With the imminent launch of Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients – a fresh round of speed-running races and build exploration is about to begin. In the early stages of a league – an environment characterized by scarce resources and characters that have yet to reach their full power – selecting a starter build with a smooth progression curve and solid mechanics can often be the deciding factor in the quality of your early-game experience.
Drawing upon the latest patch information, POECurrency.com has compiled a list of three mainstream starter builds that stand out as exceptional performers in Patch 0.5.0. These three builds demonstrate immense potential and a high performance ceiling in the upcoming Patch 0.5.0, making them well worth your close attention.
This guide approaches the subject from the perspective of league-start progression in Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients, offering an in-depth analysis of why these builds are so powerful, along with a detailed breakdown of the specific pros and cons for each.
Twisters Build
First on our list is Twisters build; POECurrency.com recommends pairing this skill with either Deadeye or Spirit Walker Ascendancy classes. In the early stages of Path of Exile 2, these two Ascendancies represent the absolute best choices for maximizing the effectiveness of Twisters skill.
While some players may be fond of Abyssal Lich Ascendancy, it is not a suitable choice for a POE2 league-start character. In the early game of POE2, Abyssal Lich deals almost negligible damage and is far better suited for use as an endgame build. For your league-start choice, POECurrency.com strongly advises you to focus your considerations on either Deadeye or Spirit Walker.
Pros
Twisters stands as one of the most powerful builds available for clearing the major campaign, and it continues to perform exceptionally well once you transition into Mapping endgame phase. With a relatively low investment cost, this build delivers not only incredibly potent single-target damage against bosses but also boasts truly astonishing efficiency for clearing maps, helping you rapidly farm POE2 Currency.
POECurrency.com asserts that Twisters build possesses – without a doubt – one of the most elite full-screen map-clearing capabilities in all of Path of Exile 2. It can completely obliterate Breach zones with absolute ease and zero pressure. When restricted to the gear typically acquired during the very first day of a SSF league start, its map-clearing speed ranks as the absolute best among all available builds. Furthermore, as is typical for all attack-based builds, it offers excellent scaling potential in the late game.
Cons
Twisters is a combo-reliant build; typically, you initiate with Whirlwind Slash, follow up with Twisters, and often need to incorporate Barrage as well. In the early stages of Path of Exile 2, the button-pressing demands are even higher, as you frequently need to weave in utility skills such as War Banner or Ice Tipped Arrows. Consequently, during the early phases of Return of the Ancients league, this build can feel quite taxing on your hands because of the sheer volume of required inputs.
Another drawback is that the mobility of Twisters build is not derived from standard movement speed stats; instead, it is a build where movement is executed through specific attack actions. Builds of this nature often feel somewhat clunky in terms of handling and responsiveness. Their auto-targeting mechanics are far from ideal, requiring you to constantly maintain precise control over your mouse cursor to guide your character to the exact spot you wish to occupy. This operational experience becomes particularly abysmal within the cramped confines of Path of Exile 2’s indoor maps.
In the early game of Path of Exile 2, the survivability of Twisters build is also a significant concern; it is arguably even squishier than other builds that rely primarily on Evasion for defense. Since your Attack Speed stats are not yet fully developed during these early stages, you are often forced to rely on standard sprinting to charge into packs of monsters, then trigger your Assault skill, and finally unleash your Twisters to deal damage.
Therefore, if you recklessly charge into a mob of enemies without having your Royal Assault skill primed and ready, you are highly likely to meet an instant, brutal demise. While this issue becomes less of a problem in the endgame, it remains a distinct weakness during the early progression. Nevertheless, POECurrency.com believes that if you can successfully navigate this early-game hurdle, this build is undeniably potent and stands a very strong chance of becoming one of the top-tier meta builds in the upcoming league.
Ice Shot Build
Pros
The next build POECurrency.com would like to introduce is Ice Shot Deadeye. The core mechanics of this build are truly unique; regardless of your budget, it ranks as one of the most efficient mappers in Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients. Furthermore, thanks to the freezing and immobilization effects provided by Herald of Ice, this build delivers an incredibly fluid and exhilarating experience – both in terms of general map-clearing speed and moment-to-moment combat execution.
Compared to virtually every other build in the game, Ice Shot Deadeye follows a different progression curve; your growth in power is primarily manifested through an increase in the sheer number of arrows you fire. Every investment yields a significant boost in power, a scaling characteristic that other builds often lack.
In POE 2, Quivers can now roll Additional Arrow modifier. Consequently, during the endgame phase, an Ice Shot Deadeye build can potentially reach around 6 arrows. POECurrency.com considers this to be an undeniably fantastic upgrade.
For an Ice Shot Deadeye, none of the pinnacle-tier Return of the Ancients enemies should pose any real challenge. With a modest investment of resources, Snipe skill allows you to one-shot every late-game boss. Even on Day 1 of a league launch – armed solely with pure Solo Self-Found gear – you can still reliably one-shot every map boss, earning yourself a wealth of PoE 2 currency.
Another massive advantage is that Ice Shot Deadeye is a one-button build. Once you reach a mid-tier budget level, you can typically clear maps by pressing just a single key, and take down bosses using only two keys. POECurrency.com believes this offers a truly excellent experience for players who prefer builds with low mechanical complexity.
Cons
The prior campaign experience for Ice Shot Deadeye has been somewhat nerfed. Bow-based builds are arguably among the weakest archetypes during the early campaign phase. Furthermore, the damage output of Snipe skill has been reduced by approximately 18%, meaning you may need to execute an extra freeze cycle to finish off a boss.
The official Path of Exile 2 team did indeed apply a slight nerf to this build. If you find yourself struggling to progress through the campaign, you can buy POE 2 Currency at POECurrency.com to upgrade your gear; we offer competitive rates to ensure you get the best value for your money.
As with all builds that rely on Evasion mechanics, Ice Shot Deadeye is somewhat prone to sudden, instant deaths. POECurrency.com recommends pairing Evasion with Energy Shield; this combination can significantly mitigate this vulnerability.
Grenades & Crossbows Build
Ascendancy choices for Grenades & Crossbows builds are quite flexible. You can opt for Deadeye class, or choose Tactician to gain Spirit-related buffs. Witchhunter is also an excellent choice, offering incredibly robust energy shield defenses. Ultimately, the best choice depends entirely on the specific gameplay experience you wish to pursue.
Pros
Grenades & Crossbows Build boasts the fastest campaign completion speed in Path of Exile 2. It performs exceptionally well from Act 1 right through to the endgame, featuring an incredibly smooth progression curve. Grenades Build also introduces a brand-new base weapon type and exclusive affixes; while their specific effects remain unknown, POECurrency.com believes this introduces significant potential, making it an extremely friendly option for Return of the Ancients league starters.
In terms of skills, Stoneblast Bolts deals absurdly high single-target damage – capable of one-shotting even pinnacle bosses – while Galvanic Shards remains one of the most efficient skills for map clearing in Path of Exile 2. Neither skill has received any nerfs, allowing you to effortlessly farm POE 2 Currency.
Cons
Arjun’s Medal amulet has been significantly nerfed; the chance to fully reload all arrows upon killing an enemy has been reduced from 100% to 25%. If you choose to play Grenades Build, you may encounter mana sustain issues once your skill levels become very high. Additionally, during the early stages of POE2, the character’s survivability may feel somewhat fragile.
Each of these three builds has its own distinct strengths, and all are poised to secure a spot in League Start Meta tier for Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients. Whether it be full-screen map clearing, single-target burst damage, or speed running the campaign, they demonstrate formidable competitiveness across various dimensions. Of course, specific balance tweaks will still influence their ultimate performance in actual gameplay implemented upon release, as well as individual player skill and playstyle preferences; we will simply have to wait and see how things unfold.