Witch | Example builds Path of Exile Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Elemental Dominion
- Cast speed is increased by 6%.
- Damage dealt by elements in spells is increased by 16%.
- Adds 20 points to intelligence.
First node improves the character's damage dealt by elements in spells, it also adds 20 points to intelligence (level of mana and energy shield).
Frost Walker
- Ice damage is increased by 18%.
- Ice resistance is increased by 15%.
The second passive skill focuses entirely on two aspects of the element of ice. Firstly, it increases damage dealt by ice attacks and secondly it improves the character's ice resistance. It makes fighting ice enemies easier.
Deep Wisdom
- Adds 20 points to maximum mana level.
- Adds 20 points to maximum power of energy shield.
- Adds 20 points to intelligence.
Third passive skill has bonuses that give your character an improvement in maximum mana level and intelligence.
Arcane Focus
- 20% increased maximum Energy Shield.
- 10% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge.
Blast Radius
- Skills' area of effect is increased by 8%.
- Damage dealt with AoE skills is increased by 12%.
This choice is related to AoE skills. The first bonus increases the area that the skill or spell affects, the second one is responsible for increasing damage of these skills.
Heart of Ice
- 25% increased Cold Damage.
- Damage Penetrates 3% Cold Resistance.
Breath of Rime
Enemies Become Chilled as they Unfreeze
Smaller nodes
Smaller nodes included in this build are mainly related to quality of spells (damage, critical hits, area of effect), element of ice, and energy shield. Aside from that, in this build passive skills linked to mana and its regeneration are quite important.
Introduction
Witch is a typical mage in this game, her high intelligence level positively affects mana resources and energy shield. Playing with this type of character is rather well known to everyone. She specializes in casting hundreds of deadly spells, often related to a preferred element. You can place your skill gems in various wands that can be used for close combat if needed.
How to play
The gameplay is mainly based on long-distance fighting. The destruction you bring with your spells lets you slay more and more enemies. You should remember about the fact that the witch is not a very resistant character so don't get overexcited about the power of magic. There's a downside - some enemies might be partially or completely resistant to the element you've chosen. There is, however, an alternative. You can choose to develop summoning skills but this build is focused on the character's power instead of summoning.
Passive skills
Witch, will develop spell damage, ice and attributes. Using wands is also important because they will put our skill gems to use. By choosing intelligence nodes, your character will quickly become a powerful mage whose skills related to ice will literally crush everything on her way. Huge amounts of mana will improve fighting because they let the witch cast spells without worrying about losing the blue energy. The scheme shows the beginnings of character development - it defines initial passives (7) and shows the best path towards them.
Active skills
If you build the witch according to these instructions, you should provide her with skill gems that are related to intelligence, and don't collide with the character's weapon. The skill gem's description must specify that it will work for a wand owner. The chart below shows several skill gems that are perfect for this type of character. Make collecting them all your highest priority.
 | Clarity | The character activates an aura that speeds up his and his allies' mana regeneration. |
 | Frost Wall | The character creates a wall of ice that separates the enemies from her and pushes them back while inflicting cold damage. |
 | Ice Nova | The character creates a shockwave that inflicts cold damage. |
 | Ice Spear | The character shoots a sharp piece of ice that pierces enemies nearby and explodes near one of the last targets. |
Clarity aura works well in situations where you're being attacked by hordes of enemies or a powerful boss, when you have to cast lots of mana-absorbing spells. Such strategy usually makes you run out of mana - using this skill provides you with faster mana regeneration, thus its high level during battles.
Frost Wall is a purely defensive skill that creates a wall of ice which separates the character from enemies. You can use it during boss fights or battles against big groups of enemies.
Ice Nova is a shockwave that does ice damage, it's created around the character and goes to the outside. It's a perfect skill to use against big groups of enemies that may surround you. Aside from that, you may use it when you simply don't want to fight weak enemies.
Ice Spear is a sharp piece of ice that pierces through enemies and explodes while hitting one of the last targets. Its function is very common, it uses little mana and it's highly effective so it should be your primary attack.