2H Cleave Witch (Bloodlines) | Cute yet badass | by MirekLeFou (1.3)

Don't let anyone tell you your idea is stupid and cannot possibly work. Path of Exile really lets you do whatever you want. Don't let the community hold you back. Try and learn and fail. Have fun with it.

I don't enjoy following build guides nor playing the ones general playerbase is. Call me hipster, whatever. I love Witch and when I saw the way she holds 2H sword I had to try to place her in melee range and see if it works, eventhough it sounded like a suicide at first, especially in Bloodlines. I don't know whether it's been done or not, I haven't found any guide for it, but I've had so much fun with her. I didn't notice like I'm missing damage or survivability of Duelist and Marauder. I was leveling with Cleave and Static Strike since very beginning, and if you actually pay attention to what you're doing and play it safe, you're totally fine. And I made her with literally no currency. It was painful when I upgraded my items and was close to being able to afford links and gems and suddenly you get frozen by Shared Boon frogs that jump at you all at once next to necromancer with extra phys aura.

So, If it ever crossed your mind to play 2H sword Cleave Witch, here is some info for you.
Please don't ask me why I didn't go with Duelist, that's the whole point to play as a Witch. If you see other ways how to approach this idea you're definitely free to do whatever you want.

Level 76:
- Life 4,146 | Life Regeneration/sec 202,4
- Armour 7,114 | Evasion Rating 847
- 4L DPS 9,391 (without 3 Frenzy Charges)
- Chance to Hit 100% | APS 5,6
- 5 Endurance Charges

http://imgur.com/a/pHNGY#0

- Surprisingly, you will not struggle with meeting Strength and Dexterity requirements to equip items and gems.
- Craft yourself a 2H sword straight from the start or use a unique Wideswing/Limbsplit axe.
- If you have them, use other common unique leveling items.
- On passive tree rush through Templar and Marauder area down to RT and Duelist, pick up life on the way. Ignore damage nodes until 70(?), she will do enough. Life is no.1 priority.

Cleave: Cleave + Multistrike + Melee Physical Damage + Faster Attacks (+ Added Fire + Life Leech)

Frenzy and Leap slam: Frenzy + Melee Physical Damage + Faster Attacks + Leap Slam

CWDT: CWDT + Immortal Call + Increased duration

Survivability: Endurying Cry (self cast) + Spell Echo + Vengeance + Blind

Auras: Determination + Herald of Ash (+ Herald of Ice)
Q: Why not Hatred?
A: In BL, you go for Determination

Curses: Temporal Chains + Warlord's Mark

Strongboxes: Smoke mine + Decoy totem

Items:


*Instead of rare 2H Sword you can use Doomsower: http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Doomsower
*Instead of Belly of the Beast you can use any rare body armour with high life and resistances.
*Doryani's Invitation Belt isn't necessary.
*That rare 2H sword cost me few chaos.

Flasks:


*I like having Instant Recovery When On Low Life, Removes Bleeding is a must, Granite, Topaz, Ruby, Removes Curse, Removes Freeze And Chill. Of course you don't need "Recharges when you take a critical strike" since we don't crit here. I didn't have Alts to reroll.

When you encounter a strongbox that has "Cast random curse on you" and "Freezes you when activated" you really want to pop these and Smoke Mine away. I learned the hard way that if you get cursed by Silence, Smoke Mine doesn't work. You can also have Amethyst Flask for whatever game throws at you, but with my life regen and Warlord's Mark I didn't have problems. I ocassionally did mess with Blacksmith in Dunes and Spider Forest but that chaos damage hurts every non-CI character.

Level 76: http://poeurl.com/zexkTas
110 points: http://poeurl.com/zexOJLf

• Resolute Technique = Your hits can't be evaded. Never deal critical strikes.
• Unyielding = You take 20% reduced extra damage from critical strikes.
• Bloodless = Enemies cannot leech life from you.
• Master Of The Arena = +2 to melee weapon range

Keystones: Resolute Technique
There isn't enough accuracy and crit nodes in Marauder/Duelist area so I decided to go RT. It's awesome you don't have to worry about those.

N: Help Oak (Life)
C: Help Oak (Physical damage)
M: Kill All / Help Oak (Passive point / Endurance charge)

None of them are a problem. Life Leech, Warlord's Mark, and IC helps. No need to worry.

1. Curse a pack
2. Hit ele res/granite flasks.
3. Cast endurying cry, leap slam into a pack, immortal call will trigger itself on damage taken.
4. Remove curse if cursed.
5. Cleave, cleave, cleave, frenzy, frenzy, frenzy, cleave, everything burns from HoA.
6. Leap slam away, repeat.

Make sure you always have some Endurance Charges and long Immortal Call up. Sometimes you're forced to facetank insane stuff, phys, spells, chaos, all at once. IC really saves the day.

Pros:
+ As mentioned, it's cheap, fun, and different.
+ Good AoE, but not as wide as Reave.
+ I love the clear speed and survivability.
+ You can level up with Cleave since the very beginning, use Static Strike for better AoE.
+ Survivability is increased by Determination, self-cast Endurying Cry and 4-5sec Immortal Call, also Vengeance with Blind.
+ Damage of Bond of Chaos and Otherworldly has been reduced which is great.
+ Shroud Walkers don't decrease your chance to hit (Resolute Technique) = OpieOP

Cons:
- For being melee it's safe but you have to face your problems.
- Haven't had balls to tank Congealing Blood or Voidspawn of Abaxoth.
- No shield.
- Requires you to think twice before approaching a pack or strongbox, play carefully.
- Voidbearers in Docks hurt (it gets better further you get), projectiles and arrows will hit you.
- Better let someone kill Dominus for you when you progress.
- Some Bloodlines mods might be a pain.
- Feels vulnerable to chill.