Top 6 Early Game Builds for Path of Exile 2

For newcomers to Path of Exile II, especially those who haven’t ventured into the original PoE or other ARPGs, logging in for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. With a vast array of options—including Skill and Support Gems, a sprawling Skill Tree (aptly described as a Skill Forest), and various character classes—the choices may feel daunting. However, navigating this complexity is achievable.

As players progress, they will find that many choices become irrelevant depending on the chosen path, particularly concerning the Skill Tree, where focus can be placed solely on relevant sections for specific characters. This article presents a curated list of starter builds for each of the six classes in Path of Exile II, emphasizing a balance between simplicity and effectiveness.

6 Leap Slam Titan Warrior

Flex Those Muscles!

Core Components	Description	Support Gems
Brain Rattler Mace	A testament to strength—while the mind is limitlessly creative, the skills are firmly grounded.	N/A
Leap Slam	Launch into the fray, dealing damage and knocking back foes upon landing.	Concentrated Effect, Momentum, Overpower
Boneshatter	Delivers a heavy melee strike capable of stunning enemies primed for Stun.	Impact Shockwave, Execute, Rage
Infernal Cry	A warcry that bolsters subsequent attacks with enhanced power.	Corrupting Cry, Raging Cry
Herald of Ash	Upon overkilling enemies, nearby foes ignite in flames, dealing damage based on the overkill.	Magnified Effect, Vitality

Although the Warrior class may be regarded as underplayed and less effective in the current meta of PoE II—due to the limitations of armor and its primarily melee orientation—it can still deliver powerful performances when developed correctly. By focusing on a straightforward mace and shield combination, paired with the Leap Slam ability, players can create an effective early-game build.

Utilizing warcries like Infernal Cry can significantly boost your damage output by adding extra fire damage, complemented well by Herald of Ash and passive abilities such as Burn Away and Burning Strikes. This build encourages a heavy investment in Strength to maintain a durable presence throughout the initial six acts, with the option to acquire Giant’s Blood to wield two-handed weapons with one hand. The Titan ascendancy is ideal for this, providing boosts to strength and enhancing minor passive skills, making later transitions to a Hammer of the Gods build seamless and effective.

5 Lightning Arrow Deadeye Ranger

Blink And You’ll Miss It

Core Components	Description	Support Gems
Advanced Dualstring Bow (Any)	Feel free to substitute with Splinterheart or Widowhail for added physical damage enhancements.	N/A
Lighting Arrow	Fires a charged arrow that unleashes damaging beams on impact, chaining to nearby enemies.	Pierce, Martial Tempo
Lightning Rod	Launches an arrow that creates a lightning burst, which remains in place, allowing for chaining with missiles.	Scattershot, Primal Armament
Herald of Thunder	Executing damage on Shocked foes triggers subsequent lightning bolts unleashing havoc on nearby targets.	Lightning Infusion, Innervate
Orb of Storms	Summons an electric orb that fires Chaining Lightning bolts at surrounding enemies.	Chain, Overabundance, Unleash

Ideal for players new to the game, this build alleviates concerns about managing multiple skills. As a ranged class, the Ranger allows players to eliminate threats before they close in.Dodging becomes less vital compared to melee-focused classes, which is a significant advantage.

High evasion can ensure that damage taken is minimized, making appropriate gear selection crucial. Leveraging evasion-focused items and bows with superior physical damage modifiers will yield optimal results. The Acrobatics Notable significantly enhances this evasion strategy.

This straightforward build centers around two primary skills: Lightning Arrow and Lightning Rod. Start by laying down lightning rods and firing Lightning Arrow, letting the damage chain based on the number of rods you have deployed. Herald of Thunder and Orb of Storms serve to amplify damage, effectively clearing large boss encounters with ease.

The Deadeye Ascendancy complements this build, offering substantial damage boosts through Point Blank and the passive Tailwind, which enhances firing speed and movement.

4 Raging Spirits Infernalist Witch

Burnt Down to Ashes

Core Components	Description	Support Gems
Rattling Sceptre	Grants the skill: Skeletal Warrior.	N/A
Raging Spirits	Summons Raging Spirits using your Fire spells, igniting nearby enemies with rapid attacks.	Bullseye, Feeding Frenzy, Culling Strike
Flame Wall	Creates a burning barrier that inflicts damage on anything that passes through.	Arcane Tempo, Fortress, Mobility
Skeletal Arsonist	Conjures bomb-throwing Skeletal Arsonists capable of detonating minions on command.	Scattershot, Immolate, Martial Tempo
Summon Infernal Hound	Brings forth a Reviving Infernal Hound that ignites nearby foes and absorbs some damage for you.	Meat Shield, Last Gasp, Fire Exposure

The Witch class offers a user-friendly experience as it scales effectively throughout the campaign and even into the Mapping phase. With numerous minions to handle the fighting, new players can focus less on micromanagement.

Initially, players can utilize basic minions and chaos skills like Contagion and Essence Drain. Upon defeating the King in the Mists, you’ll unlock your first spirit gem, gaining access to Raging Spirits.

This build embraces powerful fire damage spells to reduce enemies to ashes. Using Flame Wall will allow you to summon numerous invulnerable Raging Spirits, which will hit harder as they move through the flames. In conjunction with Skeletal Arsonists, their projectiles will also benefit from the fire wall.

The Infernalist Ascendancy complements this build perfectly, enhancing fire damage and providing skills like the Infernal Hound, which tracks enemies while absorbing damage intended for you. Make sure to invest in strength-enhancing options and equip a shield in your off-hand for added defense.

3 Ice Strike Invoker Monk

Fall To The Frost

Core Components	Description	Support Gems
Slicing Quarterstaff	Seek quarterstaves that grant high physical damage modifiers or elemental damage boosts.	N/A
Ice Strike	A swift, icy attack that deals increasingly powerful damage upon consecutive strikes.	Ice Bite, Martial Tempo, Primal Armament
Tempest Bell	Gauge a combo by hitting enemies with skills, and create a damaging shockwave after five successful strikes.	Magnified Effect, Font of Rage, Overabundance
Herald of Ice	Shattering an enemy triggers an icy explosion affecting nearby foes.	Vitality, Cannibalism, Clarity
Elemental Invocation	Gathers Energy from Frozen, Shocked, or Ignited foes to unleash spells based on that Energy.	Ball Lightning, Deceleration, Scattershot

Transitioning to more advanced builds, the Monk class showcases immense potential with versatile skills that remain viable throughout gameplay. It addresses many of the issues faced by the Warrior, with fast attacks that can eliminate enemies before they can retaliate.The Monk utilizes Evasion and Energy Shields, which provide superior defenses compared to armor.

Initially, players can leverage Glacial Cascade for ranged damage until acquiring Ice Strike, which remains pivotal throughout the game.Seek out a staff with solid physical attack modifiers and prioritize evasion gear.

With the combination of Ice Strike and Tempest Bell, this build delivers substantial damage output, effortlessly dispatching waves of foes and bosses alike. Enhance your cold damage with Herald of Ice to amplify your crowd control capabilities as enemies shatter in rapid succession.

A Polcirkeln or chanced Sapphire Rings should be prioritized from the marketplace to unlock the true potential of this build. The Ascendancy of Invoker suits this strategy well, promoting elemental attacks and enabling skills like Unbound Avatar, which when activated transforms you into a formidable elemental force. Pair it with Elemental Invocation and Ball Lightning to achieve earth-shattering results.

2 Spark Stormweaver Sorceress

The Archmage Storms Forth

Core Components	Description	Support Gems
Lifesprig	Symbolizing the enduring strength of life throughout Wraeclast, from seed to tree.	N/A
Spark	Fires a spread of projectiles that interact erratically until they hit or cease to exist.	Acceleration, Conduction, Inspiration
Orb of Storms	Generates an orb of electricity that unleashes omnidirectional lightning bolts at nearby targets.	Lightning Exposure, Strip Away, Overabundance
Where is Tempest	A storm of arcane energies enhancing your Mana-costing spells within its radius.	Premeditation, Murderous Intent
Archmage	Increases spell costs and heightens lightning damage based on max Mana when active.	Lightning Mastery

Fed up with minions getting caught in the corners? Looking for a straightforward, powerful spell? Enter the Sorceress, whose primary spell Spark offers a remedy to your frustrations.

When set up properly, this build proves exceptionally strong even in the early game, with Spark serving as a formidable AoE ability capable of clearing zones efficiently. Coupling it with Fire Wall further amplifies damage output, leading to rapid boss takedowns.

This build reaches its peak with the acquisition of Archmage and Mana Tempest, which skyrocket your damage as long as you maintain a high mana pool. While you may initially feel vulnerable, focusing on Energy Shield gives you the utmost defense, augmented by strategies like Mind over Matter and Eldritch Battery for an untouchable advantage.

The Sorceress can also benefit from affordable uniques like Lifesprig and Kitokos Current, assisting you through campaign challenges. When selecting an Ascendancy, Stormweaver is the clear choice, capitalizing on enhanced damage and support options such as Constant Gale to free up support gem slots and Strike Twice to amplify shock effects. With these powerful passives, effortless damage becomes a reality!

1 Tempest Flurry Gemling Leggionaire Mercenary

Attributes Of The Master

Core Components	Description	Support Gems
Pillar of the Caged God	An artifact destined to wield power and embody swift freedom across the tides.	N/A
Tempest Flurry	Delivers a series of rapid strikes; its final hit summons a powerful shock bolt from above.	Martial Tempo, Rage, Inspiration
Charged Staff	Infuse your quarterstaff with electric energy, enhancing damage and creating shockwaves.	Persistence, Lightning Exposure, Cold Exposure
Herald of Thunder	Killing shocked enemies unleashes lightning bolts that retaliate against surrounding foes.	Ice Bite, Cold Infusion, Glaciation
Herald of Ice	Shattering enemies creates icy explosions that damage surrounding targets.	Overcharge, Conduction, Magnified Effect

Finally, the Mercenary—truly the Jack of all Trades in Path of Exile II. This Gemling Leggionaire can morph into various playstyles without being confined to a single weapon type!

This build emphasizes stacking attributes, forming a robust foundation from the outset. The Pillar of the Caged God is essential, providing substantial scaling through your three primary attributes, making it the only Unique you may need throughout the campaign.

Once you shift to Tempest Flurry, there’s no need for alternate attack skills. By combining Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder, you facilitate devastating chains of enemy elimination.

As you bolster strength in your build, survivability increases, alleviating concerns about dodging attacks. Merging Energy Shield with strong stat scaling ensures longevity in battles, especially when utilizing the Mercenary’s Enhanced Effectiveness passive, which magnifies your base stats.

In the late game, introduce Charged Staff alongside potent equipment like Breach Rings, an Ingenuity Belt, and consider an Astramentis Amulet for additional power if you have the currency. While the investment may be significant, the rewards will render you virtually unstoppable.

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