The new Path of Exile expansion couldn’t come any better than this!
With Scourge League already aging quite quickly despite its new mechanics and features, players are still hungry for more challenging things to do in Wraeclast.
Well, with the introduction of Siege of the Atlas – and with it, the Archnemesis League – the entire end-game map of the Atlas of Worlds has now been redesigned for you to enjoy awesome passive skills regardless of regions now!
If you’re looking forward to starting a brand new playthrough for both the new content and as a fresh challenge, here are some noteworthy beginner builds in Path of Exile that could definitely make your life a whole lot easier.
Table of Contents
Best Beginner Builds for Each Class
Path of Exile has always been a game about freedom of choice where you are able to freely decide on which class and build you would want to opt for without suffering any severe penalties to gameplay.
As such, today’s guide will focus on one (1) best starter build for EACH class – based on our honest evaluations – to justify that you are still able to enjoy playing as your favorite classes without any cause for concern.
If you’re just as excited to learn about them as we are, then let’s jump right into it!
ARC ELEMENTALIST
Starting Class: Witch
Ascendancy: Elementalist
Elementalist fans are certainly not left behind when it comes to the new 3.17 update for Siege of the Atlas/ Archnemesis.
Although there are various other Witch builds that can complement its Ascendancy classes as well, the Arc Elementalist path is arguably the strongest one right now.
Capable of destroying multiple hordes at once, the clearing speed of this Lightning-based build is sure to please you, and this setup is quite flexible to be changed around too, swapping gems and items easily in order for you to quickly tweak between massive mob damage or destructive single-target DPS (for Bosses)!
| Pros | Cons |
| + frightening mob-clearing potential + relatively cheap item costs+ easy to accommodate changes to certain items and equipment | – vulnerable (especially early-game) – requires life-enhancing mods or buffs to maintain survivability |
Here’s the link for the summarized version of this build:
https://www.poebuilds.net/builds/witch/arc
STORM BRAND + ORB OF STORMS ASSASSIN
Starting Class: Shadow
Ascendancy: Assassin
Still in the topic of Lightning, the Storm Brand Assassin build is also another glorious one for you to consider if you favor the playstyle of the Shadow.
Boasting a tremendous DPS ceiling, you could easily wipe the floor against Bosses as you place down the respective skill under their feet.
When surrounded by waves of enemies, spamming ‘Storm Brand’ while also supplementing it with various elemental stacks and modifiers will make you a god on the battlefield, but precise item setups and min-maxing is required to realize this build to its strongest potential.
| Pros | Cons |
| + zaps enemies’ life away extremely quickly + unbelievable single-target destruction + beginner-level friendly+ scales phenomenally | – item costs may increase exponentially when upgrading to better setups – low life throughout the early stages |
Here is a great example of the Storm Brand Assassin build:
https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/storm-brand-assassin-build-guide#playstyle-mechanics-strengths
If you’re looking for another variant of this build, check out one combined with the Orb of Storms as well (slightly changed for 3.17):
POISONOUS CONCOCTION PATHFINDER
Starting Class: Ranger
Ascendancy: Pathfinder
If you prefer to suffocate your enemies in endless clouds of poison, the Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder build is surely something that would strike your fancy!
Utilizing the Pathfinder’s amazing flask capabilities, there are numerous opportunities here for you to optimize the lethality and efficacy of your primary skill gem, ‘Poisonous Concoction’.
You do need to understand the technicalities of your items and sockets in order to fully squeeze the best of ‘Poisonous Concoction’ – especially for the end-game – but with proper time and sophisticated planning, this build might be extraordinarily rewarding once you finally manage to complete it to your liking!
| Pros | Cons |
| + suitable against almost any map modifier+ saps Bosses’ lives quickly + tremendous Poison procs | – slightly difficult to set up properly – fragile and squishy until mid-to-late game |
If you wish to try out another Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder build than the video above, here’s one that you could experiment with too:
https://www.poe-vault.com/guides/poisonous-concoction-pathfinder-build-guide
BLOCK FROST BLADES GLADIATOR
Starting Class: Duelist
Ascendancy: Gladiator
Although Marauders and Templars are usually the tankiest classes for you to pick in Path of Exile, Duelists are also nimble fighters that can dish out tons of deadly injuries to opponents as well.
When pairing the Duelist’s Ascendancy class, the Gladiator, with ‘Block’ and ‘Frost Blades’, then you have one explosive combo that excels in soaking damage while also massacring foes at the same time too!
Improving the effectiveness of the Gladiator’s block chances from the Ascendancy Skill Tree and synergizing this build with gems, items, and mods that heighten the potency of ‘Frost Blades’ is where you should be looking at for this setup.
| Pros | Cons |
| + easy to master + reasonable item and equipment costs + difficult to die + massive DPS (mobs and Bosses) | – significant cost hike for end-game items and equipment – a bit hard to respec around |
The complete breakdown of this build can be found here:
https://www.poebuilds.net/builds/duelist/frost-blades
FLAME CYCLONE CHIEFTAIN
Starting Class: Marauder
Ascendancy: Chieftain
The Marauder’s Ascendancy, the Chieftain, continues to be a ‘hot’ selection for Fire-based builds in the game (get the pun?).
As patch 3.17 opens the flood gates for many in-game changes to be made, this Flame Cyclone Chieftain build has been relatively untouched throughout the past few leagues, remaining quite balanced even with its unfathomable AoE damage and carnage in tow!
Focusing on peaking Fire damage to the max, your Ascendancy Skills will combine ‘Ngamahu’, ‘Ramako’, ‘Tasalio’, and ‘Valako’ in order to balance out your destructive flaming effects with survivability and life regen as well.
| Pros | Cons |
| + easy on the gearing costs + fast map clearing + full Fire Resistance! (complete build) | – lacks some ‘punch’ when fighting Bosses (compared to other builds) – might require considerable respecs if needing to optimize DPS |
The video above is probably the best dedicated Flame Cyclone Chieftain guide currently out there. A very easy and beginner-friendly POE build.
ARC TOTEM HIEROPHANT
Starting Class: Templar
Ascendancy: Hierophant
Totem builds are also impeccable choices for you to dedicate yourself to if you’re looking to be a bit creative.
The Hierophant – one (1) of the Templar’s Ascendancy – is capable of bolstering various Totem attacks, effects, and auras depending on the particular skill path that you are looking at.
Today’s Arc Totem Hierophant build exploits the brutality of Lightning spells and attacks conjured by your summoned Totems, and by pushing for more added buffs by way of sockets, items and equipment, you might just be able to breeze through the most difficult in-game content with ease!
| Pros | Cons |
| + simple to learn + reasonable item costs + relatively safe playstyle + deals loads of DPS to single targets (Bosses, etc.) | – requires very specific equipment (difficult to change item orders) – still susceptible to attacks if misplayed |
Here’s one prime build for you to refer to, for 3.17:
https://www.poebuilds.net/builds/templar/arc-totems
FIRE FLICKER STRIKE ASCENDANT
Starting Class: Scion
Ascendancy: Ascendant
Scions are the epitome of the class line-ups, capable of diversifying their passive skills by selecting them from the other classes’.
Still, this might make for ‘bad’ builds and incompetent setups if not done properly, but if you’re looking for a steady scaling yet powerful build for Siege of the Atlas/ Archnemesis, then this Fire Flicker Strike Ascendant build is the best option to go for!
Aiming for constant ‘Flicker Strike’ spams across the map, your Ascendant’s critical strikes and indispensable ‘Melee Splash’ Support Gem will carry you through zones fairly quickly.
Meanwhile, if you’re trying to take down dedicated Bosses, swapping some gems around like ‘Melee Splash’ to ‘Elemental Damage with Attacks’ could boost your lethality depending on the given situation.
| Pros | Cons |
| + straightforward gameplay + insane clear speed + devastating single-target DPS + manageable item costs + flexible in terms of respeccing | – requires tuning/ changing for certain in-game instances – can be quite confusing for novices |
For a more detailed description of this build, here is the specific link provided:
https://www.poebuilds.net/builds/scion/fire-flicker-strike
Path of the Chosen
And there you go!
What did you think about our picks for the best starter builds for Path of Exile’s latest expansion, Siege of the Atlas?
We hope you enjoyed it and have a good idea of what beginner build you’re looking forward to playing!
Discarded Builds
– Summon Reaper Necromancer
– Skeleton Warrior Necromancer
– Freezing Pulse Elementalist
– Summon Spectres Necromancer
– Winter Tide Brand Occultist
– Poisonous Concoction Occultist
– Skeleton Mage Necromancer
– Blade Vortex Assassin
– Storm Blade Assassin
– Poison Lightning Strike Assassin
– Ice Trap Saboteur
– Seismic Trap + Exsanguinate Saboteur
– Ice Shot Deadeye
– Lightning Strike Deadeye
– Toxic Rain Raider
– Block Lacerate Gladiator
– Unbreakable Cyclone Gladiator
– Double Strike Gladiator
– Flicker Strike Gladiator
– Toxic Rain Champion
– Max Block Reave Gladiator
– Cyclone Gladiator
– Sweep Gladiator
– Cyclone Slayer
– Molten Strike Berserker
– Rage Vortex Berserker
– Facebreaker Cyclone Berserker
– Shield Crush Berserker
– Consecrated Path Berserker
