I stumbled into the AOE Stacker Abyssal Lich when I was looking for something that felt a bit illegal in Path of Exile 2, and it didn't disappoint. It's not a "stand still and let minions do chores" summoner at all. You're actively creating bodies, burning them, and turning that sacrifice into huge bursts of damage. The loop is fast, messy, and weirdly satisfying. If you're upgrading pieces along the way, grabbing currency early can smooth the whole climb, and I've even seen folks talk about Divine Orb buy buy when they're trying to lock in the key power spikes without waiting on lucky drops.
How the Engine Really Works
The heart of the build is Spirit, and you'll notice it almost right away. Stack it and everything starts to click. Your damage ramps because you've got more fuel to spend, and your defenses stop feeling paper-thin because Spirit investment actually props you up while you're doing your thing. It's a rare setup where building "more" doesn't just make numbers bigger, it makes mistakes less punishing. You're basically playing a resource engine: summon, consume, explode, move. Once you get used to the tempo, the screen doesn't stay full for long.
Skills That Feel Good in Real Maps
For clearing, you want coverage that doesn't ask permission. Ball Lightning and Ice Nova are popular for a reason: you cast and the pack is already gone, even if they're spread out or tucked behind stuff. Mobility matters too, because this build wants to keep rolling instead of resetting position every fight. Lightning Warp fits that vibe. You blink forward, drop your damage, and you're already drifting toward the next cluster. In practice it plays like you're steering a storm cloud, not micromanaging minion AI.
Gear Checks and Easy Mistakes
Gear is where people mess it up. The Omen Sceptre isn't "nice to have," it's the scaling lever, and Threaded Light pushes that lever hard. If you try to replace either with random rares, the build still functions, but it won't feel like the meta monster you came for. Defense is the other trap. Alpha's Howl helps a ton with aura efficiency and staying stable when the map gets loud. A Vile Robe keeps the whole resource loop smooth, and Bones of Ullr adds mobility plus the kind of safety you notice when you're chaining packs instead of tiptoeing. Finish it off with a solid Solar Amulet and Grip of Kulemak, and the jump in consistency is obvious.
Putting It All Together
Once you've got the rhythm, the build turns into a two-minute-map habit. You'll summon just enough, burn them on cue, and let the AOE do the talking. It's aggressive, so you'll still get punished if you zone out, but it's not fragile in the way most big-damage casters are. If you're trying to round out the last few items or keep your upgrades moving between sessions, a marketplace like u4gm can help with currency and gear pickups without derailing your playtime, and that means more time actually blasting maps instead of staring at trade filters.