Witch Hunter Redesign

## 🔧 [Suggestion] Ascendancy Redesign – **Witch Hunter (Mercenary)**
> *"I don’t fear magic. I hunt it."*

---

### 📌 Overview
This is a rework suggestion for the **Witch Hunter Ascendancy** under the Mercenary base class in *Path of Exile 2*. The current implementation is functional but lacks a strong thematic identity and mechanical payoff that aligns with the title *Witch Hunter*.

This proposal fully leans into a **Van Hellsing-inspired hybrid archetype**: a tactical anti-mage killer, combining crossbow execution, trap synergy, and curse inversion through a blend of grit and forbidden tools.

---

## 🕯️ Concept Goals

- Embrace the identity of a **supernatural executioner**
- Build around mechanics like **Concentration pressure**, **crit-based kill chains**, and **reload mastery**
- Incorporate **Sorcery Ward**, **curse reflection**, and **prepared magazines**
- Blend **crossbows, traps, and tactical gear** with a smooth, aggressive rhythm

---

## 🔱 Ascendancy Structure

- 🔺 3 Primary Trees (4 nodes deep)
- 🔻 2 Secondary Trees (2 nodes deep)
Each tree includes:
- 2 Minor Nodes
- 1 Major Node
- 1 Capstone Node

---

## 🌑 **Primary Tree 1 – Witchbane** *(Concentration Control & Scaling Pressure)*

> *“You don’t kill the mage. You unmake their will.”*

- **Relentless Instinct** – +10% Global Cooldown Recovery Rate
- **Witchbane** –
- Enemies have Max Concentration = 40% of Max Life
- Hits break Concentration equal to 100% of Damage
- Enemies regen 10%/sec if no loss in past 5s
- Enemies suffer **up to 20% reduced Action Speed** based on missing Concentration
- **Relentless Tempo** – +10% Global Cooldown Recovery Rate
- **No Mercy** *(Capstone)* – Deal **up to 30% More Damage** to enemies based on missing Concentration

---

## 🗡️ **Primary Tree 2 – Executioner’s Path** *(Alpha Strikes & Finisher Power)*

> *“Precision is mercy. What I offer is not.”*

- **Blessed Silver Rounds** – Crits apply 1 stack (max 3) of *Marked for Execution* (+5% inc dmg per stack)
- **Pitiless Killer** – Culling Strike at: 30% (Normal), 20% (Magic), 10% (Rare), 5% (Unique), pre-hit
- **Consecrated Payload** – *Marked for Execution* now gives **+10% inc dmg per stack** (max +30%)
- **Hunter’s Verdict** *(Capstone)* –
- **Decimation Strike**: Hits vs Full Life enemies remove **5–30% of current Life** before hit damage

---

## ⚙️ **Primary Tree 3 – Arsenal Purifier** *(Sorcery Ward, Loadout Versatility)*

> *“Armor is optional. Ammunition isn’t.”*

- **Tactical Weave** – +15% Armour & Evasion
- **Obsessive Rituals** –
- **Curses applied to you are inverted at 50% value**
- You gain beneficial effects, ignore negatives
- **Field Calibration** – +15% Armour & Evasion
- **Ceremonial Ablution** *(Capstone)* –
- +50% Sorcery Ward Effect
- +50% Sorcery Ward Recovery Speed

---

## 📦 **Secondary Tree – Tactical Reserves** *(Ammo Economy & Reload Burst)*

> *“I reload before you cast. Then you don't cast at all.”*

- **Prepared Magazines** –
- Store 3 full magazines
- Gain 1 every 10s (8s w/ trap or curse use)
- Reloads consume 1: instantly reload clip, +20% AS for 2s, **+10% bolt count (rounded up)**
- **Combat Loading** *(Capstone)* –
- Reloading near a cursed/marked enemy **Shocks in 6m (10% base)**
- Grants +10% Crit Chance, +20% Damage vs cursed/ailmented foes for 3s

---

## 💥 **Secondary Tree – Inquisition Trail** *(Explosions & Anti-Undead Burst)*

> *“Your sins will feed the blast.”*

- **Righteous Impact** – +10% AoE
- **Zealous Inquisition** *(Capstone)* –
- 10% chance to cause enemies to **explode for 100% Max Life as Phys**
- Doubled chance vs **Undead** and **Demons**

---

## 💡 Why This Revision?

- Adds clear identity to the **Witch Hunter**: a prepared, tactical hybrid with supernatural execution tools
- Introduces **new, scalable mechanics** (Concentration pressure, Magazine reloads, Curse inversion)
- Encourages **build diversity**: crossbow crit builds, trap reload hybrids, or Sorcery Ward resilience
- Provides **powerful utility** against bosses and elite casters

---

## 🧪 Future Suggestions

- Add a **unique crossbow or trap gear** that directly supports *Prepared Magazines* or *Witchbane*
- Flavor unlock quest: *"Hunt the Three: a necromancer, a demon priest, and a rogue sorceress"*
- Give the Witch Hunter a **reload animation** with visible magazine swaps

---

### Thanks for reading!
I'd love to hear feedback or refinements—this archetype has a ton of potential in PoE2, and could bring a unique, high-skill flavor to the Mercenary's lineup.

---
**#WitchHunter #AscendancyRedesign #PoE2Feedback #MercenaryAscendancy**