7 Best Solo Class Builds in Path of Exile 2

Ben Author

Created - 09.02.2025 Updated - 18.03.2025

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Are you in search of a competent Path of Exile 2 build that you can start with and run T10 maps with relative ease? Do you need some guidance on how you can perfect the build should you choose to invest more into it? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

Here, we will talk about the best solo class builds in PoE 2. Since we are writing this in the game’s Early Access state, we are not going to call it a “league starter,” though the principles behind these builds are somewhat related.

If you want to get your hands on rare items that allow you to deal huge damage at early levels, head to our PoE 2 store to find the ones that each of the builds on this list needs!

What is a Solo Class Build?

The concept of a solo class build in Path of Exile 2 is one that can work as a starter character with budget gear. You can choose to progress it further, getting the necessary upgrades to improve damage output if you want to. Additionally, you have the option of using it as an early currency farmer and acquiring lots of PoE 2 Divine Orbs for more expensive yet non-starter builds.

So, what constitutes such a build? For one, it works admirably without the need for expensive items. Unique items like the Morior Invictus and Ingenuity should only be deemed as useful upgrades, but are not in any way mandatory for the build to work.

Aside from that, you don’t need to ascend to feel how the build performs. For instance, the Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder is actually pretty good, though you have to be a Pathfinder to gain access to it. Thus, such builds are not included in the list we are going to talk about today.

Lastly, a solo class build can work in both trade and Solo Self-Found (SSF) environments. The good news is that if you are playing a solo class build in the trade league, you have more access to gear that may improve various aspects of your character. That said, if you need some guidance on how to trade in Path of Exile 2, you can check out our trade guide.

Best Solo Class Builds

Before we start, all of the builds that you will see on this list are not listed in chronological order. You just choose which one resonates with you the most and then follow our recommendations for skills and support gems.

Speaking of which, the support gems for each build are listed in order of importance, starting from the left to the right. You can switch support gems freely, of course, but only do this if you know what you are doing.

Take note that all of the builds here talk about different ascendancy classes because that’s how things will end up. The good news is that you don’t need any of the ascendancy nodes for the builds to work; we’re just stating what ascendancy class you should choose when you’ve reached that point of the game. You can read our Path of Exile 2 ascendancy classes guide for more information about this.

With that said, here are the best solo class builds in PoE 2:

Ice Strike Invoker

Melee builds are a bit difficult to handle in Path of Exile 2, especially if this is your first time playing this awesome ARPG. However, if you are really into close-range combat and you won’t settle for anything else, then the Ice Strike Invoker is a very good build!

This build’s bread and butter is Ice Strike. Unlocked at level 14, this skill makes you perform a three-hit combo that has a very high chance of freezing enemies. Taking nodes on the passive tree that improve freeze buildup makes this feel more consistent, so we highly recommend that you do so.

Since Ice Strike won’t be available until level 14, you can settle with Glacial Cascade if you want to fight safely from range or Falling Thunder if you want to be up close and personal. Get Tempest Bell as soon as you reach level 6 because this is the one that you’ll need for eliminating bosses.

Now, the base quarterstaff to use doesn’t matter as long as it has physical damage, increased elemental damage with attacks, lightning damage, and increased attack speed. Later on, you will switch to the Expert Slicing Quarterstaff due to its high base attack speed and physical damage.

For upgrades, you definitely should trade for Hand of Wisdom and Action (or HoWA). Then, increase your dexterity and intelligence to get the most out of the gloves. These attributes can roll on pretty much any gear, such as the helmet, body armor, boots, and accessories.

Anyway, here are the ideal skills setup for the solo Ice Strike Invoker:

• Ice Strike
• Martial Tempo
• Primal Armament
• Ice Bite
• Rage
• Concentrated Effect
• Tempest Bell
• Heavy Swing
• Overabundance
• Heft
• Close Combat
• Inspiration
• Charged Staff
• Persistence
• Conduction
• Overcharge
• Lightning Exposure
• Strip Away
• Note: Must have Combat Frenzy active and Resonance keystone allocated to gain Power Charges
• Herald of Ice
• Lightning Infusion
• Longshot
• Innervate
• Magnified Effect
• Herald of Thunder
• Cold Infusion
• Glaciation
• Ambush
• Shock Siphon
• Wind Dancer
• Blind
• Wind Wave
• Unbreakable
• Culling Strike
• Elemental Invocation
• Eye of Winter
• Deceleration
• Chain
• Cold Exposure
• Note: Only include this if you have enough Spirit. You can get additional Spirit from body armor and amulet
• Combat Frenzy
• Profusion
• Herbalism
• Grim Feast
• Clarity
• Precision
• Ascendancy Nodes
• I am the Blizzard
• And I Shall Rage
• Sunder My Enemies
• Lead Me Through Grace

Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist

Many players assumed that the Skeletal Arsonist was a bad minion skill to use after an update increased its Spirit cost. However, that is the only thing that has changed. You can somehow regain the damage that was lost by using the appropriate jewels and allocating the right minion nodes on the passive tree.

The Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist is still pretty good even to this day. Its ascendancy nodes work really well with the concept of the build, where you become a minion commander summoning a legion of subservient allies to fight for you.

Start by using Unearth linked to Minion Instability in Act 1. Unearth is a skill that allows you to raise bone spikes from the ground in a cone in front of you. Any monster that was killed by the spikes is raised as a temporary minion called the Bone Construct.

Minion Instability, on the other hand, is just a way to cause minions to explode when they are on low life. This support gem works nicely with Unearth because the bone construct minions are short-lived anyway.

After that, take Contagion. Contagion helps in dealing with single targets and makes your leveling journey easier, especially when fighting against bosses. Only transition to Skeletal Arsonist if you’ve defeated the King in the Mist (Freythorn) in Act 1 and have a good sceptre for more Spirit. Check out our PoE 2 Spirit Guide so that you will know how to get additional Spirit.

Now, the Skeletal Arsonist does not have the off-screen killing potential that the Skeletal Sniper has. However, the arsonist minion compensates for that by hurling burning projectiles that cause AoE fire damage at the enemy.

To improve the damage output of the build, allocate the right nodes on the passive tree, such as Right Hand of Darkness for improved area of effect, Lord of Horrors for the reduced Spirit reservation cost, and Restless Dead so that minions revive a bit faster.

Sapphires also provide a lot of power to minion builds. Populate your jewel sockets with Sapphire Jewels that have increased minion damage, increased minion attack/cast speed, and increased maximum energy shield.

When playing the Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist, make sure to also stack your life up as high as you can. This is so that you can gain more Spirit thanks to the Infernalist’s “Beidat’s Will” ascendancy node.

Do you want to check out the solo Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist? Here are the skills that you need:

• Skeletal Arsonist
• Scattershot
• Heft
• Fire Infusion
• Feeding Frenzy
• Concentrated Effect
• Skeletal Warrior
• Blind
• Maim
• Culling Strike
• Physical Mastery
• Note: This minion skill is unlocked by equipping the Rattling Sceptre
• Flame Wall
• Fortress
• Arcane Surge
• Mobility
• Energy Barrier
• Raging Spirits
• Immolate
• Martial Tempo
• Elemental Focus
• Fire Mastery
• Note: Cast Flame Wall to conjure the Raging Spirits
• Pain Offering
• Ablation
• Persistence
• Danse Macabre
• Font of Rage
• Note: Use often to improve the damage of your minions
• Skeletal Storm Mage
• Stormfire
• Conduction
• Lightning Penetration
• Overcharge
• Note: Summon two Skeletal Storm Mages for bosses. Replace them with the arsonists while mapping
• Skeletal Cleric
• Last Gasp
• Ingenuity
• Minion Mastery
• Note: One or two of these will suffice
• Flammability
• Heightened Curse
• Cursed Ground
• Inspiration
• Ritualistic Curse
• Note: Use on rare monsters and bosses
• Ascendancy Nodes
• Loyal Hellhound
• Altered Flesh
• Beidat’s Will
• Beidat’s Hand

Lightning Arrow Deadeye

A great all-arounder on a budget, the Lightning Arrow Deadeye performs really well even on budget gear. And the best part of all is that the primary skills for this build are available at level 1!

Lightning Arrow is your primary skill for mapping and Lightning Rod is the one you’ll use for eliminating single targets. Barrage helps you lay down multiple lightning rods in a matter of seconds, so activate this whenever you fight a boss.

Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder are used to make your map-clearing potential so much better. The support gems used for each herald skill will allow them to proc more consistently. If you find that they are not working well as intended, add cold or lightning damage to attacks on your weapon, rings, and gloves.

Ultimately, this PoE 2 build has the power to destroy pinnacle bosses once you have access to the Hand of Wisdom and Action. Your passive tree’s travel nodes must satisfy DEX requirements on gear and then put the rest of them on INT for that massive added lightning damage from the said unique gloves.

If you run into issues with mana, get Thief’s Torment. This ring pretty much solves all your mana problems without the need for expensive jewels and whatnot.

You can find the best gem setup for the solo Lightning Arrow Deadeye below:

• Lightning Arrow
• Martial Tempo
• Ice Bite
• Inspiration
• Primal Armament
• Innervate
• Lightning Rod
• Scattershot
• Heft
• Concentrated Effect
• Overcharge
• Rising Tempest
• Herald of Ice
• Lightning Infusion
• Conduction
• Magnified Effect
• Cold Mastery
• Herald of Thunder
• Cold Infusion
• Glaciation
• Longshot
• Lightning Mastery
• Cast on Shock
• Ball Lightning
• Energy Retention
• Impetus
• Deceleration
• Barrage
• Premeditation
• Murderous Intent
• Voltaic Mark
• Persistence
• Note: Use them on tough enemies to make them more susceptible to Shock
• Wind Dancer
• Maim
• Blind
• Grim Feast
• None
• Ghost Dance
• None
• Ascendancy Nodes
• Point Blank
• Endless Munitions
• Gathering Winds
• Wind Ward

Hammer of the Gods Titan

If you don't care about attack speed so much and all you really want is a melee build that can output a ton of damage, then the Hammer of the Gods Titan is much more suited for you!

This PoE 2 melee build utilizes Stampede to clear maps, Leap Slam and Shield Charge for mobility, and Herald of Ice to cause monster explosions. You need some added cold damage on your weapon, gloves, and rings to proc Herald of Ice. If you have some PoE 2 Exalted Orbs, you can purchase the Polcirkeln on trade to make HOI activate more consistently.

In boss fights, use Earthshatter several times before the battle starts. Once you can attack the boss, use Infernal Cry to detonate the spikes from Earthshatter and utilize Hammer of the Gods for massive amounts of damage!

While leveling, use the default Mace Strike (with Overpower and Ruthless) to prime enemies for stun and then Boneshatter (with Impact Shockwave and Magnified Effect) to cause a devastating shockwave that can eliminate nearby monsters as well. Additionally, after you've addressed the DEX and INT requirements on gear, focus on improving STR to resolve the triple attribute requirements of the Giant's Blood keystone passive.

Here are the skills needed for the solo Hammer of the Gods Titan:

• Stampede
• Cold Infusion
• Aftershock
• Momentum
• Martial Tempo
• Close Combat
• Earthshatter
• Upheaval
• Heft
• Splinter
• Brutality
• Font of Rage
• Hammer of the Gods
• Heavy Swing
• Fist of War
• Rageforged
• Lacerate
• Exploit Weakness
• Note: Use this on your 2nd weapon set. Equip a couple of two-handed maces with "+ to level of all Melee Skills" each for maximum damage
• Infernal Cry
• Premeditation
• Raging Cry
• Enraged Warcry
• Lifetap
• Herald of Ice
• Primal Armament
• Cold Penetration
• Longshot
• Magnified Effect
• Cold Mastery
• Note: Get added cold damage to attacks on rings and gloves if you find that HOI is not working consistently
• Berserk
• Clarity
• Cannibalism
• Herbalism
• Seismic Cry
• Dazing Cry
• Inspiration
• Leap Slam
• Rage
• Holy Descent
• Shield Charge
• Stomping Ground
• Ascendancy Nodes
• Colossal Capacity
• Hulking Form
• Earthbreaker
• Crushing Impacts

Skeletal Sniper Infernalist

This build is almost similar to the Skeletal Arsonist Infernalist with a couple of major differences. First, the Skeletal Sniper has a very long range, which enables them to kill enemies even off-screen. Second, this build utilizes Detonate Dead on corpses that pile up after getting killed by your skeletal snipers.

Your role on this build is to simply stay back and let your minions do the work. For this reason, you can benefit from wearing a shield with a relatively high block chance and then transitioning to a well-rolled Oaksworn when you have the budget.

Leave Detonate Dead's skill level to just level 7 because any increase here just inflates its mana cost. The same cannot be said for the Skeletal Sniper, as well as your other minion skills, though. You want them to have a very high level to enhance their damage output significantly. Hence, get a sceptre, amulet, and helmet with a high roll of "+ to Level of All Minion Skills" as much as possible.

Do you want a more lethal minion build that has more utility? Then here are the skills and support gems needed for the solo Skeletal Sniper Infernalist to work:

• Skeletal Sniper
• Scattershot
• Fire Infusion
• Feeding Frenzy
• Heft
• Chaos Mastery
• Detonate Dead
• Arcane Tempo
• Spell Echo
• Magnified Effect
• Brutality
• Flame Wall
• Fortress
• Arcane Surge
• Mobility
• Energy Barrier
• Raging Spirits
• Immolate
• Elemental Focus
• Martial Tempo
• Fire Mastery
• Note: Both Detonate Dead and Flame Wall can summon the Raging Spirits
• Skeletal Storm Mage
• Conduction
• Stormfire
• Lightning Penetration
• Overcharge
• Skeletal Cleric
• Last Gasp
• Ingenuity
• Minion Mastery
• Flammability
• Heightened Curse
• Cursed Ground
• Inspiration
• Ritualistic Curse
• Pain Offering
• Persistence
• Danse Macabre
• Ablation
• Font of Rage
• Skeletal Warrior
• Cold Infusion
• Maim
• Blind
• Culling Strike
• Note: This skill is from the Rattling Sceptre
• Grim Feast
• Clarity
• Note: Remove clarity if you don't have any mana issues
• Summon Infernal Hound
• Meat Shield
• Fire Exposure
• Splinter
• Strip Away
• Demolisher
• Note: This skill is unlocked by taking the "Loyal Hellhound" ascendancy node
• Ascendancy Nodes
• Loyal Hellhound
• Altered Flesh
• Beidat's Will
• Beidat's Hand

Spark Stormweaver

You may have heard of the Spark Stormweaver's incredible potential, but you're put off by the investment needed for its endgame gear. Well, we're here to tell you that it can actually be a very good starter build for solo players too! The thing is, you just have to get the pieces of gear with the right modifiers to begin and only think about the upgrades when you have the PoE 2 currency for them.

Before talking about items, let’s talk about the primary skill for this build. Spark is a lightning-based spell in Path of Exile 2 that can generate multiple projectiles in seconds. At the start of your journey, make sure to improve your cast speed and mana regeneration as these two will help address the mana consumption of the said spell.

As you are nearing the endgame, start investing in INT-based gear to raise your maximum energy shield exponentially. After that, you can take the Chaos Inoculation keystone passive for chaos damage immunity and Eldritch Battery to convert your ES to mana. When you have EB allocated, you have the option of taking Mind Over Matter or not.

To boost your energy shield, you can wear Atziri's Disdain and Ghostwrithe. If you want to retain some of your energy shield after taking Eldritch Battery, you can get The Everlasting Gaze.

In terms of upgrades, get a Siphoning Wand or Attuned Wand with a high roll of “+ to Level of All Lightning Spell Skills.” If you have the budget for a +5 wand, then that’s even better! The reason for this is that Spark scales really well with skill levels, making it more effective at destroying map monsters and bosses in the endgame.

At eight Divine Orbs at the time of writing, you can purchase a Melting Maelstrom, which instantly recovers all your mana on use. The extra chaos damage that this unique flask gives is just a bonus yet still welcome for this build.

Other items you can invest in include Dream Fragments, Ingenuity, Mahuxotl's Machination, and a Morior Invictus (with Maximum Mana and Elemental Resistance as its unique modifiers).

If you are interested in playing the solo Spark Stormweaver, here are the skills that are required to make the most out of this build:

• Spark
• Arcane Tempo
• Acceleration
• Inspiration
• Considered Casting
• Persistence
• Orb of Storms
• Lightning Exposure
• Strip Away
• Font of Mana
• Overabundance
• Conduction
• Note: You can swap Font of Mana with Conduction if you don’t have a Greater Jeweler’s Orb yet
• Flame Wall
• Fortress
• Spell Cascade
• Archmage
• Lightning Mastery
• Note: Needs 100 Spirit. Make sure to get all 100 Spirit from King in the Mists (Act 1) and Ignagduk (Act 3/Act 3 Cruel)
• Mana Tempest
• Premeditation
• Murderous Intent
• Note: Do not stay too long inside the tempest because it will drain your mana quickly. Use this when fighting bosses and tough rare monsters
• Cast on Shock
• Lightning Conduit/Ball Lightning
• Impetus
• Concentrated Effect
• Energy Retention
• Elemental Focus
• Note: Try both spells and use whichever you like
• Conductivity
• Heightened Curse
• Focused Curse
• Optional: Cursed Ground
• Note: Cursed Ground forgoes aiming since the curse is laid out on the ground
• Sigil of Power
• Magnified Effect
• Note: This is from the Chiming Staff. Put this on your second weapon set
• Blink
• Ingenuity
• Clarity
• Note: Purely optional. Activate if you have enough Spirit and you want to replace the Dodge Roll with a teleport for mobility
• Ascendancy Nodes
• Constant Gale
• Force of Will
• Strike Twice
• Scouring Winds

Ice Shot Deadeye

Think of the Ice Shot Deadeye as a ranged version of the Ice Strike Invoker. That is pretty much the gist of the build. However, what we love about the Ice Shot Deadeye is that it can cause multiple screen-wide explosions thanks to Herald of Ice.

The Ice Shot Deadeye works a lot like the Lightning Arrow Deadeye build, though the major difference here is the primary skill for mapping. Ice Shot is more suited for beginners due to its ability to freeze enemies in place. You’re still going to use Lightning Rod, Orb of Storms, and Cast on Shock when defeating bosses.

At the start, you will use Lightning Arrow because Ice Shot won’t be available until you are level 31. You need a Tier 9 Uncut Skill Gem to get it. Also, you need the Dualstring Bow to increase the projectiles you fire by one (for a total of three).

The Ice Shot Deadeye has two versions. The first is a non-crit version that uses the Primed Quiver (attack speed). Make sure that it has added physical damage, attack speed, and increased damage with bow attacks.

Once you transition to the crit version, replace the Primed Quiver with the Visceral Quiver for its critical hit chance implicit. Roll critical hit chance as an explicit modifier along with physical damage, critical damage bonus, attack speed, and projectile speed.

If you are going to take the Acrobatics keystone passive, wear all evasion gear to address its heavy downside. However, if you’d like to go for Chaos Inoculation instead, wear INT-based gear to significantly increase your energy shield, and a hybrid evasion/energy shield body armor.

Again, if you have the budget, invest in a Hand of Wisdom and Action. Additionally, purchase jewels that increase the bonuses on your equipped quiver. But be warned, such jewels are quite expensive!

Anyway, do you want to play the Ice Shot Deadeye? Here are the skills you need:

• Ice Shot
• Martial Tempo
• Primal Armament
• Inspiration
• Fork
• Ice Bite
• Lightning Rod
• Scattershot
• Concentrated Effect
• Heft
• Close Combat
• Rising Tempest
• Herald of Ice
• Longshot
• Magnified Effect
• Innervate
• Coursing Current
• Cold Mastery
• Herald of Thunder
• Cold Infusion
• Glaciation
• Ambush
• Lightning Mastery
• Cast on Shock
• Ball Lightning
• Deceleration
• Impetus
• Energy Retention
• Orb of Storms
• Chain
• Unleash
• Overabundance
• Wind Dancer
• Blind
• Clarity
• Cannibalism
• Voltaic Mark
• Persistence
• Arcane Tempo
• Grim Feast
• Herbalism
• Note: Only use this if you have more than 1,000 energy shield
• Ascendancy Nodes
• Point Blank
• Endless Munitions
• Gathering Winds
• Wind Ward

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! All of these solo class builds in Path of Exile 2 can be used as an awesome starter, with multiple avenues for improvement in case you want to continue playing them.

If you want to get the best items for these builds without spending countless hours farming enough currency, head to our PoE 2 Store today!