In the ever-evolving world of Path of Exile, it’s not uncommon for players to experiment with different build ideas. Today, we’ll discuss an unfinished yet intriguing concept – the Soul Eater Viper Strike build. While this build is still a work in progress, it might inspire players looking to create their unique Path of Exile experience.

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/UH5XB01E92Gl

The Soul Eater Concept:
The initial idea behind this build was to create a character centred around Soul Eater, a mechanic that grants immense power but comes with its own set of challenges. The major concern was dealing with Temporal Chains, a debuff that extends the duration of buffs and ailments, potentially making Soul Eater difficult to maintain. To counteract this, the build incorporated increased Flask Effect Duration modifiers.

Flask Effect Duration Dilemma:
One of the core mechanics of this build was stacking Flask Effect Duration through various sources, such as unique items and passive skills. However, acquiring these modifiers turned out to be prohibitively expensive, with each Flask Effect Duration mod costing 40 Exalted Orbs. As a result, the initial approach became unsustainable.

Poison Mechanics and Issues:
The build revolved around utilizing Viper Strike to apply poison damage to enemies. While poison can be a potent damage over time effect, it didn’t synergize well with Soul Eater’s desire for immediate damage. Poison damage requires time to ramp up, and in practice, it didn’t feel satisfying.

Lack of Defenses:
Another major drawback of this build was its lack of defenses. It relied solely on the Finesse of Destiny for defensive capabilities, leaving the character vulnerable to powerful enemies and bosses. Survivability should always be a priority in Path of Exile builds.

Cluster Jewels and Dexterity:
The intention was to incorporate Medium Cluster Jewels into the build for Flask Effect Duration. However, this approach could also become expensive. Additionally, allocating points on the passive skill tree presented challenges, as traveling too far from the Pathfinder starting area meant losing essential attributes like dexterity. The Water’s Stale unique Jewel, which grants 100% increased Effect of Flasks, added further complexity to the build’s expenses.

Snapshotting and Flask Management:
Managing the Soul Eater mechanic proved to be tricky. Soul Eater duration is determined by the first flask used, and using another flask, even a healing flask, would reset the Soul Eater duration while removing acquired souls. This made effective flask management a critical skill for playing this build.

Leaving the Project Open:
Ultimately, this Soul Eater Viper Strike build remained unfinished and somewhat unsatisfying to play. While there were several ideas for improvement, such as stacking melee strike range and increasing defenses, the build reached a point where it needed significant work, and the direction was unclear.

Conclusion:
In the world of Path of Exile, not every experimental build will find success. The Soul Eater Viper Strike build, while intriguing in concept, faced challenges related to flask management, poison mechanics, and lack of defenses. For those who still wish to explore this concept or are inspired by its potential, we’ve left the door open to further development.