Path of Exile Top 7 Starter Builds
1. Summon Raging Spirit Necromancer (Witch)
This summoner build is ranked first for league starter builds and is the strongest minion build in the game.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 10/10 Damage: 10/10 Safety: 10/10 Bosses: 10/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Witch Build: The Summon Raging Spirit Necromancer has strong damage against multiple enemies and extremely high damage against bosses. Minion builds are popular starter builds and this is the strongest starter build in the game while still being one of the most inexpensive summoner builds to outfit. If you are interested in trying out the Summon Raging Spirit Necromancer build you can find a guide for the build here Summoner Raging Spirit Guide.
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2. Ground Slam Berserker (Marauder)
Marauder is an excellent choice for starting the game because of the high number of early defensive nodes on the tree.
Mapping: 9/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 7/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 8/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Marauder Build: Ground Slam Of Earthshaking is a level one melee skill that stuns enemies with a large area of effect attack which makes it great for survival. This build is also one of the strongest and most popular builds to start the game with this season and is great all the way through the endgame. If you are interested in trying out the Ground Slam Of Earthshaking Berserker you can find a guide for the build here Ground Slam Berserker Guide.
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3. Toxic Rain Raider (Ranger)
The Raider ascendancy no longer exists so this recommendation can be ignored for the moment and awaits updates.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 6/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 8/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Ranger Build: The Toxic Rain Raider was once the best starter bow build and best starter build for Rangers but the Raider ascendancy was removed from the game. However the Trickster version of Toxic Rain still exists. If you are interested in trying out the Toxic Rain Trickster you can find a guide for the build here Toxic Rain Trickster.
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4. Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant (Templar)
The Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant is the best starter totem build in the game and has excellent damage and survival.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 10/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 9/10 Bosses: 8/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Templar Build: The Freezing Pulse Hierophant is one of the strongest totem builds in the game for clearing normal enemies and still does well on boss fights. The Hierophant ascendancy gives a minimum of four Endurance charges and four Power charges which is helpful both offensively and defensively. If you are interested in trying out the Freezing Pulse build you can find a guide for this build here Freezing Pulse Totem Hierophant.
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5. Shockwave Cyclone Slayer (Duelist)
The Shockwave Cyclone Slayer is one of the best melee builds in the game and is an excellent choice for a starter build.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 10/10 Heist: 10/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 9/10 Bosses: 9/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Duelist Build: The Shockwave Cyclone Slayer is a popular build and is capable of dealing very high damage while moving around. You will however have to wait until you are level 28 and have a reduced mana cost ring or high mana leech to use Cyclone. You should try and acquire a unique Praxis ring which reduces the mana cost of Cyclone to zero at level 28 to channel Cyclone without using mana. If you are interested in trying out the Shockwave Cyclone Slayer build you can find a guide for the build here Shockwave Cyclone Slayer Guide.
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6. Elemental Hit Of The Spectrum Ascendant (Scion)
The Elemental Hit Of The Spectrum Ascendant is a strong starter Scion build that deals great damage on a low budget.
Mapping: 10/10 Delve: 7/10 Heist: 5/10 Damage: 8/10 Safety: 8/10 Bosses: 7/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Scion Build: The Elemental Hit Of the Spectrum Ascendant excels at dealing excellent damage on a limited budget making it a great starter build. The bow for Elemental Hit doesn't require very high physical damage like Lightning Arrow and Ice Shot it just requires a middle cost tri-elemental bow to deal high damage. Elemental Hit of the Spectrum replaced Elemental Hit for the best Scion starter build because the standard Elemental Hit gem was changed to require a melee weapon (a guide for this build will possibly be added at a later date).
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7. Seismic Trap and Exsanguinate Trap Saboteur (Shadow)
The Seismic Trap and Exsanguinate Trap Saboteur is the best trap build in the game and can easily be built on a budget.
Mapping: 9/10 Delve: 8/10 Heist: 10/10 Damage: 9/10 Safety: 7/10 Bosses: 9/10
Build Guide
Best Starter Shadow Build: The Seismic Trap and Exsanguinate Trap Saboteur is the best trap build in the game and is an excellent starter build. You should also be able to acquire a unique Cold Iron Point weapon for +3 to level of all physical spell skill gems for only a handful of Chaos Orbs. If you are interested in trying out the Seismic Trap and Exsanguinate Saboteur a guide for the build can be found here Seismic Trap and Exsanguinate Saboteur Guide.
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That's all for the Top 7 Starter Builds! For more on Path of Exile you can view the endgame guide here Endgame Guide.
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