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The Storm Wave Invoker build in Path of Exile 2 (version 0.3) is a lightning-focused melee setup that blends elemental burst damage with powerful crowd control. As a Monk with the Invoker Ascendancy, you'll be wielding a Quarterstaff to channel devastating bolts of electricity while maintaining a solid defensive backbone. This build shines both during the campaign and in the endgame, though it does demand a bit of mechanical precision - you'll need to manage buffs and cooldowns to maximize your potential.

If your goal is to strike enemies with lightning-infused melee attacks while watching the entire screen light up with chain reactions, the Storm Wave Invoker might be your ideal build.

How the Storm Wave Invoker Build Works in Path of Exile 2

Lightning currently stands as one of the strongest elemental archetypes in Path of Exile 2. The main reason is the "Shock" ailment - enemies afflicted by Shock take up to 30% more damage, making it incredibly effective for scaling your overall DPS.

The build's main offensive core revolves around three components:

·Storm Wave - A fissure-style melee ability that shocks enemies along a path.

·Charged Staff - Adds Lightning Damage to your staff attacks and grants a damage buff when you consume Power Charges.

·Herald of Thunder - Summons lightning bolts that strike nearby enemies when you kill a shocked enemy with a non-Herald skill.

Together, these skills create a powerful rotation where every strike contributes to both direct and chain lightning damage across entire enemy packs.

Leveling as a Monk Before Storm Wave Unlocks

Storm Wave becomes available at Level 22, meaning you'll have to use alternative skills during the early campaign. The Monk has excellent leveling options, and since the build revolves around Quarterstaves, it's best to start training with one right away.

Here's a recommended early-game progression path:

·Main Weapon: Quarterstaff (try to buy or craft one with +Skill Gem Level modifiers).

·Unique Option: Pillar of the Caged God - great for early physical scaling if you can buy it with your first Exalted Orb.

Early Skill Setup:

·Glacial Cascade - Primary ranged attack for freezing and slowing enemies.

·Frost Bomb - Explosive finisher for frozen targets.

·Tempest Bell - For early boss fights and single-target DPS.

·Herald of Ice - Adds AoE damage and crowd control.

Early Gem Links:

Glacial Cascade: Rapid Attacks - Cold Attunement  Frost Bomb: Potent Exposure  Tempest Bell: Overabundance - Rage  Herald of Ice: Magnified Area - Cold Attunement  Ice Strike: Rapid Attacks - Cold Attunement

Use Glacial Cascade to freeze mobs, Frost Bomb to detonate them, and Tempest Bell to handle tougher enemies. This setup will carry you comfortably to level 22, where the build truly comes alive.

Transitioning to Storm Wave (Level 22+)

At level 22, you'll unlock Storm Wave using an Uncut Skill Gem 7. Respec your cold-focused gems into Lightning support gems and start building your endgame loadout.

Storm Wave sends out a lightning fissure that shocks and damages enemies, synergizing perfectly with Herald of Thunder and Charged Staff.

Mid-Game Gem Links:

·Storm Wave: Rapid Attacks - Elemental Armament - Rage - Branching Fissures  

·Tempest Bell: Overabundance - Close Combat - Elemental Armament  

·Tempest Flurry: Rapid Attacks - Elemental Armament - Close Combat - Freeze  

·Herald of Thunder: Elemental Armament - Elemental Focus - Deadly Herald  

·Charged Staff: Prolonged Duration - Innervate - Elemental Armament  

·Profane Ritual: Rapid Casting - Compressed Duration - Unleash

Core Rotation:

·For Mobs: Cast Storm Wave to clear groups and generate corpses. Use Profane Ritual to consume corpses and gain Power Charges. Once charged, activate Charged Staff for buffed melee strikes.

·For Bosses: Use Tempest Flurry to build up combos, then unleash Tempest Bell while Charged Staff is active for massive single-target bursts.

The gameplay loop rewards timing and awareness - keeping your Power Charges and Herald buffs active ensures maximum uptime and damage output.

Itemization and Gear Priorities

While leveling and progressing through the campaign, prioritize defense first. Focus on Path of Exile 2 Items that grant Life, Armor, and Energy Shield. In the late game, look for Resistances and increased Life to survive boss mechanics.

For your Quarterstaff, prioritize offensive modifiers:

·Increased % Physical Damage

·Added Flat Lightning or Elemental Damage

·+Levels to Melee Skill Gems

·Increased Attack Speed

Buying or trading for the right items early can make a big difference. Many players prefer to buy POE2 Items such as high-roll Quarterstaves or amulets with Lightning modifiers to smooth progression. Similarly, acquiring buy POE2 Currency helps with crafting or trading rare Uniques that perfectly complement this build.

Passive Skill Tree Progression

Start from your Monk's central nodes and follow a balanced path between survivability and offense.

Key Passive Nodes:

·Flow Like Water - Improves attack speed and energy regeneration.

·Mindful Awareness - Grants defensive scaling and resource control.

·Flow State - Helps maintain buffs efficiently.

·Consusive Attack - Enhances melee damage output.

·Insightfulness - Boosts Energy Shield and recovery.

·Echoing Thunder - Major Lightning Damage multiplier.

·Binding Strike - Boosts melee range and scaling.

·Essence of the Storm - Increases lightning ailment effectiveness.

By late-game, aim for a balanced distribution between Attack Speed, Elemental Damage, and Energy Shield.

Ascendancy Choices for the Storm Wave Invoker

For your first two Ascendancy passives, take:

·I Am the Thunder - Increases Lightning damage and improves Shock effects.

·And I Shall Rage - Generates Unbound Fury, which boosts elemental damage and ailment potency when activated through Unbound Avatar.

These synergize beautifully with your rotation and ensure you're consistently applying maximum Shock and Elemental bonuses in combat.

Final Thoughts

The Storm Wave Invoker build in Path of Exile 2 (0.3) delivers a thrilling, visually explosive experience. It's ideal for players who enjoy high-tempo melee combat, lightning-themed skills, and strategic buff management. While it's not the easiest build for newcomers - due to resource juggling and timing - it offers massive payoff in both campaign and endgame content once mastered.