[0.4] Invoker League Starter: Act 1 to Maps

This is my Act 1 to maps levelling route for Invoker Monk in 0.4 (The Last of the Druids / Fate of the Vaal).

The goal is simple: fast, safe, low-effort campaign clear using the classic Quarterstaff → Ice Strike / Tempest Flurry path. It scales cleanly, doesn’t require weapon swapping, and doesn’t rely on weird “one drop or the build dies” nonsense.

Then when we get to level 52, we can branch into Flicker Strike and watch the remainder of the campaign pass by.

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0.4 Notes (Monk Changes)

• Boss Anti-Burst is now a thing: bosses take reduced damage right after they become active/aggro; it tapers down and falls off faster if they move.
• So your opener won’t always delete instantly — this guide focuses on consistent DPS loops that still melt bosses after the first few seconds
• Hollow Palm nerf: Hollow Palm Technique now gives 1% more attack speed per 75 item evasion (was per 25). It’s still usable, but it’s no longer the default “free win” while levelling unless your evasion gear is cracked.
• Invoker QoL/buffs in 0.4: The Soul Springs Eternal now also improves meta Spirit efficiency — makes early Spirit planning less miserable, this means we can focus on our map build earlier on to hopefully get a jumpstart on low end maps.
• Monk section got new Attack AoE clusters — so early clear can feel way smoother if you path through them. We don't know what these are like so this could change and we add them if they are good. According to leaks, they are next to Spell Haste on the passive tree.

Mapping

1. Hit a few enemies with Whirling Assault

2. Use Reaper's Invocation activate Profane Ritual and get a power charge

3. Activate Charged Staff

4. Press Flicker Strike the flick around the map while holding Reaper's Invocation skill

5. Reaper's Invocation will be available again, press the skill to proc Profane Ritual for more power charges allowing you to Flicker Strike again.

6. If you have Cast on Critical, this will do it for you automatically.

7. When you build up 20 combo for Mantra of Destruction, activate for max charges again.

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Bossing

1. Hit the boss with Whirling Assault to generate combo for Mantra of Destruction

2. Use Mantra of Destruction to gain power charges

3. Activate Charged Staff

4. Repeat steps 1 and 2

5. Flicker Strike that thing or use Falling Thunder for huge damage!

Generating Power Charges - Mantra of Destruction or HoC

Normally, we run either Hand of Chayula or Shattering Palm with Ailith's Chimes and Charge Profusion II to generate charges based on combo build up from Culmination II.

Every time you hit, you build combo in Shattering Palm or Hand of Chayula, when used these will give you a power charge from Ailith's Chimes.

This time we use Mantra of Destruction to generate charges.

In order for it to work, it needs to be added in this order:

1. Socket Delayed Gratification into Mantra of Destruction
2. Socket Ailith's Chimes
3. Socket Charge Profusion II

This will allow you to use Mantra of Destruction when it reaches 20 combo to generate max charges instantly, Delayed Gratification allows you to generate power charges again after 10s. We use Whirling Assault as this generates combo insanely fast!

Also, don't forget to use Reaper's Invocation with Profane Ritual for more charge regen.

Generating Power Charges - Reapers Invocation or CoC

Reaper's Invocation works off melee hits, so every time you use Flicker Strike, you will have enough energy to use Reaper's Invocation, this will activate Profane Ritual and get power charges from the dead corpses.

Cast on Critical is the same as Reaper's Invocation but it is based on crit. Every time you crit, you generate energy, this will then get Cast on Critical to proc automatically and cast Profane Ritual to consume the corpses to gain power charges.

Due to the changes with the The Soul Springs Eternal, we plan to take multiple meta gems to make Invoker a screen clearing machine. This involves the use of Cast on Critical, Cast on Elemental Ailment & Blasphemy.

So far, I have tested in 0.3, Cast on Critical with Comet, Frost Wall, Frozen Locus & Snap, all have huge potential, my favourite being Frost Wall & Snap

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Armour Explosion

A lot of people use Herald of Thunder & Herald of Ice to armour explode and make them 'chain'. Personally, I found that armour explosion seemed to affect how much and how far Flicker Strike went.

I didn't like that idea, so instead I made Herald of Thunder go BANG!

In order for this to work, you need the following skills:

• Herald of Thunder
• Ambush
• Armour Explosion
• Armour Break III
• Uruk's Smelting
• Uul-Netol's Embrace

This works by having some chaos damage, so its good to take Esh's Radiance on charged staff.

This tech is will be most effective late into endgame due to the cost of the support gems and bosses they drop from, so for the meantime, stick to Herald of Thunder & Herald of Ash for some cool blue and red explosions.

17.12.25 - Updated Early Maps guide to reflect changes to the build.

24.12.25 - Updated T15 Maps and early Maps to reflect Power Charge regeneration and address mana issues.