The Volcanic Fissure Berserker build in Path of Exile 3.26 is widely recognized as one of the strongest and most beginner-friendly league starters, offering high damage output, fast clear speed PoE 1 Currency, and smooth progression from leveling to endgame content. This build centers around the Volcanic Fissure skill, a melee slam attack that creates a fissure on the ground dealing fire damage over time as it travels forward, making it excellent for both clearing packs and boss fights.

Core Mechanics and Playstyle
Volcanic Fissure is a skill that benefits heavily from the Berserker ascendancy, which provides immense attack speed, life leech, and damage bonuses. The Berserker’s notable nodes like Aspect of Carnage and Warbringer increase damage and survivability, making the build both powerful and durable. The playstyle revolves around slamming the ground to unleash fissures while maintaining high uptime on buffs like Warcry and Seismic Cry to boost damage and survivability.

The build typically uses the Snaking support gem for Volcanic Fissure, which allows the fissures to travel further and hit more enemies, significantly increasing clear speed and damage coverage. Life leech support gems are also essential to sustain health during combat, especially since the Berserker ascendancy encourages aggressive playstyles that can take some self-damage.

Skill and Gem Setup
Players start leveling with skills like Sunder or Ground Slam before transitioning to Volcanic Fissure once the Snaking support gem is available. The skill setup often includes links to Ruthless for increased damage, Chance to Bleed for additional physical damage over time, and Life Leech for sustain. Warcries like Intimidating Cry and Seismic Cry are used to boost damage and survivability, with Infernal Cry manually activated for additional offensive buffs.

Passive Tree and Ascendancy
The passive skill tree focuses on increasing melee physical and fire damage, attack speed, life, and leech. Cluster jewels are often used to enhance damage and survivability further. The Berserker ascendancy path prioritizes nodes that grant increased damage, life leech, and attack speed, such as Rage and Unrelenting.

Gear and Progression
The build is considered beginner-friendly because it scales well with relatively affordable gear. Players prioritize weapons with high physical damage and attack speed, alongside life and resistances on armor. Unique items like Yoke of Suffering mace can boost damage by converting physical damage to elemental, synergizing well with the fire-based Volcanic Fissure.

Strengths and Viability
The Volcanic Fissure Berserker excels at fast map clearing and boss killing due to its high area damage and sustained DPS. It is also quite tanky for a melee build thanks to life leech and Berserker’s ascendancy bonuses. This build is a popular choice for new league starters and veterans alike, offering a smooth leveling experience and strong endgame potential buy PoE Currency.