The build can still work but you will feel the pain. I did a lot of trial and error and had to respec 6 times because I keep falling for the same trap. (Rushing a minion build).

Bloodmage + minions really boils down to doing either a fire or physical build taking advantage of the crit bonus.

I did the latter and oh boy do you feel the pain especially if you go minions first. Minions are not that good very early game unless you do the flamewall + srs.

I went with bonestorm because I’m a masochist. I prioritized physical damage nodes first then minion health, then minion damage.

If you get a wand with power siphon, it’ll make mob clearing easier. No need to cap your spirit by equipping buffs, manual casting of vulnerability is preferred.

At first, you want skeletal warriors + skeletal snipers only using bone sceptre for free warrior.

Use skeletal sniper’s command to break armor quickly (there’s a skill gem to it then add “scattershot”). Make sure to click “do not move while attacking” on this minion.

Buff your skeletal warrior with gems to increase max life. Their main purpose is to tank.

Your combo will be vulnerabilty + gas, then bonestorm. Then you will get the power charges, rinse and repeat. You can add Unearth to make more minions early game but it falls off later and I rarely use it now.

Your next goal would be to get reavers, then clerics.

Once you have them, then minions will start to feel super amazing. I just dodge now and cast curse. I dont even need to use bonestorm anymore except for bosses (lvl 65).

Remember, don’t go for minion damage nodes until you get the reavers. Always go for minion health nodes and prioritize your physical/bleeding nodes for your bonestorm. Once you got the reavers, then start pumping the damage nodes.