Diablo 4 Season 9 has introduced several powerhouse builds across all classes, and Diablo 4 Items one of the most surprising among them is the Jaguar Spiritborn with Balazan's Maxtlatl. This Poison-focused Thorns build isn't meta in the traditional sense. Still, with the right setup, it easily rivals (and often outpaces) more conventional choices, especially in AoE mob clearing and endgame Thorns scaling.

In this guide, we break down everything you need to know to build and master Balazan's Poison Rake Spiritborn, from leveling to final gear, Paragon, Spellcrafting, Diablo 4 Items, and more.

Pros and Cons of Balazan's Poison Rake Spiritborn

Pros:

Insane AoE damage via Poison DoT and Thorns
Jaguar Spirit skill synergy allows incredible mobility
Strong synergy with Spirit Halls and key items like Razorplate
Dominates large mob packs with Vortex + Catalyst combo

Cons:

Low survivability without optimized Barrier stacking
Needs specific Uniques (Balazan's Maxtlatl, Razorplate) to truly shine
Requires over 150% Attack Speed for endgame viability
High dependency on cooldown and Ferocity management

How to Play the Build: Skill Rotation

1. Engage with Vortex to pull enemies together and knock them down.
2. Spam Rake to stack Ferocity and deal direct damage - each cast triggers Thorns with Balazan's.
3. Activate Armored Hide, Toxic Skin, and Ravager to increase Thorns, Poison damage, and durability.
4. Use The Hunter to summon the Jaguar Spirit and dart between enemies for instant, bursty damage.
5. Position inside Mystic Circles (via Aspect of Plains Power) to maximize Ferocity and damage output.
6. Use Catalyst + Corrosive Vapor + Ocular Rune from Diablo 4 Items for sale Spellcrafting to obliterate groups.