In Path of Exile 2, players are given the opportunity to experiment with different classes and playstyles, allowing them to create truly unique builds. One such build is the Hierophant Nova Build, which combines the versatility of the Hierophant Ascendancy with the explosive Click Here power of Nova skills. In this introductory guide, we’ll cover the foundations of the Hierophant Nova Build, including the strengths, playstyle, and how to get started with this build in Path of Exile 2.

What is the Hierophant Nova Build?

The Hierophant Nova Build focuses on Nova skills, which are spells that deal area-of-effect (AoE) damage around the caster, with a focus on Energy Shield and Mana management. The Hierophant ascendancy provides several key synergies that allow for fast mana regeneration, high spell casting speed, and massive spell damage, making it a perfect choice for Nova skills, which require high mana costs and high damage output for optimal performance.

In Path of Exile 2, Nova spells, such as Flameblast Nova or Shock Nova, can create devastating bursts of elemental damage that affect all enemies within range, clearing out packs of monsters and causing significant damage in boss fights. The Hierophant ascendancy’s ability to boost Mana regeneration, Energy Shield defenses, and Critical Strike Chance for spells makes it one of the most popular choices for spellcasters.

Strengths of the Hierophant Nova Build
Massive Area of Effect Damage: The Nova skill, combined with the Hierophant’s ability to scale spell damage and increase casting speed, allows you to deal massive damage over a wide area. This is especially beneficial for farming and clearing content quickly.
Energy Shield Sustainability: Hierophants have strong Energy Shield scaling, meaning they can mitigate a lot of incoming damage while using their spells. This makes the build more durable, especially for players who prefer playing a tanky spellcaster.
Mana Regeneration: The Hierophant Ascendancy provides powerful Mana regeneration bonuses, making it easier to maintain high levels of mana for casting Nova skills. With high mana regeneration, you can cast more spells, sustain your damage output, and not worry about running out of mana during fights.
Synergy with Totems: One of the Hierophant's signature mechanics is the use of Totems, which can be employed alongside Nova skills for even more damage. Totems can cast your spells automatically, allowing you to stay at range and deal damage without being in direct danger.
Getting Started with the Hierophant Nova Build

To start your journey with the Hierophant Nova Build, you’ll want to focus on two main areas: Mana regeneration and Energy Shield scaling. As a spellcaster, you’ll need to prioritize intelligence for better mana and energy shield scaling. It’s also a good idea to focus on gear that increases your Mana, Energy Shield, and Spell Damage. Since Nova skills are based on high cast speed, consider acquiring items that boost casting speed or mana cost reduction to make your spells more efficient.

In the next article, we’ll dive deeper into the specific skills and passive skill tree choices that can help optimize the Hierophant Nova Build for success.