on:

Energy Shield Nodes:
The Hierophant excels at energy shield sustain, so look for passive nodes that increase energy shield and recovery. Important nodes like “Discipline and Training” and “Pain Attunement” will improve your energy shield and give you a significant edge in both offense and defense.

Elemental Damage with Lightning:
To maximize the damage output of your lightning skills, you’ll need to focus on elemental damage nodes, particularly those that boost lightning damage. Look for nodes that increase spell damage, lightning damage, and elemental penetration. The Elemental Overload keystone is an excellent choice for boosting your lightning damage at the cost of elemental resistances, but with proper energy shield and resistances, this can be a great tradeoff.

Mana Regeneration and Reduced Mana Cost:
Since this build relies on lightning-based spells, you’ll be casting frequently. Nodes that increase mana regeneration and reduce mana cost are essential for keeping up your damage output without running into resource problems. Nodes like “Divine Guidance” and “Meditative Focus” are great options to improve your mana sustainability.

Survivability and Damage Reduction:
Don’t neglect survivability while focusing on damage. Consider taking nodes that increase your armor or elemental resistances, especially when venturing into higher difficulties. Some nodes grant increased armor or provide more resistances when on low mana, which can be helpful in endgame content.

Cluster Jewels:
Cluster jewels can further refine your build by offering specialized nodes that can enhance your lightning damage or defensive capabilities. Look for Cluster Jewel nodes that increase spell damage, lightning penetration, or energy shield recovery. For example, the Storm Drinker Cluster Jewel node provides an increased chance to shock enemies, which is perfect for boosting your lightning damage.

Ascendancy Passive Pathing

The Storm Chorus Hierophant Ascendancy offers several powerful nodes to enhance your playstyle. Focus on the following Ascendancy nodes to maximize your build’s effectiveness:

Divine Guidance: This node increases your maximum mana and improves your energy shield, giving you both offense and defense.

Divine Fury: Boosts your elemental damage, especially with lightning spells, allowing your skills to hit harder.

Elemental Equilibrium: This node reduces enemy elemental resistances when you deal elemental damage to them, increasing your overall damage output.

Shocking Presence: Grants increased critical strike chance and allows you to shock enemies more easily, which significantly boosts your damage.

In conclusion, the Storm Chorus Hierophant build in Path of Exile 2 offers a highly customizable and powerful playstyle. By focusing on key skills, passives, and Ascendancy nodes, you can create a character that excels in both offense and defense. Whether you’re clearing packs of enemies or taking down endgame bosses, this build provides a balanced and fun experience for players looking to experiment with lightning-based spellcasting in Path of Exile 2.