Choosing a build is an important choice, so kick off your PoE experience with these choices.
Whenever we start out in a new RPG game, we can naturally expect some kind of learning curve. With that said, Path of Exile sits quite high up on the spectrum of harder games to learn to play. As a result of PoE wanting to be unique, with the likes of the PoE currency it uses and the skill trees you need to learn, it can become all a bit much when starting out.
One significant aspect of playing path of Exile is your build. How you start to put your build together and what features you put in place is going to play a role in what you get out of the game. There is a wealth of different options and combinations for you to choose from, but with that comes a lot of time and research as to what build you should have that will fit. Below you will find some great choices for builds if you’re starting to play Path of Exile for the very first time.
Arc Elementalist
Before we can start out with this build, you’re going to need to have obtained the Elementalist skill set. This is available to you by finishing the Labyrinth Quest. By playing as a Witch and completing the Siren’s Cadence, you can really start to get the best out of the Arc Elementalist.
You don’t necessarily have to play as a Witch if you don’t want to. However, you’re going to need to part with some PoE currency to purchase the build from Nessa as a shadow. This comes after the Siren’s Cadence has been finished. The repeated use of spells through spell echo and the effectiveness of hypothermia to increase your skills, it’s a build worth considering.
Storm Brand Assassin
Definitely a good choice for your first build in Path of Exile. The Storm Brand Assassin is a great build for taking on maps and slaying bosses. Combine this will brand cluster jewels and you will have a build that is going to be clearing maps as fast as possible. Damage is dealt by freezing screens, but the jewels we mentioned is one of the real highlights here. If you’re looking to farm delirium or start out with activities such as delving, then this is essential.
Cyclone Slayer
When you are working towards a build with a name like Cyclone Slayer, you’re probably expecting something that is going to wipe out everything in your wake. You’d be right to assume so, as this concoction will certainly clear anything in its path. It takes a simplistic yet very effective approach to damage bosses and enemies alike.
You can probably get a build like this if you’ve got around 5 Exalted Orb or so. It will be a work in progress for you to get it up to maximum efficiency, but overall, it’s something that new players should look into when finding a build. It is one of the most accessible builds in the entire list, and when taking into account just how deadly it is, you can see why so many players opt for it.
Frost Blades Assassin
For a build that will challenge you but reward you better than most others, go with the Frost Blades Assassin. Gaining access to this comes from the Shadow, before transcending to Assassin when you have reached the Labyrinth quest. You get your build from one of the upgrade tree’s perks, which are Ambush & Assassinate, Deadly Infusion, Opportunistic and Unstable Infusion.
Being a Shadow is important to this build. After you’ve finished the Enemy of the Gate quest in the first act, you will then have to speak with Nessa. Other significant aspects include the gems, such as improving your attack with the hypothermia gem or damaging multiple enemies at once with Ancestral Call.
You can even take it further by increasing its accuracy. There are a number of items that you can scour PoE Trade for to make this stat better. Keep an eye out for armour, rings and amulets that will make your attacks more efficient than ever before. Gear like this will go towards what is considered by many players to be the very best build for new players.
These builds are great to start out with, and shouldn’t be too punishing to your PoE currency. Keeping it simple and easing yourself into builds is arguably the way forward, as you can soon become overwhelmed by overlooking key features of the game.
Have you tried out any of these PoE builds? Let us know in the comments section below!
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
