Path of Exile provides a vast array of playstyles, each customizable through seven base classes and a sprawling skill tree. If commanding an army of minions sounds appealing, the Summoner build is for you. This guide will walk you through an effective and beginner-friendly Summoner build.
Summoner Basics in Path of Exile
Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to grasp the fundamentals of the Summoner. Start with the Witch class during character creation because we're building towards the Necromancer, a Witch Ascendancy. The Necromancer is often considered the path of exile best class for minion-focused gameplay, thanks to its bonuses that enhance your summoned creatures.
Necromancer skills revolve around party auras and corpse interactions, like Offering skills, which provide resources and extend buff durations. Note that only one Offering skill can be active at a time, as activating a new one will replace the previous.
Each Ascendancy class has a mini passive tree, including the Necromancer, which offers five passive skills beneficial to minions:
- Minion Damage and Life: Boosts minion damage and life.
- Minion Damage, Aura Effect: Increases minion damage and the effects of non-curse auras.
- Minion Damage, Cast Speed: Enhances minion damage and your cast speed.
- Minion Damage, Mana: Increases minion damage and your mana pool.
- Minion Damage, Skill Duration: Boosts minion damage and skill duration.
Next, we'll explore how to build a formidable Summoner.
Top Summoner Build in Path of Exile
There are several viable Summoner builds, but we'll focus on a popular one by Path of Exile veteran Balormage: the Poison Summon Raging Spirits Necromancer. This build centers around the Summon Raging Spirits skill, creating a horde of Raging Spirits to decimate enemies, with a focus on Poison damage to maximize their potency.
In addition to Raging Spirits, we'll incorporate other summons like Stone Guardians, Spectres, and Stone Golems, truly embodying the Summoner archetype. For newcomers, check out our beginner guide to ease your entry into the League.
Starting Out
First, you need to ascend your Witch to a Necromancer by completing The Labyrinth, which unlocks Ascendancy options and grants two skill points. This build becomes powerful early, starting around level eight, and excels at boss-killing with the right end-game gear.
However, the Summoner build has some drawbacks. it's not the best for full map clearing, and constantly resummoning minions can deplete your resources. Additionally, heavy investment in minions leaves limited defensive options, making you vulnerable to powerful enemies with significant AoE damage.
Passive Skill Tree
The Summoner build leverages the extensive passive skill system. Begin at the top of the passive tree with the Witch class and expand northeast and southwest.
- Start with Intelligence and move right for health and mana passives.
- Pick Arcanist’s Dominion for spell damage and cast speed, then Lord of the Dead for minion health and damage.
- Head west for Cruel Preparation and Mana Mastery, then east for Eldritch Battery and Reservation Mastery.
- Move down and east for Spell Suppression Mastery, and finish with Energy Shield Mastery for defense.
- Return to the start, head west, and pick up Minion Offense Mastery and Mind Over Matter for defense.
- Proceed west to Redemption, then head south, acquiring Retribution, Discipline and Training, and Sanctity.
- Complete with Armour Mastery, Shield Mastery, and Life Mastery.
For a detailed passive skill tree, refer to the Path of Exile website.
Gear Setup
Equip your Summoner with specific gear to empower your minions. Initially, grab any minion-supporting items, then aim for the following end-game gear:
- Main Hand: United in Dream
- Off Hand: Aegis Aurora
- Helmet: Life/Resistance with minion skills
- Body Armor: The Covenant
- Gloves: Life/Resistance with Spell Damage Suppression
- Boots: Life/Resistance with Spell Damage Suppression and Shock Avoidance
- Amulet: The Jinxed Juju or Ashes of the Stars
- Rings: Life/Resistance with minion damage
- Belt: Darkness Enthroned
United in Dream adds poison damage and life regeneration for your minions. Aegis Aurora provides great defensive options. The Covenant boosts your defense and minion offense. The Jinxed Juju offers defense and resistance, while Ashes of the Stars focuses on offense. Darkness Enthroned is excellent for its Abyssal Socket.
Ascendancy Nodes
Activate the following Ascendancy nodes in order of priority:
- Mindless Aggression: Increases minion damage, attack speed, movement speed, and cast speed.
- Commander of Darkness: Enhances damage and resistances for you and your allies, and improves aura effects.
- Mistress of Sacrifice: Extends skill durations and applies Offering skill effects to you.
- Bone Barrier: Grants Bone Armor skill, boosts minion life, and enhances your defenses based on active minions.
With this guide, you’re equipped to build a powerful Summoner in Path of Exile.