Path of Exile 2 Best Builds Guide: Top Starters Before the December 11 Launch
Path of Exile 2 is still running on patch 0.5.1, the “Runes of Aldur” branch, heading into the game’s free-to-play 1.0 launch on December 11. This tier list ranks every class and ascendancy by how they actually play in the current patch: campaign smoothness, how fast they reach Tier 15 maps, and how survivable they are around level 80 without heavily crafted gear. If you’re starting fresh before the Duelist and the final two acts arrive, these are the builds worth your time.
S Tier: The Four Best League Starters
Four ascendancies sit in S tier right now. Spirit Walker (Huntress), running Twister paired with Whirling Slash, is the safest and fastest campaign clear in the game and hasn’t been touched by either the 0.5 or 0.5.1 balance passes. Martial Artist (Monk) has the highest melee ceiling in the game through Tempest Bell, Whirling Assault, and Glacial Cascade, though its early acts are noticeably weaker than its endgame. Deadeye (Ranger), built around Ice Shot and Snipe, is the fastest mapper in the patch and the easiest of the four for a new player to pick up. Invoker (Monk) rounds out the tier with strong lightning and spirit scaling and unusually low gear dependence for a caster.
A Tier: The Safest Picks for Most Players
A tier is where most players should actually start if they want a build that’s forgiving without being boring. Lich (Witch), running Essence Drain, Contagion, and Bonestorm, is beginner-safe and even viable for speedrunning. Oracle (Druid) benefits directly from 0.5.1’s caster buffs through Comet, Thunderstorm, and Plants. Wyvern (Druid) took roughly a 35% damage cut to Oil Barrage this patch but, through Wing Blast and Rend, remains the strongest Druid starter available. Titan (Warrior) offers what the guide community calls premium armor values through Whirling Slash, Boneshatter, and Rolling Slam. Rounding out the tier are Witchhunter and Tactician (both Mercenary), Amazon (Huntress) as a budget-friendly Ice Shot alternative to Deadeye, and Disciple of Varashta (Sorceress) as the tankiest of the caster options.
What Changed in Patch 0.5.1
Patch 0.5.1 made a handful of changes worth knowing about before you commit to a build. Attunement support gems, including Ice Bite and Innervate, now apply to elemental skill gems that previously couldn’t use them. The patch also added roughly 40 new elemental passives and a new Lineage support gem, alongside extra Atlas passives for endgame mapping. On the fix side, Archon of Chayula no longer blocks elemental damage outright, and Refutation’s cooldown no longer refuses to recover while its buff is active – both were long-standing complaints from players running those ascendancies.
Builds to Avoid as a Starter
A few builds are worth skipping as a starter right now. Pathfinder (Ranger) took a heavy nerf to its poison scaling. Blood Mage (Witch) lost much of its identity when its leech mechanics were cut down. Infernal Legion had its third tier removed entirely, with base damage and ignite radius both roughly halved. None of these are unplayable by the time you’re geared, but none of them are forgiving enough to learn the game’s current acts on.
All of this is about to shift once Path of Exile 2 hits 1.0. The Duelist class and the campaign’s final two acts arrive free-to-play on December 11, and we’ll have an updated tier list once that patch lands. For official patch notes and class details in the meantime, Grinding Gear Games keeps a full changelog on the official Path of Exile 2 site. If you don’t already own the game, our discounted Path of Exile 2 PC key is the cheapest way in before it goes free, and a Steam Wallet Code (US) covers you for whatever else launches this December.
