With Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, players are diving into one of the most anticipated leagues, packed with fresh mechanics and dynamic gameplay. Choosing the right league starter build is crucial for efficiently progressing through the early game, gathering resources, and setting up for powerful late-game dominance. In this guide, we'll highlight five of the strongest league starters, each designed for smooth progression, solid damage scaling, and adaptability to the new league's mechanics.
Disclaimer
These are all based on Vinidiction's opinion or experience with the game, and they are also subject to change based on balancing decisions made by GGG. I have tried to keep the most anticipated nerfs in mind while creating my top 5 list. (Double Heralds, Archmage, etc.)
You can use this list as a reference point for when the patch notes are released. If Ice Strike Invoker gets literally nuked from orbit, then you should be prepared to scratch it off the list, but if simultaneously Infernalist minions don't get significantly nerfed, then it would still be a good choice. The new meta will take some time and playtesting to fully develop either way, but ultimately, you should check the patch notes when they are available and act accordingly before the league starts.
No.5 Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder
Complexity - Easy
Gearing- 4/5
Clear Speed-3/5
Bossing-3/5
Defense - 4/5
There were multiple contenders for the fifth slot, but ultimately, this build is so incredibly league-friendly that I had to give it to Poisonous Concoction. It's super simple to get this build online, primarily requiring plus levels of projectile skills from your amulet, quiver, and bow to boost your damage. The eventual plan is to transition into a nicely corrupted Widowhail and God Quiver to further scale your damage for deep endgame content.
You'll also be getting your six-link Concoction for free upon hitting level 90, which is a great power boost. Additionally, the build has access to some of the best evasion and energy shield nodes on the entire tree, making it incredibly easy to become tanky with a hybrid EV/ES setup. Naturally, this build delivers high boss DPS, and its map-clear is solid thanks to the Ascendancy node that automatically spreads your poison.
Finally, since this build does not rely on Double Heralds and isn't blatantly overpowered in the current meta, I find it very unlikely that it will receive any nerfs.
No.4 Lightning Arrow Deadeye
Complexity - Medium
Gearing-3/5
Clear Speed-5/5
Bossing - 4/5
Defense - 3/5
Even with the expected nerfs to Double Heralds, which we all know are coming, this build would still secure my number four spot. I've played Lightning Arrow and Ice Shot Deadeye this league, and the footage in the background shows me running a Tier 15, six-mod Delirious map with Heralds turned off. While it's obviously less explosive than when Heralds are active—literally causing the entire screen to explode—it still allowed me to glide through the map effortlessly, even on a low-budget setup.
With that out of the way, this build is just incredibly strong. Lightning Arrow has been a staple Path of Exile skill for a reason. Mechanically, it's automatic chaining to nearby enemies makes clearing maps extremely satisfying. Additionally, the synergy between Orb of Storms and Lightning Rod creates massive boss DPS, allowing for quick and effective takedowns.
Similar to the Pathfinder, this build provides access to powerful Evasion and Energy Shield nodes within the passive tree, making it easy to become incredibly tanky with a hybrid EV/ES setup. As you progress toward the endgame, you can transition into Cast on Shock with Ball Lightning and incorporate a Melting Maelstrom Mana Flask for even more boss DPS. You can also stack Breach Rings Ingenuity and ramp up your critical strike chance and crit bonus to push your damage to the next level.
No.3 Ice Strike Invoker
Complexity - Easy
Gearing - 4/5
Clear Speed-3/5
Bossing-4/5
Defense-5/5
Coming in at number three is the Ice Strike Invoker. Many of you who have been following the channel probably remember Vinidiction's triple-element version of this build, which was widely adopted by monks, including the rank-one Monk in the recent PoE2 races—and for good reason.
Much like the Ranger, I believe that this build would remain in the top three, even with the expected nerfs to Double Heralds. The only way we'd see it—or even Lightning Arrow Deadeye—knocked out of the top five would be if a significant number of builds received major buffs all at once, which is certainly possible.
That said, this build is an absolute powerhouse and shines in many of the same ways as Deadeye. While it's undoubtedly slower than the Deadeye, it ultimately pulls ahead due to how easy it is to gear, how tanky it gets, and how consistently strong it remains throughout the campaign and early endgame, even on a low-budget setup.
Most of this strength comes from two Ascendancy nodes:
Protect Me from Harm—while it becomes less optimal as you acquire more gear, it's still an excellent choice for a league start.
Lead Me Through Grace—which makes Spirit regeneration and persistent buffs much easier to maintain.
Additionally, Monk has a slightly more optimal starting position on the passive tree compared to Ranger, allowing for easier access to the best combination of defensive, offensive, and crit-related nodes.
Finally, since this build leverages Ice Strike, which is an amazing skill, you'll be freezing everything you come into contact with—an underrated defensive layer that makes bossing significantly easier.
No.2 Spark Stormweaver
Complexity-Hardish
Gearing-3/5
Clear Speed-5/5
Bossing-6/5
Defense-4/5
There is an argument to be made that this build should rank lower on the list compared to Ice Strike Invoker and Lightning Arrow Deadeye, given its increased complexity and difficulty in gearing. However, I'm estimating that the balance changes coming in Patch 0.2.0 will hit those other builds much harder than Spark, making it a safer choice overall—something worth keeping in mind.
If you prefer caster builds and don't mind playing something a bit more complex, this build could be perfect for you. In my opinion, Spark Stormweaver is one of the best-rounded builds in the entire game. Aside from feeling slightly weak when first stepping into maps without gear, it doesn't have many weaknesses. It boasts amazing clear speed, competes for some of the highest boss DPS, and features complicated but highly effective defensive layers. On top of that, it has decent mobility throughout the campaign and early endgame.
At the start, you'll be able to quickly eliminate enemies by utilizing Spark, Flame Wall, and Arc Mage. Later, you can transition into Cast on Shock with Lightning Conduit, enabling you to kill bosses in under a second when paired with high-magnitude double shocks from your Ascendancy and strong lightning explosion defenses. Initially, you'll focus on maximizing your Energy Shield. Still, as you acquire more gear, you can transition into a Mind Over Matter, Eldritch Battery, and Chaos Inoculation setup, which—if optimized correctly—will make you feel almost immortal.
Finally, while some might argue that this build isn't budget-friendly, I think it's not as expensive as people claim. If you opt for a non-crit setup instead of a crit-focused version, you can save countless Divines while maintaining nearly the same strength during the gearing process.
Honorable Mention (Thoughts)
Before we move on to the number one spot, I want to mention a build that deserves some recognition—the Stat Stacker Gemling Legionnaire.
I know half of you probably expected this to take the top spot, given that it was arguably the most broken non-temporal build in the game. Meanwhile, the other half might wonder why this build is even on the tier list, considering how incredibly expensive it is to set up and how poorly it functions in a league-start environment. I agree with both viewpoints, so I've placed it as an honorable mention instead.
I won't go into too much detail. However, assuming this build doesn't get nerfed into the ground, it could still be a solid choice, with the caveat that you need to be an experienced player who either knows how to make it work on a low budget early in the league or has a plan to start with a different build before transitioning into a full Stat Stacker.
No.1 Minions Infernalist
This build is insanely strong, especially if you're a less experienced player. It's genuinely hard to go wrong with Minions Infernal, as it's arguably one of the easiest builds to understand regarding scaling damage. It doesn't rely on multiple offensive stats, which makes gearing resistances and even luxury stats like the increased rarity of items extremely simple.
Additionally, the Infernal Ascendancy, combined with its strong passive tree starting position, allows you to achieve overkill levels of tankiness without spending an excessive amount of currency. In terms of downsides, there's not much to criticize—unless you simply don't enjoy minion-based gameplay, which can sometimes let you go AFK during certain content. Another exception would be if you're solely focused on farming Waystones for currency, as this build isn't the most optimal choice for that.
However, you can eventually incorporate Blink into your minion setup, opening access to a plethora of highly profitable content outside of Waystones. This includes Trial of Sekhemas, Trial of Chaos, Simulacrum, and Pinnacle encounters, all of which can be just as rewarding—if not more so—than farming Delirious Breach Waystones or any other league mechanic you prefer on your Atlas.
For the campaign, I'd recommend running Arsonist plus SRS. As you progress into the endgame, you can transition into Storm Mages for shock application and Frost Mages for damage and freeze effects. Alternatively, you can fully commit to Storm Mages, using some specifically for shock application while others focus purely on damage, which is also a solid approach.
Conclusion
Whatever your preferred playstyle, selecting a strong league starter sets the foundation for a rewarding experience in Dawn of the Hunt. As the league unfolds, experimenting with gear and skill interactions will refine your strategy, paving the way for powerful endgame potential. So gear up, adapt, and carve your path through Path of Exile 2—the hunt begins now!
