Overview
This Essence Drain Witch is a chaos damage-over-time caster built around the Dark Effigy totem. The core loop layers chaos DoT debuffs onto enemies, and because Dark Effigy fires additional chaos projectiles for every chaos damage-over-time debuff on a target, stacking those debuffs turns the totems into a wall of purple projectiles. The creator pitches it as cheap and league-start friendly, using the same core skills from Act 1 all the way into the late endgame without changing its identity. Damage comes from the Dark Effigy turrets, smooth clear from Contagion plus Essence Drain, and single-target scaling from the chaos debuff stack, while a leech-and-energy-shield setup keeps the character comfortable on mana and survivable. The standout scaler is cast speed, which directly multiplies how many projectiles the effigies fire as debuffs pile up.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cheap and league-start friendly; the same core skills carry from Act 1 into the endgame.
- Strong, scalable single target through stacked chaos debuffs plus dual Dark Effigy totems.
- Smooth mapping clear via Contagion spread, with Essence Drain to reach enemies around corners.
- Leech and energy shield defenses make it tankier than it looks.
Cons
- Totem damage has a slight ramp/delay before debuffs and cast speed get rolling.
- Relies on a desecrated +1 maximum totems modifier as the top gear priority, which can be hard to source.
Key Skills
- Dark Effigy — the main damage skill and a chaos turret; supported with Overabundance (more totems), Controlled Destruction, Execute, Poison (another chaos DoT), and Concentrated Effect for focused single target.
- Essence Drain — a strong chaos damage-over-time hit used for single target and to open packs when totems are blocked; supported with Swift Affliction, Chain, Controlled Casting, Chaos Mastery, and Derange.
- Contagion — the clear engine that spreads chaos; supported with Unleash, Magnified Area, Swift Affliction, Chaotic Freeze, and Intense Agony.
- Despair / curse setup — the main curse package (with Enfeeble, Curse Efficiency, Cursed Ground) for added chaos pressure and boss damage.
- Withering Presence, Mana Tempest, and Sigil of Power — used in the boss-burst sequence; Mana Tempest gives a large totem-damage boost when stood inside.
Gear & Anointments
The weapon (sceptre/wand) should prioritize +levels to chaos or all spell skills, then cast speed, chaos damage, spell damage, and mana. The single biggest gear priority is a desecrated +1 maximum summoned totems modifier. The recommended helmet is Atziri’s Discovery, and the chest should be a high-energy-shield robe base (with a Wave Shaper option on a budget). Amulet wants +spell skill levels and at least 24 spirit for Clarity; rings prioritize cast speed and resistances. Other slots stack energy shield, life, mana, resistances, and attributes (movement speed on boots). For jewels, the key prefix is increased effect of Withered (aim for at least 40% total, as it works in 20% breakpoints). Exact uniques beyond those named should be confirmed against the source video.
Endgame Notes
In the endgame the tree leans harder into energy shield and cast speed, since cast speed heavily scales how many projectiles Dark Effigy fires. Boss fights use a full debuff-stacking rotation: Sigil of Power, Despair, two Dark Effigy totems, Essence Drain, Contagion, then Mana Tempest for a burst window. With enough spirit, a Ravenous Swarm and rapid-casting additions push damage further. Weapon-set passives split between damage tools (set one) and curse scaling (set two).
Credits & Source
Build credited to KaidGames2. See the source video for the full build’s gameplay footage + voice commentary: MOST OP ESSENCE DRAIN WITCH BUILD SO FAR IN 0.5!.