MMoexp-Path of Exile 2 Witch Build: Infernalist Ant Spectres (Patch 0.3)

The Witch in Path of Exile 2 has always been synonymous with powerful minion builds, and with the Infernalist ascendancy, her potential reaches terrifying new levels. Among the most unique and effective setups in the current meta is the Ant Spectre build, where you summon spectral versions of the Frozen Mandibles monster to POE2 Currency shred enemies from a distance. These insectoid allies combine high ranged damage with overwhelming numbers, allowing you to stay safe behind your swarm while bosses and map packs melt under their volleys.



This guide dives into everything you need to know about the Ant Spectre Witch: how the build works, why it excels in patch 0.3, how to scale it into endgame, and practical tips for both budget and high-investment players.



Why Ant Spectres?



In Path of Exile 2, the Raise Spectre skill has been reworked to emphasize diversity and scaling. While traditional minions like zombies and skeletons remain staples, the Frozen Mandibles—colloquially known as “ants”—stand out for several reasons:



Ranged Attacks: Unlike melee spectres, ants bombard enemies from a safe distance. This makes them less likely to die in dangerous melee brawls and perfect for clearing packs quickly.



Scalable Damage: Their projectile attacks benefit from both generic minion modifiers and ranged damage scaling, opening hybrid gearing options.



Durability: With proper support gems and defensive auras, Ant Spectres are surprisingly tanky compared to other ranged summons.



Visual Clarity: Large, distinct projectiles make it easy to see what's happening in chaotic fights—no small bonus in PoE 2's denser combat.



Ascendancy Choice: The Infernalist



The Witch's Infernalist ascendancy synergizes beautifully with Ant Spectres. Here's why:



Minion Damage Scaling - Infernalist nodes offer raw multipliers to minion damage, greatly enhancing your ants' base projectile attacks.



Energy Shield Defenses - With access to ES scaling, Spirit investment, and recovery nodes, you stay safe behind your swarm.



Burning & Explosion Synergies - Infernalist often has nodes that add burning ground or corpse explosions, giving your build extra map-clearing speed even when your minions are focused elsewhere.



Summon Support - Faster summoning, longer minion duration, and improved survivability make the Infernalist the most natural pairing for Ant Spectre farming.



Other Witch ascendancies can work, but Infernalist provides the right mix of defense and offense for endgame farming and bossing.



Core Build Mechanics



At its heart, this build revolves around Raise Spectre (Ant Variant) and scaling it with Spirit, Energy Shield, and minion damage nodes. Here's the breakdown:



Offense



Raise Spectre (Ant) - Your main damage skill. Supports like Minion Projectile Speed, Greater Multiple Projectiles, and Minion Damage amplify their ranged attacks.



Desecrate - Creates corpses to summon Ant Spectres reliably in any area.



Convocation - Pulls your ants to your location, keeping them alive and repositioning them instantly.



Defense



Energy Shield Scaling - Focus on hybrid ES + life gear while speccing heavily into Spirit for recovery and sustain.



Defensive Auras - Discipline for ES, Determination for armor, and Defiance Banner help mitigate big hits.



Minion Tankiness - Support gems like Minion Life and ascendancy bonuses ensure your ants don't melt in high-tier maps.



Leveling into Ant Spectres



Early game, you'll use standard minions: skeletons, zombies, and perhaps the Carrion construct. Once you unlock Raise Spectre and find Frozen Mandibles in mid-level zones (commonly spawning in icy biomes), you can begin transitioning.



Tips for the transition:



Start with 2-3 spectres, gradually increasing as your gear and gem levels rise.



Prioritize supports that boost minion damage first, then layer in projectiles and survivability.



Don't overinvest early—Ant Spectres shine most in maps and endgame content.



Endgame Gearing Strategy



What makes this build appealing is its flexibility—you can farm efficiently on a budget or push it toward mirror-tier levels with heavy investment.



Budget Gear Priorities



+1 to Minion Gems Wands - Craftable with modest currency, boosting spectre scaling immediately.



Energy Shield Hybrid Chest - Aim for ES + life with open suffixes for resists.



Minion Rings/Amulets - Any item with “Minions deal #% increased Damage” or “+ to Level of all Minion Skills” is valuable.



Basic Flasks - Quartz for phasing, Granite for armor, and Jade for evasion to round out defenses.



High-Investment Options



Double +1 Weapon/Shield Combo - Combining +1 Minion and +1 All Spell gems skyrockets your ants' damage.



Influenced Helmets - Look for minion projectile damage, minion life, or nearby enemies have reduced resistances.



Cluster Jewels & Spirit Scaling - Optimize your tree with jewels that increase Energy Shield recovery and minion multipliers.



Auras with Generosity - Investing in aura effect scaling lets your ants hit much harder while keeping your defenses intact.



Mapping and Bossing

Mapping



Ant Spectres excel in mapping because of their ranged AI and strong area damage. With multiple projectiles, they obliterate packs quickly. Convocation ensures they never lag behind, and corpse explosion synergies from Infernalist ascendancy make clearing feel even smoother.



Bossing



Against bosses, Ant Spectres' consistent ranged output shines. You don't need to rely on ramp-up mechanics—once summoned, they unload constant projectiles. With proper positioning and defensive layering, most bosses in high-tier maps become manageable, even on modest gear.



Farming Currency and Progression



If you're struggling to gear up naturally, farming can feel slow at times. This is especially true if you're competing with the high market demand for minion items early in a league. One way to smooth the process is by buying PoE 2 currency at MMOEXP, letting you skip the grind and pick up essential upgrades faster. Many players use this method to transition from a functioning budget build into an optimized farming powerhouse.



Tips for Success



Keep Minions Alive - Invest early in Minion Life support and defensive auras to avoid constant resummoning.



Learn Convocation Timing - Pulling your ants out of dangerous ground effects or into position can make or break boss fights.



Balance Offense and Defense - Don't tunnel vision damage. A dead Witch does zero DPS—prioritize ES recovery and resistances.



Practice Summoning Flow - With Desecrate and Convocation, you should never be without a full swarm.



Conclusion



The Ant Spectre Infernalist Witch is one of the strongest low-to-mid investment builds available in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3. It delivers safe, consistent ranged damage through your spectral army while giving you robust defenses via Energy Shield and Spirit scaling. For players who love commanding hordes of minions cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency and watching them annihilate enemies while they stay protected, this setup is a dream come true.



Whether you're looking to farm endgame maps, tackle pinnacle bosses, or just progress steadily through the Abyssal League, the Ant Spectre Witch is a reliable, scalable, and fun choice. With a small amount of currency—or a jumpstart from sites like MMOEXP—you can transform this build into a league-defining powerhouse.