Path of Exile 2 : How to Unlock and Use One of the Witch’s Most Powerful Skills

 Even well ahead of the official launch of Path of Exile 2, the Witch class has already secured a top-tier spot among summoner archetypes. With fluid movement, devastating minion synergy, and sheer zone-clearing efficiency, the Witch is a cornerstone for players seeking a laid-back yet incredibly powerful gameplay experience. Among her most potent tools is Raise Spectre, or as it’s sometimes referred to in the skill tree,POE2 Currency  Bind Spectre. This skill allows you to summon ghosts of slain enemies, turning them into loyal minions that fight at your side.

 

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Raise Spectre in Path of Exile 2: how to unlock it, how it works, the best strategies for using it effectively, and how it synergizes with other mechanics in the game.

 

How to Get Raise Spectre (Bind Spectre)

Unlocking the Skill

Raise Spectre is not available from the start. It becomes accessible as a mid-game skill, specifically unlocked through the Occultist skill tree, which is one of the advanced Witch ascendancy paths. Once you’ve reached Level 26 and have at least 61 Intelligence, you’ll be eligible to equip and use the skill.

 

This places Raise Spectre firmly in the hands of committed summoners, ensuring that players have already developed their build toward a minion-centric playstyle before unlocking this powerful tool.

 

Skill Gem Mechanics

Raise Spectre is a skill gem like many others in Path of Exile 2, and it must be socketed into your skill tree and assigned to your action bar. The base mana cost is 38, meaning it’s not cheap to cast frequently. Managing mana and cooldowns becomes crucial if you want to use Raise Spectre in combat reliably.

 

Keep in mind: this is not just a fire-and-forget skill. Your investment in Spirit points—a unique summoning resource in PoE 2—will directly impact what kind of spectres you can summon. Each spectre has a Spirit cost, and your total Spirit pool dictates how many and which types you can sustain simultaneously.

 

How to Use Raise Spectre in Path of Exile 2

Casting the Skill

Raise Spectre is used by targeting the corpse of a defeated enemy. When cast, it captures the spirit or essence of that monster, reviving it in spectral form as your personal combat minion. These spectres retain many of the original monster's behaviors and abilities but not necessarily all of its stats.

 

Summoning and Managing Spectres

After capturing a spectre, you’ll be able to summon it from your minion interface. It works similarly to traditional minion systems in Path of Exile, but with one major difference—Spirit costs play a defining role in what you can do.

 

For example, a weak ranged skeleton archer may only cost 1 Spirit point to summon, while a powerful spectral mage might cost 4 or 5 Spirit. You’ll need to balance your total Spirit capacity (which can be increased via passive tree investments and gear) with your desired spectre composition.

 

There’s also the matter of spectre retention—you can store your favorite spectres and re-summon them later if they die or you change zones. This makes spectre collection a mini-game in itself, as you seek out monsters with ideal abilities for your build.

 

Spectre Types and What to Look For

Not all spectres are created equal. While it may be tempting to summon a rare or elite enemy with flashy abilities, rare monster modifiers do not carry over to the spectre version. What does carry over is their base attack patterns, skills, animations, and sometimes elemental affinities.

 

Here are some general types of spectres you may want to prioritize:

 

AOE Casters: Monsters that had large fireball or ice storm attacks in life often become deadly AOE artillery units in spectre form.

 

Tanks: Beefy melee enemies that serve as a front line and distraction for enemies.

 

Support Spectres: Monsters that cast buffs, debuffs, or healing spells can be incredibly valuable in party play or solo survival builds.

 

Spectre Quality

As of current PoE 2 systems, there's no indication that spectres scale in power based on the rarity or quality of the original monster. Therefore, prioritize function over flash. Your spectres are there to support your overall strategy, not serve as vanity pets.

 

Key Stats for Raise Spectre

Attribute Requirement

Tier VII (8)

Mana Cost 38 Mana

Level Requirement 26

INT Requirement 61 INT

Summon Resource Spirit Points

 

Advanced Tips for Raise Spectre Users

1. Maximize Spirit Allocation

Use passive nodes and gear that boost your maximum Spirit. This is the limiting factor on how many and what kind of spectres you can control. High-Spirit builds can run a mix of damage, tanking, and utility spectres simultaneously.

 

2. Synergize with Other Minion Skills

Raise Spectre shines when paired with skills like Summon Skeletons, Bone Totem, or Animate Weapon. These create a full-on undead army, allowing you to hang back and let your minions clean house. Skills like Flesh Offering or Feeding Frenzy (if included in PoE 2) will further empower your spectres.

 

3. Raise Spectre in Town or in Combat?

It’s usually more efficient to Raise Spectre outside of combat, especially after identifying specific monsters with high utility. However, in hectic maps or during boss fights, learning to Raise Spectres on the fly from nearby corpses can save your run.

 

4. Use Corpses Strategically

Skills that generate or preserve corpses (e.g., Desecrate or Corpse Explosion) can be useful for keeping a pool of summoning targets available, especially in boss fights or empty zones.

 

5. Spectre Upgrades Through the Game

Expect to upgrade your spectre choices as you progress. Early-game spectres may lack the firepower or tankiness you’ll need later. Maintain a list of go-to monsters to spectre from various acts or maps so you can revisit them when needed.

 

Raise Spectre and the PoE 2 Economy

The ability to effectively manage Raise Spectre can indirectly affect your standing in the Path of Exile 2 economy. Here’s how:

 

Crafting & Trading: Some builds depend on specific spectres, and players may trade corpses or map access to farm ideal monsters. This niche trading strategy can lead to big profits.

 

Currency Farming: Raise Spectre builds are exceptional at farming zones quickly, allowing you to generate currency like orbs, runes, and uniques more efficiently than many other builds.

 

Low Gear Requirements: Because your spectres do much of the damage, you can often save currency on personal gear and instead invest in minion-boosting items or Spirit upgrades.

 

Conclusion

Raise Spectre, or Bind Spectre as it’s sometimes called, is one of the most flexible and powerful skills available to the Witch in Path of Exile 2. It exemplifies the game’s deep customization and build freedom by allowing you to tailor your undead army to your playstyle. Whether you prefer overwhelming enemies with waves of spectral mages or supporting your skeleton swarm with defensive tanks, Raise Spectre gives you the control to dominate every encounter.

 

With the right spectres, well-managed Spirit resources, and strategic planning, the Witch becomes an unstoppable force that clears entire zones with minimal effort. As Path of Exile 2 Currency continues to evolve, Raise Spectre will likely remain a cornerstone of summoner builds—so start capturing those ghosts and crafting your perfect undead team today.