PoE Sanity

How I Cut My Campaign Time in HALF With ED/C Witch | General and Specific Tips and Tricks

By XTheFarmerXWatch videoDuration: PT22M21S

Summary

  • Experience Optimization: Maintain a level buffer (3 levels + 1 per 16 character levels) to avoid XP penalties. Kill magic packs and normal packs of four or more mobs.
  • Shopping & Filters: Use a Shop Regex to filter out low-value items. Prioritize high % spell damage in Act 1 over +1 skill gems.
  • Movement Tech: Utilize a Changeling Talisman (Wolf Form) for a faster dodge roll animation and Pounce for ledge skipping.
  • Skill Progression: Transition from Contagion/Entangle to Essence Drain (Level 6) and eventually Bone Storm (Level 14) for single-target damage.
  • Routing Efficiency: Use checkpoint resets to skip long NPC dialogue (“yapping”) and utilize specific map layout tells to find bosses quickly.

General Speedrunning Concepts: Experience and Filters

Experience gain is governed by a strict formula. You have a three-level buffer, which increases by one for every 16 character levels. Being even one level outside this buffer results in a 10% XP penalty that snowballs, making it difficult to progress. To maintain levels without full-clearing, focus on:

  • Every magic pack.
  • Normal packs with four or more monsters.
  • Specific catch-up zones: The Cemetery (Act 1), Augam Manor (Act 1), Dashar/Dread Knot (Act 2), and Azac Bog (Act 3).

Target Levels by Act:

  1. Act 1: Level 14
  2. Act 2: Level 29.3
  3. Act 3: Level 40.3
  4. Act 4: Level 49.5
  5. End of Campaign: Level 58.5

Filters and Shop Regex: Instead of manually checking every item, use a Regex string in the shop search bar to highlight high spell damage or +skill items. Shopkeepers refresh their inventory every time you level up.

  • Early in Act 1, a 7% spell damage staff is often superior to a +1 skill wand because there is little base scaling to benefit from gem levels.
  • Fine-tune your loot filter to highlight white/blue wand/staff bases for crafting (Transmutation/Augmentation orbs) and Energy Shield rare bases. Set armor/evasion bases with high strength/dexterity requirements to a smaller size so they can still be collected and sold for gold.

Act 1: The Early Game (Levels 1–6)

The Witch struggles until level 6. After defeating the Miller, take the level 1 skill gem (Contagion) from Renly and purchase a white Changeling Talisman (33 gold).

  • Movement Tech: Equip the Talisman on your weapon swap. While in Wolf Form, the movement speed is slightly faster, but the dodge roll animation is significantly smoother. Alternate between dodge rolling and sprinting for optimal speed and safety.
  • Skills: Obtain a second level 1 skill gem (Entangle) from the abandoned campsite in the first zone. Combine Entangle and Contagion for early Area of Effect (AoE) clear.
  • Bayra Fight: Use Unearth to revive minions and the Command Minion tech to distract the boss while you DPS from the opposite side.

Argeen (The Witch): This is the hardest boss for this build due to lack of support gems.

  • Use Entangle to slow her and Chaos Bolt (wand) for primary DPS.
  • Pick up the medium Life/Mana flasks in the Cauldron.
  • Layout Tip: Points of interest (Argeen, Grim Tangle, Hooded One, and Bramble Mass) spawn in a diamond formation. The Red Vale’s position on the world map correlates to its in-game location.
  • Always grab the Hooded One Waypoint to save travel time later.

The Rust King:

  • Obtain the Unleash support gem from Argeen; it is BiS (Best in Slot) for Contagion later.
  • Clear the league mechanic (Abyss/Vaul/Rune) for a guaranteed Level 2 skill gem (Frost Bomb).
  • Use Frost Bomb for Exposure (Elemental Resistance penetration) to buff your single-target damage against the Rust King.
  • If the Rust King summons skeletons, use Contagion/ED to clear them and Unearth to create a minion army to help DPS the boss.

The Cemetery and Level 6 Breakpoint

The Cemetery is the premier XP farming zone. Reach level 5 before entering and hit level 6 within the zone to unlock Essence Drain (ED) and Pounce.

  • Pounce: Requires 1 point in Strength. It is a vital movement skill for jumping over walls and ledges.
  • Instance Management: Enter the Mausoleum of the Pretor first (Level 8), then the Tomb of the Consort (Level 9). After clearing the Tomb, reset the Mausoleum instance so it scales up to Level 9 for better experience.
  • Mausoleum Layout: Look for a center tile with a square/circle shape connected to four sides. Drawing a line from the entrance through this tile points toward the boss location (usually the top-left quadrant).

Hunting Grounds and the Road to Level 14

Hunting Grounds Bosses:

  • Crow-Beil: Drops +2 skills and a Level 3 skill gem (Orb of Storms).
  • Plant Monster: Drops a support gem (Chain), which should be socketed into Essence Drain.
  • Augam Farmland Skip: Use Pounce to jump over the blockade in the road to reach Uuna’s hut instantly, saving 30 seconds of running.

Augam Manor and Bone Storm:

  • Target Level 14 before fighting the final bosses of Act 1 to unlock Bone Storm.
  • Socket Bone Storm with Zenith and Controlled Destruction or Brutality.
  • Kenomath & Gienor: Gienor has a long, unskippable dialogue session upon death. To optimize:
    1. Fight Gienor until he begins his “yapping” session.
    2. Teleport back to town or reset the checkpoint.
    3. Use the Waypoint to kill Kenomath (using Bone Storm to make the fight trivial).
    4. Return to Gienor’s arena once the dialogue has finished to collect the loot.

Key References