Torchlight: Infinite SS20 Ill Omen Build Guide: Triple Curse, Endgame Gear & Bossing Setup

Summary

This guide breaks down a high-end SS20-viable build that leverages the Ill Omen mechanic, triple curses, and massive aura effect stacking. Based on a fully tested endgame setup, it covers gear optimization, skill choices, and the critical interactions that make this build capable of tackling the toughest content in the game—whether you're grinding for gear yourself or prefer to buy Torchlight: Infinite FE to fast-track your upgrades.

Understanding the Core Mechanic: Ill Omen

The Ill Omen is a damage-over-time mechanic that applies stacks to cursed enemies. When the maximum of 10 stacks is reached, the effect triggers: non-Elite enemies are instantly eliminated, while Elite enemies take True Damage equal to 20% of their maximum life . This burst damage is one of the most powerful scaling tools for endgame bossing.

Important limitations to understand:

Supreme bosses will only trigger Ill Omen once under normal circumstances

Reap Purification changes this interaction, allowing repeated applications 

Ill Omen efficiency has a 100% effectiveness cap – going over provides no additional benefit 

The build uses Reap Purification, which converts the Ill Omen effect to: "Enemies take True Damage equal to 2.5% of Max Life when gaining 1 stack of Ill Omen" . This creates sustained damage pressure against bosses rather than a single burst.

Triple Curse Setup

A key upgrade in this build is the transition to triple curse, which significantly improves both mapping and bossing performance.

How the setup works:

The Omnis Ring provides the third curse source

The build dropped Wind Breath to equip this ring

Poison Omen is used in the damage setup, replacing Portrait 

The triple curse setup enables:

One additional curse application for improved damage

Full utilization of Ill Omen efficiency from both rings

Stronger mapping clear due to the extra curse layer 

Ill Omen Efficiency Stacking

This build achieves over 100% Ill Omen efficiency, which is essential after the Reap Purification changes.

Sources of efficiency include:

Both rings with Ill Omen efficiency rolls

The Malice of Deception talent tree

Precise standards, providing bonus aura effect for each aura affecting you 

Why over 100% efficiency matters:

Reap Purification now imposes a -50% Ill Omen efficiency penalty 

This penalty must be offset to maintain effectiveness

The cap is 100%, so going over is not beneficial but having both rings ensures you hit the cap 

The build only needs to reach 100% efficiency; going over provides no additional benefit .

Core Gear Breakdown

Weapons

Deep Pain aura note: The -20% sealed mana downside is irrelevant because Deep Pain is granted by the boots, not equipped as a skill. This essentially makes the 120% aura effect "free" with no drawback .

For support setup, Controlled Spell replaces Cataclysm's Sequence to increase damage. Guard is an alternative defensive option .

Ring – Vorax Ring

Modified from the previous version:

Barrier mod in the suffix replaced with Flinching Effect

Ill Omen efficiency roll allows reaching the cap without T0

Important: The Ill Omen efficiency cap is 100%, so T0 is not required on this ring if you can hit the cap with the T1 roll .

Omnis Ring

This ring was purchased for approximately 9,000-9,600 FE and required minimal modifications:

Reap Recovery replaced

Ill Omen efficiency and damage affixes rolled over

The base alone was worth ~5,000 FE at the time 

Belt

Not fully T0'd, but provides significant damage potential

T0 upgrades would yield more damage if pursued 

Boots – Lone Walkers

Key upgrades:

1-to-1 corruption applied

T0 corruption for aura effect

Aura effect breakdown:

Base: 43% aura effect

Sealed mana conversion: 72% sealed mana = 72% aura effect (1% per 1% sealed mana)

Total: ~115% aura effect from boots alone 

Passive and Talent Tree Choices

Precise Standards:
Four Precise Standards passive nodes are added to the build. These grant increased aura effect for each aura affecting you (max 5 auras), providing the maximum benefit .

Malice of Deception:
Provides additional Ill Omen efficiency, helping to offset the Reap Purification penalty.

Hero Memories:

Current setup includes Intelligence

Future upgrade path: Red memories for additional hero trait level and T0 affixes

Recommended replacements: T0 Attack/Spell Block (up to 20%) and Skill Area effect for quality of life 

SS20 Boss Fight Specifics

Key setup differences for the SS20 fight:

Holiness was used instead of the normal mapping setup

The -15% additional damage taken from cursed enemies was critical for survival

Reap Purification's true damage effect was not reliable against Ordrak (stacks not visible)

The triple curse system still worked against SS20 boss – Ill Omen stacks were visible and trigger at 10 stacks 

Survival considerations:

Blink was essential for dodging specific boss phases

The boss's Wilted Spikes attack deals significant DoT and requires careful positioning

Holiness prevented otherwise lethal damage moments 

Mapping Setup vs. Bossing Setup

Mapping benefits:

Triple curse improves clear speed

Dropping Wind Breath removes movement speed penalty

Faster overall clear compared to previous setup 

Future Upgrade Path

Priority upgrades:

Nether King Divinity – Replace Scorching Pulse with mods like +1 All Skills or Ill Omen base effect (enemies take 2% additional damage per Ill Omen stack)

Red Hero Memories – T0 Skill Area for quality of life; T0 Attack/Spell Block as needed

Ring T0 modifiers – If attack/spell block remain insufficient 

Cost considerations:

Full T0 gear upgrades average approximately 5,680 Flame Elementium 

Upgrades follow the Basic → Advanced → Ultimate modifier progression

RNG in the Ultimate modifier stage can cause significantly higher material consumption 

Conclusion

This Ill Omen build represents a near-complete endgame setup capable of defeating SS20 content. The core strength comes from:

Triple curse application through Omnis Ring and Poison Omen

Ill Omen efficiency exceeding 100% to offset Reap Purification penalties

Massive aura effect stacking from Lone Walkers and Precise Standards

Free Deep Pain aura via precise rolling on weapons

Holiness for bossing survivability

The build is fully functional for mapping and endgame bossing, with clear upgrade paths for players looking to push further. The author notes that the build is "very satisfying" and SS20 has been completed with the required Divine Ascension tier reached. If you're looking to speed up your progress, you can find Torchlight: Infinite FE for sale through trusted sources like MMOEXP to help fund those high-end gear upgrades without endless grinding.