Path of Exile 2’s Minion Witch build is incredibly fun, but it can sometimes be confusing. You have so many options when it comes to your minion types, but there’s only so much Spirit to go around. As someone who has been playing the Minion Witch build for the whole Early Access period, I’ve got an idea of what works and what doesn’t.
While you might start off using Contagion and a few other curses, there may be a better way. The Minion Witch build is so much fun, and these tips should hopefully get you started. Leveling as a Witch can occasionally be frustrating, if you don’t really know what you’re doing, though.
All that said, while some fights can drag out forever, as long as you have your undead minions fighting, you can win. Here are some suggestions we recommend.
Tips to get you started in a Minion Witch build in Path of Exile 2
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of Minion Witch build tips in Path of Exile 2. It is just a few things we think gamers should really consider while they’re playing. It’s worth noting that just because we recommend certain types of minions, doesn't mean the others are worthless.
Many players often go with Reavers instead of Arsonists, for example. Do what fits your build.
1) Don’t underestimate the power of temporary minions
Having permanent, reviving minions is great, and it’s part of what makes a Path of Exile 2 Minion Witch build so fun. However, there are so many other ways to make a fight go from minutes to seconds: temporary minions. Your very first skill, Unearth makes temporary minions, if you cast the cone attack across corpses.
These can take you from having two or three allies to 12-13 mates in short order. You have a few ways to make temporary minions as a Witch/Occult skill user. Another great example is the Summon Zombie skill. This can add another potential 10 temporary allies to shred through health bars.
2) Flame Wall + Raging Spirits is an overpowered combo
On the topic of temporary minions, once I learned about the Flame Wall + Raging Spirits combo in Path of Exile 2, my Minion Witch build was taken to a whole different level. However, it does require a skill from the Elemental/Sorceress line with a specific Permanent Buff: Raging Spirits.
This buff requires you to sacrifice a bit of your Spirit stat but makes it so that anytime you cast a Fire spell, you summon a swarm of fire spirits. These temporary minions will fight for you, and you can have 10 of them at a time.
Giving the Flame Wall the Fortress/Arcane Tempo gems makes it faster to cast, and turns it into a circular wall, to trap enemies. All the while, your Raging Spirits, which can also be enhanced with Support Gems, will demolish foes.
Having these means you can also use Arsonists to detonate the Raging Spirits, and then resummon them for almost no mana. It’s a never-ending swarm of allies. I know this was “nerfed” recently, but it still feels incredibly strong to me.
3) Focus on increasing your Spirit and “Reduced Reservation” stats on gear as much as possible
You can increase your Spirit in Path of Exile 2 in a few ways, making your Minion Witch build even stronger. Sometimes, it comes from defeating particular bosses. The majority of your Spirit will be through a Sceptre. But that’s not all you have at your disposal, though! Most pieces of gear can roll with a +Spirit Affix, and there’s also an Amulet that can default to having Spirit as a stat.
Furthermore, you want to look for gear that has “Undead Minions have Reduced Reservation”. This means you use less spirit per minion you want to have out at one time. When you combine these, with higher-level skill gems for your minions, you can have a huge swarm of permanent, reviving skeletons.
4) Don’t waste Spirit on Skeleton Warriors ever — Snipers, then Arsonists instead
You have lots of options when it comes to your undead army as a Minion Witch player in Path of Exile 2, but take it from me — you don’t want to ever waste Spirit on Skeleton Warriors. It takes quite a few support gems to make them worth it, and even then, you have so many better options. The only time you want Skeleton Warriors is if your Sceptre gives them to you.
Instead, go with Skeletal Snipers, until you can get Skeletal Arsonists. Then, in the late game, you can grab Storm Mages and Clerics. Could you go with Skeleton Warriors? Sure, I suppose. However, they bring almost nothing to the table. Skeletal Snipers have a poison gas cloud, and Arsonists can detonate allies to deal extra damage.
Check out our other Path of Exile 2 guides and features
- How to summon more minions in Path of Exile 2
- Does Path of Exile 2 have co-op features?
- Path of Exile 2: How to use a Loot Filter