Summary

  • The Witch class in Path of Exile focuses on magic and dark arts, starting with higher intelligence than other classes.
  • High intelligence allows players to cast more magic and equip the best armor.
  • The best armor options for Witch builds include Widowsilk Robe, Vaal Regalia, Fenumus' Shroud, Vis Mortis, Doedre's Skin, and The Beast Fur Shawl.

Acting as Path of Exile's equivalent of a Mage, the Witch class is focused on mastery of magic and the dark arts. As such, the Witch build starts with a higher intelligence than any other class. The intelligence attribute allows players to cast more magic and equip certain equipment.

Armor is an example of this equipment. High intelligence will allow players to equip the best possible armor and achieve the highest energy shield possible. This energy shield will protect players from all types of damage, allowing them to defeat enemies from a distance effectively. Path of Exile grants the opportunity to acquire a wide range of armor; here is the best players can acquire while playing as a Witch.

6 Widowsilk Robe

High-Performing Base Armor

Gameplay screenshot Witch class
  • Energy Shield: 157-181
  • Required Level: 65
  • Required Intelligence Stat: 187

As players approach the latter portion of the game, they may begin to spot the Widowsilk Robe dropping from enemies. This is a very simple piece of armor to understand. In return for a -3% movement speed, users get a major boost to their energy shield. With the energy shield self-healing after 2 seconds of no damage, this robe can deflect significant damage before the player is hit.

This item will begin to drop once the player reaches level 65, but it is guaranteed to be acquired once the Act 10 quest Death and Rebirth is completed.

5 Vaal Regalia

Best Base Armor in the Class

Gameplay screenshot Magic
  • Energy Shield: 171-197
  • Required Level: 68
  • Required Intelligence Stat: 194

Taking its place as the best base Armor for Witch builds in the game, Vaal Regalia provides players with the best energy shield rating possible to achieve without adapting armor pieces or acquiring unique variants.

Path of Exile Ascendancies
Path Of Exile: Every Ascendancy Ranked From Worst To Best

With 19 Ascendancy classes to pick from, the Path of Exile player base is spoiled for choice. How do the Ascendancies rank from worst to best?

It is dropped at random, but more impatient players can get the armor much faster. Players should collect 7 of The Ethereal Divination cards to exchange for a 6-link Vaal Regalia. These cards can only be gotten in two places: The Alluring Abyss and The Apex of Sacrifice.

4 Fenumus' Shroud

Boost to Spider Web Attacks

Dark red armour in-game screenshot
  • Energy Shield: 345-434
  • Required Level: 67
  • Required Intelligence Stat: 187

A unique variant of the Widowsilk Robe, Fenumus' Shroud is a major upgrade on that base piece of armor. It offers a 30-40 boost to the intelligence attribute, a 120-140% increase to the energy shield, and a major boost to the player's Spider Web attacks. This includes decreasing damage by those affected by the web as well as a 50-70% increase in its area of effect.

It can only be dropped by Fenumus, First of the Night. Those looking to acquire this unique piece of armor will need to defeat Fenumus in its lair.

3 Vis Mortis

Good Value for Players

In-game screenshot, energy shield
  • Energy Shield: 369-470
  • Required Level: 59
  • Required Intelligence Stat: 160

This piece of armor offers perhaps the best value to players regarding the level and intelligence required to equip it. It permits a 200-220% boost to energy shields and a 20-30 increase to maximum mana. It does, however, reduce a player's minions' maximum life by 20%, although their damage is increased by 15%, so this somewhat makes up for it.

There is no specific recipe for Vis Mortis, so players will have to hope for a drop in a random armor recipe or find it in the game world.

2 Doedre's Skin

For Curse Heavy Builds

Path of exile Red armour in energy shield
  • Energy Shield: 361-452
  • Required Level: 65
  • Required Intelligence Stat: 187

A more complex piece of armor, Deodre's Skin benefits a very specific style. It increases the player's intelligence by 30-40 and energy shield by 130-150%. This armor also grants a unique skill: Summon Doedre's Effigy. This summons an effigy of Doedre and projects auras of the curse skill gems socketed in the armor piece. This allows the player to cast an extraordinary amount of curses at any one time.

path of exile best unique shields
Path Of Exile: Best Unique Shields

Path of Exile players shouldn't hesitate to use these nifty shields against their enemies.

Although it can drop anywhere, the best chance to acquire this item will be to collect 9 Doedre's Madness cards and exchange them for a massively increased chance at the armor. These cards can be found by defeating Doedre herself and similar bosses found in places like The Harvest, The Rotting Core, Doedre's Cesspool, and Waste Pool Map.

1 The Beast Fur Shawl

Jack of all Trades

In-game screenshot character surrounded by magic
  • Energy Shield: 376-512
  • Required Level: 68
  • Required Intelligence Stat: 194

A well-rounded piece of armor that will apply to all types of Witch builds, The Beast Fur Shawl increases every stat and attribute that players would want. The energy shield is boosted by 120-160%, and its recovery rate is also boosted by 50-100%. This makes players significantly harder to damage, even when under heavy fire.

It also helps boost the player's damage capabilities with a 40% increase in spell damage and a 10% increase in the area of effect of corresponding spells and attacks. This piece is suitable for all types of players and offers the best protection from damage that any Witch build can hope to aspire towards.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Path of Exile Tag Page Cover Art
Path of Exile
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
October 23, 2013
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Grinding Gear Games
Platform(s)
PC, Xbox One, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre(s)
Action RPG