Seeking witch build tips (half minion half spell?)

[Coppernerves]

I'm just getting started in this and looking for tips for levelling a Witch, as I heard if you build wrong in PoE you don't get much chance to correct.

Is it OK to go in two directions at once on the passive tree?

I like minions but don't want to rely on them entirely, ideally I'd like to let minions slow enemies down, do crowd control, and soak up projectiles, while I pick off anything big or fast with wands akimbo and a fistful o' lightening.

Is a budget build like this actually viable?
Does anyone know any good build guides for this?
Would I want to spec into necromancer or elemental ascendancy, or can you do both?
Also in general, please advise.

[Septic]

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-forum/22

Go nuts :)

[Wipkonijntje]

those builds u speak about (that u can't make much mistakes) r pro casher builds that basicly need every specific unique item to run but u can actually run about averthing u like and still be able to clear and game with bad rare items only.

i started with about the same build u seek, a self made hybrid build focussed on elemental damage with elemental golems to support me. i have no uniques and i can still clear endgame.

this is the basic skeleton of the skilltree i used

https://www.pathofexile.com/fullscreen-passive-skill-tree/3.5.2/AAAABAMCAQLjBLMHHgelCPQLYQ5IES0RLxGWFm8Wvxo4HNwdFCL0JKomlScvKhMqjSsKLJwy0TWSNj022DbpOlg64TwtPvFFR0WdRlJJG0lRSbJKLkyLTN9N41NSU41UR1VLVcZWSFnzWitd8mHiYqxmVGaeaPJqQ2t6bAtsjG0ZcWlyD3SlfIN_xoIQgpuDX4PMg9uMNo8aj0aQVZD6kyeUb5UumuCboZ2qnsSfSKEvogClZ6ZXpr6nCKelrJiu_69stUi3PrzqvorAZsMTxq7Iv8ry1YvVptgk2L3fbd-w42rrY-vu7FXvS_Af8NXxbPJF99f60vxM_gr-jw==?accountName=AnxietyOverload&characterName=RANDYHARRIS


to start with this build u just have to rush to the left side of the tree for elemental overload.
from then u rush more left to runebinder that lets u attatch 1 extra brand.
from there on just finish as u like.



for ascendancy there r 2 possibilities here:

1: more defensive side for better survival if your not to sure in high lvl content:

go for paragon of calamity first, this gives u some spell leech for survival and all your ele damage can't be reflected.

after that for for the 2 golem skills: leage of the primordial and elemancer.

with those 2 skills u can summon up to 3 ele golems+the golems r immume to elemental damage and give u some immumities



2: offensive build for maximum damage:

rush shaper of desolation and beacon of ruin.

then your choise: -get the 2 golem skills for the 3 golems.
-get 1 golem skill and paragon of calamity-> u can summon 2 golems and
your ele damage can't be reflected.


for skillgems i run:

ice/fire/lightning golem + minion extra life in a 4 sloth (gloves , boots or helmet)

immortal call + molten shell + cast when taken damage + increased duration in another 4 slot for extra defense and extra damage since molten shell if our main type of damage: fire

also important r flame dash: easy teleport to get out of danger wich does fire damage
and herald of ash to give us a damage buff.
i use these 2 skills + stone golem in another 3-4 slot.

(stone golem to get more hp regen in trials to deal with trap damage)

last i might want 1 more damage skill for when u don't cast brands.
this is pretty personal, here i use magma bomb + greater multiple projectiles support + any damage buff, in a 4 sloth or weapon.

most builds advice for a brand recall skill aswell, though i personally don't use it.

[BelChris666]

protect yourself from reflect by going ele imo.

[Coppernerves]

Originally posted by Septic:

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-forum/22

Go nuts :)

Nice.
Hey I found this Summoner / poison bow build:
https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/2232094

Weirdly, it's pure summoner, with no points actually put into archery or poison/chaos.
Also it uses Spectres which are yet another slave to manage, so why bother?

It says go straight for Spiritual Command, but I should probably go for Sacrifice if I want the zombies more as defence from hoards instead of as a weapon.

I've gone straight for spell casting speed rather than minion health, as on the beaches it seems like my zombies are owning better than my wands anyway.

There's a bit of an attribute-slog towards SC, but at least I can alternate into Lightening Walker.

Thoughts?

[Drake]

There is no wierd there, that's acutally how you should build an hybrid necromancer, anyone doing something else for this job is actually doing it wierd.
This is how you use the passive tree, and poe stats in general. If you want to do an hybrid build in poe, the first thing to do is to create a common ground for all your skills (to save passive points) .

In this build's case it's minion damage and attack speed (spiritual aid and spiritual command), that's why you rush them, it's not for the minions, it's for you. Spiritual aid will make minion damage on the tree affect you, spiritual command will do the same for attack speed. This means you don't need to pick bow damage or or speed or whatever. You just need to stack minion damage for minion and for your bow. If you prefer it this way, with this build, your char is just viewed as another minion.
With the mistress of sacrifices passive, you'll also benefit from the offerings bonus, the damage bonus it gives and the skill duration bonus (which toxic rain relies on).

On the subject of specters. It's a specter build, so obviously the guy is using them, zombies are just there for defence. his main minions are the specters, they're doing the cleaning. if you want to use other offensive summons feel free (skeletons come to mind, mage versions could work). Zombies are more for defence since they're always close to you, unless you're a melee char then they're always that the proper hitting range (but for a melee summoner, dominating blow might be a better skill).

About the minion damage to replace other damage. this is how poe works : %increased is %increased. Everything after that is just a tag to tell you on what it works (or does not). %increased minion damage with spiritual aid is exactly the same as 10%increased bow damage (with a bow skill) or 10%increased chaos damage (with a chaos skill), they are all 10% increased damage. As long as it applies to the skill, they can be all combined and interchanged.