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PoE 2 Build

[0.5 UPDATED] Chaos ED + Contagion LICH Build - Full Guide - League Starter to Endgame

presentationWitch
presentationLich
Verified
Starter
Speed Leveling
End Game
0.5 RotA
Updated on May 28, 2026
May 28, 2026

Build Overview

This is a Build Guide for Essence Drain + Contagion Chaos LICH - from Leveling league starter to Endgame.

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

You can also use this guide to level up any caster Build or Ascendancy.

❗IMPROVED for 0.5 Step by Step League Starter video - https://youtu.be/qbrEeLZzuqI

Endgame Gameplay + Endgame Mechanics Explanation - youtu.be/r6ouLO-Y0sk

If you have questions, ask me on Twitch and I will help - twitch.tv/ronarray

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In 0.5 we can use a few new skills to improve the combo even further and get better early boss damage.

Chaos ED + Contagion build is still the best way to level most of the Caster builds and can be incredibly versatile and easy to use.

It especially shines together with Witch Class and Lich Ascendancy, but you can use this guide for any caster based build for the smooth campaign experience.

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Essence Drain and Contagion are some of the most beginner-friendly builds that also provide very satisfying pack clear due to the DoT spreading provided by Contagion.

The single target is Improved with Entangle and Bonestorm to deal with bosses even faster.

Later on you can swap the rotation to Sigil of Power, Despair, then put down your Dark Effigy totems and DoT the boss with Essence Drain and Contagion.

The best part is you can run around while the bosses are losing health and the uptime of your damage is very high.

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▸ Campaign Rewards:

Venom: Stun Threshold,

Tattoos: Resistances

Pillars: Resistances, Movement Speed or Global Defense

▸Vendor Regex (copy to Vendor search);

"10% i.+mov|ell.*ge$|\d ch.+da|^\+.*l sp.*ls$"

Strengths and Weaknesses

  • Ed + Con is Great while Leveling
  • Great Clear
  • Very Tanky
  • Easy to scale
  • Bonestorm is good for Bosses
  • Need to use a few skills in a row

Build Variants

Equipment

item
1
item
4
item
2
item
3
Equipment Priority
+4

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

▸ Wand and Focus

At Wand you need to search for Spell Damage / Chaos Damage + Search for Focus with Chaos damage.

Best stats would be +Levels for Chaos Spell Skills > Spell / Chaos Damage > Rest

▸ Body and Helmet

For Armor aim to get Energy Shield or ES + Armour bases.

▸ 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 mana regeneration early on.

For rings aim to just get resistances, Life and Mana Regen.

❗DON'T FORGET TO UPGRADE YOUR FLASKS

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 10

Dex 15

Int 50

1

Contagion

Set 1

supportmagnifiedareaplayer
supportunleashplayer
supportrapidcastingplayer
2

Essence Drain

Set 1

supportswiftafflictionplayer
supportconsideredcastingplayer
supportchainplayer
3

Chaos Bolt

Set 1

supportunleashplayer
4

Bonestorm

Set 2

supportconsideredcastingplayer
supportburgeonplayer
supportbrutalityplayer
5

Withering Presence

Set 1

prolongeddurationsupportplayer
6

Despair

Set 1

supportcurseeffectplayer
supportrapidcastingplayer
7

Entangle

supportunleashplayer
8

Ravenous Swarm

Set 2

supportcorrosionplayer
Gem Priority
+15

▸ Act 1 and Early Game

Very early we are using Entangle and Contagion to progress.

Until you get Essence Drain at level 6, you can use Entangle to finish off enemies affected by Contagion so minions would spread the DoT.

Swap Unleash gem between Entangle and Chaos Bolt.

Get Essence Drain ASAP when you receive Skill Gem lvl 3

Support priority is Magnified Area I and Unleash for Contagion. After it, get Swift Affliction I for Essence Drain.

After Skill Gem Lvl 5, Bonestorm will replace Frost Bomb to burst bosses.

Before Withering Presence you can also use Chaos Bolt for additional damage and to apply Wither. Drop Chaos Bolt after you get Bonestorm.

▸ Act 2-3

Make sure to change your Wand to find the one with +skill levels and add a Focus with +Lvls of Chaos Skills / Spell Dmg / Chaos Dmg. This will boost your damage a lot.

First Spirit Gem is Withering Presence to improve your Chaos Damage.

Add Despair as well to use against bosses and tougher rares.


Passive Tree

main:
123
123
set 1:
20
20
set 2:
20
20

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 aim for Entropy and Practiced Signs, after that progress to Dampening Shield and up for Potent Incantation. Next Priority is Lingering Horror before going further up.

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



Quest Rewards

Check which quests you’ve completed on your character
ClearfellBeira of the Rotten Pack
Not Specified1 choice
Hunting GroundsThe Crowbell
Not Specified1 choice
FreythornThe King in the Mists
Not Specified1 choice
Ogham FarmlandsUna's Hut
Not Specified1 choice
Ogham ManorCandlemass, the Living Rite
Not Specified1 choice
KethKabala, Constrictor Queen
Not Specified1 choice
Valley of the TitansMedallion
Not Specified2 choices
DesharFinal Letter
Not Specified1 choice
The Spires of DesharSisters of Garukhan
Not Specified1 choice
Jungle RuinsMighty Silverfist
Not Specified1 choice
The Venom CryptsVenom Draught
Not Specified3 choices
Jiquani's MachinariumBlackjaw, the Remnant
Not Specified1 choice
The Azak BogIgnagduk, the Bog Witch
Not Specified1 choice
The Molten VaultThe Molten Vault
Not Specified1 choice
AggoratBlood Sacrifice
Not Specified1 choice
Journey's EndCaptain Hartlin
Not Specified1 choice
Eye of HinekoraNavali's Rest
Not Specified1 choice
Halls of the DeadYama The White
Not Specified1 choice
Halls of the DeadTawhoa's Test
Not Specified2 choices
Abandoned PrisonGoddess of Justice
Not Specified2 choices
Halls of the DeadTasalio's Test
Not Specified2 choices
Halls of the DeadNgamahu's Test
Not Specified2 choices
WolvenholdOswin, the Dread Warden
Not Specified1 choice
The Khari CrossingAkthi and Anundr
Not Specified1 choice
The Khari CrossingMolten Shrine
Not Specified1 choice
QimahTabana's Pillar
Not Specified7 choices
Kriar VillageLythara, the Wayward Spear
Not Specified1 choice
Howling CavesThe Abominable Yeti
Not Specified1 choice

How it Plays

The build gameplay is pretty simple, cast Contagion and follow up with ED for AOE clear.

For bossing, do the same stuff but start with Sigil of Power + Dark Effigy to maximize the damage.

Video Guide

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