Energy Blade Scaling

I've seen a lot of readers here interested in Energy Blade. Personally I'm not completely sold on it, but I wanted to bring up a very powerful unique interaction that many users are forgetting.

Many players have correctly pointed out that Mask of the Stitched Demon allows for powerful int stacking on Energy Blade builds. It also enables Shaper's Touch for accuracy and evasion from int stacking.

I wanted to point out another unique, Mahuxotl's Machination, which will be very potent for Energy Blade whether you int stack or not.

Mahuxotl's Machination

This 6 keystone shield looks super complicated, but is potent for any life build that leeches, and either stacks Energy Shield for offense or ignores it entirely. Most of its downsides are irrelevant to an Energy Blade build, and the lower ES pool is actually a huge benefit.

The critical information here is that this unique provides Corrupted Soul, Vaal Pact, and Slayer overleech on an inexpensive unique shield, for that sweet 15% Life gained as ES, and access to Vaal Pact from the top side of the tree.

This is already insane value from a single item slot, but it gets even better.

EDIT: This item was drop disabled in 3.15 and is no longer in the game. It may come back if Ultimatum is added to the core game, or if people beg Chris enough.

Divine Flesh

The shield provides Divine Flesh (50% ele taken as chaos, 5% max chaos res) without needing a timeless jewel. This is powerful on its own, and opens the option for shenanigans with either

• Incandescent Heart (25% ele taken as chaos, 20% ele gained as extra chaos damage)
• or Tempered by War (completely convert cold and lightning damage, allowing you to ignore resists)

Everlasting Sacrifice

The shield also provides Everlasting Sacrifice and Immortal Ambition.

TL;DR is these two keystones provide 5 all max res while you are leeching.

Short summary:

• All damage bypasses Energy Shield
• Your overleech applies to Energy Shield at full life
• When your Energy Shield reaches max, sacrifice all of it to gain a buff for 4 seconds.
• Buff grants 5 all max res

Eternal Youth

Finally, I'm pretty sure Eternal Youth keystone is still functional. The wiki page for good ol' Mahxy's shield doesn't mention it, but the Eternal Youth page says that it works with Immortal Ambition, because

"You cannot recharge Energy Shield" and

"Energy Shield Recharge applies to life instead"

do not conflict with each other.

Downsides

• 34 ES shield on Energy Blade build
• All damage bypasses Energy Shield
• ES starts at 0, meaning you need to leech or weapon swap to activate Energy Blade
• Disables Life Regeneration
• Needing a PHD to understand what this item does