So as everyone can probably tell by reading the message boards a lot of people struggle to play Witchdoctor in the current meta game even with all the buffs given. That's understandable as Witch IMO is the hardest to use with it's extreme amount of versatility and it's not an easy going class, if you're interested in getting to Champion with it you MUST be able to sacrifice some $$$&time on companions and gear.

Understanding our Pros+Cons:

Pros of Witch - High Will (High crit chance on non-will units), great offensive spell based powers (Combo'd w/ Scratch) and Drains allowing for a very powerful late game in stall wars vs other ranged classes.

Cons of Witch - Lowest strength IG meaning the class that relies on chains will almost 100% of the time fully chain you, low dodge meaning you'll pretty much even with elusive 3 most of the time not dodge if they have tide 2 or an accuracy buff.

So lets start to create a gear set that helps answer some of these problems I've discussed.
(I've taken the liberty of linking the central wiki page of these items to the name of it here so just click on it if you don't know where it's dropped)

Hat: Corrupted Wushi's Hat (Tower w/ Mourn+Drain)
Robe: The Robe of Houndini (Fort)
Boots: Swami's Slippers (Big Guns)
Weapon: Nefarious Staff (Scorpions)
EyePatch: Death's Bargain (Shroud)
Totem: Grizzled Heart Banner (3 Star Beastmaster Banner) HAS TO BE 3 STARS
Charm: Spirit Walker's Charm (Absorb) this is the best version but Medicine Circle also works
Ring: Ring of Recalcitrance (Levy Call)
Pet Recommendations: At least have scent 2 (Or 3) with Elusive grant, Rally+Kraken Lam grant. The rest are up to you or whatever you get access to. This is just the bear minimum. Mine personally gives Webs, Scent 2, Grants Kraken Lam, Triton Song, Rally and Elusive.

Companions: I personally have fallen in love with (In this order) El Toro, Scratch, Nausica. They're an amazing core on how I personally play Witchdoctor.

First off Toro allows for amazing control for your scorpions as you can keep up with Privateers as well as punish other scorpion players or tree users who can't increase there units acc as they'll miss the scorpions, this just helps us so much with what our class is based around. Controlling the board and creating potential pressure and occupying the board with smaller spike lashing summons.

Scratch is just a staple this meta, not much else to be said about 100% spell power increases...

Nausica is a staple IMO, she gives us amazing amount of pressure and hard counters Muskets. You'll understand when I go in depth about how to react to each class later on in this guide.

Well I'm running out of space, I'll continue in the comments below when this is approved

Part 3 (Privy continued)

Now that you've lined up after killing all there companions and we're in the late game hopefully with 1 companion alive if not that's fine just going to make things a bit more grindy. Reduce Mojo is our best friend here and will allow us to just deal mass amount of damage with them unable to recover forcing them to go offensive. This is where you start to bring them to around red over time with spells+drains while staying 4 away so you can hit with basic hits but they can't and I have Witch Hunter+Readied spell trained so if they move up 2 they get Readied, if they move up then basic hit they give me a chance to chain via Hunter and negate there damage. So forth. As you see you start to create mass amount of pressure saving your drains as well or using maybe 1 to get back to full HP while at this point they're in yellow or red using up all there protections. So now you've drained there protections they'll start to heal spam to recover to full with any heals they haven't used. Just run away but staying in range of 4 so they have to move instead of heal (If you have a companion still alive). Over time you'll kill them as you can drain all there heals and still have your own heals via drains for later on.

Buccaneer
Most likely the worst match up for Witchdoctors as they can play aggro and if we can't react we will lose. So how do we react? We rush them before they rush us. First off we have Nausica. Normally Buck's can't fit her into there team meaning it'll usually be all Buck's or El Toro/Wu Tang with 2 other Bucks (Normally Pete+Goro/Temujin)

If you go first, you're lucky. Fort Nausica, 100% scratch buff, Absorb rush her. Next turn Widow's touch there Peter Quint and move up Toro while killing there Pete with Nausica (If they fort him kill there Pirate, if he's protected, there temujin/goro slot) You can normally train Nausica 1 for 1 and sometimes 2 for 1 (TBC)

Part 4 (Swashbuckler Part 2)

Now at this point they've probably killed your Scratch+Nausica. If not then you should use Scratch's drain/10 turn buff and nausica's super to use there resources and possible kill a unit. I recommend killing Fan first if possible. Now you can safely Banner and start to take down units 1 by 1, you need to apply pressure quickly or else you'll lose. Hope your scent pet shows up so you can follow it or it remove one units hidden then bum rush kill it that turn, etc. You need a bit of RnG but most of the time 1 unit will not get there hidden attack off sometimes none if you're lucky. RnG is a factor but with practice you'll be able to learn tricks to help you survive against bad RnG this is all I can really help you with TBH you will understand when the time comes my young Jedi.

Witchdoctor
Witch vs Witch is always a fun match up, now first off you need to understand that it all comes down to who controls the board. Focus in this sense in removing some big threats. For example rush your Nausica w/ a protection to keep Nausica board control. Nausica is huge in this match up if you can make it a 4-3 with them not having access to spike minion damage. Then use her to remove Scratch. Also use bombs+move in range for mournsongs to keep applying pressure. Remove Scratch+Nausica then remove all there minions and play your own Scorpion+Banner then line up for reduce mojo. You win. It's simple as that. React to how they move and try to be the first to strike. It's quiet simple.

Well that's it for this guide. It's something small yes but I hope it helps you guys understand some ways to play Witch in the ranked meta. It's not that hard you just need to be very controlling and aggro. Aggro Witch is deadly, just remember that.

witchdoctor daruis on Jan 15, 2016 wrote:

Sorry but this guide costs 40$ American

Then I better not see any comments from you on here about witch's being under powered or I'll be replying to all your comments with "Go do some chores for those 40$ American" it's USD btw not 'American' I:

Hi, so I was wondering whether i could use the Wrangler's Ring instead of the Ring of Recalcitrance for the extra absorb if i can in fact get a pet with Kraken's Lam + Triton. Would it still work? Thanks.

Um Jeremy....what happens if the musketeer you're facing has purge? As a musket my self, I can assure you I would purge your Nausica, super with Chantal as with my Nausica. May I recommend you make a video of you facing a musket on your witch? Other than that, great guide. BTW, in your SB guide, it's "quite" not quiet.

*Waves white flag*