Build variety is one ofPath of Exile 2’s most fundamental assets where you get to enhance your power to outrageous levels by collecting gear, leveling up spells, and unlocking a passive tree. There are five classes at your disposal, and even though you are restricted in the early game, by the time you reach the endgame, you are left with infinite possibilities.
One such class that you can consider in this game is the Witch and its Ascendancy: the Blood Mage. If you want to go for a Fireball Blood Mage build, here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate through the leveling process.
Blood Mage Overview
Blood Mage isone of the two Ascendancies you may pick up for the Witchclass in Path of Exile 2.
The whole concept of the Blood Mage is making yourself tanky, but if you play it like a normal Witch, you’ll run into trouble as your Ascendancy won’t provide enough firepower to take down late-game bosses. However, if you’re able to add a lot of firepower through your skills and passives and combine that with the Blood Mage’s survivability, you’re in for a treat.
Combing the Blood Mage with sorcery skillswill provide you with a lot of damage, and using some of the strongest spells in the game, such asFireball,Frost Wall, andComet, in combination with Sanguimancy and Vitality Siphon, will create a nice balance of offense and defense.
Act 1
Act 1 is where you get started with the build, and it’ll be a little difficult to navigate due to a lack of gems and mana problems. The first skill you need to unlock isFlame Wall, as this will be your primary source of damage. This needs to be followed byFrost BombandSparkwhich will be key to dealing with basic enemies and bosses alike.
You should then pair Flame Wall withFortressandArcane Tempo, which will synergize withSpark. Finally, make sure you slot inMagnified Effectfor Frost Bomb which will provide 40 percent boost to its Area of Effect. You won’t need any more skills for this Act.
In summary:
Act 2
Act 2 is where you startshaping your build towards the end-game. The first key change you need here isHypothermia, as this will help enhance the damage of Cold spells. This needs to be followed by someleveling up until you cross level 30. After reaching level 31, you will start receivingUncut Skill Gemlevel nine and that will unlock Fireball and Frost Wall.
Farm for a bit until you get two Uncut Skill Gem level nine for both skills. Use anyUncut Support Gemyou have to unlockScattershotandUnleashfor Fireball. In the case of Frost Wall, you’ll need access toSpell CascadeandConcentrated Effect.
Act 3 And Beyond
Once you reach Act 3, you’ll have to start thinking about the long term to finalize your build. The first step to this isunlocking Cometwhich will help with clearing maps quickly. You’ll need to combine Comet withCast on Freezedespite being nerfed from its launch incarnation. The point here is thatCast on Freeze will still occasionally procand the damage from Comet is simply too substantial to ignore.
You can now replace Frost Bomb and instead unlockEye of Winter. Finally, make sure you unlockGrim Feastand also use the various Jeweler’s Orbs tounlock additional slots for Fireball, Cast on Freeze, and Frost Wall. You can also drop Spark at this point, as you won’t need it anymore.
Make sure to replace Arcane Tempo on Flame Wall with Fire Mastery.
Equipment
When it comes to equipment, the first thing you need is apowerful weapon. Your wand or staff should have stats that will provide adamage boost to all spells,along withpossible levels for Cold spells and Fire Spells. You’ll also need access to any stats thatboost your maximum mana and help with mana regeneration. HP regeneration is also a bonus.
Crating is simple in Path of Exile 2 as all you have to do is use theOrb of Augmentation,Regal Orb, andExalted Orbwhenever you find a piece of gear that you think has the potential.
It’s recommended youuse them right from the early game, as by the time you reach Act 3 and beyond, you’ll have multiple stacks of these; and there’s no point stashing them in your inventory.
As for the rest of the gear, you’ll needdefensive skills that offer resistance to the various elementsand also provide boosts to HP and mana regeneration. Finally, to complete your gearing, you’ll need to farm for an Uniqiue item calledBlueflame Bracers. This will help your Fireball to freeze enemies, making it even easier to trigger Comet from Cast on Freeze.
Make sure your body armor provides Energy Shield, as that will provide synergy with one of the Ascendancy nodes of Blood Mage called Crimson Power. You’ll also need to farm for theAtziri’s Disdainhelmet, as it basically converts your life into an Energy Shield. This, in turn, synergizes with Eldritch Battery, which converts Energy Shield to mana. Despite this, you’re still left with a lot of Energy Shield to protect you.
Additionally, the Blood Mage Ascendancy provides you with alot of healing, ensuring you don’t get one shot.
Ascendancy Leveling Guide
The Ascendancy you’ll have to unlock for the Witch is Blood Mage. This Ascendancy class is all about enhancing your survivability. Whenever you cast a spell or defeat an enemy, you will be revitalized, which in turn will help you play aggressively, which is hard to do in this particular game.
During the initial campaign run, you will have four Ascendancy nodesand as you rerun it inCruel Mode, you will get access to a total of eight nodesto finalize your build in early access. Here’s what you should be considering when unlocking the Ascendancy nodes:
Effect and Synergy
Sanguimancy
This is the first skill you’ll unlock as part of your Ascendancy. Thisskill spawns Life Remnantsthat you can collect to heal up.
These Remnants are spawned upon defeating enemies or dealing damage to bosses. you’re able to also spawn these by breaking the Frost Wall. This means you canstand near your Frost Wall and spam Fireballand automatically spawn Life Remnants for you.
Vitality Siphon
This is the onlysource of Life Leechin the game, and it makes you incredibly tanky when fighting against bosses.
Grasping Wounds
This skill primarily prevents you from getting one shot by bosses, as instead of losing 25% of your health at once, you lose it over 4 seconds.
However,when paired with Vitality Siphon you recover the health you lose,which in turn keeps you healthy.
Crimson Power
This skill increases your maximum Life based on how much Energy Shield you receive from your body armor. This skill is also meant to make you even more tanky, thereby helping you fight bosses head-on instead of playing from the back.
The Life you receive further boosts your Energy Shield through the Atziri’s Disdain helmet.
Passive Skill Tree
Since you are building theBlood Mage as a sorcererinstead of a traditional Necromancer, youdon’t need any minion skills. Instead, you’ll need access to passives that will boost your spells, with aprimary focus on Fire and Cold damage.
Here’s alist of spellsthat you should be considering when unlocking your passive tree:
Playstyle For A Fireball Blood Mage
The trick to play the Fireball Blood Mage is very simple.You’ll start with Eye of Winter and spam that skilluntil you reach ten stacks. Once you do,activate your Flame Wall, Frost Wall, and Fireball. You’ll do devastating damage to both bosses and smaller enemies.
Whenever Cast of Freeze procs, you’llsummon the Comet automatically, which will deal further damage to bosses. Just make sure your mana is always filled up else it might mess up your rotation, and you’ll be good to go!
