Path of Exile 2: Summoner Lich Leveling Guide (0.3.0 League Starter)

If you've ever wanted to sit back while an unstoppable army of undead crushes your enemies, the Summoner Lich in Path of Exile 2 is the perfect League starter for you. With Patch 0.3.0 (The Third Edict), minions are looking stronger than ever, and the Lich Ascendancy offers the perfect balance of Chaos damage, minion scaling, and defenses for smooth leveling.

While the Infernalist was once the most popular Witch minion archetype, Summoner Lich has taken the spotlight in 0.3.0 thanks to buffs in Chaos scaling and the flexibility of curses like Despair. The nerf to the Raging Spirits + Flame Wall combo might have disappointed some players, but this Chaos-oriented Summoner Lich build provides a relaxed, effective, and beginner-friendly alternative.

This guide covers everything you need to know to level a Summoner Lich from start to maps, including skills, Path of Exile 2 Items and gear recommendations, passive priorities, and ascendancy choices.

Why Play a Summoner Lich in Patch 0.3.0?

Summoner Lich has several qualities that make it an excellent League starter:

·Relaxed playstyle - Let your minions do the heavy lifting while you manage curses and Chaos DoTs.

·Safe leveling experience - Minions tank hits for you, making it beginner-friendly.

·Strong map clearing - Contagion + Essence Drain + Despair spread Chaos damage rapidly.

·Scales well with Spirit - More Spirit means more auras and minions, giving you flexibility.

Of course, it has its drawbacks, most notably weak single-target damage until you unlock Dark Effigy totem. Still, for a relaxed leveling build. You can use minimal Path of Exile 2 Currency to buy Path of Exile 2 gear can steadily grow stronger. So that Summoner Lich is among the best options in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3.0.

Pros and Cons of Summoner Lich Leveling Build

Pros

·Very easy to play and forgiving for new players.

·Safe and tanky due to your minion army body-blocking enemies.

·Reliable map, clear with Contagion + Essence Drain spread.

·Flexible scaling options with Chaos, Curses, and Minions.

Cons

·Weak single-target damage early until Dark Effigy unlocks.

·Requires managing multiple skills (not a one-button build).

·Energy Shield sustain can be tricky without Convalescence.

How to Play Summoner Lich (Patch 0.3.0)

The Summoner Lich revolves around combining Chaos DoTs (Damage over Time) with an army of minions that keep you safe and deal supplemental damage. Your rotation is simple:

Rotation

1. Contagion → spreads when enemies die.

2. Essence Drain → apply to a Contagion target to spread DoT.

3. Despair → curse enemies, lowering their Chaos resistance.

4. Dark Effigy Totem → adds heavy single-target Chaos damage.

When fighting bosses, make sure to link Overabundance to Dark Effigy so you can summon two totems later in the game.

Early Game (Acts 1-3)

At the very start of the campaign, you don't have many choices. Here's the priority:

·Unearth + Minion Instability - Summon skeletons early to help with damage.

·Skeleton Sniper (or Skeletal Arsonist if you prefer Fire damage flavor).

·Essence Drain + Contagion - The bread-and-butter combo for Chaos clearing.

·Add Despair when available for big damage increases.

You can choose between Skeletal Sniper and Skeletal Arsonist for early minions. Snipers provide ranged coverage, while Arsonists offer AoE explosions. Eventually, transition to Skeletal Reavers, who are sturdier tanks for late leveling.

Mid-Game (Acts 4-7)

By now, your army is growing, and your Chaos DoTs scale nicely:

·Add Skeletal Clerics to heal and buff your minions.

·Dark Effigy Totem becomes your key single-target tool. Place it against bosses affected by Essence Drain or Contagion for amplified damage.

·Consider Convalescence if you're struggling with Energy Shield sustain. It prevents your shield from being interrupted, keeping you much tankier.

This is also the point where Blasphemy Support becomes available. Link it with Despair to automatically curse enemies around you with a Vile Aura. This frees up your time and smooths gameplay.

Late Game Leveling (Acts 8-10)

Your build fully comes together here:

·Replace weaker skeleton types with Skeletal Reavers for tanking.

·Use Contagion + Essence Drain + Despair Aura as your main clearing setup.

·Keep Dark Effigy Totems active against bosses.

·Stack Spirit to enable more auras and minions.

·Transition to more Energy Shield-based defenses, supported by Convalescence and Withering Presence.

Gear Recommendations for Leveling a Summoner Lich

Unlike many builds, Summoner Lich doesn't need expensive uniques to shine. Focus on these stats:

Priority Stats

·+Spirit - Increases the number of auras and minions you can summon.

·+Skill Levels (Minion or Chaos Spells) - Huge DPS increase.

·Spell Damage / Chaos Damage - Boosts your DoTs and Dark Effigy.

·Energy Shield - Keeps you alive in the late game.

Early Game

·Wand + Rattling Sceptre combo is standard.

·Look for +Minion Damage or +Chaos Damage wands.

Mid-Game

·Transition to Wand + Druidic Foci setup.

·Acquire a chest piece with +Spirit to offset the Foci's lack of it.

Notable Uniques

·Atziri's Disdain - Strong Chaos/Curse synergy in mid-game.

·Doedre's Tenure - Boosts curse effectiveness.

·Late game: focus on a high-ES chest with Spirit.

Flasks

·Life flasks early (until ES sustain is stable).

·Quicksilver flask for mobility.

·Defensive flasks (Bleed, Freeze, Curse immunity).

Best Ascendancy Nodes for Summoner Lich

Your Lich Ascendancy powers up your Chaos damage and defenses. Here's the leveling order:

1. Soulless Form - Mana regen, keeps your resource stable.

2. Eternal Life - Prevents life loss while shielded, amazing synergy.

3. Rupture the Soul - Cursed enemies explode on death, boosting clear speed.

4. Eldritch Empowerment - Major DPS boost in the late game.

Passive Tree Priorities

The full tree isn't revealed yet for patch 0.3.0, but here's what we know and recommend:

Key Nodes

·Entropy - Core Chaos scaling node.

·Power of the Dead - Huge boost to minion damage.

·Gravedigger - Buffs skeletons and other minions.

·Relentless Fallen - Improves sustain through your undead.

·Lingering Horror - Increases Chaos DoT effects.

·Profane Commander - Enhances curse effectiveness.

·Void - More Chaos DoT scaling.

·Essence Infusion + Quick Response - Increases ES recharge rate.

Utility Nodes

·Open Mind + Arcane Blossom - Mana regen and QoL for spellcasting.

·+Spirit nodes (new in 0.3.0) will be essential, though placement is not yet confirmed.

Playstyle Tips

·Always open with Contagion + Essence Drain to spread Chaos damage across packs.

·Keep minions summoned before engaging; they'll body-block damage.

·Use Dark Effigy Totems liberally in boss fights.

·Once you get Blasphemy + Despair, stop manually cursing and let the aura do the work.

·Watch your Energy Shield - make use of Convalescence when available.

Final Thoughts

The Summoner Lich leveling build in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3.0 is one of the most relaxing and effective League starters you can play. It offers an excellent mix of Chaos DoT spread, minion support, and defensive utility, all while letting you lean back and watch your undead army dismantle foes.

While single-target can feel weak before you unlock Dark Effigy, the build's overall safety, map-clearing power, and scaling potential make it a perfect pick for new players and veterans alike. If you're looking for a smooth start to the Third Edict League, Summoner Lich is the definitive minion build to level with in 0.3.0.