Vortex Gaming

· Introducing the Guardian-based Assassin COWB build as the final build for this season.
· It significantly improves survivability and stability by addressing the weaknesses of previous builds (attacking while moving, vulnerability to ground effects).
· It's nearly immune to damage over time and is an auto-attack build that allows mapping with 'zero buttons'.
· My setup cost around 600 Divine Orbs, but a typical setup can be achieved with a budget of about 1.5 million.
· The build setup is somewhat complex, so please follow the explanation carefully.

· Advantages:
· Low Mod Requirements: During normal mapping, you only need to avoid flask charge reduction mods. In high-tier maps, you also need to avoid the 'Elder's Rune' mod.
· High Tankiness: Guardian value is over 20,000 (expected to reach 30,000 finally) and includes regeneration. With 'Boreana' jewels, evasion and armor are determined by Guardian, potentially increasing it to 40,000.
· Immunity to Damage Over Time: Nearly immune to all damage over time.
· Infinite Buff Skills: "Immortal Call" and "Endurance Charges" are maintained infinitely.
· Disadvantages:
· Vulnerable to Flask-Disrupting Mobs: Flasks can be stolen by mobs that disrupt flasks, drastically reducing survivability. However, you can defeat them by briefly leaving and re-entering the map to reactivate Guardian.

· Core Mechanic: Using "Cast when Damage Taken" support, skills (like "Guardian's Demise" and "Radiant") automatically trigger when Guardian is destroyed.
· Guardian Trigger Method:
· Utilizes the "Mind Cage" jewel and "Summon Fallen Zombie" to trigger.
· When a minion dies, the physical damage taken destroys Guardian, which in turn triggers skills linked with "Cast when Damage Taken" support.
· Minion duration is minimized to ensure they die quickly, repeatedly destroying Guardian.
· Guardian Recovery: Uses flasks with "Guardian Recovery" options to quickly recharge Guardian immediately after it's destroyed.
· Accelerated Flask Charging: Maximizes flask charge gain through "Legion Jewels" (gain "Iron Flask" charges when Guardian breaks), "Aul's Uprising" amulet oils, passive nodes, and "Splinter" jewels, ensuring Guardian is almost constantly active.

· Key Nodes:
· Uses two "Legion Jewels".
· "Blood Magic" Ascendancy node converts 50% of physical damage taken into damage over time, increasing survivability.
· "Shattered Guardian" node deals powerful physical damage when Guardian breaks, enhancing boss damage. (Damage increases proportionally to Guardian value).
· Ascendancy: Ascend into Assassin to avoid the negative effects of damage reflection and utilize the "Clockwork" unique jewel for cooldown reduction.
· Jewel Setup:
· "Cluster Jewels": Focus on maximum energy shield, elemental resistances, all attributes, and 30% increased effect.
· Use "Essence Sap" and "Fasting" jewels.
· "Abyssal Jewels": "Regenerate" is easy to get, 2% "Energy Shield Recovery Rate" is essential. For the rest, customize with energy shield, resistances, attributes, etc., to your preference.
· "Heroic Tragedy" Jewel: Uses "Boreana" jewels. Must-have nodes include four "Gain 2 "Iron Flask" Charges when Guardian is destroyed" and "Gain 1 "Endurance Charge" when Guardian is destroyed". (Refer to the description for detailed node information).
· Additional Nodes: Utilize nodes like "Reasonable Doctrine" and "Watcher's Eye" jewels to supplement attributes and resistances.

· Body Armour: Use "Armour of the Defiled" or armour with high Guardian values. The option to gain 2 flask charges every 3 seconds is essential.
· Gloves: Aim for "Curse on Hit" and 4% of physical damage leeched as life.
· Helmet: High Guardian value option.
· Belt: Use "Indra's Fang" (gain evasion/armour based stats from body armour).
· Amulet: Use "Focused" amulet (maximum energy shield, critical strike multiplier). Avoid negative options like increased mana cost or reduced life when reflecting.
· Weapon: Use a "Divinarius" interaction weapon (increased effect, spell critical strike multiplier).
· "Heart of the Minion" (Ming's Heart): Converts physical damage from "Radiant" and "Guardian's Demise" into additional chaos damage, increasing life leech efficiency.
· "Guardian's Resolve" (Shaper's Boon): Maximizes Guardian value by applying increased/decreased maximum energy shield to Guardian.
· Chaos Damage Leech: Utilize the mechanism of converting 25% of damage taken into life regeneration when life is full, through "Heart of the Minion" and "Leech Mastery".

· Primary Skills:
· "Summon Spectres", "Summon Chaos Golem", "Guardian's Charge" (Minion utilization)
· "Assassinate", "Immortal Call" (Continuous buffs and debuffs)
· "Cast on Death Support" (Constant "Assassinate" application)
· "Summon Skitterbots", "Phase Run" (Movement and utility skills)
· Helmet Setup:
· "Radiant" + "Charged" support (Amplified critical strike chance through "Walking" mastery)
· "Assassinate" + "Life Leech" support
· "Cast when Damage Taken" support
· Other Skill Combinations:
· "Withering Step" (Level 20, 20 quality), "Increased Duration" support (23 quality)
· "Summon Fallen Zombie", "Summon Raise Spectre", "Summon Skeleton" (Level irrelevant)
· "Blade Vortex" + "Flame Dash" (Life Leech support)
· Buffs: Use two "Purity of Elements" buffs from "Replenishing" and one "Spider" buff.
· Mana Reservation: Mana reservation must be 0. If it's even 1, re-check your setup.

· This build performs decently in boss fights even with a minimal setup.
· Mapping speed is the best among the builds I've played this season, and tanking ability is also excellent.
· The only drawback is its slight vulnerability to mobs that disrupt flasks.
· It's definitely worth considering as a season-ending build.