PoE 2 Best Starter Builds for Season 1 (Patch 0.2.0 Prep Builds)

As Path of Exile 2 Season 1 approaches, selecting a strong and efficient starter build is crucial for smooth progression and endgame viability. Patch 0.2.0 introduces new balance changes and mechanics, making some builds more powerful than ever. This guide covers the best builds for the new season, detailing their strengths, setups, and scaling potential.

PoE 2 Best League Starter Builds To Prepare for Season 1

The first season of Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) is set to launch with Patch 0.2.0, bringing with it an economy reset, balance changes, and new mechanics. With these adjustments, players will need to plan carefully when selecting their starter builds to ensure a smooth progression through early levels, mapping, and endgame content.

Some of the most important considerations when choosing a build for Season 1 include:

• Cost-effectiveness – Avoiding builds that require expensive uniques to function.

• Clear speed – Ensuring quick map progression for currency farming.

• Bossing potential – Having enough damage to handle high-tier enemies.

• Survivability – Being able to sustain and progress without constant deaths.

To help with this decision, we've gathered some of the best starter builds that have shown strong performance in Patch 0.2.0.

Each of these builds offers reliable damage, solid defenses, and good scaling into endgame, making them ideal choices for both new and returning players.

1. Detonating Dead Infernalist (Minion Explosion Build)

This build is one of the most explosive summoner setups, utilizing Detonating Dead to trigger massive corpse explosions. With Patch 0.2.0, summoner mechanics remain strong and scalable, making this build an excellent choice for both mapping and bossing. It excels at one-shotting bosses, thanks to max HP minion scaling, and offers a budget-friendly entry point with high-end scaling potential. Since it's not a meta-dominant build, it is unlikely to be nerfed and may even receive buffs with future class expansions.

Build Setup Details

• Main Skill: Detonating Dead + Sacrifice (to convert minions into explosive corpses).

• Key Mechanics: Summon 30-50 skeleton warriors, sacrifice them for massive AoE explosions.

• Trigger System: Cast-on-Death automation for boss one-shots, manual detonations for mapping control.

• Core Items:

• Infolding Doom (boosts spirit and spell damage).

• Chestpiece with Maximum Spirit (increases minion count and explosion power).

• Minion Reservation Boots (allows more skeletons for stronger detonations).

• Ascendancy Options: Infernalist (best for damage), Blood Mage (alternative for sustain).

2. Flicker Strike Voidbringer (Fast Melee Build)

Flicker Strike Voidbringer offers one of the fastest melee playstyles in PoE 2, making it excellent for farming and high-paced combat. While Patch 0.2.0 introduces some balance changes, this build remains a top-tier choice for speed-clear enthusiasts. Unlike PoE 1, power charge management is required, adding a strategic element to the build. With high evasion, energy shield sustain, and strong single-target burst, it’s a well-rounded melee build that doesn’t require any mandatory unique items, making it budget-friendly.

Build Setup Details

• Main Skill: Flicker Strike (primary attack) + Ice Strike (to replenish power charges).

• Key Mechanics: Power charge consumption for continuous Flicker Strike chains, using Ice Strike downtime for recharge.

• Defensive Layers: High evasion, energy shield sustain, and mobility to avoid damage.

• Core Items:

• Fast Attacking Weapons (to sustain Flicker Strike uptime).

• Flasks for Charge Management (ensures consistent charge generation).

• Ascendancy Options: Voidbringer (best for Flicker Strike scaling).

3. Explosive Shot Mercenary (AoE Bow Build)

Explosive Shot Mercenary is a top-tier bow build, excelling at large-scale AoE clearing while offering strong elemental interactions. With Patch 0.2.0, elemental builds remain highly viable, and this build uniquely spreads fire, lightning, and cold effects across enemies. While it requires some skill swapping for optimal damage, it is one of the most satisfying and visually stunning builds in the game.

Build Setup Details

• Main Skill: Explosive Shot + Heralds (Ice, Ash, Thunder) for multi-element explosions.

• Key Mechanics: Each shot triggers massive chain reactions, shocking, igniting, and freezing enemies.

• Defensive Layers: Evasion-based survivability, high mobility.

• Core Items:

• Three Dragons Helmet (enables multi-element interactions).

• Projectile Speed and Damage Bows (improves both clear and boss damage).

• Ascendancy Options: Mercenary (best synergy for bow skills).

4. Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder (Damage Over Time Build)

Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder is one of the most cost-effective, high-scaling damage-over-time builds. It excels in Patch 0.2.0 due to chaos damage bypassing resistances, and flask-based scaling allows it to deal massive poison damage while maintaining strong sustain. Since it doesn’t rely on weapon scaling, it remains one of the cheapest builds to gear up, making it an ideal starter option.

Build Setup Details

• Main Skill: Poisonous Concoction (flask-based poison application).

• Key Mechanics: Chaos damage scaling, flask effect optimization, mana flask uptime for attacks.

• Defensive Layers: Chaos Inoculation (CI) for chaos immunity, high evasion and energy shield sustain.

• Core Items:

• Widowhail Bow (scales projectile skill levels for extra damage).

• Flask Management Gear (ensures continuous poison uptime).

• Ascendancy Options: Pathfinder (flask synergy and poison scaling).

5. Lightning Arrow Deadeye (Speed Farming Build)

Lightning Arrow Deadeye is one of the best speed-farming builds, allowing players to clear maps efficiently and farm currency fast. With Patch 0.2.0, its screen-wide AoE, high attack speed, and shock mechanics make it an ideal ranged choice for both casual and competitive players. While bossing requires a quick setup change, its overall efficiency and mobility make it one of the strongest ranged builds.

Build Setup Details

• Main Skill: Lightning Arrow (AoE clear) + Shock Burst (single-target damage).

• Key Mechanics: Tailwind for speed, shock application for extra damage.

• Defensive Layers: High evasion, energy shield sustain, ranged positioning for safety.

• Core Items:

• Lightning Damage Scaling Equipment (to maximize damage).

• Flasks for Speed and Sustain.

• Ascendancy Options: Deadeye (best for ranged attack scaling).

6. Spark Stormweaver (Spellcaster Build)

Spark Stormweaver remains one of the best spellcaster builds in Patch 0.2.0, offering screen-wide lightning damage with high mana scaling. By utilizing Archmage Support, it converts mana into extra spell damage, making mana investment one of the best scaling mechanics. This build is incredibly effective in enclosed spaces, allowing Sparks to bounce and deal continuous damage, making it one of the safest and most consistent spellcaster builds.

Build Setup Details

• Main Skill: Spark (primary projectile skill) + Archmage (mana-based scaling).

• Key Mechanics: High mana = high damage, projectile bouncing for enclosed fights.

• Defensive Layers: Mana-based sustain, energy shield scaling.

• Core Items:

• Everlasting Gaze Amulet (mana sustain and extra energy shield).

• Ascendancy Options: Stormweaver (best for lightning spell scaling).