Witch
The Witch in Path of Exile 2 is an Intelligence-based necromancer who commands undead minions and wields chaos magic. With a revamped summoning system and two unique ascendancies, she offers a strategic, minion-focused playstyle that excels at controlling the battlefield from a distance.
Overview
Returning from Path of Exile 1, the Witch in Path of Exile 2 shifts away from elemental spellcasting (now the Sorceress’s domain) to embrace occult magic and necromancy. Positioned at the top of the passive skill tree, she leverages Intelligence nodes to boost spell damage, minion strength, and energy shield. The introduction of the Spirit resource allows her to summon persistent minions like skeletons and spectres, which auto-revive, simplifying minion management. Her chaos spells, such as Contagion and Essence Drain, spread debilitating effects, making her a powerhouse against groups and bosses alike. With two ascendancies available in Early Access—Blood Mage and Infernalist—the Witch offers flexibility for players who enjoy ranged damage, minion armies, or high-risk spellcasting.
Key Features
Minion Summoning
Uses Spirit to summon persistent undead minions like Skeletal Warriors, Snipers, and Arsonists, which auto-revive and can be directed with improved control mechanics.
Chaos Magic
Deploys skills like Contagion and Essence Drain to deal chaos damage over time, spreading debuffs to nearby enemies when a target dies.
Osteomancy
Employs bone-based spells like Unearth to raise spikes or create temporary Bone Constructs from corpses, adding burst damage and utility.
Spirit Resource
A new mechanic that governs minion summoning, scaled by gear like sceptres, allowing for larger and stronger undead armies as you progress.
Ascendancies
Blood Mage
Trades mana for life costs, gaining survivability through Life Remnants dropped by enemies. Excels at critical hits and spellcasting with skills like Sanguimancy and Crimson Power.
Infernalist
Focuses on fire damage and minion synergy, summoning a Loyal Hellhound and using Infernal Flame instead of mana. Features skills like Demonic Form for boosted spell damage.
Playstyle tips
- Lean into minions early with Skeletal Warriors and Unearth for a safer, controlled experience. Prioritize Intelligence nodes for damage and Spirit gear to expand your army.
- Combine Contagion and Essence Drain for chaos DoT clears, or go Infernalist with a minion-heavy build to maximize Spirit scaling via Beidat’s Will and Loyal Hellhound.