TL;DR
- Achieve 79% max block with Gladiator ascendancy and Rumi’s Concoction
- Stack 1000+ Dexterity for massive physical damage scaling
- Utilize Fluid Motion jewel for 94+ Dexterity conversion from Strength
- Clear all content including Simulacrum on 8-9 Exalted Orb budget
- Maintain smooth clear speed with excellent survivability for Delirium content
Discover ImTheWinningest‘s innovative Hollow Palm Cyclone Gladiator, a build that excels in Path of Exile’s Delirium league. This setup delivers exceptional damage output while maintaining superior defensive capabilities through maximum block mechanics.
The core strength lies in its ability to handle all endgame challenges, including the demanding 20-wave Simulacrum encounters. With a moderate investment of 8-9 Exalted orb, you’ll experience fluid mapping and reliable boss elimination.
ImTheWinningest‘s comprehensive video guide provides additional insights, while the shared Path of Building link offers comprehensive character details for thorough analysis.

Hollow Palm Technique Core Mechanics
You count as Dual Wielding while you are Unencumbered
60% more Attack Speed while you are Unencumbered
14 to 20 Added Attack Physical Damage per 10 Dexterity while you are Unencumbered
Unencumbered: Being unencumbered is the state of not having any main hand item, off hand item or gloves equipped.
The Hollow Palm Technique keystone originates from the unique cluster jewel “One with Nothing.” This build’s primary objective involves accumulating substantial Dexterity values to maximize physical damage output, which we’ll explore in detail throughout the gear and passive tree sections.
While this build functions adequately without mandatory unique items, several PoE items provide significant power spikes that enhance both offense and defense.
Core Unique Items Breakdown
Cyclopean Coil Leather Belt
The Cyclopean Coil, obtainable from Elder encounters, delivers exceptional life bonuses alongside up to 15% increased attributes (enhanceable to 18% with Catalysts). A crucial defensive benefit includes freeze immunity activation when your Dexterity exceeds Intelligence, eliminating the necessity for freeze-immunity flask suffixes.
Lion’s Roar and Rumi’s Concoction flasks represent vital components. Lion’s Roar contributes substantial melee physical damage multipliers, while Rumi’s Concoction supplements block chance by up to 20%, enabling maximum block cap achievement when combined with Gladiator ascendancy bonuses and strategic passive tree selections.
Two unique jewels significantly complement this setup. Fluid Motion converts allocated Strength within its radius to Dexterity while providing up to 24 additional Dexterity. Optimal placement yields substantial stat gains. The alternative beneficial jewel involves Watcher’s Eye with Pride aura modifiers. Budget-friendly options include the intimidation effect while affected by Pride.
Secondary Gear Requirements
Remaining equipment follows straightforward principles: cap elemental resistances, acquire sufficient Intelligence (111 total for maximum-level Intelligence support gems), then maximize Dexterity and life allocation across remaining slots.
One notable limitation stems from the inability to utilize three equipment slots due to Unencumbered requirements, creating significant challenges for chaos resistance integration. Beyond the previously mentioned unique flasks, recommended utilities include Catalysed Eternal Life Flask of Staunching paired with Silver Flask of Warding and Quicksilver Flask of Adrenaline for optimal performance.
Now we’ll examine the passive tree progression for this character. I strongly recommend consulting the Path of Building link for detailed review and customization according to your preferences.
Beginning as a Duelist targeting the Gladiator ascendancy, initial leveling should prioritize the Dexterity path toward the bottom-right jewel socket for early One with Nothing jewel integration.
Hollow Palm leveling provides exceptionally smooth progression since each Dexterity point delivers massive damage increases, allowing you to eliminate most enemies with single strikes throughout the campaign.

Upon reaching higher levels and respeccing, redirect toward the Strength path leading leftward toward the Constitution life wheel when additional health becomes necessary. This area accommodates the previously mentioned Fluid Motion Jewel, which at perfect rolls converts surrounding Strength to provide approximately 94 additional Dexterity.

Ensure acquisition of the Proficiency node while progressing toward Brinkmanship and the Impale wheel.

Forceful Skewering node allocation on the left side, achieved through amulet anointment, represents the optimal choice for amulet enhancements.
Additionally, progression through the Duelist area provides life bonuses and dual wielding enhancements, including Frenzy charge acquisition and additional life through jewel sockets. Strategic routing eventually returns to the initial jewel socket area.

I recommend integrating a large cluster jewel targeting the Deep Cuts passive, which provides additional impale duration for notable damage enhancement, chaining into the One with Nothing jewel for Hollow Palm Technique.
While traversing, prioritize all beneficial dual wield nodes with particular emphasis on block chance enhancements to achieve maximum block cap. Don’t overlook the Utmost Swiftness wheel, which offers substantial Dexterity bonuses.

Subsequent progression leads into the Ranger area for additional life and dual wielding passives that supplement block chance. Final routing extends into the Shadow territory to acquire additional Frenzy charges and supplementary life, completing the foundational passive tree structure.

For the Ascendancy, we’ve selected the Gladiator specialization. Multiple build variations exist—you could prioritize bleed explosions over defensive focus for improved clear speed, but particularly in Delirium league, stacking robust defenses significantly enhances content smoothness and reduces gameplay stress.
During leveling progression, prioritize Arena Challenger first. This accelerates story completion through enhanced movement and attack speed, then progress to Versatile Combatant for spell block complementing our accumulated attack block. Conclude with Violent Retaliation for substantial percentage damage boosts against bosses and during multi-enemy blocking scenarios, elevating maximum block chance to 79% for exceptional reliability, especially valuable for challenging Delirium encounters.
For Bandit choices, eliminate all bandits to secure two additional passive points, as individual bonuses provide minimal benefit for this character archetype.
Pantheon Selection Guide
Pantheon options remain largely flexible, with no specific choices dramatically impacting build performance. However, I recommend Soul of Solaris for additional single-target mitigation, alongside Soul of Ryslatha minor god (upgraded with Gorulis Will-Thief) for enhanced life flask potency, particularly valuable when recovering from low-life situations.
Complete Skill Gem Configuration
Finally, we’ll examine the skill gem configurations utilized in this build, which remain limited due to the necessity of vacating 10 total gem slots to maintain Unencumbered status.
1. Cyclone – Fortify – Pulverise – Impale – Infused Channelling – Increased AOE (Concentrated Effect)
2. Ancestral Protector – Maim – Frenzy – Culling Strike (Faster Attacks)
We utilize Frenzy to maintain frenzy charges during boss encounters where Blood Rage proves ineffective. Ancestral Protector with Maim application delivers substantial DPS enhancement through attack speed improvements and additional physical damage taken from Maim effects. While Faster Attacks accelerates frenzy charge generation during fight initiation, I prefer Culling Strike for crucial 10% execution thresholds.
3. For aura reservations, we employ Dread Banner, Pride, Blood and Sand, alongside Blood Rage for frenzy charge generation, life steal, and attack speed bonuses during mapping activities.

Action Checklist
- Acquire One with Nothing jewel and place in bottom-right socket early
- Obtain Cyclopean Coil belt for freeze immunity and attribute bonuses
- Secure Lion’s Roar and Rumi’s Concoction flasks for damage and block cap
- Optimize Fluid Motion jewel placement for 94+ Dexterity conversion
- Follow passive tree progression: Dexterity path early, Strength path later
- Configure skill gem links and aura reservations according to guide specifications
No reproduction without permission:OnLineGames Guides » PoE 3.10 Builds: Hollow Palm Max Block Cyclone Gladiator Master the Hollow Palm Gladiator with high damage, max block defense, and smooth clear speed on a budget
