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If you're looking for one of the fastest and most fun-to-play builds in Path of Exile 3.26: Secrets of the Atlas, then the Crit Lightning Arrow Deadeye is exactly what you need. Despite the expansion's focus on spell skill gems, this projectile-based powerhouse remains one of the most dominant mapping builds in the game.

This build guide will walk you through every essential aspect of the Lightning Arrow Deadeye — from mechanics and gearing to playstyle and progression. Whether you're a solo mapper or a veteran looking for a league-start or endgame-blasting setup, this guide covers it all.

Overview: Lightning Arrow Deadeye

Core Mechanics

· Fires multiple arrows that convert 50% of physical lightning damage.

· Nearby enemies around the struck target are hit by a secondary lightning explosion.

· Uses Trinity Support with crafted elemental damage weapons to boost damage.

This build is focused on mapping and general content clearing. Single-target damage is addressed with Artillery Ballista totems, giving the build flexibility to handle bosses as well.

Strengths

· Exceptional clear speed.

· Smooth and fast progression.

· High mobility and damage.

· Customizable and scalable with investment.

Weaknesses

· Mediocre armor and life pool.

· Single-target damage without totems can be underwhelming.

· Can feel squishy without gear optimization.

Playstyle and Strategy

This build is all about speed and efficiency. Use Flame Dash or Blink Arrow to traverse quickly. Drop your Artillery Ballista totems on tough rares and bosses, then unleash Lightning Arrow to demolish everything on screen.

Ascendancy: Deadeye

1. Gathering Winds: Boosts movement and attack speed. 

2. Far Shot: Increases damage based on projectile distance. 

3. Endless Munitions: Grants two extra projectiles. 

4. Focal Point: Enhances Mark skills and reduces damage from marked enemies.

These nodes synergize perfectly with Lightning Arrow, giving you maximum projectile scaling, utility, and survivability.

Gear and Equipment

Weapon (Bow)

· Base: Spine Bow (crit focus) or Thicket Bow (speed focus).

· Craft using Essence of Wrath for flat lightning damage.

· Aim for: Added fire/cold, increased attack speed, crit chance/multiplier, and +arrows.

· Endgame: Synthesized Spine Bow with elemental rolls and two additional arrows.

Quiver

· Best Bases: Feathered, Broadhead, Primal, or Penetrating Arrow Quiver.

· Target mods:

  · Flat lightning damage

  · % increased damage with bow skills

  · Additional arrow

  · Life and attack speed

Body Armour

· Hyrri's Ire: Huge spell suppression and evasion.

· Or craft Conquest Lamellar with elemental immunity mods.

· Eldritch implicits: Increased aura effect (non-curse), Anger effect.

Helmet

· Base: Haunted Bascinet (high armor/evasion).

· Craft with Essences (Spite, Envy, Loathing).

· Use Eldritch mods for mana cost reduction, reservation, or physical conversion.

· Budget: The Fledgling. High early DPS.

· Unique: Black Sun Crest if using Crystallised Omniscience.

Gloves

· Use to fill resistance, chaos resist, attributes.

· Add Rage on Hit via Eldritch crafting.

· Ideal: Temple mod “50% increased damage against chilled enemies.”

Boots

· Base: Wyvernscale Boots.

· Craft with Essence of Spite (guarantees INT).

· Add Onslaught on kill.

· Eldritch implicits: ailment immunity and action speed.

Amulet

· Early: Hyrri's Truth (Accuracy, Crit Multiplier, Culling Strike).

· Best: Crystallised Omniscience. Converts attributes into elemental penetration and resistances.

· Anoint: Utmost Might or Utmost Intellect, depending on missing stats.

Rings

· Pre-Omniscience: The Taming (stack ailments for big boosts).

· Endgame: Craft rare rings with flat attributes and elemental damage.

· Bench mod: "-7 mana cost to non-channeling skills."

Belt

· Headhunter: Gain mods from rare enemies.

· Mageblood: Permanent utility flask effects.

Flasks

· Diamond Flask (Crit Chance)

· Jade Flask (Evasion)

· Quicksilver Flask (Speed)

· Amethyst Flask (Chaos Resist)

· Life Flask (Instant recovery with bleed/corrupted blood removal)

Choose suffixes and prefixes depending on the Mageblood or Headhunter setup.

Jewels

Unique Jewels

· Ancestral Vision or Stormshroud for ailment immunity.

· Watcher's Eye: Mods for Anger, Grace, or Precision.

· Lethal Pride: STR stacking for bonus damage, totem speed, and life.

Cluster Jewels

· Large: Bow Damage

  · Arcing Shot, Feed the Fury, Martial Prowess

· Medium (Projectile Damage):

  · Repeater, Eye to Eye, Streamlined

· Medium (Crit Chance):

  · Pressure Points, Quick Getaway, Basics of Pain

Craft via Harvest: Reforge Attack or Caster as needed.

Gem Setup

Main Skill (Body Armor)

· Lightning Arrow

· Trinity Support

· Returning Projectiles Support (or Increased Crit Damage)

· Mirage Archer Support

· Awakened Elemental Damage with Attacks

· Inspiration Support

Totems (Weapon)

· Artillery Ballista

· Focused Ballista Support

· Increased Critical Damage

· Awakened Elemental Focus

· Inspiration Support

· Awakened Elemental Damage with Attacks

Auras (Helmet)

· Anger

· Precision

· Grace

· Enlighten Support

Utility (Gloves)

· Frenzy

· Manaforged Arrows

· Power Charge on Critical

· Flame Dash

Mapping vs Bossing

Mapping

· Fast and smooth.

· Clear entire screens with a single Lightning Arrow volley.

· Great for Delirium, Heist, Blight, and Legion.

Bossing

· Use Artillery Ballista for extra firepower.

· Keep moving and avoid telegraphed attacks.

· Place totems ahead of time for stationary bosses.

Progression Tips

Leveling Tips

· Start with Split Arrow or Shrapnel Shot.

· Switch to Lightning Arrow around level 28.

· Use Artillery Ballista when available.

Gear Scaling

· Focus on evasion gear early.

· Add spell suppression and critical chance as you go.

· Transition to Omniscience gear after farming red maps.

Endgame

· Farm Path Of Exile currency using fast maps (Strand, Dunes, Cemetery).

· Min-max jewels and cluster jewels.

· Transition to Headhunter or Mageblood once rich.

Conclusion

The Crit Lightning Arrow Deadeye is easily one of the most enjoyable and effective builds in Path of Exile 3.26. It offers incredible clear speed, great bossing with Artillery Ballista, and remains viable from early game to pinnacle endgame content.

Although it has a few defensive weaknesses, the mobility, burst, and crafting flexibility more than make up for it. With the right investments, this build can destroy content at warp speed.

Whether you're a new player or a seasoned exile, this build is worth trying in the Secrets of the Atlas league. Grab your bow, stack some Omniscience, and electrify Wraeclast with Lightning Arrow!