Path of Exile 2 is finally available in early access, and Grinding Gear Games’ ARPG already has the community in a chokehold.
This expanded and improved sequel has clearly streamlined some of the more complex elements of the original game, but all of the overlapping systems and features can still be overwhelming for new players looking to get in on the action. But don’t give up just yet, because we’re about to walk you through one of the most important elements of the series: Path of Exile builds!
This overview will include enough information to help you understand and start your personal beginner Path of Exile build, but we will also follow this up with in-depth build guides for those who want a more guided PoE2 experience.
First, what are Path of Exile builds?
Your PoE build is defined by all of the combined aspects of your created character. Their class, subclass, skills, weapons, armor, attributes, and stats.
For beginners, we’ll simplify how to create a Path of Exile build to make it as straightforward as possible. Don’t worry, PoE2 gives you plenty of room to grow as you get familiar with the game and better understand its systems. Seriously, have you seen what the skill tree looks like?
For now, we’re going to briefly cover the games’ six currently available classes – each of which has two Ascendency Classes (essentially sub-classes). Each Path of Exile build offers a unique gameplay experience, shaping your combat style and core mechanics in the game.
It’s also worth noting that some of these classes are more suited to beginners than others, so we’ll cover those and their Ascendencies first.
Ranger
Ever seen Lord of the Rings? The Ranger class is just Legolas down to the flashy, flippy archery skills and powerful Bows. Dexterity is its primary attribute.
The Ranger’s strong ranged combat options and substantial mobility make it easy to do lots of damage while staying out of harm’s way. Probably the most beginner-friendly Class at the moment.
Deadeye: Gains access to a variety of new Arrow Skills that increase damage. Has passives that make them even faster.
Pathfinder: Still uses a Bow, but changes combat to focus more on Concoctions: equipment that can be used to inflict status effect damage to groups of enemies.
Witch
A powerful necromancer class that specializes in summoning different types of undead minions ready to fight for her using her signature weapon: the Sceptre. Intelligence is its primary attribute.
The Witch is perfect for a beginner Path of Exile build, thanks to her flexible summoning abilities and versatile spellcasting. Having an army of minions really makes up for not having a co-op partner – which will probably be the experience of many beginners.
Infernalist: Gains the ability to summon a Loyal Hellhound and increase damage output by replacing Mana bar with a new Infernal Flame meter. Has passives that increase the strength of your summons.
Blood Mage: Uses Life as a resource for damaging spells. The more Life that is sacrificed, the stronger the spells are. Has passives that increase maximum Life.
Warrior
The classic RPG tank. Specializes in heavy, close-quarters combat and AoE strikes with its signature weapon: the Mace. Strength is its primary attribute.
The Warrior seems like it might be an easy pick for beginners right off the bat, but you have to account for PoE2’s advanced difficulty and tendency to throw tons of enemies at you at once. Because Warrior combat puts you in the thick of it at all times, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Titan: Devastating slam attacks and stunning blows. Has passives that increase maximum life, backpack size, and armor.
Warbringer: All about attack-boosting Totems and Warcrys. Passives make your shield stronger.
Mercenary
A one-man army. The Mercenary class uses a Crossbow that can rapid-fire explosive bolts just as easily as it can be used to snipe enemies at long-range. Also packs elemental grenades for good measure. Dexterity and Strength are its primary attributes.
The Mercenary is great for wrecking shop just about anywhere you go, but it’s also pretty complex. Its combat focuses heavily on skills and combos, so it might not be the best choice for someone just starting out. But hey, don’t let us stop you from having a good time. The Mercenary is awesome.
Witch Hunter: Focuses on a variety of passives that provide boosts to defense, offense, and utility. Highlights include delaying enemy spellcasting and popping boss characters with your first strike.
Gemling Legionnaire: Heavy focus on Skill Gems. Can equip more than most other classes, buff them to hell, and more.
Monk
An agile character that specializes in close melee combat and elemental with its signature weapon: the Quarterstaff, but also excels in Unarmed hand-to-hand combat. Intelligence and Dexterity are its primary attributes.
Monks are martial arts masters that are excellently balanced across the board. If you like the close-quarters combat of the Warrior but want more mobility, then the Monk is a fantastic choice. However, it also asks you to master several different mechanics at once in order to use it to the fullest.
Invoker: Specializes in powered-up elemental skills. Has the ability to meditate, which recharges and doubles its maximum available energy.
Acolyte of Chayula: Gains the ability to trade Spirit for Darkness, which boosts your defenses. Has passives that provide bonus Chaos Damage.
Sorceress
An elemental spellcasting mage class. Uses caster weapons like wands and staffs to fling Fireballs and all manner of elemental projectiles at enemies. Intelligence is its primary attribute.
A Sorceress Path of Exile build can be incredibly powerful and highly effective when played skillfully. Unfortunately for beginners, this class’s low survivability makes it far less forgiving than the other classes on this list. The very definition of a glass cannon.
Chronomancer: This Path of Exile build archetype shifts from elemental mastery to manipulating time itself. Go back in time, pull a Clockstoppers on your enemies, and even skip time forward to reset your cooldowns.
Stormweaver: Goes all-in on the elements. Induces Shock to enemies with any elemental damage, summons Elemental Storms – just in general wreaks havoc.
These are your choices as far as Class selection goes in Path of Exile 2. We recommend the easier to use PoE 2 Builds like the Witch and Ranger to kick off your PoE2 journey, but feel free to experiment to find what works for you! If you’re looking to speed up your progress, consider exploring PoE 2 Build Accounts to find pre-made characters optimized for your preferred playstyle.