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PoE 2 Build

[0.5.5] All Content 100% Crit Blood Mage

Witch

Blood Mage

End Game

Starter

0.5.5 FR

Verified

By ImJustAnthony

Updated on Oct 3, 2026

Oct 3, 2026

Build Overview

ALL CONTENT

Blood Mage Build Guide

**UPDATE IN PROGRESS FOR 0.5.5 - Forbidden Rites**

***ALL TRADE LINKS ARE AUTOMATED BY MOBALYTICS AND MAY NOT BE THE BEST SOURCE FOR BUYING EQUIPMENT. PLEASE SEARCH FOR ITEMS USING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN EACH VARIANT.***

Hello All Blood Mage Enjoyers!

This Blood Mage Build Guide uses progressing variants during a league to go from Starter to Multiple fun Endgame Builds that utilize the same core build design. This guide was created in 0.1 Early Access and has been REBUILT every league to date. Join us on Twitch to watch build variants showcased throughout a league!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION about playing a High Critical Strike Chance Blood Mage. Each individual player will have different amounts of Crit Chance in relation to their equipment. Weapon, Amulet, Helmet, Rings, Gloves, Sapphires, etc. This means that EACH INDIVIDUAL PLAYER must adjust their Passive Skill Trees to meet the requirements needed for each variant. The Passive Skill Trees on all variants below show the path I used with the equipment I was wearing at that time. You may need to add or remove Crit Chance to manage your build properly.

Your goal will be to maintain at or near 100% Critical Strike Chance for your spells to achieve the desired results. 100% crit chance DOES NOT EQUAL lots of damage. It is the starting line to begin building your character.

We need to continue scaling damage by first increasing our (Spell Skill Levels) and then following with (% Increased Damage), (Gain % Lightning/Cold/Fire/Chaos), (Critical Damage Bonus), and (Cast Speed).

Some variants may have additional scaling damage modifiers or uniques that empower the character damage. Explanations should be included in those guides.

https://www.youtube.com/@ImJustAnthonyTube

Strengths and Weaknesses

Easy Playstyle
Flexible Variants
HIGH Damage Potential
GREAT at ALL Content

Weakness....?

Build Variants

League Start

Begin Crit Stacking

Early Atlas Progression

$-Verisium Choir Mage

$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$-Ember Comet Storm

$$-FrostBolt Comet Storm

$$$-Reap Garden

$-DOOM TOADS

$$-DOOM TOADS

$$$-DOOM TOADS

0.5.5 Imported

THC Plants Import

This is the current league start variant for 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites.

Youtube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80b3qLC7xFQ

Your first ascendancy from Trial of the Sekhemas should be Vitality Siphon and completed right before going to the Dreadnought in Act 2. You can use either the Balbala's Berea or any Djinn Barya coin to access Trial of the Sekhemas from Ardura Caravan.

Complete the second trial right before The Black Chambers in Act 3. You can use Inscribed Ultimatum from Xyclucian in the Chimeral Wetlands. You must locate the Trial of Chaos to use the ultimatum.

Use this variant until you finish your second Trial and unlock Sunder the Flesh to start converting to critical strike stacking. Use (Begin Crit Stacking) Variant after Sunder the Flesh.

Equipment

League Start

Begin Crit Stacking

Early Atlas Progression

$-Verisium Choir Mage

$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$-Ember Comet Storm

$$-FrostBolt Comet Storm

$$$-Reap Garden

$-DOOM TOADS

$$-DOOM TOADS

$$$-DOOM TOADS

0.5.5 Imported

THC Plants Import

Set 1

Set 2

Equipment Priority

+10

**ITEM TRADE LINKS ARE GENERATED BY MOBALYTICS TO FIND EXACT MATCHES AND SHOULD NOT BE USED. SEARCHING FOR ITEMS YOURSELF IS ADVISED.**

***ALL EXALTED ORBS AND DIVINE ORBS*** should be saved during the campaign so you can start interacting with the in-game Player Market beginning in Act 4.

Modifiers on equipment listed above are just for reference to find usable items. Upgrade the Tier of the modifiers as you advance through the campaign.

THE MOST IMPORTANT equipment will be your Weapon and Amulet. A weapon with bonus skill levels and damage modifiers combined with a amulet that has skill levels will dominate the campaign. Cast speed on weapon, amulet, and rings is also a great source of campaign damage and speed.

One of the best tricks to make sure you keep getting upgrades is by visiting merchants in town EVERY TIME you level. Merchant items change each time your character levels during the campaign and they typically offer some good items each time. You can skip doing this if you already have a good weapon or equipment relative to current Act.

We are using STR and INT equipment because we need both for HP and Spell Skill Gems. Armour provides a ton of defense during the campaign!

Skill Gems

League Start

Begin Crit Stacking

Early Atlas Progression

$-Verisium Choir Mage

$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$-Ember Comet Storm

$$-FrostBolt Comet Storm

$$$-Reap Garden

$-DOOM TOADS

$$-DOOM TOADS

$$$-DOOM TOADS

0.5.5 Imported

THC Plants Import

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 20

Dex 15

Int 65

Life Remnants

Sigil of Power

Set 2

Spark

Set 1

Frost Bomb

Set 2

Orb of Storms

Set 1

Elemental Weakness

Set 2

Arctic Armour

Mana Remnants

Gem Priority

+20

WEAPON SET 1 - Spark Orb of Storms

WEAPON SET 2 - Frost Bomb Elemental Weakness Sigil of Power

Life Remnants comes from your first ascendency Sanguimancy which is a mandatory point for all Blood Mages.

Sigil of Power comes from Chiming Staff in our second weapon slot. Chiming Staff will be available during Act 2.

Skill Gem Priority for Supports

Spark - %Quality with Gemcutters - First
Frost Bomb
Orb of Storms
Elemental Weakness
Sigil of Power
Arctic Armour
Life Remnants
Mana Remnants

You can use Magnified Area I and Rapid Casting I on Frost Bomb until you are able to get Spell Echo. Do not use Overabundance I until you have echo.

Spark and Orb of Storms will be your primary way to clear packs of enemies.

Frost Bomb applies exposure and will be used on Rare enemies to quickly reduce their resistances into negative values. Weapon Set 2 will be amplifying our exposure effect. Frost Bomb also provides Cold Infusions which provides Spark with cold damage. You can precast Frost Bomb at bosses to stack infusions before a fight begins if desired.

Elemental Weakness and Sigil of Power are both Area ground spells that will be used primarily for bossing. Elemental Weakness will reduce the targets elemental resistances and combines with exposure from Frost Bomb which will make the target have negative resistances. This is a FANTASTIC boost to single target damage. You will need to stand inside the Sigil of Power and cast spells to receive the bonus spell damage it provides.

Passive Tree

League Start

Begin Crit Stacking

Early Atlas Progression

$-Verisium Choir Mage

$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$$-Spark Comet Storm

$$-Ember Comet Storm

$$-FrostBolt Comet Storm

$$$-Reap Garden

$-DOOM TOADS

$$-DOOM TOADS

$$$-DOOM TOADS

0.5.5 Imported

THC Plants Import

main:

123

set 1:

set 2:

This skill tree should have enough damage and utility to help you through the campaign while also giving us a path to convert to critical strike stacking with our second ascendancy.

*****ALL EXALTED ORBS AND DIVINE ORBS* should be saved during the campaign so you can start interacting with the in-game Player Market beginning in Act 4. Your primary goal will be to purchase a staff with Skill Levels, Critical Hit Chance with Spells, and prefix damage modifiers. You will want to purchase a amulet with Skill Levels and Crit Chance as a second purchase. These 2 items ALONE will catapult you through the remaining campaign and interludes. I can typically progress through Waystone Tier 5-6 with the same Staff/Amulet that was acquired while buying cheap resistance gear after arriving in the endgame maps(waystones).

Refer to the Youtube League Start Video if you have questions about the Weapon Set 1 and Weapon Set 2 skill points.

Quest Rewards

Check which quests you’ve completed on your character

Clearfell — Beira of the Rotten Pack

+10% to Cold Resistance

Freythorn — The King in the Mists

+30 to Spirit

Ogham Manor — Candlemass, the Living Rite

+20 to maximum Life

Hunting Grounds — The Crowbell

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Ogham Farmlands — Una's Hut

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Valley of the Titans — Medallion

30% increased Charm Charges gained

+1 Charm Slot

The Spires of Deshar — Sisters of Garukhan

+10% to Lightning Resistance

Keth — Kabala, Constrictor Queen

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Deshar — Final Letter

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

The Venom Crypts — Venom Draught

25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate

Jiquani's Machinarium — Blackjaw, the Remnant

+10% to Fire Resistance

The Azak Bog — Ignagduk, the Bog Witch

+30 to Spirit

Jungle Ruins — Mighty Silverfist

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Aggorat — Blood Sacrifice

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Whakapanu Island — Great White One

+30% increased Global Armour, Evasion and Energy Shield

Eye of Hinekora — Navali's Rest

5% increased Maximum Mana

Halls of the Dead — Tawhoa's Test

+5% to Lightning Resistance

Abandoned Prison — Goddess of Justice

30% increased Life Recovery from Flasks

Halls of the Dead — Tasalio's Test

+5% to Cold Resistance

Halls of the Dead — Ngamahu's Test

+5% to Fire Resistance

Journey's End — Captain Hartlin

Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Skill Gem(Lv 13)

Delirium Drop

Halls of the Dead — Yama The White

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

The Khari Crossing — Molten Shrine

5% increased Maximum Life

Qimah — Tabana's Pillar

+5% to all Elemental Resistances

Kriar Village — Lythara, the Wayward Spear

+40 to Spirit

Wolvenhold — Oswin, the Dread Warden

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

The Khari Crossing — Akthi and Anundr

Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Howling Caves — The Abominable Yeti

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Comments

Velks•3d ago

Why are you using elemental weakness instead of despair for doom toads?

FierceKey•5d ago

how to do you achieve Convalescence+Blaspemy+arctic armour = 120 spirit? I only have 100 spirit so I can only enable Blaspemy+arctic armour

Lukas•5d ago

Same Issue :)

View 1 reply

BoldDragon•4d ago

im running into the same issue so i just been running the other doomtoad $$$ since its actually achievable, however ifthey can explain wherethey are getting the extra spirit that would be awesome.

WorthyFlower•8d ago

I have truly enjoyed this league using your guide! Progressing from league start to crit stacking was easy with the detailed steps. Early atlas is when I did have to start using the trader rather than whatever was on the ground for gear. You can EASILY rock low level gear while leveling. (I was at 50, looking at some of my level 19 gear before I thought maybe I should replace it 😅).

I've now moved on to the Ember Comet Storm - MUCH tankier than the league start, slight damage loss at the moment, but I am sure that will remedy itself when I can afford some of the needed support gems.

FierceKey•8d ago

spark does not crit?

shrd_sick•7d ago

Ultimate Predator

it does in the later stage of the build. league start you use controlled destruction which makes it not crit, but does more damage. you take that off and use pinpoint crit when you get to the Begin Crit Stacking stage of the build.

View 1 reply

BoldShadow•11d ago

with 200 div which build should i start with

daze413•11d ago

Hi, great guide. Been using it past two leagues and thanks for all your work. One question though, why take Commiserate in Orb of Storms?

BoldShield•12d ago

sorry for noob question, whenever blasphemy is on, my ele weakness does not explode immediately. can anyone explain what i did wrong?

FreshDragon•8d ago

use the keynode whispers of doom

Kevin•12d ago

how high is high enough crit%chance for spark coc comet?

romeini•18d ago

Hello, This build is among the top Blood Mage guides on Mobalytics, but as a starter it cannot clear the Arbiter or the third Sekhema trial. For leveling, it is honestly one of the weakest builds I’ve ever played in PoE.

The guide is very confusing: there is no clear separation between leveling and the core build. I already had to use the market during the campaign just to feel somewhat comfortable, which is strange for a league starter.
The build itself is basically a glass cannon. If its main advantage is huge damage, why is it positioned as a starter?
I attempted the third Sekhema trial around 10 times at levels 68–74, with investment, purchased gear and relics, and still couldn’t clear it. With Spark, dealing damage while physically dodging every boss attack is extremely awkward.
I have ~7,000 hours in PoE and ~300 hours on this build. My conclusion: weak and expensive league start, and I cannot recommend it to beginners. Does the author have any counterarguments?

-2

SilentSun•18d ago

Why would you use the League start to fight Arbiter, it clearly outlines where you have to go, the first 3 builds are designed as progression steps, It's quite clear. You should be into the Early Atlas build by the time you are fighting Arbiter. Spark+Verisium at that early stage is more than enough to clear most early map content and story atlas bosses. Also trial of Suckmyass is a very bad progress step for Ascendancy, you should be doing ToC, it is alot quicker and more rewarding.

The build isn't really a glass cannon, you have defensive layers like Arctic Armour and should already be stacking Life and Energy Shield to better synergise with your Ascendancy. The majority of us who run this setup and subsequent variants have no trouble progressing, and don't break our wallets. The main things you are always looking for are an amulet/weapon with +All spells, and the campaign and entry to maps is a cakewalk.

It's hard to identify your problem without context, maybe reread the guide.

View 1 reply

Алексей•16d ago

Согласен с вами, очень дорогая сборка особенно на финале, есть гораздо дешевле билд и мощнее.

-1

View 1 reply

Video Guide

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Export this build variant directly to your game.

1. Build Overview Hello All Blood Mage Enjoyers! This Blood Mage Build Guide uses progressing variants during a league to go from Starter to Multiple fun Endgame Builds that utilize the same core build design. This guide was created in 0.1 Early Access and has been REBUILT every league to date. Join us on Twitch to watch build variants showcased throughout a league!2. Strengths and Weaknesses 3. Build Variants 4. Equipment 5. Skill Gems 6. Passive Tree 7. Quest Rewards 8. Comments

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[0.5.5] All Content 100% Crit Blood Mage

Hello All Blood Mage Enjoyers!

Your goal will be to maintain at or near 100% Critical Strike Chance for your spells to achieve the desired results. 100% crit chance DOES NOT EQUAL lots of damage. It is the starting line to begin building your character.

We need to continue scaling damage by first increasing our (Spell Skill Levels) and then following with (% Increased Damage), (Gain % Lightning/Cold/Fire/Chaos), (Critical Damage Bonus), and (Cast Speed).

Some variants may have additional scaling damage modifiers or uniques that empower the character damage. Explanations should be included in those guides.

This is the current league start variant for 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites.

Your first ascendancy from Trial of the Sekhemas should be Vitality Siphon and completed right before going to the Dreadnought in Act 2. You can use either the Balbala's Berea or any Djinn Barya coin to access Trial of the Sekhemas from Ardura Caravan.

Complete the second trial right before The Black Chambers in Act 3. You can use Inscribed Ultimatum from Xyclucian in the Chimeral Wetlands. You must locate the Trial of Chaos to use the ultimatum.

Use this variant until you finish your second Trial and unlock Sunder the Flesh to start converting to critical strike stacking. Use (Begin Crit Stacking) Variant after Sunder the Flesh.

Modifiers on equipment listed above are just for reference to find usable items. Upgrade the Tier of the modifiers as you advance through the campaign.

**THE MOST IMPORTANT** equipment will be your Weapon and Amulet. A weapon with bonus skill levels and damage modifiers combined with a amulet that has skill levels will dominate the campaign. Cast speed on weapon, amulet, and rings is also a great source of campaign damage and speed.

We are using STR and INT equipment because we need both for HP and Spell Skill Gems. Armour provides a ton of defense during the campaign!

WEAPON SET 1 - Spark Orb of Storms

WEAPON SET 2 - Frost Bomb Elemental Weakness Sigil of Power

Life Remnants comes from your first ascendency Sanguimancy which is a mandatory point for all Blood Mages.

Sigil of Power comes from Chiming Staff in our second weapon slot. Chiming Staff will be available during Act 2.

**Skill Gem Priority for Supports**

**You can use Magnified Area I and Rapid Casting I on Frost Bomb until you are able to get Spell Echo. Do not use Overabundance I until you have echo.**

Spark and Orb of Storms will be your primary way to clear packs of enemies.

This skill tree should have enough damage and utility to help you through the campaign while also giving us a path to convert to critical strike stacking with our second ascendancy.

Refer to the Youtube League Start Video if you have questions about the Weapon Set 1 and Weapon Set 2 skill points.

THE MOST IMPORTANT equipment will be your Weapon and Amulet. A weapon with bonus skill levels and damage modifiers combined with a amulet that has skill levels will dominate the campaign. Cast speed on weapon, amulet, and rings is also a great source of campaign damage and speed.

Skill Gem Priority for Supports

You can use Magnified Area I and Rapid Casting I on Frost Bomb until you are able to get Spell Echo. Do not use Overabundance I until you have echo.