For players who prefer a more active and aggressive playstyle, the Cyclone Slayer build is a fantastic league starter. Cyclone allows you to spin through enemies while dealing EZNPC PoE 2 high physical damage, making it one of the best melee builds for both beginners and experienced players alike.

Why Cyclone Slayer for League Start?

Cyclone is a skill that lets you move through enemies while dealing damage. Its continuous spinning attacks make it incredibly effective for clearing packs of monsters. The Slayer Ascendancy makes this build even more appealing, thanks to its built-in leeching mechanics that keep you alive during sustained combat.

Here's why Cyclone Slayer is a great league starter:

Endless Hunger: This Slayer ascendancy node offers a significant life leech bonus, ensuring that you can heal yourself as you deal damage, making this build very tanky.

Bane of Legends: Increases damage against bosses and tough enemies, making it perfect for league content where dealing with tougher bosses is essential.

Speed and Mobility: Cyclone combined with the Slayer’s mobility buffs allows you to zip through enemies quickly and clear both mobs and bosses with ease.

Getting Started with Cyclone Slayer

In the early levels, you’ll use skills like Sweep or Ground Slam to build up your physical damage and AoE coverage. Once you unlock Cyclone, it becomes your primary skill, allowing you to spin through groups of enemies quickly.

Leveling is straightforward: use Cyclone to clear packs of enemies and add some supporting skills like Leap Slam for mobility. As you progress through the campaign, focus on adding more damage and life leech to your gear to enhance your sustain in fights.

Gear and Budget

The Cyclone Slayer build doesn’t require any rare or expensive items to start with. Focus on these basic attributes when gearing:

Life: You want to be able to take hits and sustain your health through combat.

Physical Damage: Look for weapons that increase physical damage or attack damage.

Resistances: Cap your elemental resistances early on to avoid being overwhelmed by enemies.

A two-handed weapon like a mace, axe, or sword works best with this build, as it increases your Cyclone’s damage significantly. Look for life, attack speed, and physical damage modifiers on your gear for both offensive and defensive benefits.

Skill Gems and Links

The optimal gem links for Cyclone include:

Cyclone (Main Skill)

Melee Physical Damage (Increases overall physical damage)

Fortify (Increases your defense during combat)

Infused Channelling (Boosts damage while channeling)

For defensive options, consider adding:

Blood Rage (For more life leech and attack speed)

Vaal Molten Shell (For additional protection in tough fights)

Playstyle and Tips

The Cyclone playstyle is all about spinning through mobs while maintaining health through life leech. You’ll want to stay in the middle of packs of enemies, spinning around to hit as many as possible. Use Leap Slam to move between enemies or dodge dangerous mechanics. As you build up life leech, you’ll notice your survivability improve drastically.

Conclusion

The Cyclone Slayer is a fantastic league starter for players who enjoy a fast-paced, aggressive playstyle. With strong damage output, built-in life leech, and a focus on physical damage, this build excels at both mapping and boss encounters. It’s a reliable choice for new players and veterans looking to start a league with ease.