The Wave of Conviction Elementalist is a powerful and versatile build in Path of Exile (PoE) that leverages the unique mechanics of the Elementalist ascendancy class, combined with the expansive area damage and ignite potential of the Wave of Conviction skill gem. This build is especially effective as a league starter due to its low budget requirements, high damage output PoE 1 Currency, and flexibility in both clearing mobs and boss fights. It aims to convert physical damage into elemental ignite damage, maximizing damage over time to rapidly melt enemies.

At the core of the build is the Wave of Conviction skill, which sends out an expanding wave of fire and elemental energy that ignites enemies, causing consistent damage over time in a large cone-shaped area. The Elementalist's ascendancy nodes, like Shaper of Flames, enhance ignite damage substantially, making this build extremely potent for sustained damage. Key synergistic nodes and support gems focus on increasing ignite chance, ignite damage, and elemental damage multipliers for optimal effectiveness.

Defensively, this build combines strong evasion and life regeneration with the Elementalist's natural bonuses, such as Elemental Proliferation and golems that provide damage mitigation and utility buffs. The Elementalist's ability to manipulate elemental ailments and status effects is crucial to maintaining survivability in high-level maps and boss encounters. Additionally, skills like Immortal Call and Flame Dash can be employed to boost survivability and mobility, ensuring the Elementalist remains agile in combat.

Gear choices emphasize boosting elemental damage, ignite effects, and survivability. Popular unique items and rare equipment with high elemental damage, life, and resistances complement the build's offensive and defensive capabilities. For example, utilizing gear with physical-to-fire conversion significantly ramps up ignite damage. Cluster jewels and Watcher's Eye jewels that enhance damage over time effects and elemental damage under curses or specific buffs further elevate damage output.

The Wave of Conviction Elementalist also benefits greatly from auras and curses such as Hatred, Malevolence, and Enfeeble to increase damage or reduce incoming damage from enemies. Heralds like Herald of Ash and other utility buffs optimize damage and survivability balance. The build's scalability through awaken gems and cluster jewels allows it to transition smoothly from a strong league start into late-game endgame content without requiring a complete overhaul.

In conclusion, the Wave of Conviction Elementalist in PoE is a highly effective build that mixes sustained ignite damage with the Elementalist's powerful elemental bonuses and survivability tools. It is well-suited for players looking for a balance between offense and defense, ease of play, and strong progression throughout the game. With proper gear, skill allocation, and strategic use of curses and auras, this build can dominate both clearing maps efficiently and defeating challenging bosses Poe 1 Divine Orb.