Path Of Exile Resource #15 - Skyforth Unique Item Review

Skyforth in Path Of Exile is a unique pair of sorcerer boots that when equipped grants the player up to 120 increased mana points, 30 percent increased movement speed, 25 percent chance to gain a power charge on critical strike, 6 percent reduced mana reserved, the unique modifier "you have no life regeneration", and the unique modifier "stun threshold is based on 500% of your mana instead of life". This unique has a maximum energy shield rating of 77 if all armorer's scraps have been applied to the unique. 3d art for the Skyforth unique was added in June of 2016. This unique has not changed since it's original introduction into the game in December of 2015.

Item Usefulness Information - This unique is best suited for any character builds that fully utilize the potential of Chaos Inoculation, Ghost Reaver and Vaal Pact in their build setups. The unique modifiers on this unique make it so it is the best in slot item for character builds that utilize the specifically mentioned keystone passive skills. The up to 120 increased mana points granted by the unique is beneficial towards any character builds that have a low mana supply or have attack skills that cost a large amount of mana per use. This unique modifier is generally more useful towards spell based character builds than melee or range based character builds. The 30 percent increased movement speed is useful towards builds that cannot use whirling blades as their main movement skill in their build setup and will mainly walk around to get from area to area. The 25 percent chance to gain a power charge on critical strike granted by the unique is most beneficial towards builds that fully utilize power charges but need an easy way to generate them. Most builds that fully utilize the potential of power charges are spell based character builds and range based character builds, however since this unique is generally more beneficial towards spell based character builds, it is more effective to use it on those builds. On spell based character builds, the best unique item to use in conjunction with the Skyforth unique is the Void Battery unique. This is due to the fact that the Skyforth unique saves a gem link by not needing to link a power charge on critical strike support gem in your build setup. The Void Battery unique primarily scales spell damage through attaining power charges, and since the Skyforth unique grants an easy way to generate power charges, you can add another, more effective damage support gem to fully maximize the damage on your build. The 6 percent reduced mana reserved is great for builds that fully utilize auras, whether defensive or offensive, and want to have as many of them as possible in their builds. The unique modifier "you have no life regeneration" is the only downside to equipping this item, however since most builds that utilize this item to it's fullest extent spec into Chaos Inoculation, Ghost Reaver and Vaal Pact, this downside is negligible. The final unique modifier "stun threshold is based on 500% of your mana instead of life" is great for builds that scale energy shield as their primary source of defense against enemies, since energy shield based builds have trouble with enemy stuns. The main way most energy shield based builds have dealt with this problem was through utilizing the Eye Of Chayula unique amulet, which grants the unique modifier "cannot be stunned". However, equipping the Skyforth unique saves us from having to utilize the sub optimal for energy shield based builds Eye Of Chayula unique, meaning that in it's place you can use any other amulet you want, whether it be a defensive or offensive for your build.
You cannot use this unique in the early stages of the game, since it's level requirement is level 67. In the late stages of the game, this unique is a great defensive and offensive item due to it's unique modifiers, and is likely the best in slot item for energy shield based builds currently.

Informative Links -
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Skyforth - additional information regarding the Skyforth unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Chaos_Inoculation - additional information regarding the Chaos Inoculation keystone passive skill
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Ghost_Reaver - additional information regarding the Ghost Reaver keystone passive skill
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Vaal_Pact - additional information regarding the Vaal Pact keystone passive skill
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Whirling_Blades - additional information regarding the Whirling Blades movement skill gem
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Void_Battery - additional information regarding the Void Battery unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Eye_of_Chayula - additional information regarding the Eye Of Chayula unique

Path Of Exile Resource #14 - Rat's Nest Unique Item Review

Rat's Nest in Path Of Exile is a unique ursine pelt that when equipped grants the player 15 percent increased attack speed, up to 75 percent increased global critical strike chance, 150 percent increased evasion rating, up to 25 percent increased rarity of items found, 10 percent increased movement speed, and 10 percent reduced character size. This unique has a maximum evasion rating of 648 if all armorer's scraps have been applied to the unique. 3d art for the Rat's Nest unique was added in June of 2016. This unique has changed since it's original introduction into the game in April of 2013.

Item Usefulness Information - This unique is best suited for range based character builds and melee based character builds due to its unique modifiers. The 15 percent increased attack speed is great for range and melee based characters since most range and melee based attack skills are enhanced by attack speed and not cast speed. The increased attack speed granted by the unique can also benefit spell based character builds that utilize whirling blades in their setup, since whirling blades becomes more effective with increased attack speed. The 75 percent increased global critical strike chance is best for range based character builds since most range based builds spec into critical strike nodes on the passive skill tree to enhance their damage output. Since most melee builds utilize Resolute Technique on the passive skill tree, and since there aren't many great easy to obtain critical strike nodes in most melee characters passive skill trees, the increased global critical strike chance that the unique provides isn't good in most cases for melee based character builds. The 150 percent increased evasion rating is great for range builds that scale evasion as their main source of defense against enemies, as well as any builds that utilize Iron Reflexes in their setup. The up to 25 percent increased rarity of items found is a good passive boost to players who want their characters to find more rare items while playing. The 10 percent increased movement speed is best for range based character builds since moving is the primary way range based builds can get around. Blink arrow and Phase Run, which are the only movement skills that bow users can utilize, have cooldowns, and as such means that scaling movement speed as your primary way of moving around is best. The 10 percent increased movement speed also helps your build clear quicker if you are a range based build that has a good damage output beforehand, since it will make the time it takes to kill a pack of enemies and run to the next pack less. The 10 percent increased movement speed also can help your survivability, since it means you can dodge enemies attacks easier by moving out of the way. The 10 percent increased movement speed is not as great for melee based characters builds or spell based character builds, since whirling blades is by far the best movement skill to utilize if your build can utilize it, which most melee and spell based character builds can. The 10 percent reduced character size is negligible, and does not provide a boost to your character. You cannot use this unique in the early stages of the game, since it's level requirement is level 55. In the late stages of the game, this unique is great for range and melee based builds that want to greatly increase their damage output, want to have increased clear speed, and want to have increased survivability.

Informative Links -
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Rat%27s_Nest - additional information regarding the Rat's Nest unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Whirling_Blades - additional information regarding the Whirling Blades movement skill gem
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Resolute_Technique - additional information regarding the Resolute Technique keystone passive skill
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Iron_Reflexes - additional information regarding the Iron Reflexes keystone passive skill
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Blink_Arrow - additional information regarding the Blink Arrow movement skill gem
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Phase_Run - additional information regarding the Phase Run movement skill gem

Path Of Exile Resource #13 - Headhunter Unique Item Review

Headhunter in Path Of Exile is a unique leather belt that when equipped grants the player up to 55 additional points of strength, up to 55 additional points of dexterity, up to 60 increased maximum life, up to 30 percent increased damage against rare monsters, and the unique ability modifier, "when you kill a rare monster, you gain its mods for 20 seconds". The unique also has the leather belt implicit of granting up to 40 increased maximum life, which means that in total you can receive up to 100 increased maximum life alone from this unique. This unique has not changed since it's original introduction into the game in October of 2013.

Item Usefulness Information - This unique can be used in most builds, as it is largely effective in most builds and has no requirements other than being at least level 40. The reason why it is effective in most builds is due to the unique modifiers it has, these modifiers are very broad and effective at empowering most builds through game content. The up to 55 additional points of strength granted by the unique is useful for any characters that lack strength in their builds, but may need some for fulfilling the attribute requirements needed to equip or fully utilize a specific item. The up to 55 additional points of dexterity granted by the unique has a similar implication to the one stated above. The up to 100 increased maximum life granted as a modifier and from the implicit is useful for any character builds that scale life as their primary source of defense against enemies. If your build utilizes Chaos Inoculation, this modifier as well as the implicit of the unique will not affect you. The up to 30 percent increased damage against rare monsters is useful for most builds, since in general it will make your overall clear speed quicker, and it will enhance the effect of the last modifier on the unique. The modifier helps you to gain mods quicker, as the last unique modifier grants you the ability "when you kill a rare monster, you gain its mods for 20 seconds" and will make your character stronger in less time, making it a great synergistic modifier to enhance the power of the unique. The last unique modifier on the belt "when you kill a rare monster, you gain its mods for 20 seconds" is incredibly powerful, since there is no limit to how many rares you can kill as well as how many mods you can obtain. This unique modifier alone makes the unique a progressive item type, since it might take a few kills over a period of time to see a noticeable difference in your clear speed and defenses. Even if your build already has good clear speed, defenses, or both, by equipping this belt it will make your clear speed, defenses, or both even better. 20 seconds, while it may not seem to be a long stretch of time, is actually very long if your build has a naturally quick play style and has good clear speed. In the early stages of the game, as well as the late stages of the game, this unique is helpful due to it's ability to increase your survivability, your clear speed, as well granting you additional attributes which can help you meet the attribute requirements needed to equip or fully utilize a specific item if needed.

Informative Links -
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Headhunter - additional information regarding the Headhunter unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Attribute - additional information regarding the Attribute mechanic
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Chaos_Inoculation - additional information regarding the Chaos Inoculation keystone passive skill

Path Of Exile Resource #12 - Alpha's Howl Unique Item Review

Alpha's Howl in Path Of Exile is a unique sinner tricorne that when equipped grants the player up to 100 percent increased evasion rating, up to 30 percent cold resistance, 25 percent chance to avoid being chilled, a cannot be frozen modifier, and 8 percent reduced mana reserved. The item also has a +2 to socketed aura gems modifier, meaning that any auras you cast while the aura gems are in the unique will be two levels higher. 3d art for the Alpha's Howl unique was added in February of 2015. This unique has not changed since it's original introduction into the game in April of 2013.

Item Usefulness Information - This unique is best for range based characters and spell based characters who utilize many auras and curses in their builds, due to the 8 percent reduced mana reserved modifier that the helmet grants. This modifier if enhanced by passive modifiers on the skill tree will allow the player to fit in more auras and curses as they please. The up to 100 percent increased evasion rating granted is better for range characters or characters that utilize iron reflexes in their build. The up to 30 percent cold resistance granted is beneficial towards all character classes. The 25 percent chance to avoid being chilled modifier is mostly negligible, however in some cases it can be helpful such as when opening a strongbox with the frigid modifier, which means that the strongbox will cast ice nova, or in maps rolled with the chilled ground modifier. The cannot be frozen modifier is very useful in many situations and will save you a flask slot or flask modifier, this modifier makes you immune to the arctic modifier on strongboxes and monsters that can freeze you with high amounts of critical strike chance and cold damage. The +2 to socketed aura gems modifier is useful for builds that utilize many auras and curses in their builds, as auras and curses do increase in effectiveness the higher their level is. Curses linked to the blasphemy support gem do count as an aura and therefore are affected by the +2 to socketed aura gems modifier granted by the unique. This unique is best used in conjunction with passive skill points and ascendancy points found on certain ascendancy classes that reduce mana reservation, as well as uniques that reduce mana reservation, such as Conqueror's Efficiency, and an enlighten gem, which has the function of applying a mana multiplier less than 100 percent. This is multiplicative with the effects of reduced mana reservation modifiers, making the reduced mana reservation modifiers more effective the higher the level of the enlighten gem. You cannot use this unique in the early stages of the game, since it's level requirement is level 64. In the late stages of the game, this unique is best when utilizing many auras and curses, saves you a flask or flask modifier with the cannot be frozen modifier, grants a moderate amount of cold resistance, which is useful towards any character build, and grants a moderate amount of evasion rating, which is useful for most range characters.

Informative Links -
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Alpha%27s_Howl - additional information regarding the Alpha's Howl unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Aura - additional information regarding the Aura mechanic
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Enlighten_Support - additional information regarding the Enlighten support gem
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Conqueror%27s_Efficiency - additional information regarding the Conqueror's Efficiency unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Iron_Reflexes - additional information regarding the Iron Reflexes keystone passive skill
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Strongbox - additional information regarding the Strongbox mechanic

Path Of Exile Resource #11 - Drillneck Unique Item Review

Drillneck in Path Of Exile is a unique penetrating arrow quiver that when equipped grants the player 10 percent chance of your arrows piercing enemies, up to 12 percent increased attack speed, +350 points towards your evasion rating, up to 50 points towards maximum life, up to 19-24 physical damage to attacks with bows, and projectile damage is increased by arrow pierce chance. 3d art for the Drillneck unique was added in April of 2014. This unique has not changed since it's original introduction into the game in March of 2014.

Item Usefulness Information - This unique is best suited for ranged characters who fully utilize the pierce passives skills on the skill tree as well as the pierce support gem in their main damage skill setup. With the right ranged based character build, using Drillneck can more than double your damage. The most effective character class to choose when building around this item is the ranger, since the ranger has the most effective skill nodes near her in the skill tree. The most effective offensive ascendancy class to choose while being a ranger is the Deadeye, since Deadeye has many notables that have great synergy with Drillneck. The most effective Deadeye notable to spec into to fully utilize Drillneck is Powerful Precision. Powerful Precision states that your projectiles have 100 percent additional chance to Pierce targets at the start of their movement, losing this chance as the projectile travels further, as well as projectile critical strike chance is increased by arrow pierce chance. This means that while equipping Drillneck, as well as having 100 percent pierce chance through the pierce support gem and the correct skill nodes on the passive tree, you will not only double your damage, but your critical strike chance will greatly improve. Drillneck is the best in slot damage enhancing quiver for any build that fully utilizes pierce. The up to 12 percent increased attack speed is great for many bow skills and will overall make you do more damage per second, as well as give you more time to react to your environment as your attack animation will be shorter. The added evasion granted by the unique is great for range builds that primarily utilizes evasion for defense against enemies. Range builds that utilize the iron reflexes keystone passive skill gain an armor boost instead of an evasion boost. The up to 50 points towards maximum life granted by the unique is a nice boost towards life based range character builds. The up to 14-24 added physical damage to attacks with bows is large and significant for builds that scale large amounts of physical damage to utilize in their attacks. In the early stages of the game, this unique is useful due to its high amounts of added damage, which can increase clearing speed while progressing to the end game. In the late stages of the game, this unique is useful due to granting an increased amount of physical damage and attack speed, an increased amount of overall damage if you are utilizing pierce in your character build, and overall increased survivability against enemies and the environment.

Informative Links -
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Drillneck - additional information regarding the Drillneck unique
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Deadeye - additional information regarding the Deadeye ascendancy class
http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Iron_Reflexes - additional information regarding the Iron Reflexes keystone passive skill