PoE 3.26 Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice Occultist Build

If you’re deep into Path of Exile 3.26: Secrets of the Atlas, and you’re looking for an insanely tanky, high-DPS build that delivers a smooth one-button experience for both mapping and bossing, you’re going to love this. Welcome to the Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice Occultist build—a powerful Cast on Crit setup that uses Cyclone to unleash devastating chaos damage.

Now, let me get this out of the way early: this is not a league starter. You’re going to need at least 30–40 Divine Orbs to get this build off the ground. So unless you’re sitting on some loot or plan to farm hard early, it might feel a little rough. If you don’t want to farm like crazy, you can safely buy cheap PoE currency from a reliable source like PVPBank to give yourself a head start.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the PoE 3.26 Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice Occultist build—from its playstyle and gear, to how it works with the latest mechanics and uniques.

Why Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice in 3.26?

What makes this build stand out in Secrets of the Atlas is the synergy with Whispers of Infinity, a unique item introduced in 3.26. This item causes your skills to cost Energy Shield instead of their regular resource. That’s a game-changer for Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice, which traditionally damages the caster’s life.

Now, instead of eating away at your health, you can use Chaos Inoculation and run full ES defense. Combine that with Cast on Crit (CoC) mechanics using Cyclone, and you get a smooth, high-scaling setup that doesn’t require target aiming or clunky casting.

Build Overview: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Extremely tanky: Max block/spell block, massive ES, leech, and regen

• Smooth gameplay: Just hold down Cyclone and spin through content

• High DPS: Easily scales into red maps and endgame bosses

• Flexible: Works for both mapping and bossing

Cons

• High budget: Not viable without significant investment

• Not a league starter: Requires several uniques and high-end gear

• Gear tuning is delicate: You must manage your APS and cooldowns precisely for CoC to work

CoC Mechanics – READ THIS BEFORE BUILDING

This build uses Awakened Cast on Critical Strike Support to trigger Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice with Cyclone. But CoC has strict cooldown breakpoints you must follow, or you’ll end up doing almost no damage.

Here’s the breakdown:

Damage and Defense Scaling

Offensive Scaling

• Critical Strike Multiplier is key

• Chaos Damage = Spell Damage, so stack both

• Cooldown Recovery Rate directly impacts DPS

• Attack Speed must be tuned to your CDR

Defensive Scaling

• Chaos Inoculation + Huge ES pool

• Block + Spell Block capped

• ES Leech + ES recovery on block

• No life needed = immune to chaos damage

PoB, Passive Tree, and Gem Setup

The full Path of Building (PoB) link is available with optimized passive tree routing, jewel sockets, and gem setups for every stage of the game.

Main Links:

• Cyclone → Awakened CoC Support → Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice

• Aura Setup: Discipline, Malevolence, Determination (depending on defense needs)

• Movement: Frostblink (pairs great with Cyclone mobility)

The gem setup leans heavily on Awakened gems for power spikes, so expect some farming—or again, check PVPBank for a shortcut to grab those faster.

Gear Setup: From Budget to High-End

Must-Have Uniques:

• Whispers of Infinity – This is the backbone of the build. Don’t start without it.

• Shavronne’s Wrappings or Ivory Tower – To enable Chaos Inoculation safely.

• Shield with ES recovery on block (like Aegis Aurora in other variants)

Weapon

• High crit + chaos spell wand or dagger

• Craft increased cooldown recovery rate if possible

Helmet/Boots/Gloves

• Focus on ES, resistances, and cooldown recovery

• Enchant: Cyclone attack speed or Forbidden Rite cast speed

Jewels

• Watcher's Eye with ES leech or chaos-related mods

• Energy from Within for big ES boosts near life clusters

• Cluster Jewels: Medium or large chaos damage clusters

Flasks

• Quartz Flask for phasing

• Silver Flask for onslaught

• Bottled Faith if you’re min-maxing crit (expensive but worth it)

Ascendancy, Bandits, and Pantheon

Ascendancy (Occultist)

1. Profane Bloom – Explosions and curse spread

2. Malediction – Extra curse and reduced enemy damage

3. Vile Bastion – ES regen and stun immunity

4. Void Beacon – Chaos resistance reduction

Bandits

• Kill All – 2 extra passive points for more damage or defense

Pantheon

• Major: Soul of Lunaris – Great for mapping movement and defense

• Minor: Soul of Abberath – Helps with burning ground and fire DoTs

Leveling Strategy

DO NOT level with Forbidden Rite. You’ll just suffer.

Instead, start with Armageddon Brand. It’s simple, powerful, and brand passives make for a smooth leveling experience as a Witch. Focus on life and fire nodes, and once you hit maps and gather currency, respec into CI and Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice.

Final Thoughts: Should You Try This Build?

If you’re someone who:

• Enjoys one-button high-speed clears

• Wants a top-tier tanky spellcaster

• Doesn’t mind investing currency or buying some from PVPBank

• Likes experimenting with CoC mechanics and Chaos Inoculation builds…

Then this build is right up your alley.

The PoE 3.26 Forbidden Rite of Soul Sacrifice Occultist build is one of the smoothest, most satisfying setups once it’s running properly. The spin-to-win feel of Cyclone mixed with explosive chaos damage and a nearly unkillable energy shield makes it one of the most fun endgame builds available.

Just remember—it’s not cheap. But if you’re already into red maps or pushing endgame bosses and want something fresh that handles everything, this is a solid choice.