The Ultimate Kingsmarch PoE Guide: Unlock the Power of Your Ascendant

Introduction:

Kingsmarch is a powerful Ascendant class in Path of Exile known for its exceptional mobility, defensive capabilities, and versatile offensive options. This comprehensive guide will delve into every aspect of playing a Kingsmarch Ascendant, empowering you to master its unique mechanics and unlock its full potential.

Active Skills

Boneshatter: A devastating physical skill that slams the ground, dealing increased damage based on enemy proximity.
Whirling Blades: A movement skill that allows you to dash through enemies, gaining bonus attack speed and evasion.
Spirit Burst: A defensive skill that creates a ward absorbing damage and reducing physical damage taken.
Steelskin: A defensive buff that increases armor and physical damage reduction.

Passive Skills

Kingsmarch Ascendants excel in physical damage and mobility. Their notable passive skills include:

• Stalker: Grants increased attack speed and movement speed after using a movement skill.
• Savage Hit: Increases physical damage and grants a chance to deal bleeding damage.
• Valiant Strike: Improves the effectiveness of Boneshatter and Whirling Blades.

Ascendancy Nodes

The Kingmaker ascendancy tree offers significant bonuses to Kingsmarch Ascendants:

• Devastating Strike: Boneshatter deals increased damage when an enemy is at low life.
• Crimson Assault: Whirling Blades deals increased physical damage to bleeding enemies.
• Unshakable: Spirit Burst gains increased evasion and grants a chance to taunt nearby enemies.
• Unflinching: Steelskin grants increased armor and immunity to physical stun.

Character Development

Gem Setup

• Main Attack Skill: Boneshatter (with Pulverize and Impale supports)
• Movement Skill: Whirling Blades (with Frenzy and Faster Attacks supports)
• Defensive Skills: Spirit Burst, Steelskin (with Iron Reflexes support)
• Utility Skills: Leap Slam, Endurance Charge on Melee Stun, War Banner

Gear and Items

• Body Armor: Belly of the Beast (increased maximum life and elemental resistances)
• Weapon: Paradoxica (grants a chance to deal doubled physical damage)
• Helmet: Starkonja's Head (increased armor, evasion, and critical strike chance)
• Boots: The Anvil (increased armor and physical damage)

Game Mechanics and Strategies

Mobility and Positioning

Kingsmarch Ascendants excel at moving rapidly through combat zones. Utilize Whirling Blades and Leap Slam to reposition effectively, dodge enemy attacks, and engage or disengage from combat.

Ward and Defensive Layers

Spirit Burst and Steelskin provide significant defensive layers. Combine them with the ascendancy node Unshakable to gain increased evasion and aggro management. This allows Kingsmarch Ascendants to absorb high levels of damage while maintaining high mobility.

Physical Damage Output

Boneshatter is the primary damage dealer for Kingsmarch Ascendants. Position yourself strategically to maximize the damage bonus from Devastating Strike. Use supports like Pulverize and Impale to enhance the damage output.

Advanced Techniques

Anomalous Boneshatter

Anomalous Boneshatter grants a chance to shatter nearby obstacles and monsters on hit. This can be used to clear obstacles, bypass certain monster mechanics, or create additional explosions for increased damage.

Enduring Cry

Enduring Cry is a powerful battle cry that grants physical damage reduction. Combine it with Steelskin to create an impenetrable defensive stance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overextending: Kingsmarch Ascendants are highly mobile, but it's important to avoid overextending and getting into dangerous situations without sufficient defensive layers.
• Neglecting Ward Management: Spirit Burst's ward should be maintained at high levels to maximize its defensive benefits. Use life flasks or other sources of ward generation to replenish it.
• Inefficient Movement: Utilize movement skills wisely to avoid unnecessary downtime and maximize damage potential. Plan your movements to stay in range of enemies and avoid obstacles.

Why Kingsmarch Matters

• Superior Mobility: Kingsmarch Ascendants possess exceptional movement speed and evasion, making them highly evasive and maneuverable.
• Defensive Versatility: Spirit Burst and Steelskin provide multiple layers of defense against physical damage, stun, and bleeding.
• Potent Physical Damage: Boneshatter and other physical skills allow Kingsmarch Ascendants to deal significant damage, especially when combined with ascendancy buffs and supporting gems.

How Kingsmarch Benefits

• Increased Survivability: Kingsmarch Ascendants can tackle challenging content with ease due to their robust defensive capabilities and ward management.
• Efficient Mapping: The combination of mobility and damage allows Kingsmarch Ascendants to clear maps quickly and efficiently.
• Endgame Content Viability: With proper gear and skill optimization, Kingsmarch Ascendants can excel in endgame content such as Uber Elder and The Maven.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the best weapon for Kingsmarch Ascendants?
A: Paradoxica is a top choice for its increased physical damage and critical strike chance.

Q: How do I maximize mobility as a Kingsmarch Ascendant?
A: Use Whirling Blades often with supporting gems like Faster Attacks and Frenzy to increase movement and attack speed.

Q: What items are crucial for a Kingsmarch Ascendant?
A: Belly of the Beast, Starkonja's Head, and The Anvil provide significant bonuses to health, armor, and physical damage.

Q: How do I deal with physical stun as a Kingsmarch Ascendant?
A: Equip items with the "Cannot be Stunned" modifier, use Steelskin with Iron Reflexes, or invest in the ascendancy node Unflinching to gain stun immunity.

Q: What playstyle is best suited for Kingsmarch Ascendants?
A: Kingsmarch Ascendants excel at close-range physical combat, utilizing mobility and defensive layers to outmaneuver and outlast enemies.

Q: How does Boneshatter benefit from the Devastating Strike ascendancy node?
A: Devastating Strike increases Boneshatter's damage when the enemy is at low life, allowing for significant burst damage at the end of encounters.

Q: What are the key differences between Kingsmarch Ascendants and other physical damage classes?
A: Kingsmarch Ascendants prioritize mobility, evasion, and ward-based defenses over sheer damage output compared to classes like Slayer or Champion.

Q: Can Kingsmarch Ascendants be effective in hardcore leagues?
A: Yes, Kingsmarch Ascendants are well-suited for hardcore leagues thanks to their defensive capabilities and ability to avoid damage through mobility and evasion.

Conclusion

Kingsmarch Ascendants offer a unique and versatile playstyle in Path of Exile. Through mastery of their movement, defensive skills, and physical damage potential, players can unlock the full potential of this powerful Ascendant class. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can create an effective and enjoyable Kingsmarch Ascendant that can tackle the most challenging content in the game.

Tables

Table 1: Kingsmarch Ascendancy Nodes

Table 2: Recommended Support Gems

Table 3: Example Defensive Item Affixes