MMoexp: Shadowedwin’s Blood Magic-Powered Unborn Lich Build in Path of Exile 2

In the ever-evolving world of POE2 Currency: Deadfire, players constantly seek builds that push the boundaries of creativity, power, and fun. Among the most fascinating creations in recent memory is the build crafted by the player Shadowedwin, centered around a new unique staff from the Abyssal League: The Unborn Lich. This build isn’t just about raw damage—it’s a symphony of mechanics, clever interactions, and thematic flair that transforms Edwin into a powerhouse of destruction and resilience.

At first glance, Edwin appears as a Titan—a race noted for its physical prowess—but in this build, he is reimagined as a muscle-bound mage, affectionately nicknamed “Gandalf the Buff” or “Rambo Radagast.” The combination of massive strength and arcane might is not only amusing but deadly effective. The core of this build revolves around a single ability granted by The Unborn Lich: His Dispersive Calamity, a lightning-based spell with extraordinary potential.

The Core Mechanic: Sylph Projectiles

His Dispersive Calamity generates Sylphs, ethereal orbs that persist for a short time before launching themselves as projectiles. By default, these Sylphs emerge one at a time, which could seem limiting—but Edwin’s genius lies in maximizing their firing rate. The trick is to reduce the duration of the Sylphs as much as possible, effectively turning Dispersive Calamity into a high-speed, multi-shot weapon reminiscent of a magical machine gun.

To achieve this, Edwin leverages nodes in the Talent Tree that reduce spell duration. Coupled with the Titan-exclusive ability Massive Form, which increases minor talent effects by 50%, the duration reduction becomes extreme. The result is a continuous, rapid-fire barrage of Sylphs that keeps enemies under constant pressure. The sheer speed and volume of these projectiles is both visually satisfying and mechanically devastating—truly a “brrrrr” moment in combat.

Optimizing Casting and Cooldowns

Another layer of sophistication involves smoothing the casting process. Normally, recasting Dispersive Calamity resets the cooldown on existing orbs, which prevents them from launching until casting stops. Edwin overcomes this limitation by employing the support gem Thoughtful Incantation, which slightly slows the casting animation. By timing the incantation duration to exceed the Sylph lifespan, players can hold down the cast button, sending off projectiles before new Sylphs are created, maintaining a steady stream of damage. This subtle timing manipulation turns the spell into a true arcane machine gun—a mechanic that is as clever as it is powerful.

Amplifying Damage with Frost Darts

While the Sylphs serve as the main offensive tool, Edwin’s build incorporates additional firepower via two automated copies of Frost Darts, another projectile spell that hurls spears of ice at enemies. One copy is triggered on critical hits, while the other responds to elemental status effects, ensuring that Edwin maintains a constant secondary stream of damage. Given the frequency of crits and elemental procs, the combination of Sylphs and Frost Darts creates an unrelenting barrage that decimates enemies.

Mana Management Through Blood Magic

One might assume that casting all these spells continuously would be prohibitively expensive in terms of mana—but Edwin cleverly circumvents this limitation by using life instead of mana through the Blood Magic mechanic. Spells cost life to cast, and this is balanced by synergies that allow life regeneration proportional to mana costs. By investing in the Abyssal Jewel Eternal Hatred, Edwin gains the talent Blood Sacrifice, which allows him to regain more life than he spends, especially when enhanced by Massive Form. This intricate loop—spend life, regenerate life, cast more spells—ensures that Edwin can maintain near-constant offensive output without running out of resources. The numbers speak for themselves: chained spells can regenerate up to 3,000 life per second, providing both offense and a surprisingly robust defense.

The Night Veil: Life vs. Resistances

Another unique element of this build is the use of the Night Veil helmet, which dramatically increases maximum life at the cost of all elemental resistances. While this might seem risky, Edwin mitigates the drawbacks by stacking modifiers that apply armor to elemental damage, effectively protecting himself despite the resist penalty. Furthermore, the large life pool synergizes with The Unborn Lich, which features a mod that increases spell damage based on maximum life, resulting in a potent combination of survivability and damage amplification. This dual-purpose mechanic exemplifies the depth of thought behind the build: a defensive choice that simultaneously fuels offensive power.

Moment of Distress: Rapid Healing and Cleansing

Adding to Edwin’s sustainability is the synergy with the Moment of Distress effect, which normally heals and removes negative effects every 10 seconds. With the duration reductions from this build, the effect triggers astonishingly fast—approximately once every 1.2 seconds. This rapid cadence provides continuous healing and debuff removal, enhancing both the offensive and defensive capabilities of the build. Imagine a combat nurse on hyperdrive, keeping Edwin at peak condition while he obliterates foes.

Additional Mechanics and Quality-of-Life Optimizations

Edwin’s build does not stop at raw spell output. He also makes extensive use of elemental remnants, duration reduction, chilling ground effects, and weapon swapping, all of which contribute to a fluid and versatile playstyle. These mechanics are often overlooked in typical builds but demonstrate the depth of Edwin’s approach, turning him into a character that feels both dynamic and rewarding to play.

Moreover, the thematic cohesion is remarkable. The combination of a Titan’s brute strength, a mage’s spellcasting finesse, and Rambo-inspired flair creates an identity that is both humorous and heroic. The build not only performs exceptionally but also tells a story: a mage-warrior hybrid who embodies chaotic power with tactical brilliance.

Community Recognition and Fun Factor

It’s worth noting that this build is not merely a mechanical experiment—it’s designed for fun, thematic engagement, and replayability. Shadowedwin’s creation has garnered praise for its inventive use of Abyssal League uniques and creative talent synergies. The build rewards both strategic planning and real-time execution, appealing to players who enjoy mastering intricate mechanics while maintaining a playful, over-the-top aesthetic.

Summary of Build Highlights

Core Spell: Dispersive Calamity from The Unborn Lich staff, generating Sylphs that act as rapid-fire projectiles.

Secondary Damage: Dual automated Frost Darts triggered by crits and elemental status.

Resource Management: Blood Magic to convert life into spellcasting resources, supported by Eternal Hatred jewel for life regen.

Durability: Massive Form-enhanced life regeneration, rapid Moment of Distress procs, and Night Veil helmet for a massive life pool.

Damage Amplification: Spell damage scaled with maximum life, synergizing with Night Veil and The Unborn Lich.

Mechanic Optimization: Duration reduction nodes, Thoughtful Incantation gem, elemental remnants, chilling ground, and weapon swapping for fluid gameplay.

Theme and Fun: Titan-mage hybrid with a Rambo-inspired persona, combining humor, aesthetics, and power.

Closing Thoughts

Edwin’s Abyssal Lich build in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a masterclass in creative character design. It merges complex mechanics, optimized spellcasting, and thematic flair into a single, cohesive package. Players are encouraged to explore the synergies between Sylphs, Frost Darts, Blood Magic, and life-based damage scaling to truly appreciate the depth and ingenuity of this build.

Thanks to Shadowedwin and his collaborators, the build stands as an example of what is possible when creativity meets meticulous game knowledge. For those seeking a build that is fun, powerful, and uniquely memorable, Edwin’s machine-gun mage is a blueprint that inspires both awe and amusement.

Whether you are a veteran of POE2 Currency for sale or a newcomer seeking inventive strategies, this build demonstrates the limitless potential of clever synergy, timing, and thematic design. For more detailed guidance, the full guide linked by Shadowedwin provides exhaustive insights into every talent choice, gem selection, and item optimization.

Prepare your spells, summon your Sylphs, and let the magical mayhem begin—Edwin’s Rambo-esque storm of lightning and ice awaits.