Best Witch Build in Path of Exile 2: Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist

The Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist build is one of the most straightforward and effective Witch builds in PoE 2. It's designed to be "braindead" in the best possible way-simply cast a few spells and let your minions do the work. This build is renowned for its durability, ease of play, and massive minion damage output. Here's a quick rundown of its key elements:

Core Concept

Minion Focus:

The build revolves around summoning and empowering minions. Your main damage comes from Skeletal Arsonists and Raging Spirits, which scale with +minion levels and convert physical damage into potent fire explosions.

Simplicity:

The build is extremely straightforward-no complex rotations or high mechanical demands. It's perfect for players who want to enjoy a stress-free playstyle while still wreaking havoc.

Durability:

With robust defenses provided by massive Energy Shield, Life, and Mind Over Matter, you become nearly unkillable. This allows your minions to soak up damage while you focus on positioning and casting key spells.

Key Skills & Support Gem Setup

Skeletal Arsonists:

Primary Attack: Their damage is amplified by support gems such as Scattershot (to add extra projectiles), Martial Tempo (for attack speed), Fire Infusion (adding flat fire damage), and Heft (increasing physical damage, which converts to fire).

Role: They are your main offensive force, bombarding enemies with fire and creating explosive chain reactions.

Raging Spirits:

Support Gems: Boost their damage with Feeding Frenzy, Fire Penetration, Execute (for low-life targets), and Elemental Focus.

Role: They help finish off targets and add extra DPS on top of your Skeletal Arsonists.

Flame Wall:

Support Gems: Use Fortress, Arcane Tempo, Spell Cascade, and Inspiration to summon additional minions and spread fire damage.

Role: It both summons your minions and creates damaging zones to ignite enemies.

Pain Offering:

Role: Sacrifices one minion for a massive temporary DPS boost. It's especially potent if you have expendable minions from sources like Rattling Sceptre.

Additional Utility:

Summon Infernal Hound: For exposure and additional minion support.

Flammability: As a curse, it drastically reduces enemy resistances to fire, amplifying your overall damage.

Grim Feast: Doubles your Energy Shield, giving you a huge defensive boost.

Shield Charge: Provides mobility when you need to reposition quickly.

Gear, Currency, and Item Considerations

Even though this build is designed to be low-maintenance, investing POE 2 currency wisely is key to scaling its power:

Weapons:

Primary Weapon: A high-level Quarterstaff (or another physical damage weapon) with high base physical damage. Remember, Skeletal Arsonists convert most of your physical damage into fire.

Unique Items: Items like Widowhail are excellent as they scale up your quiver's stats, drastically boosting your minion damage.

Armor:

Aim for a mix of Evasion and Energy Shield.

Consider gear with Strength modifiers to add extra life and enable more robust armor, compensating for the typically squishy nature of Witch builds.

Jewelry:

Invest in rings and amulets that boost Dexterity, Intelligence, and resistances. These mods will improve your minion damage and survivability.

Breach Rings or other high-value POE 2 items can be traded for POE 2 currency to upgrade your stash.

Currency Farming:

Use mapping, crafting, and trading to accumulate currency, which allows you to purchase higher-tier gear or craft superior Path of Exile 2 items. POE 2's trade system is essential for finding or flipping the right items, ensuring your build remains competitive as you transition into endgame content.

Passive Tree & Ascendancy

Passive Tree Focus:

Prioritize nodes that boost minion damage, minion level, life, energy shield, and mana recovery.

Investing in minion-focused passives will ensure that your skeletons and spirits pack a punch, while defensive nodes help you survive.

Ascendancy – Infernalist:

Infernalist is the ideal Ascendancy for this build. It improves your minions significantly, grants you a Hellhound for additional exposure (which helps remove enemy resistances), and boosts your survivability with increased Energy Shield and Spirit.

Spend your Ascendancy points wisely to maximize both offensive and defensive benefits, ensuring your minions and your character work in tandem.

Conclusion

The Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist Witch is a powerful and accessible build that lets you cast a few key spells and rely on a horde of minions to deal devastating fire damage across Wraeclast. With a straightforward skill rotation and robust gear obtainable through POE 2 currency and careful trading, this build is ideal for new players and veterans alike.

By focusing on:

Upgrading your gear with the right Path of Exile 2 currency,

Investing in key passives and the Infernalist ascendancy,

Maximizing your minion damage and defenses,

You'll not only crush the campaign content but also be well-prepared for the endgame. Enjoy your journey, and may your skeletons and spirits burn everything in your path!