PoE Builds 3.19: Eye of Winter Miner Inquisitor Build

TL;DR

  • Inquisitor Eye of Winter mines deliver exceptional boss damage through projectile shard bursts
  • Early game focuses on lightning damage with Arc before transitioning to cold damage at level 68
  • Key unique items include Heatshiver, Annihilating Light, and Skin of the Lords
  • Mana management is critical – use specific support gems and gear to sustain casting
  • Defensive strategy relies on kiting and positioning due to low inherent survivability

Eye of Winter Miner Inquisitor Build pic

The Eye of Winter Miner Inquisitor transforms the traditional trap and mine archetype typically associated with Saboteur characters. This innovative approach utilizes mines that deploy slow-moving projectiles capable of tracking and eliminating targets autonomously. Your character maintains mobility while the deployed ordnance handles combat duties, creating a dynamic run-and-gun experience reminiscent of Ball Lightning mechanics but with enhanced burst potential.

Budget – Medium investment required for optimal performance

Defenses – Minimal inherent protection necessitates strategic positioning

Damage to Bosses – Exceptional single-target elimination capabilities

AoE Damage – Superior area coverage through projectile fragmentation mechanics

Gameplay Basic Mechanics

Strategic positioning forms the cornerstone of this build’s combat methodology. You’ll deploy explosive charges while maintaining distance from hostile forces, allowing the autonomous projectiles to execute their destructive sequences. The combat rhythm emphasizes constant movement combined with precise mine placement timing. During early progression phases, consider substituting certain support gems to amplify projectile velocity and area coverage for accelerated map completion and experience acquisition.

Build Advantages and Limitations

Key Strengths

● Projectile impacts inflict freeze status on all affected targets while delivering substantial damage output

● Ignite supplementation dramatically improves clear speed through chain reaction detonations

● Exceptional cost-to-performance ratio during leveling phases against standard enemy concentrations

● Mine deployment allows simultaneous movement and damage application, optimizing action economy

● Final projectile phase unleashes additional shard waves that significantly amplify single-target damage

Notable Challenges

● Equipment costs escalate substantially during endgame optimization phases

● Resource management becomes critical without proper gear affixes, potentially disrupting combat flow

● Defensive limitations require consistent positional awareness and kiting proficiency

● Projectile speed management requires careful gem selection to optimize damage application frequency

The Templar ascendancy provides exceptional synergy for this specialized playstyle, offering immediate access to numerous passive nodes that enhance lightning damage output. These early investments remain valuable throughout your character’s development, as they form the foundation for subsequent Cluster Jewel integration. Combining life regeneration passives with elemental damage amplification creates a robust foundation capable of reaching yellow-tier maps efficiently. The pivotal transition occurs at level 68 when you can implement The Annihilating Light and refocus toward cold damage specialization while maintaining at least two mine cluster allocations.

Important Skill Gems Setups

Early progression prioritizes lightning-based spellcasting augmented by mana sustainability enhancements. Proper gem linking sequences dramatically improve both damage output and resource management during the critical leveling phase.

Arc Skill Gems Configuration

● Arc – Primary lightning spell that chains between multiple targets automatically

● Added Lightning Damage Support – Directly amplifies the base damage of your Arc spell gem

● Inspiration Support – Reduces mana expenditure while providing critical strike chance and elemental damage bonuses

● Arcane Surge Support – Strengthens your Arcane Surge buff effect, boosting both damage output and mana regeneration rates

● Spell Echo Support – Enables spell repetition, significantly increasing casting velocity

Mana Reservation Skill Gems Arrangement

● Wrath – Substantially increases your spell damage potential through aura effects

● Purity of Elements – Significantly boosts your elemental resistance values for improved survivability

● Clarity – Enhances mana regeneration capacity for sustained spellcasting

Supplementary Skill Gems

Conductivity – Applies a hex to enemies that reduces their lightning resistance values

Essential Passive Tree Priorities

● Spell Damage amplification nodes for direct output increases

● Lightning Damage specialization clusters to leverage elemental focus

● Cast Speed improvements to optimize damage application frequency

● Maximum Life enhancements to compensate for defensive limitations

● Mana Reservation Efficiency nodes to enable additional aura utilization

Optimal Early Game Equipment Selection

These gear recommendations provide exceptional starting power for character progression:

● Le Heup of All – Ring – Provides comprehensive defensive and offensive bonuses including elemental resistance values

● Goldrim – Helmet – Premier headgear option for maximizing resistance caps during leveling

● Praxis – Rings – Exceptional early game rings due to their maximum mana and mana regeneration statistics

● Lifesprig – Wand – Ideal starting weapon for spellcasting characters, usable from level one with spell damage and cast speed enhancements

● Atziri’s Foible – Amulet – Additional mana management support, particularly beneficial when utilizing Tabula Rasa body armor

● Tabula Rasa – Armor – Optimal armor selection for all characters during leveling progression thanks to its six-linked socket configuration

Achieving maximum build potential requires implementing these specialized configurations that optimize both damage output and utility functions. While most components are essential, certain elements allow customization based on personal preference and playstyle adaptation.

Vital Skill Gems and Links

The majority of these gem arrangements are crucial, though some flexibility exists for personalization according to individual preferences.

Eye of Winter Skill Gems Configuration for Maximum Damage

● Eye of Winter – Augments your mine projectiles while generating additional shard waves upon completion of their firing sequence

● Empower – Elevates the maximum level capacity of your Eye of Winter gem

● Trap and Mine Damage Support – Boosts mine damage by approximately 50% while decreasing projectile velocity

● Blastchain Mine Support – Converts Eye of Winter into a mine-cast skill, amplifying damage with each successive detonation

● Swift Assembly Support – Although it reduces individual mine damage, it enables deployment of additional mines simultaneously

● Slower Projectiles Support – Reduced projectile speed increases the likelihood of multiple damage applications per projectile, significantly enhancing damage potential

Arcanist Brand Skill Gems Arrangement for Utility Functions

● Arcanist Brand – This specialized gem automatically casts all linked spells each second during combat or when attached to enemy targets

● Sniper’s Mark – Amplifies your damage output against marked targets through curse amplification

● Flame Wall – Enhances projectile damage after they traverse the fiery barrier

● Bear Trap – Increases vulnerability to mine damage while immobilizing enemies for concentrated damage application

Vitality Skill Gems Configuration for Utility Enhancement

● Vitality – Increases maximum life capacity and regeneration rates, essential for Righteous Fire degeneration management

● Arrogance Support – Modifies Vitality to reserve from your life pool instead of mana resources

Zealotry Skill Gems Arrangement for Utility Optimization

● Zealotry – Augments critical strike probability, delivering escalating damage with successive critical hits

● Divine Blessing Support – Enables single-cast Zealotry activation using mana without permanent reservation

● Inspiration Support – Reduces overall mana expenditure for sustained casting capability

Mana-reservation Skill Gems Configuration for Utility Spells

● Hatred – Provides substantial cold damage amplification through aura effects

● Purity of Elements – Strengthens elemental resistance values, offering defensive reprieve

● Summon Skitterbots – These automated units can trigger your mines and reset their arming mechanisms, increasing damage output while applying chill and shock effects to enemies

● Enlighten Support – Improves mana efficiency for sustained aura maintenance

Endgame Equipment Configuration

These equipment selections represent the optimal gear for maximizing build performance:

● Heatshiver – Helmet – Ideal for this build since projectiles freeze targets, and this helmet amplifies damage against frozen enemies. Ensure you apply the Eye of Winter enchantment to this headpiece.

● The Annihilating Light – Weapon – Cost-effective weapon choice when not utilizing its six-link potential, significantly boosting elemental damage while reducing resistance values.

● Skin of the Lords – Body Armor – Premier armor selection as it increases gem skill levels by two, though The Skin of the Loyal remains viable for further Eye of Winter gem level enhancement.

● Coward’s Legacy – Belt – Extends curse duration effects but introduces vulnerability when at low life thresholds.

● Uul-Netol’s Vow – Amulet – Optimal amulet selection with high resistance rolls, enabling integration of one additional skill gem.

● Watcher’s Eye – Jewel – Excellent choice when utilizing Hatred, Purity of Elements, Vitality, or Zealotry. Prioritize obtaining additional chaos resistance from Purity of Elements or critical chance enhancements from Hatred.

This specialized build delivers substantial gameplay improvements for players seeking automated combat mechanics without intensive manual spellcasting requirements. The playstyle emphasizes straightforward execution while minimizing active investment in combat actions. You can concentrate on acquiring unique equipment while enjoying the satisfaction of decimating enemy formations through strategic mine deployment.

For comprehensive information about Path of Exile mechanics and additional build variations, explore our dedicated Complete Guide section covering comprehensive gameplay systems and character development pathways.

Advanced players should consider integrating specific Weapons Unlock strategies to further enhance damage output through specialized weapon combinations.

When selecting your character specialization, reference our detailed Class Guide for optimal ascendancy selection and passive tree optimization techniques.

Action Checklist

  • Start with Arc and lightning damage focus during early leveling phases
  • Acquire essential leveling uniques: Goldrim, Tabula Rasa, Lifesprig
  • Transition to Eye of Winter and cold damage specialization at level 68
  • Implement endgame gem links with Blastchain Mine and Trap Damage supports
  • Optimize mana management through specific support gems and equipment selections
  • Acquire best-in-slot gear: Heatshiver, Annihilating Light, Skin of the Lords

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