In POE2 Currency, few builds are as satisfying and strategic as the Dark Effigy Essence Drain Contagion Lich setup. Combining damage-over-time effects with crowd control and survivability, this build excels at clearing large packs of monsters and dealing consistent damage to bosses. If you enjoy a measured, tactical playstyle that rewards positioning and careful management of your abilities, this Lich build offers both power and versatility.

Why the Lich Works for This Build

The Lich is a natural choice for an Essence Drain Contagion setup. With access to energy shield, life, and unique chaos damage bonuses, the Lich can sustain itself in long fights while applying continuous pressure on enemies. Its ability to amplify damage-over-time effects and curses makes it a perfect platform for chaining together Essence Drain and Contagion. In essence, this class allows you to focus on dealing persistent damage while staying relatively safe from direct hits.

Core Skills and How They Work Together

At the heart of this build are three main skills:Essence Drain, Contagion, and Dark Effigy.

Essence Drain is your primary source of chaos damage. It deals damage-over-time and can be cast repeatedly on enemies while allowing you to reposition safely. This skill is especially effective when linked with support gems that increase duration and damage, turning even a small mob into a ticking hazard.

Contagion spreads the damage from Essence Drain to surrounding enemies. This means that a single cast can chain through multiple monsters, letting you clear rooms quickly without stepping into danger. Combining Contagion with AoE and duration supports ensures that your damage spreads efficiently, allowing you to control large groups of foes.

Dark Effigy complements the setup by amplifying chaos damage and creating bursts of concentrated harm. While Essence Drain works over time, Dark Effigy adds immediate impact, letting you handle tougher enemies or bosses more efficiently.

Passive Tree and Important Nodes

For this build, the passive skill tree focuses on three key areas:chaos damage, damage-over-time effectiveness, and survivability. Nodes that increase chaos damage and DoT amplify your main skills, while life and energy shield nodes help you survive longer fights. Curse effectiveness is also important, as applying Despair or similar curses can weaken enemies and boost your damage output. Prioritizing these nodes early ensures your Lich is both deadly and resilient.

Gear and Item Recommendations

Gear plays a crucial role in maximizing the potential of this build. Focus on items that enhance chaos damage, DoT multiplier, and energy shield. Wands or daggers that increase chaos damage are ideal, while helmets with +1 to socketed gems can boost your main abilities. Armor and cloaks that provide energy shield and resistances help with survivability, and rings or amulets that increase chaos damage or life regeneration further improve your endurance. Unique items or enchantments that extend DoT duration or enhance Contagion spread are particularly effective.

How to Play the Build

The Essence Drain Contagion Lich is a tactical, positioning-focused setup. Start by casting Contagion on a group of enemies, then apply Essence Drain to inflict ongoing chaos damage. Keep a safe distance from dangerous foes while letting your DoTs spread, and reposition when needed to avoid heavy hits. Maintaining curses on enemies, like Despair, increases the potency of your damage and ensures your DoTs remain highly effective. This build works equally well for solo play and group scenarios, especially for clearing waves of monsters efficiently.

The Dark Effigy Essence Drain Contagion Lich build is a powerful and rewarding option in cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency. By combining persistent chaos damage, skill synergy, and solid survivability, it allows players to dominate both mobs and bosses while remaining strategically flexible. With careful attention to gear, passive skills, and positioning, this Lich build becomes a force to be reckoned with, delivering both consistent damage and a satisfying gameplay experience.

Whether you're exploring maps, tackling endgame content, or challenging bosses, this build offers a unique mix of strategy, power, and resilience that makes it one of the most enjoyable Lich builds in PoE2.