Witch Doctor Top 5 Builds Guide

1st. Helltooth Harness Set (Zombie Bears)

The Helltooth Harness Set Witch Doctor received a significant buff way back in Season 30 which moved it up to the first place spot on the rankings for the best Witch Doctor builds.

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Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases your damage against enemies under the effect of crowd control effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

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Skills & Passives

Skills

Soul Harvest - Languish

Zombie Charger- Zombie Bears

Wall of Death - Communing with Spirits

Locust Swarm - Pestilence

Piranhas - Piranhado

Spirit Walk - Honored Guest

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Passives

Creeping Death

Swampland Attunement

Grave Injustice

Spirit Vessel

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Equipment

Set: Helltooth Harness

(2) Set Bonus:

Enemies hit by your primary skills, Zombie Charger, Piranhas, Zombie Dogs, and various other skills are afflicted by Necrosis, become slowed, and take 3000% weapon damage every second for 10 seconds.

(4) Set Bonus:

After applying Necrosis to an enemy, you take 60% reduced damage for 10 seconds.

(6) Set Bonus:

After casting Wall of Death primary skills, Zombie Charger, Piranhas, Zombie Dogs, and multiple other skills gain 37,500% increased damage for 15 seconds.

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Weapon: Sacred Harvester

Soul Harvest now stacks up to 10 times.

Mojo: Ursua's Trodden Effigy

Zombie Charger deals 150% increased damage and Zombie Bears now summons 8 bears that travel farther.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduces all damage taken by 60% if you have a Soul Harvest stack and gives an additional 2% for each stack.

Belt (Non-Seasonal): The Witching Hour

Gives increased critical hit damage and attack speed. When there is a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use Captain Crimson's Belt with the Ring of Royal Grandeur as your seasonal Kanai's Cube power instead.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

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Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power

Note: When there's a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set with the Ring of Royal Grandeur as your seasonal Kanai's Cube power.

Seasonal Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is now increased by a percentage of your cooldown reduction and damage taken is now reduced by a percentage of your resource cost reduction.​​

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Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

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Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for increased life percent which helps you survive.

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Powers

Weapon: Scrimshaw

Reduces the mana cost of Zombie Charger by 75% and makes it deal seven times more damage.

Armor: Strongarm Bracers

Enemies suffer 30% increased damage for 6 seconds after being knocked back or knocked up.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

You deal 300% increased damage against enemies affected by either your Locust Swarm or Haunt.

Seasonal: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

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Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > Life Percent

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Poison Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > % Damage to Zombie Charger > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Note: You should raise the priority of defensive stats like Vitality and life recovery if you have low paragons.

Helltooth Harness Tips

1. Make sure to always have 10 stacks of Soul Harvest when fighting for damage and survival.

2. The Piranhado rune for Piranhas groups enemies together, gives a 15% damage increase, and counts as a knockback for the 30% multiplicative damage increase on the Strongarm Bracers.

3. The Spirit Walk Honored Guest skill replenishes 20% of your mana which should sustain your mana with the Creeping Death passive skill which makes Locus Swarm nearly permanent.

4. The Swampland Attunement passive which gives all resistances should be changed to the Confidence Ritual passive for increased damage on the final push for Greater Rift rankings.

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2nd.  Mundunugu's Regalia Set (Spirit Barrage)

The second place spot goes to the Mundunugu's Regalia Witch Doctor which is only outclassed by the Helltooth Harness Witch Doctor in these Witch Doctor rankings.

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Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases your damage against enemies under the effect of crowd control effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Gogok of Swiftness

Increases attack speed and cooldown reduction by 1% and gives you a chance to dodge stacking up to 15 times.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.​

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Skills & Passives

Skills

Soul Harvest - Languish

Locust Swarm - Pestilence

Spirit Walk- Jaunt

Piranhas - Piranhado

Spirit Barrage - Manitou

Big Bad Voodoo - Slam Dance

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Passives

Creeping Death

Swampland Attunement

Grave Injustice

Spirit Vessel

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Equipment

Set: Mundunugu's Regalia

(2) Set Bonus:

Big Bad Voodoo now lasts twice as long and follows you around.

(4) Set Bonus:

Gain 60% reduced damage taken for 30 seconds after entering the spirit realm.

(6) Set Bonus:

Spirit Barrage deals 17,500% increased damage plus a percentage equal to 5 times your mana regeneration.

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Weapon: Sacred Harvester

Soul Harvest now stacks up to 10 times.

Mojo: Gazing Demise

The damage of Spirit Barrage is increased by 150%. You gain the Phantasm rune which lasts twice as long and the attack speed of Manitou spectres is increased.

Belt (Non-Seasonal): The Witching Hour

Gives increased critical hit damage and attack speed. When there's a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use Captain Crimson's Belt with a Ring of Royal Grandeur as your seasonal power.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduces all damage taken by 60% if you have a Soul Harvest stack and gives an additional 2% for each stack.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

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Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power

Note: When there's a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set with the Ring of Royal Grandeur as your Kanai's Cube legendary power.

Seasonal Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is now increased by a percentage of your cooldown reduction and damage taken is now reduced by a percentage of your resource cost reduction.

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Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

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Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is important for increased cooldown reduction and gives increased damage with the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set equipped.

Powers

Weapon: The Barber

The damage of your Spirit Barrage now accumulates on your target and explodes for 500% increased damage.

Armor: Frostburn

Gives cold skills 20% increased damage and gives cold skills a 50% chance to freeze enemies.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

You now deal 300% increased damage against enemies affected by either your Locust Swarm or Haunt.

Seasonal: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > Life Percent

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Cold Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > % Damage to Spirit Barrage > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Mundunugu's Regalia Tips​

1. Make sure to always have 10 stacks of Soul Harvest when fighting for damage and survival.

2. The Frostburn gloves freeze enemies which gives 300% increased damage when using a Ring of Emptiness.

3. The Swampland Attunement passive which gives all resistances can be switched to Confidence Ritual passive for increased damage on the final push for Greater Rift rankings.

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3rd. Jade Harvester Set (Haunt/Locus Swarm)

The Jade Harvester Set is a strong contender that was significantly buffed in a previous patch which moved it up to third place for Witch Doctor builds.

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Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases your damage against enemies under the effect of crowd control effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

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Skills & Passives

Skills

Horrify - Ruthless Terror

Haunt - Resentful Spirits

Locust Swarm - Searing Locusts

Soul Harvest - Severance

Big Bad Voodoo - Slam Dance

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Passives

Creeping Death

Confidence Ritual

Grave Injustice

Spirit Vessel

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Equipment

Set: Raiment of the Jade Harvester

(2) Set Bonus:

When Haunt lands on an enemy already affected by Haunt it instantly deals 3,500 seconds worth of damage.

(4) Set Bonus:

Soul Harvest now gains the effect of every rune and has its cooldown reduced by one second every time you cast Haunt or Locus Swarm.

(6) Set Bonus:

Soul Harvest reduces damage taken by 50% for 12 seconds and consumes your damage over time dealing 26,000 seconds worth of remaining damage.

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Ceremonial Knife: Sacred Harvester

Soul Harvest now stacks up to 10 times.

Mojo: Shukrani's Triumph

Spirit Walk continues until you have attacked 3 times or until you encounter an elite. Attacks while in the spirit realm deal 100% increased damage.

Belt (Non-Seasonal): Haunting Girdle

Haunt releases an extra spirit. When there's a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use Captain Crimson's Belt with a Ring of Royal Grandeur as your seasonal Kanai's Cube power instead.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduces all damage taken by 60% if you have a Soul Harvest stack and gives an additional 2% for each stack.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

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Seasonal Kanai's Cube Power

Note: When there's a seasonal Kanai's Cube power use the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set with the Ring of Royal Grandeur as your seasonal Kanai's Cube legendary power.

Seasonal Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is now increased by a percentage of your cooldown reduction and damage taken is now reduced by a percentage of your resource cost reduction.

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Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intelligence increases all resistances which makes armor more valuable for intelligence characters. This potion heals you and provides 20% additional armor for a large toughness increase.

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Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is important for increased cooldown reduction and gives increased damage with the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set equipped.

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Powers

Weapon: Vile Hive

Locus Swarm now gains the effect of the Pestilence rune and deals 60% increased damage.

Armor: Quetzalcoatl

Locus Swarm and Haunt now deal their damage in half of their normal duration. 

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

You now deal 300% increased damage against enemies affected by either your Locust Swarm or Haunt.

Seasonal: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

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Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intelligence > Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Vitality

Body: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > % Damage to Haunt

Hands: Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

Shoulders: Intelligence > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Intelligence > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intelligence > Vitality > Life Percent > Armor

Bracers: Intelligence > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Poison Damage Percent

Feet: Intelligence > Vitality > Armor > All Resistance

Amulet: Socket > Intelligence > Critical Hit Damage > Critical Hit Chance

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Intelligence > Vitality

Jade Harvester Tips​​

1. Make sure to always have 10 stacks of Soul Harvest when fighting for damage and survival.

2. Use Spirit Walk frequently for its increased damage and mobility when using a Shukrani's Triumph.

3. The Creeping Death passive is required with the Jade Harvester set with Locust Swarm and Haunt because it gives more seconds of damage which can be instantly triggered with Soul Harvest.

4. A good rotation to start off with to familiarize yourself with the build is Locus Swarm, Haunt three times, and then Soul Harvest to consume damage over time effects on enemies.

5. The Spirit Vessel passive which gives a cheat death can be changed to the Confidence Ritual passive for increased damage on the final push for Greater Rift rankings.