Use your favourite features in-game with our Desktop App

PoE 2 Build

[0.3] Chaos DoT Hybrid LICH - Full Guide - League Starter to Endgame

Witch

Lich

Verified

Starter

Speed Leveling

End Game

0.3 TTE

Featured

By Ronarray

Updated on Dec 4, 2025

Dec 4, 2025

Build Overview

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

Will be UPDATED for 0.4 ASAP.

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 -------------->

==========================================================

In 0.3 there are not a lot of changes to the combo so LICH, combined with Contagion + Essence Drain it should still be a smooth campaign experience.

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

==========================================================

In this build we are going to utilize:

1. We will use Contagion + Essence Drain as main skills

2. Skeletal Sniper or Skeletal Arsonist as minions for support.

3. Raging Spirits and Flame Wall - GOT NERFED so we dont really need those.

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

==========================================================

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

Endgame

Campaign

Midgame / Early Waystones

Equipment

Endgame

Campaign

Midgame / Early Waystones

Set 1

Set 2

Equipment Priority

Helmet

Atziri's Disdain

Gloves

Doedre's Tenure

Body

Altar Robe

Amulet

Lunar Amulet

Main Hand

Chiming Staff

Left Ring

Sapphire Ring

Boots

Dunerunner Sandals

Off Hand

Druidic Focus

Belt

Heavy Belt

Main Hand

Chiming Staff

▸ Wand and Focus

+ Levels of Chaos/Spell Skills
Spell Damage + Chaos Damage is 2nd
On the Focus try to get high Energy Shield.
Cast Speed gives QoL.

Use Chiming Staff with +4-6 Levels of Spells as a weapon swap

▸ Body and Helmet

We are using Atziri's Disdain, try to get a corrupted version with higher % of the damage that bypasses energy shield for better survivability.
Body armor is the main source of energy shield, so get it as high as possible, +Spirit helps fit all the Auras.

▸ Boots

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

▸ Gloves

Doedre's Tenure for damage OR defensive rare with ES + Resistances.

▸ Jewelry

Amulet can provide +Levels of Spell/Chaos → Cast Speed / Spell Damage → Energy Shield.
For rings aim to get Chaos damage, cast speed and defensive stats (res + HP).
Snakepit can also be great to provide the chain for clear.

▸ Jewels

Search for Spell Damage / Chaos damage + Energy shield.

Skill Gems

Endgame

Campaign

Midgame / Early Waystones

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 20

Dex 40

Int 75

Expand all

Contagion

Essence Drain

Convalescence

Dark Effigy

Blasphemy

Despair

Withering Presence

Sigil of Power

Gem Priority

+27

▸ Rotation

Contagion→ Essence Drain → Despair if you need it → Dark Effigy

Dark Effigy helps a lot with single target damage too.

KEEP 2 TOTEMS UP ON BOSSES (Overabundance provides second totem)

Use Sigil of Power from Chiming Staff in your second weapon set together with longer curses for single target damage improvement.

▸ Bossing

Two Dark Effigy totems should ALWAYS be active
For Essence Drain swap Chain II to Deliberation
Always have Despair with the Cursed Ground + Sigil of Power active, these provide a lot of damage.

▸ How to solve Mana Issues:

Use a mana flask with Removes 15% of Mana from Life. You will have very good Mana regen with it.

OR Use a very low level Contagion so it's Mana cost will be negligible. It will heavily help with Mana sustain when clearing but will slightly lower your damage.

▸ Survivability

We can use Convalescence to regenerate ES and receive some more damage from it as well. Second Wind helps greatly with cd on it.

Passive Tree

Endgame

Campaign

Midgame / Early Waystones

main:

123

set 1:

set 2:

Use 2 sets to CURSE Manually.

Setup is explained in this video - https://youtu.be/r6ouLO-Y0sk

▸ Damage

Take all chaos related nodes in the first weapon set, prioritizing Dark Entries

▸Survivability

Getting our ES recharge delay down to 1 second and recharge rate up to a 1000 or higher helps a lot.

So aim for Essence Infusion + Quick Response. If it is still not enough look into Dependable Ward or even Refocus

▸ Ascendency Order

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

2. Eternal Life for better tankiness.

3. Eldritch Empowerment - for a very big damage boost.

4. Crystalline Phylactery should be used when you get a good Jewel with lots of ES and Spell dmg. If you don't have it, feel free to swap to Rupture the Soul to have a significantly improved map clear.