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Overview
Talion Oak presents a minion-based leveling build for Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5 that destroys the campaign as a league starter. The title translates from Portuguese as “Minion Leveling Build! Destroying the Campaign in 0.5 of Path of Exile 2! League Starter” — a direct signal that the build is tuned for entry-level play and can carry players from Act 1 through maps without pre-existing currency or gear.
Minion builds operate by deploying a persistent army of creatures that deal damage autonomously while the player positions safely and applies aura and buff skills. In PoE2 0.5, the Witch class provides the deepest access to minion skills and a passive tree rich in minion damage, life, and speed nodes — making it the primary home for this archetype.
As a league starter, minion builds are particularly efficient because passive tree investment drives minion damage rather than item stats. The army functions from level 1 and scales through acts on gem levels and tree nodes alone, making currency a multiplier rather than a requirement.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely safe playstyle — minions absorb damage while the player stays at range
- Low gear dependency; passive tree nodes drive minion damage throughout the campaign
- Consistent league-start option with no map item requirements before endgame
- Strong early map clearing thanks to persistent minion presence in every room
Cons
- Minion AI can be unpredictable in tight corridors or multi-level encounter arenas
- Some act bosses require active skill use alongside minions for reliable clear
- Less engaging for players who prefer high-intensity, button-heavy combat
Key Skills
- Skeletal Warriors — core persistent melee minions, available from Act 1
- Skeletal Archers — ranged minion complement for spread-out engagements
- Unearth — on-demand bone construct summon for burst damage phases
- Bone Cage — crowd control that roots enemies for the minion army
- Raise Zombie — additional melee bodies for map clear and boss aggro
Gear & Anointments
The most impactful upgrade is a +1 to level of all minion gems wand or staff — even a white base vendor weapon with this prefix substantially strengthens the entire army. Helm enchantments that buff minion life or damage are ideal secondary upgrades.
Rings and belt should cap resistances at 75%. The player character needs sufficient life to survive accidental proximity — minions absorb most damage, but positioning errors still occur.
Leveling / Campaign Notes
Skeletal Warriors are available from the first gem vendor in Act 1. Add Skeletal Archers once they unlock and keep both at maximum gem level. Supplement with Unearth and Bone Cage for additional burst and crowd control in later acts.
This video is presented in Brazilian Portuguese by Talion Oak but the gameplay mechanics apply universally — players can follow along visually regardless of language.
Credits & Source
- Creator: Talion Oak
- Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TalionOak
- Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRVpFm74Eac