Path of Exile 2 is packed with build diversity, but few setups offer the sheer visual and mechanical satisfaction of watching entire screens of enemies disintegrate into void juice. Enter the Dark Effigy Essence Drain/Contagion Lich, a chaos-based spellcaster that combines off-the-charts single target DPS with top-tier map clearing POE 2 Currency Orbs. This build leans heavily into totem-based casting and stacking chaos debuffs for a cascade of carnage across the battlefield. In this guide, we'll break down the mechanics, gear, gem links, passive tree, and gameplay tips that make this build not only viable, but elite.

Why Play This Build?

If you've ever found Essence Drain/Contagion satisfying in PoE 1 but wish it had better single target, this is your dream setup. Thanks to Dark Effigy totems and carefully tuned gem scaling, this Lich build turns mobs and bosses alike into chaos-soaked puddles. With optimized gear and a solid understanding of its rhythm, you'll cruise through high-tier content while rarely getting touched.

Gear Overview: Stack Chaos, Stack Energy Shield, Delete Everything

Let's start with the gear. While this build shines even with mid-range investments, min-maxing your equipment elevates it to a powerhouse. Below is a breakdown of the gear and what stats you should prioritize.

Wand (Main Weapon)

Key Stats: +1 to all Chaos Spell Skill Gems, increased Cast Speed, and Chaos or Spell Damage.

Note: Aim for an item level 81+ base to unlock +5 gem mods with an essence craft.

Helmet

Atziri's Disdain: BiS for Lich. Don't overthink this—just slap it on.

Focus (Off-hand)

+2 to all Spell Skill Gems, Cast Speed. You can go for increased Spell/Chaos damage or raw Energy Shield. Look to shore up resistances here too.

Amulet

Look for +3 to all Spell Skills (fractured ideally) and at least 24 Spirit to support Clarity via the gem loadout. ES, mana regen, and resistances are welcome bonuses.

Chest

High Energy Shield body armor like Flowing Rayment is ideal. Prioritize increased mana regeneration or energy shield recharge rate implicit mods.

Rings

Cast Speed is king. Add in life, mana regen, and resistances. The ring bases themselves should ideally have cast speed implicit.

Gloves, Belt, Boots

Gloves: Life, ES, and resistances.

Belt: Same, with mana if possible.

Boots: Movement Speed first, then ES, resistances, and Intelligence.

Off-Hand Weapon (For Sigil of Power)

Chiming Staff with +1 to all Spell Skills. This ensures your Sigil of Power casts at the highest possible level.

Charm

Nascent Hope is the charm of choice.

Jewels: Precision Tuning

Jewels add a ton of value to this build, especially when you know what to look for.

Most Important Stat: Increased Effect of Withered. You want at least 40% total, which gives +2% chaos damage taken per stack of Wither. Anything below a 20% breakpoint does nothing due to rounding.

Other Good Stats:

Maximum Energy Shield

Increased Spell or Chaos Damage

Mana Regeneration

Cast Speed

Energy Shield Recharge

Skill Effect Duration

Recover Mana on Kill (for sustain)

Avoid “Gain Volatility on Kill” - it sounds cool, but it's troll-tier in this setup.

Gem Links: Melting Mobs and Bosses

Your gem loadout is intricate but incredibly effective. Here's a breakdown, prioritized left to right:

Dark Effigy (Main Skill)

Overabundance

Controlled Destruction

Arcane Tempo

Venom

Ancestral Urgency

Optional: Ironwood or Concentrated Effect (swap for bossing)

Do NOT use Extraction—it kills your totems due to its life cost interaction.

Essence Drain Setup

Swift Affliction

Chain Considered Casting

Chaos Mastery

Derange (or Zenith if casting Essence Drain first)

Contagion Setup

Unleash

Magnified Effect

Intense Agony

Chaotic Freeze (Hinder is an optional swap here)

Despair Setup

Decaying Hex

Cursed Ground

Heightened Curse

Optional: Inspiration or Focused Curse

Aura and Utility Setup

Withering Presence + Persistence + Clarity

Convalescence + Ingenuity + Mysticism (optional)

Blasphemy + Temporal Chains + Ritualistic Curse + Encumbrance

Blink + Second Wind

Bonetorm + Life Tap + Exploit Weakness + Perpetual Charge

For low-life synergy (if needed for passive tree scaling), use Vis of Aya helm and Bonetorm to drain yourself deliberately.

Passive Tree and Ascendancy: Where the Power Lives

Ascendancy Progression:

Soulless Form

Eternal Life

Eldritch Empowerment

Jewel Socket

From there, build around:

Chaos Damage Clusters

Cast Speed

Energy Shield & Recharge Rate

Totem Support

Skill Effect Duration (for better Contagion spread)

Notable Clusters:

Essence Infusion

Pure Chaos

Wither Away

Zone of Control (for second weapon set)

Hindered Capabilities

Lingering Whispers

Play with the nodes based on your stats. If you need stun resist, grab Eldritch Will. More recharge? Quick Response. You've got flexibility here.

Gameplay Tips: Mastering the Chaos Flow

This build has two main playstyles depending on whether you're clearing maps or facing a boss.

Single Target Rotation

Drop Sigil of Power

Cast Despair

Summon two Dark Effigy totems

Cast Contagion

Fire Essence Drain

From there, rotate debuffs and keep totems active. Refresh them just before they expire for max uptime.

Mapping Rotation

Use Dark Effigy and Contagion to clear as you walk. You can optionally lead with Essence Drain if terrain blocks your totems.

Adapt your approach depending on layout. Some prefer casting Essence Drain for clear speed, but letting your totems do the work is usually smoother and safer.

Crafting Your Own Chaos Wand

Tired of overpriced trade listings? Here's how to DIY a killer wand.

FilterBlade Setup

Go to Customize → Highlight Specific Base → Add: Tuned Wand, Siphoning Wand, Wizard Wand

Save and import to game

Item Level Check

You need iLvl 81+ to roll +5 gems

Crafting Process

Use Essence of Ruin for guaranteed chaos spell mod

Augment → Slam with exalts

Ideal: +Chaos Spell, Cast Speed, Spell Damage

If you get a god-tier chaos damage roll (95%+), consider a Greater Essence of Ruin (but note: it costs ~12 exalts). Otherwise, stick to regular essences.

Final Thoughts

This Essence Drain/Contagion Lich is more than just a high-DPS spellcaster—it's a surgical strike of chaos destruction. It clears maps effortlessly with beautiful chain reactions, while also deleting bosses with the relentless stacking of Dark Effigy totems and Wither effects. It's flexible Path of Exile 2 Trade, satisfying, and extremely efficient.

If you're looking to melt content without playing meta cookie-cutter builds, this Lich might just be your next main.