Path of Exile 3.25 Lacerate Gladiator build and leveling guide

The Lacerate Gladiator build in Path of Exile 3.25 is one of the strongest and most reliable league starters you can play. Much like Boneshatter Juggernaut, this melee build was already viable before the Settlers of Kalguur league rework. Lacerate has maintained what made it a simple and potent skill while having all of its damage numbers tuned higher. In patch 3.25 this already good build is now stronger than ever.

In this article, we're going to explain how to setup the Lacerate Gladiator build as well as how to level and gear it.

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Path of Exile 3.25 Lacerate Gladiator build breakdown: Skill rotation and tips

Lacerate is a melee skill with medium range, allowing you to play safely (Image via Grinding Gear Games || Zizaran/YouTube)

The Lacerate Gladiator, compared to many 'slam' builds, is very simple and low APM. You won't be pressing several different buttons while fighting, but do still have access to defense and movement utility.

The main skill you'll be using in combat is Lacerate, a medium-range melee attack that has a chance to apply bleed. Other than this, you'll be utilizing Pride and Vulnerability to debuff mobs. You also have access to Shield Charge, Molten Shell, Flame Dash, Blood Rage, and Enduring Cry for defense and movement.

The most important thing to keep track of will be maintaining your Vulnerability debuff on enemies. This hex spell causes cursed enemies to take increased physical damage and have a chance to bleed when attacked. You won't have to worry about Pride as you'll be linking it with Eternal Blessing, negating its reservation cost and increasing its potency.

So long as you're able to maintain this one debuff when necessary and keep yourself alive with utility, all that's left is to spam Lacerate.

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Pros and cons of Lacerate Gladiator build in Path of Exile 3.25

The Lacerate Gladiator build is a very simple one-button setup (Image via Grinding Gear Games || Zizaran/YouTube)

The Lacerate Gladiator build is one of the most simple mapping builds in Path of Exile, but these strengths also come with weaknesses.

Possibly the biggest pro of playing this build is that there is no damage ramp-up time compared to other DoT (Damage over Time) builds. Once you have a single bleed stack applied to an enemy, you are doing max damage to them. Compared to a DoT build that needs to wait a few seconds to reach maximum DPS, Lacerate is much safer and simpler.

One of the biggest cons of playing this build is a symptom of one of its advantages—simplicity. This build doesn't have many skill options which, in some situations, can leave you feeling as though you don't have enough tools. Some people may also find themselves growing a bit bored if they intend to take this into endgame as it requires so little input to play. Those who enjoy chasing endgame gear may also find themselves at a loss as this build requires only three uniques.

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Path of Exile Lacerate Gladiator leveling guide: Skills to use in the early and mid-game

The Sunder skill can get you through most of the game (Image via Grinding Gear Games || Zizaran/YouTube)

To level this build as quickly as possible through the early game into mid-game, you'll want to use the skill Sunder. This ability will carry you all the way until around the point that you're able to start running maps. You'll also want to use Leap Slam, War Banner, and Blood and Sand Stance (when you find them) for utility and extra damage.

When you're able to start running maps, swap Sunder for Lacerate of Haemorrhage. You'll want to use this specific transfigured version of Lacerate as it gives you higher bleed damage. Other good abilities at this level are Earthquake, Shield Charge, Bladestorm, and Vulnerability. At this point, you'll be nearly ready for the endgame skill setup.

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Endgame 6-link Gem setup for Lacerate Gladiator build in Path of Exile 3.25

There are new methods for obtaining uniques and 6-links in POE 3.25 (Image via Grinding Gear Games || Behind Eyes Gaming/YouTube)

Completing the full endgame 6-link setup for this build will maximize your bleed damage. Without this setup, your character may still be strong, but it will be much weaker than it could be. These are the ideal gems to link to your Lacerate of Haemorrhage skill:

Gem	Effect
Volatility	Supported skill deals more maximum attack damage and less minimum attack damage.
Awakened Brutality	Supported skill deals more physical damage, deals no chaos damage, deals no elemental damage, has chance to crush enemy on hit.
Awakened Melee Physical Damage	Supported skill deals more melee physical damage, deals more damage with bleeding and poison caused by melee, has 10% less attack speed, has chance to intimidate on hit.
Awakened Multistrike	Supported skill repeats 6 (3+3) times, gains increased attack speed, deals 20% less attack damage, first three repeats gain an increasing damage bonus.
Awakened Deadly Ailments	Supported skill deals more damage with ailments, deals less damage with hits.

Having these gems linked to Lacerate of Haemorrhage will decrease some stats but buff your ailment damage greatly.

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Path of Exile 3.25 Lacerate Gladiator build endgame itemization: Uniques and affixes to look for

Very few uniques are required to make this build viable (Image via Grinding Gear Games || Zizaran/YouTube)

The Lacerate Gladiator build doesn't require much in the way of late-game itemization. To have this build fully geared for endgame Path of Exile activities you'll only need the following three uniques:

• 2x Koam's Sign
• Ryslatha's Coil

The belt may be quite expensive if you attempt to buy it outright with currency, as it is the best in slot for almost every ailment build. With this and your two rings equipped, you'll have every unique you need to maximize this build.