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PoE 2 Build

[0.5.5] All Content 100% Crit Blood Mage

End Game

0.5.5 FR

By ImJustAnthony

Updated on Sep 9, 2026

Sep 9, 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
Fubgoon might ban you from his chat for supporting the guide. :)

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

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

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

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

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

Hunting Grounds — The Crowbell

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Freythorn — The King in the Mists

+30 to Spirit

Ogham Farmlands — Una's Hut

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Ogham Manor — Candlemass, the Living Rite

+20 to maximum Life

Keth — Kabala, Constrictor Queen

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Valley of the Titans — Medallion

30% increased Charm Charges gained

+1 Charm Slot

Deshar — Final Letter

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

The Spires of Deshar — Sisters of Garukhan

+10% to Lightning Resistance

Jungle Ruins — Mighty Silverfist

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

The Molten Vault — The Molten Vault

Reforging Bench

Aggorat — Blood Sacrifice

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Journey's End — Captain Hartlin

Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Skill Gem(Lv 13)

Delirium Drop

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 — Yama The White

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

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

Halls of the Dead — Tribal Medicine

30% increased Armour, Evasion and Energy Shield

Wolvenhold — Oswin, the Dread Warden

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

The Khari Crossing — Akthi and Anundr

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

Howling Caves — The Abominable Yeti

Grants Two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points

Comments

BrightBlade•21h ago

Not the most noob-friendly builds, I finally gave this a shot after trying and giving up on previous incarnations but its definitely a strong glass cannon.

You are pretty darn squishy starting out, thankfully most things die fairly quickly if you know how to set it up and keep the cold infusion train rolling. It was probably easier to get Powered by Verisium in 0.5.0 so that part is a pain point for me.

I would try to squeeze in Temporal Chains once you're in maps to deal with being swarmed, as your curses are pretty boosted. Early mirrors will absolutely destroy you unless your damage is already through the roof.

Again, definitely not for the faint of heart, as you have to know what you can facetank through life remnants early on, and what you can't. It is nice to see stuff melt so quickly, finding good jewels is pricey in 0.5.5 which is the sole bottleneck for this build.

Sidartha•14h ago

Yeah I'm struggling big time. Partly, my fault because I started as something else that was even worse and respec'd to this. However, this has been only marginally better. My damage is better but surviving is another story and I'm still in the campaign. I just don't see where the defense is (and I even added infused flesh for some added life sustain). If you have the luxury of setting up orbs and frost bomb early and can get damage rolling it's fine but if you get swarmed before you can do that or god forbid you have to move (especially out of your freshly placed sigil of power) it's rough because you stop casting you stop doing damage and you stop keeping your health topped off. I am overleveled and the interludes are kinda of rough. Couldn't even defeat the ritual version of the spirit boss despite being 4 levels higher than the zone. I came into this mini-league with the intent to try and level faster and it turned out to be my slowest leveling experience ever.

DratuS•1d ago

Disgusting builds.

Watch out for this guys fan(fem)boys. They're doing everything they can to defend his builds.

-2

Noodles Camper•1d ago

i’m not here to defend him or anything, and yeah, maybe his builds are completely useless for some people, but for me they’ve actually worked really well. i started this league with one of his starter builds, and it actually got me into the beginning of endgame. now i’m already playing his second version of DOOM TOADS.

you don’t have to trust him, just go watch his live gameplay and see for yourself, or just F off :)

is someone’s currency-selling business in danger?

FuzzBoi•1d ago

If you spend 150 Div on ANY build it will blast. I think its safe to say you may be the problem. I don't watch this dudes stream, I don't know the drama. This is bog standard blood mage build, and they are pretty clear that you need some investment. 30-40 div will carry you to Juiced maps to farm ANYTHING in the game. If you waste your money that's kinda a skill issue no?

Sidartha•2d ago

Where is the defense exactly for this? I'm like level 50 and just sort of transitioned to this because my other build wasn't working. This is working ok but I'm very squishy. It's ok when I'm dealing damage but if I get swarmed before I can get damage going or have to move it's very dicey. My resists are nearly capped.

Arroot•2d ago

CRIT.

That's it.

Well..

Not just crit.

You also need:

More crit

Even more crit

Crit on your crit

A staff that has crit

A helmet that has crit

Rings that have crit

Jewels that have crit

Passive nodes that have crit

Probably crit on your driver's license

[deleted]•1d ago

This comment was deleted by its author.

IronFlower•2d ago

there is 10 variations be more specific what u talking about ?

RichShield•2d ago

I never reply to stuff but this not correct. Either skill issue with weapon sets not done correctly/bad gear or a hater. The fact that no one show cases this guy shows you how little of builds your seeing from the gated streamers. GREAT GUIDE. DONT LISTEN TO THIS COMMENT.

View 1 reply

mectoamore•2d ago

you sir just have a skill issue thats all there is to it ants builds are peak and crush everything with very little skill needed so get better scrub

ShinyDagger•2d ago

you could literally roll your face across the keyboard and clear all the content in the game with these builds. I think you might want to go play Diablo.

FreshMask•3d ago

На той же Химере урон едва дотягивает до 25 тыс. DPS — босс просто «ковыряется» вечность. Один из самых слабых и некомфортных билдов для прохождения кампании, что я пробовал.

ShinyGolem•2d ago

ты что-то неправильно собрал, у меня химера секунд за 20 улетела

View 3 replies

FreshMask•1d ago

Ближе к концу 3-го акта я начал замечать, что урон начал расти. Похоже, прирост пассивных умений начал брать верх над врагами.

Лирик•5d ago

Искра плюс буря очень мало урона наносят

Video Guide

Build Planner Export

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.