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With Path of Exile 3.27 right around the corner, many players are once again searching for a reliable, low-cost, and highly survivable league starter that can comfortably scale into endgame content. While some skills have been adjusted or reworked, others remain quietly powerful-and one of the most overlooked options continues to be Lacerate Gladiator paired with Retaliation Eviscerate. Originally proven in 3.25, this build remains almost entirely untouched by patch changes and still delivers excellent single-target damage POE currency, strong screen-wide clear, and exceptional survivability. If you're looking for a starter that can progress smoothly from campaign all the way to Uber Pinnacle bosses without expensive gear or complicated mechanics, this build checks every box. This guide breaks down why the Lacerate + Eviscerate Gladiator works so well, how to manage its early-game pain points, and how to scale it into a high-DPS, high-block endgame monster-all with a true 100% hand-holding approach. Why Lacerate + Eviscerate? At its core, this build solves a common melee problem: single-target damage versus area clear. Lacerate: The Single-Target Anchor Lacerate remains one of the strongest bleed-based melee skills for bossing. Its focused hit pattern, reliable damage scaling, and compatibility with Gladiator's bleed mechanics make it excellent for: Tough rare monsters Map bosses Pinnacle and Uber Pinnacle encounters Importantly, Lacerate is completely untouched by recent patch notes, making it a safe and stable choice for league start. Eviscerate: Screen Coverage and Flow Eviscerate, used as a retaliation skill, complements Lacerate perfectly by solving its biggest weakness-clear speed. Lacerate can feel "too melee" in dense packs or awkward layouts, while Eviscerate: Hits a large portion of the screen Cleans up surrounding enemies instantly Keeps mapping smooth and satisfying The synergy is simple but effective: Lacerate deletes priority targets, Eviscerate wipes the rest. Trying to use Eviscerate alone for bossing can introduce issues, but combined with Lacerate, the two skills cover each other's weaknesses beautifully. League Start Damage and Scaling Potential This build shines at every stage of progression: Early game: Smooth leveling, reliable bleed damage Midgame: Comfortable mapping with explosions Late game: Easily reaches DoT cap on normal Pinnacle bosses Uber endgame: Around 14 million Uber Pinnacle DPS, which is very respectable given the DoT limitations It's important to understand that Uber DPS is capped differently than standard Pinnacle DPS due to technical DoT limits. While normal Pinnacle bosses cap around 36–45 million, Uber Pinnacles scale differently-and 14 million Uber DPS is more than enough for consistent clears. All of this is achieved while staying relatively cheap, making it ideal for both solo players and economy-focused league starters. Solving Mana Issues (The Right Way) One of the most common concerns with Lacerate Gladiator is mana sustain, especially early on. While Blood Magic is technically an option, it's not recommended here. Running auras-even during the campaign-provides too much value to give up. The Real Solution: Cannibalistic Rite The key node for mana management is Cannibalistic Rite, which: Reduces mana cost of attacks Causes attack costs to be partially paid with life instead of mana This single node dramatically improves comfort and allows consistent skill usage without disabling auras. Additional Mana Fixes To fully stabilize mana: Take reduced mana cost of skills mastery Grab life and mana leech nodes early Aim to reach mana leech by around level 54
Final Thoughts: A Safe, Powerful League Starter The Lacerate + Eviscerate Gladiator remains one of the most well-rounded melee league starters heading into PoE 3.27. It offers: Exceptional survivability through block and resistances Smooth mapping with explosions Strong Uber boss potential Low entry cost and simple mechanics If you follow the progression path and Path of Building setup carefully, this build will comfortably carry you from campaign to Ubers without stress.
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