This guide outlines a powerful Infernalist Witch build that focuses on minion damage and synergies, leveraging the strengths of the Infernalist Ascendancy.
Ascendancy Node Sequence
- Altered Flesh: Converts 20% of incoming Cold, Lightning, and Physical damage into Fire damage for significant mitigation.
- Beidat’s Will: Reserves 25% Life and adds +1 Maximum Spirit per 25 Maximum Life, prioritizing Spirit for auras and minion skills.
- Beidat’s Gaze: Reserves 25% Life and grants +1 Maximum Mana per 6 Maximum Life, increasing Mana for offensive spells.
- Beidat’s Hand: Reserves 25% Life and provides +1 Maximum Energy Shield per 8 Maximum Life, bolstering Energy Shield for added defense.
Skill Gem Arrangements
Primary Damage (Non-Minion): Arc
A chaining spell that deals Lightning damage, increasing damage with each remaining chain.
Support Gems:
- Added Lightning Damage: Boosts Arc’s Lightning damage.
- Lightning Penetration: Enhances Arc’s effectiveness against enemies with Lightning resistance.
- Shock Chance: Increases the likelihood of inflicting Shock, amplifying subsequent damage.
- Chain: Increases the number of times Arc chains, hitting additional enemies.
Secondary Damage (Non-Minion): Contagion
Chaos spell that spreads on an enemy’s death, applying Chaos damage over time for rapid clear.
Support Gems:
- Swift Affliction: Boosts Chaos damage over time for quicker kills.
- Poison Chance: chance to poison on hit.
- Chaos Mastery: Increases Contagion’s level for higher damage.
- Spell Echo: Triggers an additional Contagion cast, enhancing spread speed.
- Hinder: Applies a slow effect, improving minion survivability.
Minion Skills
Summon Skeletons
Summons melee minions to deal consistent damage and distract enemies.
Support Gems:
- Feeding Frenzy: Boosts attack speed and aggressiveness.
- Minion Instability: Causes explosive damage on minion death
- Essence Harvest: Recover 50 mana when a minion dies
Raise Zombie
Summons durable frontline minions to tank and deal damage.
Support Gems:
- Meat Shield: Enhances defensive and taunting abilities.
- Last Gasp: Extends usefulness after death with brief post-mortem activity.
- Elemental Army: Increases elemental resistance, enhancing durability.
- Minion Mastery: +1 to Level of Minion skill
Unearth
Summons short-lived bone constructs for burst damage and additional firepower.
Support Gems:
- Spell Echo: Adds a second wave of constructs for increased damage.
- Concentrated Effect: Boosts damage by focusing effect radius.
- Faster Casting: Speeds up cast frequency for more constructs.
- Open Slots: Options include More Duration or Controlled Destruction.
Bind Spectre
Captures spirits of unique monsters, offering utility or damage boosts.
- Choose spectres that enhance minion damage, survivability, or provide unique utility effects.
Auras and Curses
Discipline
Provides additional Energy Shield, enhancing survivability.
Support Gems:
- Clarity: Supports mana regeneration to sustain Discipline.
Herald of Ash
Adds Fire damage and triggers Fire explosions, complementing both Arc and minion damage.
Flammability
Reduces Fire resistance of enemies for enhanced damage.
- Blasphemy: Converts Flammability into an aura, automatically applying it to nearby enemies.
Noteworthy Unique Items (not verified)
- Summoner’s Staff: Increases minion capacity while reducing mana or Spirit reservation.
- Lifespring Wand: Boosts spell damage and grants life recovery on cast.
- Corpse Wade Boots: Synergizes with corpse-related skills for additional effects.
- Abyss of Embers: Enhances burning effects for physical damage-based builds.
Gameplay Strategies
- Early Game: Acquire “Altered Flesh” and level core skills (Arc, Contagion, Summon Skeletons, Raise Zombie). Use defensive layers like Arctic Armour.
- Mid-Late Game: Use Beidat’s Will to enhance minion count and effectiveness. Optimize gear and support gems for survivability and damage.
- Life and Mana Management: Balance Spirit reservation with defensive options and mana sustain.
- Offensive Tactics: Lead with Contagion for Chaos damage, followed by Arc for chained shocks. Position minions strategically for maximum impact.
- Synergies: Shock enemies with Arc and burn them with Herald of Ash and Flammability.
Leveling Tips
- Focus on gear with high Life and resistances, especially Fire resistance.
- Experiment with minion combinations to find your preferred playstyle.
- Balance offensive and defensive skills for steady progression.
