The Grim Pillars is a highly effective skill for the Disciple of Varashta in Path of Exile 2. Based on our latest ladder analysis of 16 top players in the 90-plus bracket, this build frequently maximizes damage by utilizing support gems such as Astral Projection, Efficiency II, Boundless Energy II. To optimize survivability and DPS, players commonly allocate key passives like Pure Energy, Instruments of Power, Baryanic Leylines on the skill tree.

Grim Pillars
(Disciple of Varashta) Builds
Sample size: 16 characters analyzed.
Last updated: 2026-07-29 19:45:52 UTC
Below data represents gem links within this cohort. Selected main skills are strictly isolated.
★ Selected Main Skills
Other Active Skills & Auras
Flasks Distribution
Main Hand (Set I)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit Chance] for [Spell|Spells]
37.5%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
37.5%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Cold] Damage
37.5%
# to maximum Mana
18.8%
#% increased bonuses gained from Equipped [Quiver]
18.8%
# to Level of all [Cold|Cold] [Spell|Spell] Skills
12.5%
# to Level of all [Corrupted] [Spell] Skill Gems
12.5%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
12.5%
#% increased Cast Speed
12.5%
#% increased [CriticalDamageBonus|Critical Spell Damage Bonus]
12.5%
Offhand (Set I)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
75%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
56.2%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
43.8%
# to maximum Mana
37.5%
# to maximum Life
25%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit Chance] for [Spell|Spells]
25%
#% chance to [Pierce|Pierce] an Enemy
18.8%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
18.8%
Gain [Deflect|Deflection Rating] equal to #% of [Evasion|Evasion Rating]
18.8%
[Attack] [Projectile|Projectiles] [Return] if they [Pierce|Pierced] at least # times
18.8%
Helmet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
81.2%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
56.2%
# to maximum Mana
50%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
43.8%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
37.5%
#% increased [Evasion|Evasion] Rating
37.5%
[Presence] Radius is doubled
37.5%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
25%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
12.5%
# to maximum Life
6.2%
Body Armour
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
62.5%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
43.8%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
37.5%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
25%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
25%
[AilmentThreshold|Elemental Ailment Threshold] is increased by [UncappedResist|Uncapped] [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
25%
[Armour] is increased by [UncappedResist|Uncapped] [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
25%
[EnergyShield|Energy Shield] is increased by [UncappedResist|Uncapped] [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
25%
[Evasion] Rating is increased by [UncappedResist|Uncapped] [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
25%
#% increased [ESRechargeRate|Energy Shield Recharge Rate]
18.8%
Gloves
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
75%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
50%
# to maximum Life
31.2%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
31.2%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] Chance
31.2%
# to [Dexterity|Dexterity]
25%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
18.8%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate if you've dealt a [Critical|Critical Hit] [Recently]
18.8%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
18.8%
Cannot Regenerate Mana if you haven't dealt a [Critical|Critical Hit] [Recently]
18.8%
Boots
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
68.8%
#% increased Movement Speed
62.5%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
56.2%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
56.2%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
31.2%
# to [StunThreshold|Stun Threshold]
25%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
25%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
18.8%
#% increased [CooldownRecovery|Cooldown Recovery Rate]
18.8%
# to maximum Life
12.5%
Amulet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
68.8%
# Prefix Modifier allowed
50%
# Suffix Modifier allowed
50%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
43.8%
# to all [Attributes|Attributes]
31.2%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
31.2%
#% increased maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
31.2%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
18.8%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
12.5%
#% increased Cast Speed
12.5%
Ring 1
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
56.2%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
50%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
37.5%
# to maximum Mana
31.2%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
31.2%
#% increased [CriticalDamageBonus|Critical Spell Damage Bonus]
18.8%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
18.8%
Left ring slot: [Projectile|Projectiles] from [Spell|Spells] [Fork]
18.8%
Right ring slot: [Projectile|Projectiles] from [Spell|Spells] [Chain] # times
18.8%
Right ring slot: [Projectile|Projectiles] from [Spell|Spells] cannot [Fork]
18.8%
Ring 2
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
62.5%
# to maximum Mana
31.2%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
25%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
25%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
25%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
25%
Reflects opposite Ring
25%
#% increased [Cold] Damage
18.8%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
18.8%
# to [Evasion] Rating
12.5%
Belt
Top Explicit Mods
Has # [Charm] Slots
93.8%
#% of [Flask|Flask] Recovery applied Instantly
81.2%
Legacy of [LegacyOfGold|Gold]
62.5%
All [MagesLegacy|Mage's Legacies] have #% increased effect per duplicate [MagesLegacy|Mage's Legacy] you have
56.2%
Legacy of [LegacyOfQuicksilver|Quicksilver]
50%
Legacy of [LegacyOfDiamond|Diamond]
37.5%
Legacy of [LegacyOfBismuth|Bismuth]
31.2%
Legacy of [LegacyOfSapphire|Sapphire]
31.2%
#% increased [Charm] Charges gained
25%
#% increased bonuses gained from left Equipped Ring
18.8%
Main Hand (Set II)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum Mana
31.2%
#% increased Cast Speed
31.2%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
25%
# to Level of all [Corrupted] [Spell] Skill Gems
18.8%
#% increased maximum Life
18.8%
Spells which cost Life [Gain] #% of Damage as [Gain|Extra] [Physical] Damage
18.8%
# to Level of all [Cold|Cold] [Spell|Spell] Skills
12.5%
#% increased [Physical] Damage
12.5%
#% increased [Spirit|Spirit]
12.5%
#% increased bonuses gained from Equipped [Quiver]
12.5%
Offhand (Set II)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
18.8%
# to maximum Life
12.5%
# to maximum Mana
12.5%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
12.5%
#% chance to [Pierce|Pierce] an Enemy
12.5%
#% increased [Attack] Speed
12.5%
#% increased [ESRechargeRate|Energy Shield Recharge Rate]
12.5%
Gain [Deflect|Deflection Rating] equal to #% of [Evasion|Evasion Rating]
12.5%
[Projectile|Projectiles] deal #% increased Damage with [HitDamage|Hits] for each time they have [Pierce|Pierced]
12.5%
[Projectile|Projectiles] have #% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] chance for each time they have [Pierce|Pierced]
12.5%
Interactive Meta Heatmap
No Node Selected
Key Notables & Keystones
Pure Energy
(15)93.8%✕ Remove
Instruments of Power
(15)93.8%✕ Remove
Baryanic Leylines
(15)93.8%✕ Remove
The Fourth Teaching
(14)87.5%✕ Remove
Sacred Rituals
(14)87.5%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Forward
(13)81.2%✕ Remove
Mental Alacrity
(13)81.2%✕ Remove
Brain Freeze
(13)81.2%✕ Remove
Chaos Inoculation
(13)81.2%✕ Remove
Dampening Shield
(12)75%✕ Remove
Controlling Magic
(12)75%✕ Remove
Endless Blizzard
(12)75%✕ Remove
Enhanced Barrier
(12)75%✕ Remove
Chakra of Elements
(12)75%✕ Remove
Heavy Frost
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Shimmering Mirage
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Abasement
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Tempered Mind
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Thin Ice
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Invigorating Archon
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Brain Storm
(11)68.8%✕ Remove
Insightfulness
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Remnant Attraction
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Storm Driven
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Critical Overload
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Dreamcatcher
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
For the Jugular
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Back
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Energising Archon
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Patient Barrier
(10)62.5%✕ Remove
Harsh Winter
(9)56.2%✕ Remove
Ingenuity
(9)56.2%✕ Remove
Invocated Efficiency
(9)56.2%✕ Remove
Throatseeker
(9)56.2%✕ Remove
Heartbreaking
(8)50%✕ Remove
Melding
(7)43.8%✕ Remove
Utmost Offering
(7)43.8%✕ Remove
Careful Assassin
(7)43.8%✕ Remove
Forthcoming
(7)43.8%✕ Remove
Ice Walls
(7)43.8%✕ Remove
Sanguine Tolerance
(6)37.5%✕ Remove
Bone Chains
(6)37.5%✕ Remove
Energise
(6)37.5%✕ Remove
Glaciation
(6)37.5%✕ Remove
Shattered Crystal
(6)37.5%✕ Remove
Raw Power
(6)37.5%✕ Remove
Temporal Mastery
(5)31.2%✕ Remove
Rapid Recharge
(5)31.2%✕ Remove
Dominion
(5)31.2%✕ Remove
Heartstopping
(5)31.2%✕ Remove
All Natural
(5)31.2%✕ Remove
True Strike
(5)31.2%✕ Remove
Multitasking
(4)25%✕ Remove
Potent Incantation
(4)25%✕ Remove
Authority
(4)25%✕ Remove
Barya of Navira
(4)25%✕ Remove
Practiced Signs
(4)25%✕ Remove
Convalescence
(4)25%✕ Remove
Efficient Inscriptions
(4)25%✕ Remove
Distracting Presence
(4)25%✕ Remove
Ancestral Bond
(4)25%✕ Remove
Cooked
(4)25%✕ Remove
Critical Exploit
(4)25%✕ Remove
Shredding Force
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Rupturing Pins
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Sudden Escalation
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Volatile Catalyst
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Deadly Force
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Ether Flow
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Efficient Casting
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Archon of the Storm
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Warding Fetish
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Preservation
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Haemorrhaging Cuts
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Evocational Practitioner
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Spirit Bond
(3)18.8%✕ Remove
Reverberation
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Resonance
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Kite Runner
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Controlled Chaos
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Stormcharged
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Archon of the Blizzard
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Navira's Well
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Wither Away
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Elemental Equilibrium
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Whispers of Doom
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Warlord Berserker
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Pure Chaos
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Blood Tearing
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Enduring Archon
(2)12.5%✕ Remove
Last Stand
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Ancestral Alacrity
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Raw Mana
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Elemental Force
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Echoing Frost
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Ancient Aegis
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Core of the Guardian
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Dangerous Blossom
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Death from Afar
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Return to Nature
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Repulsion
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Overzealous
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Embodiment of Frost
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Defensive Stance
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Barya of Kelari
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Boundless Growth
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Lingering Whispers
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Arcane Nature
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Spell Haste
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Moment of Truth
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Careful Consideration
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Arcane Intensity
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Supportive Ancestors
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Favourable Odds
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Paragon
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Ice Storm
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Infusing Power
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Kelari's Judgment
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Aspiring Genius
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Desensitisation
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Flurry
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Barya of Ruzhan
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Incision
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Stupefy
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Struck Through
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Chronomancy
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Empowering Remnants
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Gravedigger
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Chakra of Stability
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Ancestral Reach
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Casting Cascade
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Navira's Oasis
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Proliferating Weeds
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Mind Over Matter
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Arcane Remnants
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Short Shot
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Wide Barrier
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Dizzying Hits
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Wildsurge Incantation
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Barbaric Strength
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Ancestral Conduits
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Constricting
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Pain Attunement
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Lingering Horror
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Thaumaturgic Generator
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Eldritch Battery
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Lasting Incantations
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Fated End
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Infusion of Power
(1)6.2%✕ Remove
Mana Blessing
(1)6.2%✕ Remove