Top 5 Hardcore Witch Doctor Guide

Witch Doctor Top 5 Hardcore Guide

1. Helltooth Harness Set (Zombie Bears) Level 109+

The Helltooth Harness Set received a major buff in Season 30 which moved it up to the first place spot on the Hardcore Witch Doctor rankings.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

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 becoming slowed and taking 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, gain 37,500% increased damage for 15 seconds to your primary skills, Zombie Charger, Piranhas, Zombie Dogs, and various other skills.

Weapon: Sacred Harvester

Soul harvest now stacks up to 10 times.

Mojo: Ursua's Trodden Effigy

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

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is 1-3 and adds an additional 2% for each stack.

Belt: String of Ears

Gain 30% melee damage reduction.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for increased life percent and toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Scrimshaw

Reduces the mana cost of Zombie Charger by 75% and makes it deal 7 times more damage.

Armor: Strongarm Bracers

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

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Poison Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Zombie Charger

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Helltooth Harness Tips

1. Make sure to maintain 10 stacks of Soul Harvest at all times for 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 from Strongarm Bracers.

3. The Spirit Walk Honored Guest rune ability replenishes 20% of your mana which is all that should be needed for mana generation when using the Creeping Death passive skill which makes Locus Swarm permanent.

4. The String of Ears belt is a strong defensive item but you can also use The Witching Hour which has Attack Speed and Critical Hit Damage for more damage to push higher Greater Rifts.

5. The Unity ring which provides 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Helltooth Harness Set Witch Doctor is capable of 109+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

2. Mundunugu's Regalia Set (Spirit Barrage) Level 106+

The second place spot goes to the Mundunugu's Regalia Set which is only outclassed by the Helltooth Harness Set for use in Hardcore.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Gogok of Swiftness

Increase attack speed and cooldown reduction by 1% and gain dodge for 4 seconds stacking up to 15 times.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Mundunugu's Regalia

(2) Set Bonus:

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

(4) Set Bonus:

Gain 60% damage reduction for 30 seconds after you enter the spirit realm.

(6) Set Bonus:

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

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 rate of Manitou spectres is increased.

Belt: String of Ears

Gain 30% melee damage reduction.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is 1-3 and adds an additional 2% for each stack.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for a higher life percent and additional toughness.

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 a 50% chance to freeze enemies.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Spirit Barrage

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Mundunugu's Regalia Tips

1. Make sure to maintain 10 stacks of Soul Harvest at all times for survival.

2. The String of Ears belt is a strong defensive item but you can also use The Witching Hour which has Attack Speed and Critical Hit Damage for more damage to push higher Greater Rifts.

3. The Unity ring which provides 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Mundunugu's Regalia Set Witch Doctor is capable of 106+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

3. Jade Harvester Set (Haunt / Locus Swarm) Level 104+

The Jade Harvester Set is a strong contender and takes the third place spot in the rankings.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

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 Haunt damage.

(4) Set Bonus:

Soul Harvest gains the effect of every rune and has its cooldown reduced by 1 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.

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: Haunting Girdle

Haunt releases one extra spirit.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is 1-3 and adds an additional 2% for each stack.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for increased life percent and toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Vile Hive

Locus Swarm 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 the normal duration.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

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

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Life % > Armor

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Poison Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Movement Speed

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Jade Harvester Tips

1. Make sure to maintain 10 stacks of Soul Harvest at all times for survival and damage.

2. The Creeping Death passive is required for Haunt and Locus Swarm with the Jade Harvester set because it gives more seconds of damage over time to consume with the Jade Harvester set bonus.

3. Use Spirit Walk frequently to make use of the damage increase and mobility from Shukrani's Triumph.

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 the damage over time on enemies.

5. The Unity ring which provides 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Jade Harvester Set Witch Doctor is capable of 104+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

4. Zunimassa's Haunt Set (Poison Dart) Level 101+

The Zunimassa's Haunt Poison Dart Witch Doctor received a nerf in Season 30 which dropped it to fourth place for Hardcore Witch Doctors.

Legendary Gems

Simplicity's Strength

Increase the damage of your primary skills and cause them to heal you for 4% of your maximum health.

Enforcer

Increases damage for your pets and decreases their damage taken by 90%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Zunimassa's Haunt

(2) Set Bonus:

Your Fetish Army lasts until they die and the cooldown of your Fetish Army is reduced by 80%.

(4) Set Bonus:

You and your pets take 3% less damage for each Fetish you have alive.

(6) Set Bonus:

Enemies hit by your mana spenders take 13,000% increased damage from your pets for 8 seconds.

Ceremonial Knife: Sacred Harvester

Soul harvest now stacks up to 10 times.

Mojo: Zunimassa's String of Souls

Completes the Zunimassa's Haunt set.

Helmet: Carnevil

Your ten closest fetishes will shoot a powerful poison dart every time you do.

Helmet: Pauldrons of the Skeleton King

Provides a chance to cheat death, returns you to 25% life, and makes nearby enemies flee.

Belt: Belt of Transcendence

Summons a Fetish Sycophant when you hit with a mana spender.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is 1-3 and adds an additional 2% for each stack.

Ring: Zunimassa's Pox

Completes the Zunimassa's Haunt set.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for a higher life percent and increased toughness.

Powers

Weapon: The Dagger of Darts

Your Poison Darts and your fetishes Poison Darts now pierce and deal 500% increased damage.

Armor: Mask of Jeram

Pet damage is increased by 200%.

Ring/Amulet: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Fetish Army

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Fetish Army > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Poison Dart

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Poison Dart > Armor

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Poison Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Zunimassa's Haunt Tips

1. Make sure to maintain 10 stacks of Soul Harvest at all times for survival and damage.

2. With the Carnevil helmet every Poison Dart you shoot makes your fetish minions also shoot a poison dart.

2. The String of Ears belt is a strong defensive item but for an offensive option you can also use The Witching Hour which has Attack Speed and Critical Strike Damage for more damage to push higher Greater Rifts.

3. The Unity ring which provides 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Zunimassa's Haunt Set Witch Doctor is capable of 101+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

5. Spirit of Arachyr Set (Corpse Spiders) Level 100+

The Spirit of Arachyr Corpse Spider Witch Doctor was heavily nerfed in Season 30 which dropped it to fifth place but it's still capable of clearing above level 100 Greater Rifts in Hardcore.

Legendary Gems

Simplicity's Strength

Increase the damage of your primary skills and cause them to heal you for 4% of your maximum health.

Enforcer

Increases damage for your pets and decreases their damage taken by 90%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Spirit of Arachyr

(2) Set Bonus:

Summon a Spider Queen that deals 5000% weapon damage over 5 seconds and slows enemies.

(4) Set Bonus:

The Spider Queen now leaves behind a web that lasts for 15 seconds and slows enemies. Infested enemies remain infested while on the web. You take 75% reduced damage while in the web and for four seconds after.

(6) Set Bonus:

The damage of your creature skills is increased by 11,500%. Creature skills are Corpse Spiders, Plague of Toads, Firebats, Locust Swarm, Hex, and Piranhas.

Weapon: Spider Queen's Grasp

Corpse Spiders deal an additional 800% increased damage and release a web that slows enemies by 80%.

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: Brood of Araneae

Corpse Spiders deal 100% increased damage and Corpse Spider bites increase damage by 1% for 5 seconds.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is 1-3 and adds an additional 2% for each stack.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

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.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for a higher life percent and additional toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Echoing Fury

Slaying enemies engulfs the wielder into a Frenzy.

Armor: Mask of Jeram

Pets deal 200% increased damage.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Corpse Spiders

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Corpse Spider > Armor

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Poison Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > All Resistance

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Spirit of Arachyr Tips

1. Make sure to maintain 5 stacks of Soul Harvest at all times for survival.

2. Use Spirit Walk frequently to make use of the damage increase and mobility from Shukrani's Triumph.

3. The Unity ring which provides 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Spirit of Arachyr Set Witch Doctor is capable of 100+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

Honorable Mention: Witch Doctor Legacy of Dreams (Spirit Barrage) Level 98+

The Legacy of Dreams Spirit Barrage Witch Doctor is a solid LoD build and is the honorable mention.

Legendary Gems

Legacy of Dreams

Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken without sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Weapon: Sacred Harvestor

Soul Harvest stacks can now be stacked to 10 stacks.

Mojo: Gazing Demise

The damage of Spirit Barrage is increased by 150% and gains the Phantasm rune which will last twice as long, and the attack rate of Manitou spectres is increased.

Helm: Leoric's Crown

Doubles the effect of gems socketed in this item.

Chest: Aquila Cuirass

While above 90% primary resources your damage taken is reduced by 50%.

Shoulders: Pauldrons of the Skeleton King

Chance on death to be restored to life with 25% health and cause nearby enemies to run in fear.

Legs: Blackthorne Jousting Mail

Elemental 20% damage increase.

Bracers: Lakumba's Ornament

Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is 1-3 and adds an additional 2% for each stack.

Hands: Stone Gauntlets

Getting hit increases your armor by 50% stacking up to 5 times. Negative effects are negated by Ice Climbers.

Belt: Belt of Transcendence

Summon a fetish sycophant each time you hit with a mana spender.

Boots: Ice Climbers

Immune to Freeze and Immobilize effects.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Convention of Elements

Rotates through damage types and gives a 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Amulet: Hellfire Amulet

Gain a free random passive skill from the character class that creates the amulet.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for a higher life percent and additional toughness.

Powers

Weapon: The Barber

Spirit Barrage now deals 500% increased damage on explosion to all enemies within 15 yards.

Armor: Frostburn

Cold skills deal 20% increased damage and have a 50% chance to freeze the enemy.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Emptiness

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Spirit Barrage

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Legacy of Dreams Spirit Barrage Tips

1. Make sure to always have 10 stacks of Soul Harvest for survival.

2. The Ice Climbers boots negate all of the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets.

3. The Hellfire Amulet can be changed to the Eye of Etlich amulet which is easier to obtain and provides an effect similar to a defensive passive.

4. You can switch the Swampland Attunement passive which provides resistances to the Confidence Ritual passive which provides 25% increased damage to enemies within 20 yards on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Legacy of Dreams Spirit Barrage Witch Doctor is capable of 98+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

Recommended Mercenary

Templar

Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Slows enemies attacks and movement speed.

Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor

Follower cannot die.

Shield: Freeze of Deflection

Blocks have a chance of a 1.5 second Freeze.

Helm: Blind Faith

Chance of Blinding enemies on hit.

Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)