Path of Exile 2 promises to be an even deeper and more intricate experience than its predecessor, offering both new mechanics and improvements on existing features. One of the most beloved and powerful classes in the game is the Witch, known for her mastery of dark arts, elemental magic, and the power to summon and control devastating forces. If you're stepping into the world of Poe 2 trade and are looking to play the Witch, you're in the right place. This guide will explore the best Witch build options, the mechanics that make them powerful, and the considerations you need to make for your journey through Wraeclast.
Understanding the Witch Class
The Witch in Path of Exile is a highly versatile character class that can specialize in a variety of playstyles. Traditionally, the Witch excels at casting spells and controlling elements, using raw intelligence and powerful spells to deal massive damage. She also has strong synergy with minions, curses, and other dark arts.
In Path of Exile 2, the Witch's role remains largely the same, but with the introduction of new mechanics and reworked systems, she has more build diversity than ever before. Whether you're looking to cast devastating spells from a distance or control legions of minions, the Witch can handle it all. But the key to success is choosing the right build that suits your playstyle and makes the most of her potential.
Best Witch Builds in Path of Exile 2
Here are some of the best Witch builds to consider in Path of Exile 2, each with a unique approach to gameplay. Keep in mind that the meta for builds can evolve with each patch, but these builds are great starting points for any Witch aspiring to dominate Wraeclast.
1. Elemental Spellcaster - "Elemental Blast Witch"
If you love casting powerful spells that deal massive elemental damage, then the Elemental Blast Witch is a strong choice. This build focuses on elemental spells like Fireball, Ice Nova, Flameblast, and Lightning Tendrils, using the Witch's ability to manipulate fire, ice, and lightning to rain destruction from a distance.
Why Choose This Build?
High DPS: Elemental spells can easily scale with large amounts of damage, making this build effective for clearing mobs and bosses.
High Survivability: The Witch can focus on defenses like Energy Shield, Evasion, and Chaos Resistance, which make her an excellent choice for those looking to mitigate damage while dishing out powerful AoE spells.
Fast Clear Speed: With the right support gems and scaling, this build can clear entire screens of enemies in no time.
Key Mechanics and Ascendancy
Ascendancy: Occultist - Occultist is a top choice for scaling elemental damage with strong curses and poison support. Her ascendancy offers benefits like increased energy shield recovery and curse effectiveness, which can significantly boost your overall survivability and damage output.
Key Skills: Flameblast, Fireball, Ice Nova, Arc, Lightning Tendrils
Recommended Passive Tree: Focus on energy shield, elemental damage, and nodes that improve spell damage, critical strike chance, and elemental penetration.
Tips for the Elemental Blast Witch:
Always focus on stacking elemental resistances for defense, especially with the increased difficulty in Path of Exile 2.
Make sure to incorporate increased spell damage and critical strike chance in your gear for scaling damage.
Add mana regeneration nodes to avoid running out of resources while casting your spells.
2. Summoner Witch - "Necromancer"
The Necromancer build focuses on raising an army of the dead to do your bidding. Minions like Skeletons, Zombies, and Spectres can overwhelm enemies, while the Witch provides powerful buffs to her minions. This build is perfect for players who enjoy a more hands-off approach to combat while still maintaining high damage output.
Why Choose This Build?
Pet-based Gameplay: Control an army of powerful minions without worrying about constantly positioning yourself.
Strong Defense: With your minions acting as your front line, the Witch remains safe in the back, allowing you to focus purely on controlling the battlefield.
Easy Mapping: This build is one of the best for mapping, as the large number of minions will clear areas effortlessly.
Key Mechanics and Ascendancy
Ascendancy: Necromancer - The Necromancer ascendancy is designed around enhancing your minions' capabilities. The ascendancy offers bonuses like increased minion damage, more minion life, and the ability to summon additional minions, allowing you to overwhelm enemies with numbers.
Key Skills: Raise Zombie, Summon Skeletons, Summon Spectre, Flame Golem, Vaal Summon Skeletons
Recommended Passive Tree: Focus on minion damage, minion life, and nodes that enhance your minions' ability to deal damage and tank hits.
Tips for the Necromancer Witch:
Prioritize minion life and damage on your gear to ensure your undead army is both resilient and deadly.
Desecrate is an excellent skill to summon corpses and power your other minion-related abilities.
Focus on minion damage scaling, as it allows your minions to deal massive amounts of buy POE 2 Exalted Orbs damage, especially when empowered by specific support gems.