The Invoker was once an S-Tier ascendancy in Path of Exile 2, dominating many encounters with unmatched versatility. While it fell a few tiers in the Rise of the Abyssal League, it remains a formidable choice, especially with current knowledge and optimal gear. Today, we'll explore the Flicker Strike Invoker, one of the most exciting and fast-paced builds in Patch 0.3.0.
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Why Play the Flicker Strike Invoker?
If you crave a build that zips across maps, effortlessly killing packs while maintaining high mobility, the Flicker Strike Invoker is perfect. The core of this build is Flicker Strike, a melee skill that teleports you to enemies and hits multiple targets when you have Power Charges active.
Since Flicker Strike cannot generate Power Charges on its own, the build relies on Ice Strike to fill this gap. Paired with Charged Staff, Ice Strike delivers cold damage, lightning damage, and can inflict both Freeze and Shock on enemies simultaneously.
To maintain consistent Power Charges, the build uses Profane Ritual, cast automatically via Cast on Freeze. Profane Ritual marks corpses, generating Power Charges while dealing AoE chaos damage. For bosses, a separate Cast on Freeze setup uses Voltaic Mark to make Shock application easier.
Unlike many melee builds, this one focuses on elemental damage instead of physical damage. Added fire, cold, and lightning damage are key modifiers on your gear.
Ascendancy Nodes
The Invoker is perfect for this build due to its ability to generate energy for Cast on Freeze and boost overall damage output. The ideal ascendancy path is:
1. I am the Blizzard – Boost elemental damage and critical potential.
2. The Soul Springs Eternal – Sustain energy for your meta-skills.
3. Sunder My Enemies – Maximize damage against groups.
4. Lead Me Through Grace – Ensure sufficient Spirit for persistent auras and buffs.
Gear Recommendations
Weapon
· Bolting Quarterstaff: High innate elemental damage, perfect for Ice Strike and Flicker Strike. Prioritize critical hit chance, attack speed, and critical damage bonus.
· Rattling Sceptre: For bossing, paired with Skeletal Warriors to generate Power Charges via Profane Ritual. Consider Enezun's Charge for minion preservation or Redblade Banner for enhanced Infernal Cry.
Body Armor
· Falconer's Jacket: Minimum 1,500 evasion and 500 energy shield. Look for energy shield, evasion, and elemental resistances. Corrupt to add three Greater Iron Rune sockets for maximum Spirit and defensive bonuses.
Helmet
· Kamasan Tiara with Subterfuge Mask is notable. Prioritize high energy shield and +1 Maximum Power Charges. Use a Greater Iron Rune for energy shield boost.
Gloves
· Hand of Wisdom and Action or Vaal Wraps. Focus on elemental damage, +2 to melee skills, and bonuses to DEX/INT. Insert a Boar Talisman for 1 Rage on a melee hit.
Boots
· Prioritize 35% movement speed, elemental resistances, and hybrid EV/ES. Powertread is a strong, unique option, granting Maximum Power Charges and critical damage per charge.
Amulet
· Amber Amulet for STR bonus and elemental/critical modifiers. Add Stormcharged for crit and elemental damage, or Restless Dead for faster Skeletal Warrior revival.
Rings
· One Unset Ring for additional skill support (Sacrifice Buff), optimized with elemental damage and attributes. The other can be a Breach Ring with elemental damage prefixes.
Belt
· Ingenuity Belt with charm slots is ideal. Otherwise, a rare belt with STR and resistance modifiers works.
Charms & Jewels
· Thawing Charm, Stone Charm, Silver Charm, and Nascent Hope for survival and ES recharge.
· Time-Lost Sapphire or Against the Darkness jewel for critical damage, elemental damage, or energy shield boosts. Prism of Belief for +3 Flicker Strike levels is also excellent.
Skills and Support Gems
Flicker Strike
· Perpetual Charge, Hit and Run, Overextend, Pinpoint Critical, Concentrated Effect
Ice Strike
· Martial Tempo, Rage, Primal Armament, Inspiration, Close Combat
Charged Staff
· Lightning Infusion, Persistence, Coursing Current, Culling Strike, Lightning Penetration
Cast on Freeze
· Mapping: Profane Ritual, Overabundance, Profusion, Fast Forward, Intense Agony
· Bossing: Voltaic Mark, Impetus, Innervate, Magnified Effect, Energy Retention
Other Key Skills
· Profane Ritual (on minions), Wind Dancer, Infernal Cry, Sacrifice, Quarterstaff Strike
Passive Tree
Start by prioritizing damage nodes such as Essence of the Mountain, Moment of Truth, and Blinding Strike. Progress through critical and quarterstaff-specific nodes, elemental damage boosts, and finally EV/ES nodes. Keystone choices like Overflowing Power and Chaos Inoculation are optional depending on your build and gear.
Playstyle
Mapping
· Keep Cast on Freeze (Profane Ritual) active. Ice Strike kills generate Power Charges. Flicker Strike then teleports you through packs for high-speed clears.
Bossing
· Switch to the Voltaic Mark setup. Activate Profane Ritual manually on Skeletal Warriors for initial Power Charges. Use Charged Staff and Infernal Cry, then unleash Flicker Strike on the boss. Weapon swapping is essential for efficiency.
Tips and Strategies
1. Maximize Gem Quality – Gemcutter Prisms increase attack speed, energy generation, and critical chances.
2. Power Charge Alternatives – Lingering Illusion or Serpent's Egg can generate Power Charges if minions aren't available.
3. Early Spirit Gear – Essential for persistent buffs and Cast on Freeze setups.
4. Breath of the Mountains – Great during leveling to generate Power Charges from cold hits.
Final Thoughts
The Flicker Strike Invoker is arguably one of the best mapping builds in Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict. Its mobility and Power Charge synergies make clearing packs fast and efficient, while the elemental damage scaling ensures bosses fall quickly. If you want a melee build that zips around the battlefield with precision and speed, this is it.
Don't forget to check out our PoE 2 Store for all the gear, unique items, and Path of Exile 2 currency you need to make this build truly unstoppable.