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[0.2] Chaos / Minions LICH - Full Guide - League Starter to Endgame

0.2 DotH

Witch

Lich

Verified

Starter

Speed Leveling

End Game

By Ronarray

Updated on May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Build Overview

This is my full build guide for Chaos LICH - from leveling league starter to endgame

This build covers all the progression from league starter leveling setup to a proper endgame build. Click build variants down there to see how to progress.

You can also transition to 100% Crit Chance BONE Lich that you can find there:

https://mobalytics.gg/poe-2/builds/ronarray-bone-lich

League Starter video - https://youtu.be/sYxxohZivLU

Endgame video with my gear + mechanics / tips ------------------------>

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So in 0.2 Dawn of the Hunt GGG decided to nerf a few popular league starter routes.

In such situation Minions look like one of safest ways for LICH, combined with Contagion + Essence Drain it should be smooth campaign experience.

This guide will help you to pick the gear and gems and will help you out while progressing.

Atlas to run at the start - https://youtu.be/EyF_VJ_8gts

Minions got BUFFED in recent hotfix - 50% MORE DPS for them which is great.

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In this build we are going to utilize:

1. Now we will use Contagion + Essence Drain instead of Bonestorm in the early game.

2. Skeletal Sniper or Skeletal Arsonist as main minions so they can facetank for you.

3. Raging Spirits and Flame Wall - GOT NERFED so not a lot of point to play those.

But you can still use Flame Wall to buff damage from Skeletons.

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If you have questions after reading the guide - hit me on Twitch, I will help!

Strengths and Weaknesses

Good at leveling
Great Clear
Very Tanky

Relies on Totems for Single Target
Need to use a few skills in a row

Build Variants

Campaign

Midgame / Early Waystones

Endgame

Campaign Variant

Select another Variant

Equipment

Set 1

Set 2

Aim to find at least ONE or TWO Stats from the example items I provided above.

Wand and Sceptre (Focus later on):

At Wand you need to search for Spell Damage / Chaos Damage.

At Scepter aim for Spirit / + Level to Minion Skills. After Act 1 (CRUEL) you can repick Sceptre to the Focus with Chaos damage.

Body and Helmet:

Helmet can roll +Level of Minions skills so aim for that if you can find one.

At the rest of the gear just get Life + some resistances where you can.

Enfolding Dawn can also be an amazing option for early minions if you can get it somehow.

Boots:

Here you just need to get Movement Speed and if possible some Life / Resistances.

Gloves:

You don't need anything there so just aim for life / defenses and resistances.

Jewelry:

Amulet can be a great source for spirit and / or +Minion Level skills as well. Try to get at least one offensive bonus like that.

For rings aim to just get resistances.

DONT FORGET TO UPGRADE YOUR FLASKS

Campaign Variant

Select another Variant

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 20

Dex 45

Int 55

Skeletal Sniper

Skeletal Arsonist

Skeletal Cleric

Shield Charge

Pain Offering

Despair

Contagion

Essence Drain

Convalescence

Dark Effigy

Act 1 and Very Early Game:

Very early we are using Unearth with Minion Instability as usual. After that progressing to Skeletal Sniper as fast as possible and pick Essence Drain + Contagion

Changes in 0.2:

Since Raging Spirits got nerfed together with Flame Wall it is much less important now.

Bonestorm also lost a chunk of base damage,

So we will use Chaos skills such as Contagion + Essence Drain to improve performance.

Pick Skeletal Sniper OR Skeletal Arsonist depending on what you prefer and add Skeletal Cleric later on so minions can provide some meat shields for you.

Use Last Gasp to make them live longer.

Closer to the end of the campaign you can repick for Skeletal Reaver to just use them as tanks.

Dark Effigy also can be used to improve single target damage.

SURVIVABILITY:

Now we can use Convalescence to regenerate ES. Second Wind helps greatly with cd on it.

Campaign Variant

Select another Variant

Passive Tree

main:

123

set 1:

set 2:

Ascendency Order:

1. Soulless Form - should give MORE mana regeneration than you have without it.

2. Eternal Life for better tankiness.

3. Rupture the Soul - if you can add Blasphemy

How to progress:

Initially just go for Minion / Spell + Chaos nodes up to Power of the Dead and progress to the right for Gravedigger , Relentless Fallen while taking Lingering Horror and later on Voidd as well

Leave all Mana nodes for later when you will get Necromantic Conduit ascendency and will start losing mana. Take at least Open Mind and Arcane Blossom to compensate for it.

Going up there for Profane Commander is your last goal for campaign progress.

Heavy Buffer can provide decent mitigation too after you will get Eternal Life

NEW NODES in 0.2:

We are going to have new set of the spirit nodes to the left side in the tree, so taking those could be a nice idea as well. Stay tuned for the update.

Video Guide

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