The Bloodmage build turns your life into spell damage for huge burst. It is one of the strongest Witch league starters if you manage the life cost.
Why this build works
Spending life for power gives big damage, and leech keeps you alive through the trade. It scales well on a budget.
Core mechanics
- Life-cost spell damage.
- Life leech or recovery.
- Energy shield or life defense.
- High burst single-target.
Step-by-step
- Pick a strong spell and link it to damage supports.
- Take life and recovery nodes before damage.
- Cap elemental resistances as you level.
- Add life leech so casts heal you.
- At maps, scale spell damage and recovery.
- Only cast big spells when you can leech the life back.
Stats and gear to prioritize
- High life and recovery
- Elemental resistances toward the cap
- Spell damage
- Life leech
- Movement speed
Common mistakes
- Casting without recovery
- Ignoring resistances
- No movement skill
Practical notes
The best Bloodmage builds convert life cost into damage and sustain through leech, so pick a skill with a high life cost to exploit the trade. Stack crit and chaos or fire where the ascendancy converts.
Cap resistances and secure a leech source before pushing tier maps. Avoid builds that need a large life pool, because his effective health is low. The strongest versions chain kills to refill life and never let the pool bottom out.
Respec into a leech source early, because a Bloodmage without sustain dies before his damage pays off in tougher content.
For the full setup, read the Bloodmage build breakdown and the best builds guide.