Arc Sorceress or Witch Leveling Build

Build Introduction

This guide has received a preliminary update in preparation for The Last of the Druids League (Patch 0.4.0). Additional updates are coming during the league, as all the patch changes are revealed and playtesting is done.

The Arc Sorceress (or Witch) excels at leveling with destructive Lightning damage. Orb of Storms creates 3 orbs with a single cast to simultaneously zap targets while casting Arc. Once the orbs expire, they generate Lightning Infusions to empower Arcs to chain additional times and deal 3 times more damage. Snap finishes off enemies and is another source of Lightning Infusions. This leveling build is viable in solo self-found mode and extremely effective as a league starter.

This guide can be used to level a new character for any endgame builds involving ascendancies for Sorceress (Stormweaver and Chronomancer) or Witch (Blood Mage, Infernalist, and Lich). Notes are included for both the Sorceress and Witch, with the only differences being the ascendancy nodes and a few passive nodes early in the tree. After finishing the campaign, switch to the Stormweaver Frostbolt Comet or Bloodmage Ice Nova Comet endgame guides.

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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 Sorceress has the option to ascend to Stormweaver or Chronomancer. Stormweaver is highly recommended for the easiest leveling experience in the campaign. If you intend on playing a Chronomancer build in the endgame, your chosen Ascendancy can be changed later by repeating a Trial of the Sekhemas or Ultimatum. This build can also be used to level a Blood Mage, as the setup is almost identical except for some early nodes in the passive tree and Ascendancy nodes.

Stormweaver Sorceress

The Stormweaver is the best ascendancy to level a Sorceress due to the damage increases within its Ascendancy nodes. The Arcane Surge nodes are beneficial to any build, making the Stormweaver a flexible choice for the endgame. Allocate Ascendancy points to obtain Constant Gale and then Force of Will.

Blood Mage Witch

The Blood Mage is another popular choice for an endgame build due to its Ascendancy nodes for survivability, damage, and unlimited resources for spell costs. Allocate Sanguimancy and Vitality Siphon to sustain Life costs, and then Sunder the Flesh for 15% Base Critical Hit Chance for Spells.

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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 Lightning/All Skills and Lightning/Spell Damage. A Wand and Focus combination can provide similar 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 sections below for the Arc Stormweaver and Arc Blood Mage 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.

Arc Stormweaver Passive Tree

The Arc Stormweaver focuses on Spell/Elemental/Lightning Damage and Cast Speed nodes in the Passive Tree to increase damage output.

Arc Blood Mage Passive Tree

The Arc Blood Mage focuses on Spell/Elemental/Lightning Damage nodes in the Passive Tree as a priority when starting to level. After Sunder the Flesh (Base Critical Strike Chance for Spells is 15%) is obtained from the Blood Mage’s Ascendancy, Critical Hit Chance and Critical Damage Bonus nodes become effective at scaling damage output.

Skill Gems

The Arc Sorceress 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.

The Skill Gem setups will be updated as soon as possible during The Last of the Druids League (Patch 0.4) with any changes necessary.

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Act 1 Notes

Start your new character with Spark as your main source of damage. The Sorceress receives this skill from the gem chest in the starting zone. As a Witch, craft Spark with your first Level 1 Uncut Skill Gem in town.

Craft Frost Bomb as your second Skill Gem. Frost Bomb applies Elemental Exposure to increase the damage of other Skills and generates Cold Infusions to enhance Spark.

Craft Orb of Storms with the first Level 3 Uncut Skill Gem you obtain. Support Orb of Storms with Overabundance I and Unleash to create 2 orbs at a time. A third orb is possible once you obtain Secrets of the Orb in the Passive Tree.

Craft Arc to replace Spark as your main Skill when you get the first Level 5 Uncut Skill Gem.

Support Arc with Rapid Casting I and Zenith I. If you are having trouble keeping Mana above 90% to gain the damage bonus on Zenith, look for Mana Regeneration Rate on gear (Staff, Rings, and Amulet) or obtain Open Mind in the Passive Tree.

Craft Snap with the second Level 5 Uncut Gem you obtain. Snap can be cast on Shocked enemies to cause explosions and generate additional Lightning Infusions. Shocked corpses can also be targeted to replenish Lightning Infusions after a fight. Do not obtain the Extra Cold Damage stat in this build, as it can cause enemies to be shattered on death, preventing Snap from being used on a corpse.

Mana Remnants 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

Level 2 Uncut Support Gems start to drop from monsters in Act 2. Prioritize crafting Considered Casting for Arc, Orb of Storms, and then Snap.

Lesser Jeweller’s Orb starts dropping from Level 25 monsters to unlock the third socket on Arc, Orb of Storms, and then Snap.

Craft Elemental Weakness (Level 7 Uncut Skill Gem) to cast on bosses for more damage.

Search monster drops and vendors for a Chiming Staff (Level 25) to equip in Weapon Set 2, which unlocks Sigil of Power. The affixes on the Chiming Staff do not matter, as it is only briefly swapped to cast Sigil of Power. Ensure that all your other skills are set to only be used with Weapon Set 1, so you automatically swap back.

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. Life Remnants is only utilized by the Blood Mage.

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Act 3 Notes

Level 3 Uncut Support Gems start to drop in Act 3. Craft additional Skill Gems if you have extra sockets. Upgrade equipped support gems to Zenith II, Magnified Area II, Prolonged Duration II, Harmonic Remnants II, and Remnant Potency II when possible for minor benefits.

Add Siphon Elements as your second persistent buff 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 an Ultimatum to earn 2 additional Ascendancy points.

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Act 4 Notes

Level 4 Uncut Support Gems start to drop in Act 4. Update to Rapid Casting II in applicable support slots.

Greater Jeweller’s Orbs can drop at an extremely low chance, so do not count on them appearing. Prioritize using them on Arc and then Orb of Storms.

Replace Siphon Elements with Blasphemy and move Elemental Weakness into its socket 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

The Arc and Snap combo deals enough damage to kill most groups of enemies. Utilize the full Skill Rotation to optimize damage output against bosses and tough elites:

1. Precast Sigil of Power from a Chiming Staff equipped in Weapon Set 2 to buff damage.
2. Cast Orb of Storms to create 3 orbs to deal supplemental damage. The +2 orb limit is granted by Overabundance I and Secrets of the Orb in the Passive Tree. The orbs generate 3 Lightning Infusions when they expire to empower Arc.
3. Cast Frost Bomb to apply Elemental Exposure.
4. Cast Elemental Weakness, if it is not yet socketed into Blasphemy.
5. Spam Arc to deal damage until Orb of Storms expires, and then recast the orbs.

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Gearing Progression

The Arc Sorceress 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 combination). Prioritize the following stats on your weapons, in order of importance:

1. Levels of Lightning/All Spell Skills
2. Increased Lightning/Spell Damage
3. Cast Speed

Defensive Gear

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

1. Maximum Life
2. Resistances
3. Energy Shield

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 build:

• Valley of the Titans Altar: 30% increased Charm Charges gained
• Venom Draught: 30% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
• Trial of Ngkanu: Resistances
• Goddess of Justice: 20% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
• Seven Pillars: 3% increased Movement Speed

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
• Charms
  1. Thawing Charm: Increased Duration
  2. Stone Charm: Increased Duration
  3. Silver Charm: Increased Duration

Progressing into the Endgame

To continue your progression into endgame maps, follow the Stormweaver Frostbolt Comet or Bloodmage Ice Nova Comet endgame guides.

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Changelog

• December 9th, 2025: Guide updated for The Last of the Druids League (Patch 0.4).
• March 28th, 2025: Guide created for Path of Exile II, Early Access.