Witch Bonestorm Leveling Build

Build Introduction

This guide has been fully updated for The Third Edict League (Patch 0.3.0).

The Bonestorm Witch excels at leveling with destructive physical spells. Bone Cage deals area damage to kill groups of enemies, while Bonestorm fires multiple projectiles that deal high burst damage against individual targets. This powerful combination of Bone Skills is effective at clearing the campaign and leveling a Witch for any endgame builds involving Blood Mage, Lich, or Infernalist.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

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Ascendancy

Select your first Ascendancy after completing the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2. The trial is not difficult, so complete it within the level range of 20-30.

During the early access of Path of Exile 2, a Witch has the option to ascend to Blood Mage, Lich, or Infernalist. Blood Mage is highly recommended for the easiest leveling experience in the campaign. If you intend on playing a Lich or Infernalist build in the endgame, your chosen Ascendancy can be changed later by repeating a Trial of the Sekhemas or Ultimatum.

Blood Mage

The Blood Mage is the most popular class chosen for a Bonestorm build due to its Physical Damage bonuses and survivability. Allocate Ascendancy points to obtain Sanguimancy and Vitality Siphon to sustain Life costs, and then Sanguine Tides for extra Physical Damage.

Lich

The Lich provides Unholy Might for extra Chaos damage that can be scaled with Maximum Mana. A decent amount of damage reduction can also be obtained through Eternal Life. While leveling, allocate Eldritch Empowerment with your first Ascendancy points to increase the damage of Bone Cage. Complete the second trial to allocate Rupture the Soul for additional explosions on enemy death.

Infernalist

The Infernalist is not a good choice for a Bonestorm build, so only select the Ascendancy if you have a different endgame build planned. Allocate Ascendancy points to obtain Demonic Possession and then Mastered Darkness.

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General Leveling Advice

Path of Exile II’s campaign is not meant to be taken lightly. The best way to get gear while leveling is by checking the vendors every time you visit a town after leveling up. The gear you can get from vendors scales with your level, making it a great option for finding upgrades, especially weapons. 

Check for the following items from vendors:

1. Staves with a focus on Levels to Physical / All Skills and Physical / Spell Damage. A Wand and Focus combination can provide more stats, but obtaining 2 optimal items is more difficult while leveling.
2. Any gear with Maximum Life, Resistances, or Energy Shield.

Crafting currency can be used on decent gear, but keep in mind that you might be able to trade currency for better items. Consider searching the trade site to buy upgrades with your Exalted Orbs, especially for weapons.

Do not forget to pick up loot and vendor it for gold. Gamble the gold at vendors for a chance at receiving gear upgrades, focusing on your most outdated items.

Kill enemies in groups to gain experience efficiently. Skipping too many enemies can cause you to be under-leveled, putting you at a disadvantage later on.

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Leveling Passive Tree

The Passive Tree below for the Bonestorm Witch can be followed through to the end of the campaign. Beyond that point, use an endgame guide to level further. Follow along while you level with the allocation order of nodes by using the left and right arrows.

Check the Ascendancy section of this guide for their node allocation.

Skill Gems

The Bone Cage Witch obtains the following Skill Gem setup at the end of the campaign. Slight variations may occur depending on which Act you are currently progressing through. Refer to the notes for each Act for more details, which are provided below the Skill Gem setup.

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Act 1 Notes

Start your new Witch character by picking up Unearth from the chest in the first zone, which is used as your primary skill until Bone Cage is obtained. Raise minions and quickly move between packs of enemies to clear them.

Bone Cage becomes the main damage-dealing skill once you obtain a Level 3 Uncut Skill Gem. Cast Bone Cage against groups of enemies to deal area damage.

Craft Bonestorm from the Level 5 Uncut Skill Gem rewarded for killing the Executioner (complete the quest in town). Channel Bonestorm for single-target damage against bosses and tough elites.

Arctic Armour can be activated once you obtain 30 total Spirit from defeating The King in the Mists (Freythorn, Act 1).

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Act 2 Notes

Continue through Act 2 to craft Vulnerability from a Level 7 Uncut Skill Gem. Vulnerability needs to be manually cast until Blasphemy is obtained.

Lesser Jeweller’s Orb starts dropping from Level 25 monsters to unlock the third socket on Bone Cage and Bonestorm.

Search monster drops and vendors for a Chiming Staff (Level 25) to equip in your second weapon set for access to Sigil of Power. The affixes on the Chiming Staff do not matter, as it is only briefly swapped to cast Sigil of Power.

Cast Sigil of Power and Vulnerability against bosses to maximize damage output.

Follow the main questline to gain access to the Trial of the Sekhemas. Complete the trial to ascend the class of your character, and allocate ascendancy nodes.

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Act 3 Notes

Level 2 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from monsters in Act 3. Upgrade to Multishot II and Brutality II.

Replace Arctic Armour with Blasphemy and move Vulnerability into its socket once you obtain 60 Spirit from defeating The King in the Mists (Freythorn, Act 1) and Ignagduk (The Azak Bog, Act 3).

Follow the main questline to gain access to Ultimatum in the Temple of Chaos. Complete Ultimatum to gain 2 additional Ascendancy points.

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Act 4 Notes

Level 3 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from Level 53 monsters in Act 4. Craft Astral Projection first to support Bonestorm for a ranged playstyle. Upgrade to Magnified Area II (only for skills that do not deal damage), Prolonged Duration II, Harmonic Remnants II, and Remnant Potency II when possible for a minor benefit.

Greater Jeweller’s Orbs can drop at an extremely low chance, so do not depend on them. Prioritize using them on Bonestorm and Bone Cage.

Add Heightened Curse and Clarity I to the Skill Gem setup once you obtain 100 total Spirit from boss rewards during the campaign. Defeat Lythara in the Interlude Act to earn the final Spirit reward.

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Rotation

Simply cast Bone Cage to deal area-of-effect damage while fighting groups of enemies. Ensure you constantly walk towards enemies to pick up Life Remnants when they die.

Against elites and bosses, channel Bonestorm for full charges and then release. Sigil of Power and Vulnerability (if not using Blasphemy) can be cast against bosses to boost damage output.

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Gearing Progression

The Bonestorm Witch build equips item upgrades to enhance damage and survivability during the campaign. A Staff provides a significant increase in damage output while leveling. Equipment with Energy Shield base types are ideal to increase survivability early while leveling.

Offensive Gear

The most important item equipped is your Staff (or Wand and Focus later on). Prioritize the following stats on your weapons, in order of importance:

1. Levels of Physical / All Spell Skills
2. Increased Physical / Spell Damage
3. Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Damage
4. Cast Speed

Defensive Gear

Prioritize the following stats on armor and jewelry to increase survivability, in order of importance:

1. Energy Shield
2. Maximum Life
3. Resistances

Runes

Insert Runes into gear for additional stats while leveling. Prioritize Runes that provide any resistances you are lacking the most.

Dismantle unwanted equipment with sockets dropped from monsters at the Salvage Bench to obtain Artificer’s Orbs. Use the crafting material to add sockets to equipped gear.

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Campaign Buffs

Quest rewards during the campaign offer a selection of buffs to your character. Choose the following buffs for the Bonestorm Witch:

• Valley of the Titans Altar
  1. 30% increased Charm Charges gained
  2. 15% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
• Venom Draught
  1. 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
  2. 10% Chaos Resistance

For more details, check the guide on Campaign Difficulties and Permanent Stat Bonuses.

Flasks and Charms

Throughout leveling, you will frequently find various charms and flasks. Make sure to swap them out for upgrades.

Prioritize the following Flasks and Charms:

• Health and Mana Flasks
  • Prefix: Increased Amount Recovered
  • Suffix: Increased Charges or Increased Charges Gained
• Charm: Stone Charm or Thawing Charm.

Progressing into the Endgame

To continue your progression into endgame maps, follow the Blood Mage Ice Nova Comet Endgame Guide.

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Changelog

• September 3rd, 2025: Passive Tree and Skill Gem sections updated.
• August 27th, 2025: Guide updated for the Third Edict League (Patch 0.3.0).
• April 3rd, 2025: Guide created for Path of Exile II, Early Access.