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PoE 2 Build

[0.5.5] 1-Button Ballista Totem Cluster Grenade

Updated on Sep 15, 2026
Sep 15, 2026

Build Overview

Hey guys, It's Lazy Exile, and here's a build guide to Ballista Totem with Cluster Grenade as a 1-Button Setup that clears all content in the game with great AoE and huge single target damage.

1 Div Budget Video Setup

https://youtu.be/AU1qWv0J7H4

˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿︵ᡣ𐭩˚‧˚☆*✩‧₊˚˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿

Disclaimer

There's a few new tech that comes with this league so check out the video if you're confused about how or why I setup my gem, or the Split Personality Ruby tech which change the passive skill tree.

PoE Ninja LIVE: https://poe.ninja/poe2/profile/ItsMeLazy-1173/forbiddenrites/character/LazyFR

Day 1 Update: https://youtu.be/GWNaSSIIIrk

Day 2 Update: https://youtu.be/9EBtucLIu98

Day 3 Update: https://youtu.be/FccKC_JOtJw

˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿︵ᡣ𐭩˚‧˚☆*✩‧₊˚˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿

Ascendacy

Gemling Legionnaire

Alt Quality on Gem with Advanced Thaumaturgy is build-enabler in many ways, we get good offensive power with 1 extra totem. Damage, or QoL on stuff like Cluster Grenade

₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿︵ᡣ𐭩˚‧˚☆*✩‧₊˚˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿

PC Performance Settings

Highly recommend to turn on Dynamic Culling to play this smoothly. Also try Vulkan, I have great performance on it.

Bring your sunglasses!

Strengths and Weaknesses

  • 1-Button Gameplay
  • Strong on a Budget
  • Clear All Contents
  • Run All Map Mods
  • High Recovery
  • Screen Clutter
  • Destroy your PC

Build Variants

Act 1 Setup (Level 1-15)

  • Level with Permafrost Bolts, Fragmentation Rounds, Frost Bomb
  • Play a bit slower in the beginning until Herald of Ice

Rotation

  • Single target
    • Frost Bomb (maintain exposure)
    • Permafrost Bolts
    • Fragmentation Rounds (frozen only)
  • AoE
    • Permafrost Bolts (with Herald of Ice explosion)
    • Fragmentation Rounds (rare only)

Dual Shotgun Setup

This is massive QoL for the shotgun build because you can shoot Permafrost Bolts & Fragmentation Rounds on left & right click without needing to load the ammo. Normally, you would have to load Fragmentation Rounds or Permafrost Bolts before shooting on top of reloading. So highly recommend to set this up.

1. Open the inventory & right click on lock to all weapon sets on top (the I & II)

2. Set Permafrost Bolts to weapon set I only, Fragmentation Rounds to weapon set II only

3. Bind Crossbow Shot II & I to left and right click

4. Load the Ammo once and that's it

Equipment

item
2
item
3
item
1
item
6
item
5
item
3
item
7
item
8
item
9
item
item
item
Equipment Priority
+9

Equipment Guide

Leveling Regex

Use the following regex to streamline your search for key equipment:

  • "(10|15)% i.+mov|d rari|s: cr"

What this regex highlight? (Use the regex to streamline your search for key equipments)

  • Movement Speed: Boots with increased movement speed is very important for campaign
  • Crossbow: Any weapon with Flat Damage is a buy early game
  • Gloves: Any gloves with Flat Damage is also a buy early game
  • Increased Rarity: Optional, but if rarity comes with an items, it can provide lucky drop early game

Gear Priorities

Beside what is highlighted in the equipment, pick up and use what you can.

Weapon and Rings are the most important equipment slots since they can give flat damage, and they are very effective for any attack build

Weapon Breakpoint

Level 1 Makeshift Crossbow

Level 5 Tense Crossbow

Level 10 Sturdy Crossbow (buy at level 10)

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 15

Dex 0

Int 15

1

Fragmentation Rounds

Level 5

supportelementalarmamentplayer
supportconcentratedareaplayer
2

Herald of Ice

Level 5

supportelementalarmamentplayer
supportmagnifiedareaplayer
3

Frost Bomb

Level 1

4

Permafrost Bolts

Level 5

supportelementalarmamentplayer
supporticebiteplayer
Gem Priority
+6

₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿︵ᡣ𐭩˚‧˚☆*✩‧₊˚˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿

Act 1 Gem Progression Mini Guide

Keep extra Support Gem for later.

  1. Level 1 Skill Gem | Permafrost Bolts
    • Location: Clearfell Encampment
    • Source: Renly (quest)
  2. Level 1 Skill Gem | Frost Bomb
    • Location: Clearfell
    • Source: Abandoned Stash (drop)
  3. Level 2 Skill Gem | Fragmentation Rounds
    Elemental Armament IFragmentation Rounds
    • Location: Mud Burrow
    • Source: Renly (quest)
  4. Elemental Armament I Fragmentation Rounds
    • Location: Grelwood
    • Source: Areagnae (drop)
  5. Level 3 Skill Gem | Permafrost Bolts
    • Location: The Red Vale
    • Source: The Rusted King (drop)
  6. Ice Bite I Permafrost Bolts
    • Location: The Grim Tangle
    • Source: The Rotten Druid (drop)
  7. Concentrated Area Permafrost Bolts
    • Location: Tomb of the Consort
    • Source: Haunted Treasure (drop)
  8. Level 3 Skill Gem | Fragmentation Rounds
    • Location: Cemetery of the Eternals
    • Source: Lachlann
  9. Elemental Armament I Herald of Ice
    • Location: Hunting Grounds
    • Source: Treants
  10. Level 4 Skill Gem | Permafrost Bolts
    • Location: Hunting Grounds
    • Source: Ritual
  11. Level 4 Skill Gem | Fragmentation Rounds
    • Location: Ogham Farmlands
    • Source: Crop Circle
  12. Level 4 Spirit Gem | Herald of Ice
    • Location: Freythorns
    • Source: King in the Mist
  13. Level 5 Skill Gem | Permafrost Bolts
    • Location: Ogham Village
    • Source: Leitis (quest)
  14. Magnified Area I Herald of Ice
    • Location: Ogham Village
    • Source: Executioner (drop)
  15. Prolonged Duration I Freezing Mark (later in act 2)
    • Location: Manor Ramparts
    • Source: Gallow (drop)

₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿︵ᡣ𐭩˚‧˚☆*✩‧₊˚˚₊‧✩*☆˚‧˚ᡣ𐭩︵‿༻☆༺‿

Passive Tree

main:
123
123
set 1:
20
20
set 2:
20
20

Quest Rewards

Check which quests you’ve completed on your character
ClearfellBeira of the Rotten Pack
+10% to Cold Resistance
Hunting GroundsThe Crowbell
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
FreythornThe King in the Mists
+30 to Spirit
Ogham FarmlandsUna's Hut
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
Ogham ManorCandlemass, the Living Rite
+20 to maximum Life
KethKabala, Constrictor Queen
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
Valley of the TitansMedallion
30% increased Charm Charges gained
+1 Charm Slot
DesharFinal Letter
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
The Spires of DesharSisters of Garukhan
+10% to Lightning Resistance
Jungle RuinsMighty Silverfist
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
The Venom CryptsVenom Draught
30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
Jiquani's MachinariumBlackjaw, the Remnant
+10% to Fire Resistance
The Azak BogIgnagduk, the Bog Witch
+30 to Spirit
The Molten VaultThe Molten Vault
Reforging Bench
AggoratBlood Sacrifice
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
Journey's EndCaptain Hartlin
Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
Skill Gem(Lv 13)
Delirium Drop
Whakapanu IslandGreat White One
+30% increased Global Armour, Evasion and Energy Shield
Eye of HinekoraNavali's Rest
5% increased Maximum Mana
Halls of the DeadYama The White
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
Halls of the DeadTawhoa's Test
+5 to Dexterity
Abandoned PrisonGoddess of Justice
30% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
Halls of the DeadTasalio's Test
+5 to Intelligence
Halls of the DeadNgamahu's Test
+5 to Strength
Halls of the DeadTribal Medicine
+30% increased Global Armour, Evasion and Energy Shield
WolvenholdOswin, the Dread Warden
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
The Khari CrossingAkthi and Anundr
Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
The Khari CrossingMolten Shrine
5% increased Maximum Life
QimahTabana's Pillar
3% increased Movement Speed
Kriar VillageLythara, the Wayward Spear
+40 to Spirit
Howling CavesThe Abominable Yeti
Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Changelog

05/09 - added Crafting section in 1 Div Setup

04/09 - 0.5.5 update for League Starter

17/06 - Add 1 Div Budget setup

13/06 - Update as GGG revert the Cluster Grenade nerf

12/06 - Initial update - Patch 0.5.2 (with Cluster Grenade nerf)


Comments

45
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IronDagger17h ago

After switching to Endgame build, getting killing pretty often. Res is capped, 2.5k hp. No idea whats wrong. Whats the point of getting 15% of damage taken from mana before life for if we have no more mana with blood magic?

0
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StoneSun11h ago

How do I get blood magic? I’ve assigned the required From Nothing: Blood Magic, but I can’t get blood magic. Tell me please.

0
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BrightStorm2h ago

I think the idea in the endgame variant is that you're using Atalui's Bloodletting in Mortar Cannon instead of Magnified Area, so you dont need to actually use the Blood Magic node in the tree.


Also, I really think the Endgame tree design results in slower damage output, so enemies have more of a chance to actually hit you.


I ended up changing my passive tree back to the Mid-budget variant's but using the gear/gems from the Endgame variant's, and things feel VERY good.

0
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BrightStorm2h ago

Where are you seeing/getting this "15% of damage taken from mana before life", btw?

0
B
BoldFlower1d ago

How do I know if the rêverie snapshot worked ?

0
B
BrightStorm1d ago

Look at your "life recovery from flask" rate before popping reverie, pop rev, and take your map portal. Once in your map, cast your first totem (switches back to set 1) and check your "life recovery from flask" rate. You should see it doubled or more. Don't forget to pop it again before taking any abyssal depth or loathsome mire portal when you're in your map. If you forget, just pop it, unequip/re-equip your flask and it'll re-snapshot.

1
S
StoneSun1d ago

How do I get blood magic? I’ve assigned the required From Nothing: Blood Magic, but I can’t get blood magic. Tell me please.

0
B
BrightStorm2d ago

Loving this build! Just switched to the endgame variant @ 97.

Question though - how does From Nothing: Blood magic fit, exactly, in the endgame variant?

0
B
BrightStorm1d ago

So I've ran a couple of dozens maps and the endgame variant just doesn't feel right. Even with Paragon on amulet and full 30 ranks of cluster grenade and all the jewels...I feel like I am doing less damage? And my survivability doesnt even feel that great?

Also why are we recommending mana regen on amulet if we're not using mana on Mortar Cannon w/ Atalui's?

Like Albioza said...this endgame variant doesnt seem as 'fun' as the mid-budget - I just cant put my finger on "why".

1
R
Ryan_1_2_3_43d ago

Mortar Cannons have such a bad delay before shooting

0
A
Albioza4d ago

funny that I was playing mid-budget variant passives with end game gear and it was a blast without dying but after swapping to fully end game variant I started to die (I still have ~1650 life regen/s). I have all gems, fully taken your tree and it is way less fun for some reason (it also took around ~135 div on gems itself).

2
R
Runvus3d ago

I would recommend throwing up a POB to see if anyone else can see something that might have been missed. I am running the endgame without a few of the gems, and I am having no issues. The regen on ES and life at the same time is pretty tough to die unless you eat a huge onehit, which would have killed you on mid-budget also. Having 2400hp and 1700ES that regens at about 1300/s is pretty tough to chip down fast.

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purplegiant124d ago

in the split jewel why do u have it on the templar side and where is the templar side or can i do the sorc side


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--Syberio--4d ago

Do you need a weapon/shield or anything in the second set to do the snapshot?

0
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Baris5d ago

İ buy nothing form diamond blood magic area but i dont open blood magic skill requetment not ment A warning appears.

0

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