Champion Autobomber Guide: Zero to Hero in Path of Exile 3.28 Mirage

Greetings, exiles! A new adventure has begun, and excitement fills the air. The recent introduction of a unique belt in Path of Exile immediately captured attention, becoming the centerpiece of a new build. Explosive playstyles and massive damage are always the go-to choice, but there was also an intriguing new skill to explore-Death's Oath. The juicy breach mechanics and the absence of T17 maps in this league update made it too tempting to pass up. However, the patch didn't offer much for Death's Oath, so creativity was needed.

The idea emerged-what if Death's Oath could be combined with the new belt? This would open the door to a different ascendancy, avoiding the typical occultist. The result? A Champion Death's Oath build, which may sound unconventional, but it turned out to be incredibly fun. Let's dive into how this build was brought to life, starting from scratch.

Starting Strong with Sunder

The journey began with Sunder. While not the most exciting skill, it's a reliable choice for the campaign run. Sunder made for a smooth and efficient transition into the endgame build without complicating things too much.

The Power of the Champion Ascendancy

Choosing the right ascendancy was crucial, and Champion proved to be the perfect fit for this setup, offering several significant advantages:

Permanent Fortify: A vital addition for extra survivability, crucial for a build focused on AoE explosions.

Adrenaline: This passive ability stays active, providing a consistent damage boost without extra management.

Increased Aura Effect: Since Death's Oath is an aura-based skill, boosting its effectiveness directly enhances DPS.

The downside? The Champion ascendancy doesn't offer a perfect fourth node for this build. However, Bloodline Ascendancy provided the necessary flexibility to enhance other parts of the build.

Planning the Build and Gathering Resources

The journey started well, but the next challenge was gathering currency. Normally, Death's Oath would be used to complete the Atlas, but this time, the goal was to speed things up. The decision was made to focus on the build after finishing the axe phase, leaving Sunder behind.

A fortunate drop in the lab provided the starting capital needed to purchase key items. However, currency was still a concern. 

Overpaying for armor and not having enough benchcrafting tools added complexity. After smart heist running and lab farming, the necessary currency was gathered.

Crafting and Gear Choices

With POE currency in hand, it was time to buy and craft the essential gear:

Amulet with Despair: A must for scaling Death's Oath damage.

Budget Weapon: A more affordable weapon was chosen due to the high cost of typical high-end bases.

Essences and Benchcrafting: These were key to crafting the correct socket colors.

With the right gear secured and crafting complete, it was time to test the build and focus on Death's Oath explosions. After a few tweaks and adjustments, the build was ready.

The Death's Oath Experience

Death's Oath brings a unique, explosive playstyle, thriving in maps with large groups of monsters. The explosions themselves deal significant damage, making Death's Oath an excellent tool for clearing swaths of enemies. The more monsters, the better, as AoE explosions become the build's bread and butter.

However, the build struggles with single-target DPS. To address this, Blight was used as an additional skill for bosses, but it's not the most effective option. While a helmet could fix this issue, it wasn't a priority for now.

Death's Oath vs. Righteous Fire

A common question: "Why not just use Righteous Fire instead of Death's Oath?" While they may seem similar, Death's Oath fits the playstyle better. The purple explosions bring a unique aesthetic, and the build also benefits from ignoring most map mods, allowing it to perform well even in restrictive maps.

This is one of the reasons this build is so enjoyable-it's all about AoE explosions and fun gameplay. It may not be the most powerful or meta-defining, but it's definitely one of the favorites.

Upgrades and Further Customizations

As the journey progressed, gear upgrades were made, and defenses were improved. Adding Thread of Hope and large clusters saved skill points while enhancing AoE and life. Crafting new items like rings, amulets, and weapons became part of the ongoing process. Every upgrade had a meaningful impact on the build.

The Breach Experience

The Breach mechanics in this league fit the build perfectly. Breach Fortress content proved to be a lot of fun, and the explosive nature of the build complemented it perfectly. Clearing unstable breaches and shrine speed farming helped progress Atlas completion and yielded valuable loot.

The Journey Continues

Although the Champion Death's Oath build may not be the most overpowered or efficient, it's undeniably fun. The explosions, chaos, and excitement of watching everything explode in a chain reaction are what make the build special. For anyone looking for something different, this build is definitely worth trying out.

This build isn't about endgame bosses or the grind for the perfect gear; it's about the joy of clearing maps and watching everything explode in purple chaos.

MMOexp POE Team