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PoE Build

Cold Convert Ice Shot of Penetration Warden

Starter

End Game

3.28 Mirage

Ranger

Warden

By snoobae85

Updated on Mar 20, 2026

Mar 20, 2026

Path of Building Code

Build Overview

SUMMARY:

This build is my league starter of choice for patch 3.28, "Mirage." It already includes fully fleshed out mid-endgame and late-endgame variants. The guide will continue to be updated as new information becomes available that enhances the build in some way.

This particular bow variant combines the Warden's Tinctures and Ailments tech with a couple of niche items at the start to gain far better clear and damage beyond what's usually accessible, while also fast-tracking into Cold Convert Tornado Shot, one of the strongest blaster builds in the game. Check out the video guide for a quick overview on how the build works.

CAMPAIGN REWARDS & PANTHEON:

Bandits: Kill All (Kraiten for leveling)
Major God: Soul of Arakaali (Brine-King for leveling)
Minor God: Soul of Abberath (Ralakesh for leveling)

REGEX:

"!elo|kes|om$|f el|k at|lm|f ph"

Strengths and Weaknesses

Flexible gearing throughout progression
Extremely high clear and damage for its budget
Can break into tier 17s earlier than expected
Fast-tracks into Cold Convert Tornado Shot

Several main skill changes throughout progression
Glass cannon with high reliance on freeze
Single-arrow targeting required
Toggling Tinctures required

Build Variants

Campaign Start - Galvanic Arrow

Early Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Campaign Progression - Rain of Arrows

Late Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Early Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Atlas Progression - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Late Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Early Endgame - Ice Shot of Penetrating

Early Endgame - Tornado Shot Spinehail Swap

Mid Endgame - Tornado Shot Headhunter Swap

Late Endgame - Tornado Shot Ricochet Swap

This is the official league starter build variant of the guide. Ice Shot of Penetration gets swapped in for Elemental Hit of the Spectrum only after acquiring Fury Valve and Heatshiver. The swap to Tinctures is also made with the inclusion of Bloodsoaked Blade alongside several other correlating passives on the tree.

Equipment

Campaign Start - Galvanic Arrow

Early Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Campaign Progression - Rain of Arrows

Late Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Early Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Atlas Progression - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Late Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Early Endgame - Ice Shot of Penetrating

Early Endgame - Tornado Shot Spinehail Swap

Mid Endgame - Tornado Shot Headhunter Swap

Late Endgame - Tornado Shot Ricochet Swap

CRAFTING GUIDE:

An all encompasing crafting guide for this build can be found here.

LINKS:

A pre-linked 6-linked base waiting to be crafted will likely be the most optimal approach at this gear threshold.

STAT PRIORITY:

Gearing at this stage can be pretty tight when working on 4-modded rare gear and items like Death Rush that offer little in the way of core stats. On the other hand, this leaves plenty of room to reprioritize rarity and go the magic find route. Sprinkling rarity rolls in what gear already exists and dropping Heatshiver for a proper crafted rarity helmet can net well over 200% increased rarity of items found across all gear.

Either way the main focus should be on hitting suppress and elemental resistance cap (at least with the Bismuth flask active). Get maximum life on all eligible rare gear. Shoot for a minimum of 500 physical DPS on the bow with a flat cold damage roll if possible.

UNIQUES:

Fury Valve is absolutely mandatory in order to run Ice Shot of Penetration. Heatshiver is borderline mandatory as well. Ahuana's Bite is extremely accessible for how much value it brings. The remaining unique gear are mainly just the best budget blasting options for their slots, but aren't particularly needed otherwise.

Passive Tree

Campaign Start - Galvanic Arrow

Early Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Campaign Progression - Rain of Arrows

Late Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Early Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Atlas Progression - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Late Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Early Endgame - Ice Shot of Penetrating

Early Endgame - Tornado Shot Spinehail Swap

Mid Endgame - Tornado Shot Headhunter Swap

Late Endgame - Tornado Shot Ricochet Swap

main:

123

ascendancy:

Keystones

Bloodsoaked Blade

Tinctures inflict Weeping Wounds instead of Mana Burn Effects that interact with Mana Burn interact with Weeping Wounds instead

Masteries

Bow Mastery (2)

+100 to Accuracy Rating per Green Socket on Equipped Bow

Increases and Reductions to Projectile Speed also apply to Damage with Bows

Blind Mastery (1)

60% increased Critical Strike Chance against Blinded Enemies

Critical Mastery (1)

50% increased Effect of non-Damaging Ailments you inflict with Critical Strikes

Evasion Mastery (1)

+15% chance to Suppress Spell Damage if Equipped Helmet, Body Armour, Gloves, and Boots all have Evasion Rating

Mark Mastery (1)

10% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge when you Hit your Marked Enemy

Leech Mastery (1)

5% of Leech is Instant

Accuracy Mastery (1)

Dexterity's Accuracy Bonus instead grants +3 to Accuracy Rating per Dexterity

Mana Mastery (1)

12% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Skills

Prior to reaching this stage in the build, the swap from Elemental Hit of the Spectrum to Ice Shot of Penetration must take place. The primary requirements for this are gear-related, but the passive tree endures a major shift at the same time. Prior to being high enough level, pathing to the jewel slot(s) can be delayed, as well as pathing towards the top in the direction of Assassination and Elemental Focus.

Skills

Campaign Start - Galvanic Arrow

Early Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Campaign Progression - Rain of Arrows

Late Campaign - Rain of Arrows

Early Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Atlas Progression - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Late Atlas - Elemental Hit of the Spectrum

Early Endgame - Ice Shot of Penetrating

Early Endgame - Tornado Shot Spinehail Swap

Mid Endgame - Tornado Shot Headhunter Swap

Late Endgame - Tornado Shot Ricochet Swap

New Item

Assassin's Garb

Ice Shot of Penetration

Trinity

Inspiration

Increased Critical Damage

Elemental Damage with Attacks

Returning Projectiles

New Item

Spine Bow

Manaforged Arrows

Storm Rain of the Conduit

Cast On Critical Strike

Tornado

Sniper's Mark

Flame Wall

Heatshiver

Leather Hood

Herald of Ice

Hatred

Vaal Haste

Flame Dash

New Item

Slink Gloves

Manaforged Arrows

Ensnaring Arrow

Bonechill

Power Charge On Critical

New Item

Slink Boots

Manaforged Arrows

Lightning Arrow

Innervate

Overcharge

MIRAGE MECHANIC:

The Mirage league mechanic offers additional player power in the form of a random corrupted level 1 support enchantments on the primary gem link. You can either trade for a finished gem or target a random (and hopefully optimal) 7th support link by using a Coin of Knowledge(blue), Coin of Power(red), or Coin of Skill(green).

With the budget of the build at this stage, it's not expected to pursue this mechanic. The following are good options in case you find a cheap option and or want to use it anyway:

Hypothermia Support
Momentum Support
Added Cold Damage Support
Faster Attacks Support
Mirage Archer Support

ROTATION:

This is a one-button rotation build, self-cast Ice Shot of Penetration, with Flame Dash as an option for quick on-demand repositioning. Vaal Haste and both Tinctures can be toggled for added burst damage when needed. All remaining skills and flasks are either automated or always turned on.

How it Plays

At its core, this build plays very much like your conventional elemental hit-based bow build with outstanding clear and even better single-target damage thanks to all the power the Warden ascendancy has to offer. A single Ice Shot of Penetration arrow fires into a pack of enemies, splitting off multiple times AoEing all targets in its path, only to return and pierce through any remaining foes that survive the initial blast. Several automated manaforged links bring about added utility further boosting the main skill's damage. Toggle on Tinctures to quickly dispatch bosses and other dangerous foes otherwise.

Video Guide

Stats

Stats are displayed for the "Early Endgame - Ice Shot of Penetrating" Variant only

Character

Attributes

122 /

309 /

131

Movement Speed

246%

Pantheon Major

Arakaali

Pantheon Minor

Abberath

Charges

Endurance Charges

Frenzy Charges

Power Charges

Defensive

Life

3,225

Energy Shield

Mana

902

Armour

Evasion Rating

6,004

Block

Resistances

75% /

-2%

Simulated

Effective Health Pool

11K

Max Hit

4.1K /

15K /

Skill DPS Estimation

Ice Shot of Penetration

11M

1. Path of Building Code 2. Build Overview SUMMARY: CAMPAIGN REWARDS & PANTHEON: REGEX:3. Strengths and Weaknesses 4. Build Variants 5. Equipment 6. Passive Tree 7. Skills 8. How it Plays

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