Path of Exile 2's Early Access launch has brought exciting shifts in the meta, with distinct trends emerging across both Standard and Hardcore Solo Self-Found (SSF) leagues. How many hardcore characters are still alive in Path of Exile 2? Read our PoE 2 SSF tier list, we have ranked the best Solo Self Found classes and ascendancies for Standard and Hardcore.
In Path of Exile 2 Solo Self-Found (SSF), choosing a good ascendancy is critical because of the unique challenges presented by this mode. While trading leagues provide opportunities to purchase optimized gear and scale powerful builds quickly, SSF requires players to rely solely on self-found loot, crafting, and careful planning. A strong ascendancy compensates for weaker or incomplete gear by offering innate damage, survivability, and utility. Next, let's dive into these PoE 2 SSF rankings based on SSF Standard/ class distribution top 1000 on December 15.
In Solo Self-Found Standard, players don’t face permanent death but must still rely entirely on self-found resources. Without trading, the meta is more evenly distributed compared to the explosive popularity of Storm Weaver in trade leagues. Below is the Path of Exile 2 SSF tier list based on clear speed, consistency, and performance:
S Tier
Infernalist (17.80%)
Incredible survivability, minion-based playstyle allows players to deal damage safely from a distance. Infernal's durability and reliable clear speed make it the most popular choice in SSF Standard. With minions acting as a shield, this ascendancy thrives in the absence of trade.
Deadeye (17.20%)
Fast clear speed, excellent ranged scaling, and mobility. Deadeye remains strong in SSF due to its ability to kite enemies and leverage self-found bows for efficient leveling and endgame farming.
A Tier
Invoker (15.30%)
Versatile melee archetype with strong scaling. Despite being melee, Invoker performs exceptionally well in SSF Standard, likely due to its raw power, self-sustain, and synergy with obtainable gear.
Titan (15.30%)
Exceptional defensive scaling with armor and sustain. Titan’s durability makes it a great pick, but slower clear speed prevents it from reaching S-Tier.
Stormweaver (11.80%)
Great clear speed with spells and trigger mechanics. High potential damage with elemental builds. Stormweaver excels with proper gear but struggles without it in SSF, dropping its overall PoE 2 SSF ascendancy ranking.
Witchhunter (7.5%)
Good survivability through ward mechanics. Balanced mix of damage and defense. While solid, Witchhunter lags behind Deadeye in clear speed and Infernalist in safety.
Warbringer (5.60%)
Tanky with excellent physical sustain. Reliable for Hardcore SSF due to durability. Warbringer’s slow pace is offset by its safety, making it ideal for cautious SSF players.
Gemling Legionnaire (3.80%)
Decent offense and defense with steady performance. Offers a mix of melee and ranged tools.
Lacks standout strengths to compete with top-tier best Path of Exile 2 SSF ascendancies.
Blood Mage (2.40%)
High damage potential with self-sustaining mechanics. Unique and rewarding for skilled players. Sacrificing life to cast is risky in SSF, making it a niche option.
Pathfinder (2.20%)
Good utility with flasks and poison scaling. Pathfinder’s reliance on flask charges and specific gear makes it underwhelming in SSF.
C Tier
Acolyte of Chayula (1.20%)
Interesting mechanics for advanced players. Limited popularity due to its complexity and lower overall performance.
Chronomancer (1.00%)
Unique mechanics involving cooldowns and time abilities. Chronomancer suffers from slower leveling and weak survivability in SSF environments.
In Solo Self-Found Hardcore, survivability is king. One death spells the end of a character, making durable and reliable builds the most valuable. The tier list for Hardcore SSF reflects a focus on tankiness, safe damage output, and risk mitigation.
S Tier
Infernalist (32.80%)
Minions act as shields, protecting the player from damage. Safe ranged playstyle allows players to stay at a distance while clearing effectively. Extremely durable and reliable, making it Path of Exile 2 best Solo Self Found ascendancy for Hardcore. Infernalist dominates the Hardcore SSF meta due to its exceptional survivability and low-risk, high-reward gameplay.
A Tier
Deadeye (13.30%)
Superb clear speed with bow skills. Strong kiting ability, allowing players to deal damage while avoiding danger. Deadeye’s mobility makes it an excellent Hardcore pick, though its defenses are not as robust as Infernalist.
Titan (13.30%)
Exceptional defenses, including armor scaling and sustain. Reliable survivability for Hardcore players. Titan thrives in Hardcore because of its durability, though it sacrifices clear speed for safety.
Invoker (10.00%)
Solid mix of offense and defense. Self-sustain capabilities make it strong in long fights. Invoker’s melee nature carries risks, but its tankiness and raw power make it a solid choice for Hardcore.
B Tier
Gemling Legionnaire (6.60%)
Steady performance with decent damage and survivability. A consistent choice for SSF Hardcore progression. While reliable, it lacks the standout survivability of S-Tier best SSF ascendancy on POE 2.
Warbringer (6.30%)
High durability and strong physical sustain. Reliable choice for cautious Hardcore players. Warbringer trades speed for survivability, performing well but slightly below Titans in efficiency.
Stormweaver (5.60%)
Powerful damage output with AoE spells. Stormweaver struggles in Hardcore SSF due to its gear dependency and limited defensive options, leading to higher death rates.
C Tier
Blood Mage (2.90%)
High damage potential with unique life-for-mana mechanics. Blood Mage is risky in Hardcore due to its reliance on life sacrifice, requiring careful resource management.
Witchhunter (2.90%)
Good survivability with ward mechanics. Ward scales well, but Witchhunter lacks clear advantages over higher-tier options in Hardcore SSF.
Chronomancer (2.70%)
Unique abilities for slowing enemies and managing cooldowns. Chronomancer struggles in Hardcore due to lower defensive scaling and slow leveling.
Pathfinder (1.90%)
Good damage scaling with poison builds. Pathfinder’s reliance on flask uptime and specific gear limits its performance in SSF Hardcore.
Acolyte of Chayula (1.20%)
Unique mechanics with strong defensive potential for experienced players. Its steep learning curve and lack of popularity make it an underwhelming choice for most players in Hardcore SSF.
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