Twink Essence Drain Lich Leveling Guide

Twink Leveling Basics

The basics of Twink Leveling are to:

• Buy & Prepare Items
• Setup Items & Skill Gems
• Have a Plan & Go!

The guide provides the following for a seamless leveling experience:

• Trade Links
• Step-by-Step Skill Gem Progression
• Passive Tree Routing
• A Leveling Plan that has been tested multiple times
• & a Full Video of the run

Buying & Preparing Items

The first step is to buy and prepare items, organized into the following categories:

• Equipped Items
• Inventory Items
• Stash Items

Unique items are bought, and Rare items are either crafted during the run or prepared on your main character in advance. No expensive Unique items are required, and no hard-to-craft Rare items are selected. If an item is optional it is noted. Furthermore, if you've been actively mapping, you may already have acceptable Rare Items or some of the consumables listed below.

The prices of items listed below may change over time!

Equipped Items

Equipped Items are equipped from the beginning of the run. Take care when purchasing or crafting items that the level requirement is 2 or lower.

• Wings of Caelyn = 1ex
• Foxshade = 1ex
• Luminous Pace = 1ex
• Midnight Braid = 1ex or Meginord's Girdle = 1ex
• +1 Chaos Withered Wand
  • Sockets: Lesser Iron Rune
  • Crafting Method: Alchemy, Essence or Alt Transmute Regal Exalt
  • Desirable Mods: # to Level of All Chaos Spell Skills, Spell Damage, Chaos Damage, Cast Speed
  • Note: Depending on trade availability, it may be easier to craft your own starting weapon by purchasing Withered Wands on a fresh Level 2 Character.
  • Rise of the Abyssal: Consider using a Gnawed Jawbone with an Omen of Sinistral Necromancy to create your +1 Chaos Weapon.
• +1 Minion Rattling Sceptre = 1ex
  • Sockets: Stag Talisman or Bear Talisman
  • Crafting Method: Alchemy, Essence or Alt Transmute Regal Exalt
  • Desirable Mods: # to Level of All Minion Skills, Increased Spirit, Allies in your Presence deal Increased Damage, Allies in your Presence deal Added Damage
  • Note: Depending on trade availability, it may be easier to craft your own starting weapon by purchasing Rattling Sceptres on a fresh Level 2 Character.
• Rare Rings x2
  • Acquisition: Purchase a Lazuli Ring from Una or Finn in Act 1
  • Crafting Method: Alchemy, Essence or Alt Transmute Regal Exalt
  • Desirable Mods: Cast Speed, Life, Mana, Dexterity, Strength, Intelligence
• Rare Gloves
  • Acquisition: Purchase a Stocky Mitts or Suede Bracers from Una or Finn in Act 1 Normal
  • Crafting Method: Alchemy, Essence or Alt Transmute Regal Exalt
  • Desirable Mods: Life, Mana, Dexterity, Strength, Resistances
• Rare Amulet (Optional)
  • Acquisition: Purchase a Crimson Amulet or Azure Amulet from Una or Finn in Act 1
  • Crafting Method: Alchemy, Essence or Alt Transmute Regal Exalt
  • Desirable Mods: Cast Speed, Life, Mana, Dexterity, Strength, Intelligence
  • Instill: Heavy Ammunition
• Magic Lesser Life Flask
• Magic Lesser Mana Flask

Inventory Items

Inventory Items include gear that is equipped soon, or are small items that are carried in advance, to save time later. In this run Inventory Items have a level requirement of 16 or lower.

• Wanderlust = 1ex
• Crown of the Victor = 3ex+
• +1 Spell Amulet (Level 4 to 14) = 1ex+
  • Desirable Mods: + Levels to All Spell Skills, Strength, Intelligence, Mana, Cast Speed
  • Instill: Heavy Ammunition
  • Alternative: Surefooted Sigil = 1ex+
  • Surefooted Sigil is useful for going faster, but can be hot swapped with a +1 Spell Amulet on Bosses
• Any Rare Jewels x2+ (Optional) = 1ex+ x2
• Any Rare Rings with Cast Speed and Attributes (Level 3 to 16) (Optional)
• Sapphire Charm
• Ruby Charm
• Topaz Charm
• Uncut Support Gem 5 x31 = 1ex x31
  • Note: Most players have extra Uncut Support Gems from mapping. If not, it may be faster to farm them in maps instead of individually trading for them.
• Lesser Jeweller's Orb x8 or Greater Jeweller's Orb x8
  • Note: Jeweller's Orbs are best bought in bulk via the in-game Currency Exchange.
• Gemcutter's Prism x4 to 20 (Optional)
  • Note: Gemcutter's Prism are best bought in bulk via the in-game Currency Exchange.

Stash Items

Stash Items are equipped in later acts. In this run Stash Items have a level requirement of 16 or higher. All Rare Items have the same crafting methods listed above.

• Thrillsteel = 5ex+
  • Alternative: Use Crown of the Victor for the whole run
• 25% MS Bushwhack = 1ex+
  • Alternative: Rare Boots with 25% Movement Speed (Level 40+) = 1ex
• Rare Withered Wand
  • Level 18 to 30 = 1ex++
    • Optional: Purchase with +2 Chaos = 10ex++
  • Level 30 to 40 = 1ex++
    • Optional: Purchase with +2 or +3 Chaos = 10ex++
  • Level 40 to 50 (Optional) = 1ex++
    • Optional: Purchase with +2, +3, or +4 Chaos = 10ex++
  • Note: Depending on trade availability, it may be easier to craft your own weapon by purchasing Withered Wands from the Caster or Gambling Vendor.
  • Rise of the Abyssal: Consider using a Gnawed Jawbone with an Omen of Sinistral Necromancy to create a +2 , +3 or +4 Chaos Weapon.
• Rare Focus
  • Level 10 to 14 (Optional) = 1ex+
    • Optional: Purchase with +1 Spells = 10ex++
  • Level 14 to 32 = 1ex++
    • Optional Purchase with +1 Spells = 10ex++
  • Level 32 to 50 (Optional) = 1ex++
    • Optional: Purchase with +2 Spells = 10ex++
  • Note: Depending on trade availability, it may be easier to craft your own focus by purchasing foci from the Caster or Gambling Vendor.
• +2 Spell or +2 Projectile Amulet
  • Level 32 to 40 = 1ex+
  • Level 40 to 50 (Optional) = 1ex+
• Any Level 25 Chiming Staff = 1ex
  • Note: Increase the level requirement or purchase price if there is no trade availability. Furthermore, it may be easier to purchase your own staff at Level 25 from the Caster or Gambling Vendor during the run.
• Any Rare Rings with Cast Speed, Attributes and Resistances (Level 17+) (Optional)
• Higher Level Mana Flasks
  • Grand Mana Flask
  • Colossal Mana Flask
  • Gargantuan Mana Flask
  • Transcendent Mana Flask
• Higher Level Life Flasks
  • Grand Life Flask
  • Colossal Life Flask
  • Gargantuan Life Flask

Setup Items & Skill Gems

The second step is to organize all of the prepared items and setup your skill gems. Use the reference image below to setup your Equipped Items, Inventory & Stash. Use the Skill Embed on the right for Step-by-Step Skill Gem Progression.

The Level 2 Setup

• Contagion is created with the first Uncut Skill Gem from Renly
• Skeletal Sniper is acquired by muling a second character for an Uncut Skill Gem Level 1.
• Recommended: Use 4 to 20 Gemcutter's Prisms on Contagion & Skeletal Sniper at Level 2, Essence Drain at Level 6, Withering Presence at Level 10 and Dark Effigy at Level 31.

Additional Notes

• Future Skill Gems are created with quest-given or dropped Uncut Skill Gems.
• If a Skill Gem has 3 attached support gems, use a Lesser Jeweller's Orb on it.
• Level 5 Uncut Support Gems have no level requirements; and can support Level 1 Skills.
• Furthermore, you can optionally create every support gem or skill gem in advance, as pictured below.

Go!

It's time to blast! Noted below are any key gear swaps, character breakpoints, or zone routings to assist with your run. There may be some discrepancies, depending on how many extra rare items you've crafted and which unique items you've selected.

Act 1

• Run Start
• Level 5
  • Equip Crown of the Victor
• Level 6
  • Equip Essence Drain + Chain III + Zenith II + Swift Affliction II + Chaos Mastery
  • Swap Chain III with Considered Casting on Bosses
• Level 8
  • Switch your Current Amulet for Surefooted Sigil
  • Note: Equip a +1 Spell Amulet during Boss Fights for increased single target damage
• Kill King in the Mists
  • Equip Withering Presence + Prolonged Duration II + Chaos Mastery
• Level 11
  • Switch Luminous Pace for Wanderlust
• Before Geonor
  • Equip a Sapphire Charm

Act 2

• Before Rudja, the Dread Engineer
  • Equip a Ruby Charm
• Level 16+
  • Equip a higher level Life Flask Grand Life Flask
  • Equip a higher level Mana Flask Grand Mana Flask
  • Equip any Rare Ring upgrades
• Level 18-30+
  • Equip any Rare Wand upgrades
  • Equip any Rare Focus upgrades
  • Equip any Rare Ring upgrades
  • Equip any Rare Jewels
• Traitor's Passage
  • Kill Balbala, the Traitor to receive the quest Djinn Barya for your ascension.
• Level 25
  • Important: Equip a Chiming Staff in Weapon Set 2
  • Important: Set all other skills for use in Weapon Set 1
  • Use Sigil of Power in your Single Target rotation.
• Level 27
  • Switch Crown of the Victor for Thrillsteel
• Trial of the Sekhema
  • Before entering the Dreadnought, complete the Trial of Sekhemas for your first 2 Ascendancy Points.

Act 3

• Level 30
  • Equip a higher level Life Flask Colossal Life Flask
  • Equip a higher level Mana Flask Colossal Mana Flask
• Level 31
  • Equip Dark Effigy + Poison III + Withering Touch + Urgent Totems III
  • Equip Despair + Heightened Curse + Prolonged Duration II + Decaying Hex
• Level 32
  • Equip a +2 Spell Amulet during Boss Fights for increased single target damage
• Level 33+
  • Equip 25% MS Bushwhack
  • Equip any Rare Wand upgrades
  • Equip any Rare Focus upgrades
  • Equip any Rare Ring upgrades
  • Equip any Rare Jewels
• Defeat Ignagduk
  • Disable Withering Presence
  • Equip Blasphemy + Temporal Chains + Slow Potency + Magnified Area II
• Level 40
  • Equip a higher level Life Flask Gargantuan Life Flask
  • Equip a higher level Mana Flask Gargantuan Mana Flask
• Upgrade any items for rare items as you see fit.
  • All of Act 4 and the Interludes can be completed with gear equipped in Acts 1 to 3.
  • That said, equipping Rare Wands and Rare Foci at Level 40 or higher may significantly improve your damage.

Path of Exile 2 0.4 introduces new confirmed changes to the Campaign:

• The Blind Beast in Isle of Kin now drops a Blank Greater Rune. This can be exchanged with Dannig in Kingsmarch for a Greater Rune of your choosing (from a selection).
• The Blind Beast no longer drops a Bile-soaked Tome. Instead, the Dark Mists quest now grants a Mist-shrouded Tome (which grants two Weapon Set Passive Skill Points) in addition to its existing rewards (Uncut Skill Gem and Gold).

In addition to the following unconfirmed changes from GGG Developer Interviews:

• The location of lost Weapon Pieces may rotate per league
• The location of Matiki may rotate per league

Any new changes will be included in a future update, after confirming them via playtesting.

Act 4

• Isle of Kin
  • Defeat the Blind Beast for 2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
• Singing Caverns
  • (Optional) Equip a Thawing Charm
• Abandoned Prison
  • Slay enemies until you find a Chapel Key. Use the key to enter the Chapel Secret and interact with the Goddess of Justice for a choice between:
    • 30% increased Life Recovery from Flasks
    • 30% increased Mana Recovery from Flasks
• Eye of Hinekora
  • Search for the Silent Hall Secret and Pay your Respects to receive +5% Maximum Mana
• Halls of the Dead
  • Complete the 3 Tests for a +5 Attribute or +5% Resistance consumable Ancestral Tattoo
    • Tawhoa's Test = +5 Dexterity or +5% Lightning Resistance
    • Tasalio's Test = +5 Intelligence or +5% Cold Resistance
    • Ngamahu's Test = +5 Strength or +5% Fire Resistance
    • Warning: you cannot change your choice later on!
  • Defeat Yama, the White and speak to Navali in the next zone for 2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
• Continue Blasting.

Interlude 1: The Curse of Holten

• Level 50
  • Equip a higher level Mana Flask Transcendent Mana Flask
  • Equip any Rare Jewels
• Level 52
  • Upgrade your Despair to Level 52 with an Uncut Skill Gem Level 13
  • Note: This requires 92 Intelligence.
• Holten
  • (Optional) Search for the Ferryman in Holten and purchase his supply of Greater Runes
• Wolvenhold
  • Defeat Oswin, the Dread Warden for 2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
• Continue Blasting.

Interlude 2: The Stolen Barya

• Khari Crossing
  • Search for Molten One's Gift for +5% to Maximum Life
  • Defeat Akthi and Anundr for 2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
• Qima
  • Search for Orbala's Pillar and select one of the buffs:
    • 3% Increased Movement Speed (Recommended)
    • 15% Increased Global Defences (Recommended)
    • +5% to Elemental Resistances
    • +5 to all Attributes
    • 20% increased Presence Area of Effect
    • 12% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
    • 5% Increased Experience + the Inversion of all the Above Buffs
  • You can return to Qima and change your choice at any time

Interlude 3: Doryani's Contingency

• Defeat Lythara for +40 spirit
  • Enable Withering Presence
• Howling Caves
  • Defeat the Abominable Yeti for 2 Weapon Set Passive Skill Points
• Kriar Peaks
  • (Optional) Speak to Elder Madox for a free Unique Item
• Continue Blasting.

Skill Rotation

• At Level 6+, cast Contagion and then Essence Drain to clear packs of enemies.
• Attempt to group large packs of enemies before casting and pull packs of enemies toward each other, to let Contagion proliferate.
• If there are only a few enemies, cast just Essence Drain if it's linked with Chain.

• From Level 6 to Level 30, the basic combo is to cast Essence Drain, Contagion and then stack Wither with Chaos Bolt.
• At Level 25+, follow the same combo listed above and activate Sigil of Power before attacking the enemy.
• At Level 31+, follow the same combo listed above and activate both Despair and Dark Effigy before attacking the enemy.
• Note: After casting your damaging abilities, recover your Mana to 90% or higher to receive the damage multiplier from Zenith II. Use a Mana Flask charge or wait to regenerate as necessary.

Passives

• Note: Depending on your rare items, you may need to allocate Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence. That said, most of your attribute points should be Intelligence to equip your Skill Gems.

Video

The video below goes over all the leveling steps while also showing gameplay and playstyle tips.

FAQ

• Does the run acquire all Passive Skill Points & Permanent Stats?

  Yes

• What's the purpose of a Twink Run?

  The purpose of a Twink Run is to level a new character as quickly as possible through the campaign. Players using Twink Runs often view the campaign as the tutorial and maps as the true endgame.

• Which Campaign Buffs?

  • A2 Relic: 30% increased Charm Charges Gained
  • A3 Venom Drought: 25% increased Stun Threshold (Permanent)
  • A4 Chapel: 30% increased Mana Recovery from Flasks
  • A4 Tattoo's: 5% Resistance (Permanent)
  • Interlude 2: Orbala's Boon: 3% increased Movement Speed

  Note: Reference your endgame build guide or plan before selecting a permanent buff.

• How do I do more Damage?

  To scale your damage throughout the run:

  • Upgrade your Wand & Focus
  • Upgrade your Skill Gems
  • Use your Combos Correctly

  Prioritise the following modifiers on your Wand:

  • + to Level of all Spell Skills or + to Level of all Chaos Skills
  • Increased Spell Damage and/or Increased Chaos Damage

  Prioritise the following modifiers on your Focus:

  • + to Level of all Spell Skills
  • Increased Spell Damage and/or Increased Chaos Damage
  • Cast Speed (Quality of Life)

  For Skill Combos, ensure you are not making the following mistakes:

  • Casting Essence Drain when under 90% Mana
  • Not Swapping Chain for another damage support
  • Not buffing your damage with Sigil of Power
  • Forgetting to use Chaos Bolt to stack Wither
  • Forgetting to re-cast Dark Effigy or Despair
  • Missing your Despair or casting Despair too late or too early

• How do I die less?

  To clear quickly, dodge rolling into and running between packs of enemies is required. That said, if aggressive play is difficult to execute, avoid dodge rolling into enemies, and cast Contagion and Essence Drain from a distance.

  Alternatively, consider upgrade your Energy Shield gear: prioritising your Body Armour, Helmet, Gloves and Boots. However, note the trade-off between upgrading your gear for survivability and wearing items that increase your progression speed, such as Foxshade and Thrillsteel.

  Additionally, use Blasphemy Temporal Chains to keep your distance and weave in and out of combat to recharge your Energy Shield. Consider rushing faster start of Energy Shield Recharge on the passive tree if required.

  Optionally, consider swapping Withering Presence or Blasphemy Temporal Chains for Convalescence; a cooldown based skill that instantly recharges your Energy Shield and prevents ES Recharge from being interrupted.

  Furthermore, consider the following:

  • Regularly upgrading your item bases for more base Energy Shield
  • Increasing your Elemental Resistance
  • Increasing your Life Pool (Gear or Character Levels)
  • Wearing the Relevant Charm:
    • Resist Charms for Elemental Damage
    • Amethyst Charm for Chaos Damage
    • Stone Charm for Stuns
    • Thawing Charm for Freeze

Summary

• Complete the PoE2 Campaign in under 4 Hours
• Acquires all Skill Points and Permanent Stat Bonuses
• No Expensive Unique Items & No Hard-to-Craft Rare Items

Credits

Written by: havoc616
Reviewed by: Crouching_Tuna
Language Reviewed by: Tenkiei

Changelog

• December 9, 2025

  Guide Updated in Patch 0.3 for Patch 0.4: Path of Exile 2 - The Last of the Druids

• September 29, 2025

  Guide Written for PoE2 0.3 The Third Edict