The Elementalist is an Assassin build under the ‘Martial Arts’ category. It relies on Martial art skills that deal elemental damage. The build is also known as Phoenix Strike Assassin, from the name of build’s primary skill.

The Elementalist’s damage isn’t so dependent on the weapon. The build has a wide variety of elemental attacks to its arsenal. Thus, it’s very effective versus any kind of immunity monsters. It can take down with ease not only large groups of enemies but also a single powerful monster. Also, this type of Assassin has a lot of sustainability as it focuses on Vitality, but low physical damage output.

However, it’s weak for PvP due to the slow collection of skill charges.

Elementalist Build Skills

Your mains skills that you should max out are:

• Phoenix Strike

• Fists of Fire

• Claws of Thunder

• Blades of Ice: If you have remaining points to invest here, it can boost the Ice damage of Phoenix Strike.

Other skills that need many points, but you don’t have to max out:

• Claw Mastery: Place some points here if you use Katars as weapons.

• Weapon Block: If you are going to play wielding dual claws, invest 5-10 points.

• Burst of Speed: Just a few points are enough to make a difference.

• Fade: It’s very useful even with 1 point.

• Psychic Hammer/Mind Blast: Mostly used for PvP due to their stun effects. Just one point is enough.

• Cloak of Shadows: Some players use it as a tactic.

Elementalist Build Stats

Strength: Invest in Strength until you are able to wear your favorite items. The same applies to Dexterity as well.

Vitality: Spend all of your remaining points here.

Energy: Keep it at the base. You shouldn’t have serious mana issues.

Elementalist Build Equipment

Helm: Vampire Gaze, Kira’s Guardian, Guillaume’s Face, Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crest

 Body Armor: Duriel’s Shell, Chains of Honor, Enigma, Treachery, Skullder’s Ire

Shield: Lidless Wall, Stormshield, Spirit, Rhyme, Phoenix

 Weapon: Bartuc’s Cut-Throat, Jade Talon, Chaos, Wind

 Belts: Verdungo’s Hearty Cord, Arachnid Mesh, Nosferatu’s Coil

 Boots: Gore Riders

 Gloves: Dracul’s Grasp, Soul Drainer,

 Amulets: Mara’s Kaleidoscope, The Cat’s Eye, Highlord’s Wrath, Metalgrid

 Rings: Stone of Jordan, Bul-Kathos’ Wedding Band, Manald Heal

Mercenary

It’s common for a lot of players to go solo with their characters.  However, a well-equipped mercenary can greatly increase your sustainability.

The most useful companion is the Act 2 Nightmare defensive mercenary with Holy Freeze Aura. But since your build has a lot of Vitality, you can choose the offensive version of it with Might Aura. This way you can boost your damage output and kill groups of monster faster.