Top Witch Build Guide for Path of Exile 2

The Witch class in Path of Exile 2 is a remarkable combination of minion summoner and fire spell caster, presenting a unique playstyle that appeals to fans of dark magic. This guide outlines the ultimate Witch build currently available, designed to enhance your gaming experience as you delve into the world of Wraeclast.

Within the Path of Exile 2 universe, the Witch embodies the darker aspects of magic, similar to the Necromancer in Diablo. Employing infernal spells alongside the ability to summon undead minions, she becomes a formidable opponent in battles.

In the sections that follow, we’ll thoroughly explore the most effective Witch build based on early access gameplay. This includes selecting the right Ascendancy, skills, and gear essential for maximizing your character’s potential.

witch Path of Exile — Grinding Gear Games

The Witch is the quintessential summoner class.

Top Witch Build

The foremost Witch build identified in Path of Exile 2 is the Summoner Infernalist. This build leverages the capabilities of the Infernalist Ascendancy, focusing on summoning minions that do the heavy lifting while you cast powerful spells from a safe distance.

Similar to many setups favored by Witches, this build operates as a glass cannon. It’s crucial to remain aware of your low defenses in melee combat, but rest assured, your minions will provide the necessary protection while you orchestrate their movements.

Optimal Ascendancy Choice

The Witch class offers two Ascendancy subclasses during the early access period, and for this build, we recommend choosing the Infernalist Ascendancy.

Keep in mind that while you can respec your skills, switching Ascendancies is not permitted once you select the Infernalist. To ascend, you’ll need to complete either the Trial of the Sekhemas or the Trial of Chaos.

Once you’ve chosen the Infernalist Ascendancy, prioritize the following abilities to optimize your build:

Loyal Hellhound: Summons an additional minion that ignites enemies and reduces incoming damage by 20%.
Altered Flesh: Converts 20% of Cold and Lightning damage to Fire, and 20% of Physical damage to Chaos—ensure your chaos resistance is adequate.
Beidat’s Will: Enhances your spirit but reserves 25% of your life.
Beidat’s Hand: Converts reserved life into energy shield.

witch build — Grinding Gear Games / Dexerto

The Witch relies heavily on her minions.

Essential Skills

Building an effective Witch in Path of Exile 2 heavily relies on the skills you select. As you level up towards the endgame, focus on acquiring the skills below along with their supporting skills:

Skill	Support Skill 1	Support Skill 2	Support Skill 3	Support Skill 4	Support Skill 5
Summon Infernal Hound	Meat Shield	Fire Exposure	Strip Away	Maim	Blind
Detonate Dead	Arcane Time	Spell Echo	Unleash	Considered Casting	–
Flammability	Heightened Curse	Spell Cascade	Persistence	Inspiration	Hex Bloom
Skeletal Arsonist	Martial Tempo	Scattershot	Heft	Last Grasp	Fire Infusion
Flame Wall	Fortress	Mobility	Arcane Surge	–	–
Skeletal Warrior	Brutality	Splinter	Culling Strike	Overpower	Heavy Swing
Raging Spirits	Feeding Frenzy	Minion Instability	Elemental Focus	Immolate	Fire Penetration
Pain Offering	Magnified Effect	Font of Rage	Font of Blood	Ablation	Font of Mana
Skeletal Storm Mage	Conduction	Storm Fire	Overcharge	Lightning Penetration	Controlled Destruction
Blink	Second Wind	Ingenuity	–	–	–

In Path of Exile 2, assigning skills to Uncut Skill Gems is vital for enhancing your abilities. By “Cutting Gems,”you can integrate Support Skills, thus diversifying your character’s skill set.

The skill configuration listed above represents your ideal endgame build, though acquiring everything will require time and effort. Feel free to experiment with other skills during your journey; for instance, starting with abilities like Chaos Bolt or Skeletal Sniper can offer a viable temporary solution. However, once you grow stronger, transition to the curated list above is recommended.

Passive Skills Strategy

Choosing the right Passive skills is crucial for amplifying your build’s effectiveness. These skills can provide general buffs similar to the Paragon Board in Diablo 4.

We highly recommend targeting the following Passive nodes to complement your build:

witch passives — Grinding Gear Games / poe2db

Focus on these Passive Skills to maximize your build’s potential.

Recommended Armor, Weapons & Charms

As you embark on your journey through Path of Exile 2, your initial instinct may be to equip any gear at hand. Yet, as you progress, you’ll develop a keen sense for identifying items that best suit your Witch.

Instead of constantly searching for specific gear, aim for items that provide significant buffs for your particular build. The table below outlines the top item types to pursue:

Item Type	Base Type	Benefit	How to Obtain
Weapon	Rattling Scepter	Good Spirit roll and + level of minion skills	Random drop / Vendor
Off Hand	Focus	Strong energy shield roll and cast speed	Random drop / Vendor
Helm	Energy Shield Base	+ Level to all Minion Skills	Random drop / Vendor
Armor	Energy Shield Base	Boosts Spirit with a good energy roll	Random drop / Vendor
Gloves	Energy Shield Base	Enhanced Energy Shield and Life	Random drop / Vendor
Boots	Energy Shield Base	Improved Movement Speed and Energy Shield	Random drop / Vendor
Belt	Utility Belt	Life and Resistances	Random drop / Vendor
Ring 1	Resistance Ring	Boosts resistances	Random drop / Vendor
Ring 2	Resistance Ring	Boosts resistances	Random drop / Vendor
Amulet	Spirit Amulet	Spirit increase	Random drop / Vendor
Charm 1	Amethyst Charm	+18 to Chaos Resistance	Random drop / Vendor
Charm 2	Thawing Charm	Grants immunity to Freeze	Random drop / Vendor
Charm 3	–	–	–

Stay tuned for more comprehensive guides covering other classes in Path of Exile 2, including the Warrior, Monk, Ranger, and Mercenary. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to respect your character into this build, follow our step-by-step guide!

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