Path of Exile 2 0.5.5 Tier List: The Best Forbidden Rites League Starters Right Now
Patch 0.5.5 brought the largest cross-class balance pass of Path of Exile 2’s early access so far, along with a fresh one-month temporary league and a server-wide economy reset. If you are starting fresh in the Forbidden Rites league, picking the right build matters more than usual this patch, since several skills got meaningfully stronger or weaker overnight. Here is how the current meta shakes out, from safest league starters to solid alternatives. You can grab Path of Exile 2 on Steam or check the official Path of Exile 2 site for the full patch notes.
S+ Tier: The Safest League Starters
Whirling Assault Martial Artist is the safest pick in the game right now: it comes online early, clears areas effectively, and does not demand a huge currency investment to feel good. Twisters is just as strong and more flexible, working across multiple ascendancies including Deadeye and Spirit Walker, with area clear that keeps scaling as your gear improves. Ice Shot Deadeye rounds out the top tier with strong bow-based clear and the defensive comfort of freezing enemies before they reach you, making the campaign noticeably less stressful.
S Tier: Strong, Accessible Alternatives
Just below that top tier sit several builds worth starting with on their own merits. Plant Lich and Plant Oracle both offer accessible early progression with strong area damage and excellent endgame scaling on an affordable budget. Varashta Djinns leans on djinn-summoning mechanics that function well from the early game and hold up defensively. Companion Huntress stands out for a more active playstyle than traditional summoner builds, with solid companion damage and good mobility. Falling Thunder Martial Artist benefits from the same strong Martial Artist ecosystem as Whirling Assault, with slightly less convenient early clear.
A Tier: Solid Second Characters
A step down, but still perfectly viable for league start or as a second character, are builds like Galvanic Shards paired with Stormblast Bolts for well-rounded pack and boss damage, Essence Drain with Bonestorm for a reliable caster archetype, and Mercenary Grenades for strong area damage with good defenses, though its endgame clear speed trails the top picks. Permafrost Bolts with Fragmentation Rounds combines crowd control with burst damage but struggles against freeze-resistant bosses, while Warrior Slams (Rolling Slam into Boneshatter) is a dependable melee option that needs heavier defensive investment to keep pace with ranged builds.
Shapeshifters, Poison, and Minions
If you prefer shapeshifting, Wyvern Druid (Wing Blast and Rend) balances damage and survivability well, while Bear Druid trades clear speed for excellent survivability and a forgiving playstyle that is hard to go wrong with. Poison Pathfinder is straightforward and comfortable without the explosive clear of the S-tier picks, and Witch Minions built around Skeletal Snipers remain the easiest entry point for minion-focused players, even if Companion Huntress and Varashta Djinns outperform them this patch.
Whichever build you settle on, picking up Path of Exile 2 on PC or a Steam Wallet Code to fund supporter packs is the easiest way to get into the Forbidden Rites league before it rotates out. Browse more picks in our RPG deals while you are at it.
