Best Classes in PoE 2 – Complete Guide for All Playstyles
Introduction
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the best classes in Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2)! This guide is designed to help you choose the right class for your playstyle, whether you’re a beginner, a solo player, or looking for high DPS or speed-farming capabilities. With this tier list and in-depth analysis, you’ll have the knowledge you need to succeed in any activity PoE 2 throws your way.
Key Takeaways
Here’s a quick rundown of the best classes in Path of Exile 2 based on various activities and playstyles:
- Best Class for Beginners: Witch
- Best Class for Leveling: Ranger
- Best Class for Solo Play: Ranger
- Best Classes for Group Play: Ranger (DPS), Witch (Support)
- Best Class for DPS: Ranger
- Best Class for Speed Farming: Ranger
- Best Class for Endgame: Ranger
- Best Class for Softcore: Ranger
- Best Class for Hardcore: Templar
- Best Class for Solo Self-Found (SSF): Mercenary
How to Choose the Best Class in PoE 2?
Choosing the most suitable class in PoE 2 depends on several key factors, including speed leveling, farming efficiency, ease of play, and endgame potential. Let’s dive into these important considerations to help you pick the class that will make your journey enjoyable and rewarding.
Speed Leveling
In Path of Exile 2, speed leveling is crucial for quickly progressing through the campaign and endgame. The best classes for leveling are those with strong base damage and AoE skills, allowing for fast clears without needing unique or hard-to-obtain items.
Speed Farming
Clearing maps and content quickly is essential in the grind-heavy nature of PoE 2. The best classes for speed farming are those with powerful AoE skills that can handle mobs efficiently, making them ideal for earning currency and farming high-end gear.
Ease of Play
For beginners or players who prefer a simpler experience, ease of play is an important factor. Classes like Witch or Sorceress, with reliable defenses or strong crowd control, provide smoother gameplay. Alternatively, Templar offers tankiness, making it forgiving for new players.
Fun Factor
The most important aspect of any class is whether it’s fun to play. In PoE 2, all classes can be tailored to different playstyles thanks to the game’s skill gem system, allowing for creativity and flexibility in builds.
Endgame Potential
Although endgame potential largely depends on gear, any class in PoE 2 can handle tough content with enough investment. Whether you're taking on Uber Bosses or clearing high-tier maps, even budget-friendly builds can get the job done with any class.
Best Class for PoE 2 Beginners
For newcomers to PoE 2, the Witch stands out as the best class for beginners. With a straightforward minion-based playstyle, the Witch provides a solid balance of accessibility and damage, requiring minimal gear to succeed. Templar, Sorceress, and Druid are also great choices for their tankiness and easy-to-understand mechanics.
S-Tier Classes for Beginners:
- Witch: Minions do most of the damage, making the class easy to play.
- Druid: Tanky with powerful crowd control.
- Sorceress: Long-range, ignite damage, and freeze for defense.
- Templar: Very tanky, doesn’t need powerful gear.
PoE 2 Best Starting Classes for League Launch
Starting strong in a new League is crucial, and the best classes for League launches are those that can function well with minimal gear. Witch, Druid, and Sorceress are top-tier choices for their balance of survivability, AoE damage, and gear independence.
Easiest Class to Play in PoE 2
For players looking for a simple and accessible experience, the Witch and Druid remain at the top. Both classes are easy to play due to their reliable minions or tankiness. Templar is also an excellent choice for those who prefer a nearly unkillable character.
Best Classes for Fast Leveling in PoE 2
In this section, we’ll reveal the classes that excel at swiftly progressing through Path of Exile 2, helping you reach higher levels and unlock powerful abilities in no time. Whether you're an experienced player aiming for maximum efficiency or a newcomer seeking a smooth leveling experience, this comprehensive analysis will guide you toward the best choices.
Fastest Leveling Class from Level 1-70
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Sorceress | Excellent AoE skills, mobility, low investment, and many viable builds. |
| S-Tier | Shadow | Traps are great for the campaign, with easy access to mobility. |
| S-Tier | Marauder | Great damage with specific builds, mobility through Leap Slam. |
| A-Tier | Mercenary | Amazing AoE capabilities, decent performance on low/mid investment, many different builds available. |
| A-Tier | Duelist | Strong early/mid-game through Rage mechanic, great user of melee AoE skills. |
| A-Tier | Huntress | Stronger early game than other ranged attack classes, hybrid melee/ranged build variety. |
| B-Tier | Ranger | Requires good game knowledge and gear to shine, difficult during early stages. |
| B-Tier | Witch | Powerful with low gear requirements, but slower due to minions being the primary source of damage. |
| B-Tier | Monk | Melee class with decent mobility, but may require complex gameplay for optimal damage. |
| C-Tier | Warrior | Slow movement and early game damage due to class design. |
| C-Tier | Druid | Slow early game, requires form changes and multiple 4+ link skill gems. |
| C-Tier | Templar | Slow early game, focused on defense more than offense. |
Fastest Leveling Class from Level 70-100
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Ranger | Excellent end-game scaling, high mobility, and wide-area AoE clearing capabilities. |
| S-Tier | Marauder | Strong ignite builds, great AoE clearing, and mobility options. |
| S-Tier | Sorceress | Long-range AoE covering the entire screen, decent mobility, and strong performance with cheap gear. |
| A-Tier | Mercenary | Similar to Ranger, performs decently across all stages, but may struggle with crossbows. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Trap/DoT playstyle weakens over time, leading to slower clear speeds despite good mobility. |
| A-Tier | Duelist | Strong AoE and single-target damage, but slower due to melee playstyle and gear dependency. |
| B-Tier | Monk | Good mobility but average clear speeds, melee/ranged hybrid abilities. |
| B-Tier | Huntress | Melee/ranged hybrid with decent mobility and clear speeds. |
| C-Tier | Druid | A slow class that may require multiple weapon sets and skill juggling. |
| C-Tier | Witch | Slow map clearing due to reliance on minions, better for single-target fights, with difficult gear upgrades. |
| D-Tier | Warrior | Slow class by design, mainly focuses on melee combat. |
| D-Tier | Templar | Focused on defense, with slow movement and high gear requirements for fast clearing. |
What is the Fastest Class to Level Up in PoE 2 Overall?
While all twelve classes have their strengths and weaknesses, the Ranger is the best class for fast leveling if you have access to gear. For players starting fresh without any gear, the Sorceress is the top choice due to her AoE damage and ease of use.
Best Solo Classes in PoE 2
All classes in PoE 2 are balanced around the gear and skill gems they use, making each class viable for solo play. However, certain classes such as Ranger, Marauder, Shadow, and Templar stand out due to their excellent damage and resilience, making them top choices for solo players.
These classes excel due to their access to strong passives and unique traits from their ascendancies, allowing them to shine in both early and endgame content.
Best Classes for Group Play in PoE 2
Group play in PoE 2 often revolves around increasing loot drops using magic find strategies. The most important class roles for group play are the main DPS and support builds.
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Main DPS: The Ranger is typically the best choice, with Mercenary being a possible alternative for carrying the group. They focus on stacking Increased Item Quantity (IIQ) and Increased Item Rarity (IIR) alongside damage.
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Support Builds: Traditionally, three support roles have been key in PoE 1, and they continue to excel in PoE 2:
- Aurabot: Typically Scion or Witch.
- Cursebot: Always Witch with the Occultist ascendancy.
- Managuard: Usually Templar.
These builds empower the main DPS and play crucial roles in enhancing the group's efficiency in farming rare and valuable items.
Support Classes in PoE 2
When it comes to support classes in Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has introduced interesting mechanics that allow specific classes to lean heavily into support roles. Certain ascendancies and skills are designed to enhance group play, enabling these classes to focus on boosting their teammates through powerful auras, debuffs, and defensive abilities. Below is the tier list ranking for potential support classes, based on their utility and importance in group settings.
Support Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Witch | Main class for aurabot/cursebot builds, excels at boosting party members' damage and defense. |
| S-Tier | Templar | Fulfills the role of managuard, providing strong defensive capabilities for the party. |
| S-Tier | Marauder | Can provide empowering abilities through warcries, boosting party effectiveness. |
| S-Tier | Druid | Possible debuff support, functioning similarly to a cursebot, weakening enemies for the group. |
| A-Tier | Monk | Possible aura-related ascendancy, fitting for aurabot builds. |
| A-Tier | Sorceress | Potential for stagger support and aurabot utility. |
| A-Tier | Warrior | Offers group utility through defensive or warcry buffs. |
| B-Tier | Huntress | No notable support abilities, primarily a hybrid ranged/melee class. |
| B-Tier | Shadow | Focuses on damage, lacks strong support options. |
| B-Tier | Duelist | Mainly a DPS class, with little utility in support roles. |
| B-Tier | Mercenary | A damage dealer, not designed for support. |
| B-Tier | Ranger | Primarily focused on DPS, lacking support capabilities. |
Top DPS Classes in PoE 2
In this section, we rank the top classes in PoE 2 based on their raw damage-dealing potential. These classes excel at maximizing DPS and are often chosen for builds focused on clearing content quickly and efficiently.
DPS Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Ranger | High scaling potential, excellent AoE, and can melt both bosses and mobs. |
| S-Tier | Mercenary | Similar to Ranger with powerful endgame scaling, great AoE damage. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Strong DPS through trap/DoT builds, shines in late game with Spark builds. |
| A-Tier | Marauder | Strong mid-budget builds, great AoE and single-target damage with various build options. |
| A-Tier | Duelist | Great attribute stacking, can handle mobs and bosses but may be squishy in the endgame. |
| B-Tier | Sorceress | Hard to spec into both AoE and single-target damage, but performs well in maps. |
| B-Tier | Witch | Great single-target DPS but may have slow map clearing speed due to minion reliance. |
| B-Tier | Huntress | DPS can vary heavily depending on gear, with better alternatives offering similar gameplay. |
| C-Tier | Monk | Strong with melee elemental builds, but other classes scale better with physical damage. |
| C-Tier | Druid | Slow in the early and mid-game, may lack mobility or single-target damage in late game. |
| D-Tier | Warrior | Sluggish class with limited build options, physical gear is hard to craft. |
| D-Tier | Templar | Lacks mobility and focuses more on defense than damage, requiring expensive gear to perform. |
Best DPS Class in PoE 2
The Ranger is likely to take the top spot for the best DPS class in PoE 2. With its damage-oriented ascendancies, high mobility due to movement speed nodes, and numerous defensive options, Ranger outshines other classes at higher budgets. It offers unmatched AoE and single-target damage, making it the go-to choice for pure DPS.
Best Ranged Classes in PoE 2
In this section, we explore the best classes for ranged combat. These are the masters of bows, crossbows, and spells, focusing on long-distance damage output. The tier list ranks them based on their ability to consistently deal significant damage from afar.
Ranged Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Ranger | Extremely high DPS output at all stages, excels in both AoE and single-target combat. |
| S-Tier | Mercenary | Powerful ranged DPS with excellent AoE and single-target scaling into endgame. |
| A-Tier | Sorceress | Long-range caster with strong defenses through stagger and powerful AoE. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Traps and ranged playstyle, especially strong in early game. |
| A-Tier | Witch | Minion-based ranged class with great DPS and easy-to-play mechanics. |
| B-Tier | Huntress | Hybrid ranged/melee class, decent scaling but may require multiple skill setups. |
| C-Tier | Marauder | Primarily a melee class, with some ranged potential. |
| C-Tier | Duelist | Focuses more on melee combat, with some limited ranged options. |
| C-Tier | Templar | Heavily defensive, limited ranged capabilities. |
| C-Tier | Monk | Mainly a melee fighter with some ranged abilities. |
| D-Tier | Warrior | Almost exclusively melee-focused class. |
| D-Tier | Druid | Primarily focuses on melee and lacks long-range damage options. |
What's the Best Ranged Class in PoE 2?
The Ranger and Mercenary stand out as the top ranged classes in PoE 2. Both excel in dealing large amounts of damage from a distance, effectively clearing entire screens of enemies while also being capable of defeating bosses quickly and efficiently.
Best PoE 2 Melee Classes
In this section, we will explore the best melee-focused classes in Path of Exile 2, focusing on those that excel at close-quarter combat. These classes define the art of melee fighting and are perfect for players who prefer direct confrontation.
Melee Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Marauder | Very powerful melee class with a variety of builds for both AoE and single-target damage (ST). |
| S-Tier | Duelist | A strong melee class with excellent AoE and single-target capabilities. |
| A-Tier | Monk | A versatile melee class with access to ranged spells and good mobility. |
| A-Tier | Huntress | A hybrid melee and ranged class with good ascendancy options. |
| A-Tier | Templar | The tankiest melee class in the game, capable of facetanking Uber bosses. |
| A-Tier | Druid | Very tanky with debuffing abilities and access to strong AoE damage in bear form. |
| B-Tier | Warrior | A resilient melee class that mainly focuses on physical damage builds. |
| B-Tier | Shadow | Primarily a ranged class, with a few niche melee builds. |
| C-Tier | Sorceress | Fully ranged class with no melee potential. |
| C-Tier | Witch | Ranged caster with low or no melee capabilities. |
| C-Tier | Mercenary | Focused on ranged attacks, little to no melee potential. |
| C-Tier | Ranger | Primarily a ranged DPS class with minimal melee potential. |
What's the Best Melee Class in PoE 2?
While several classes perform well in melee combat, the Marauder is likely to take the top spot due to its versatility, tankiness, and ability to deal high damage in both AoE and single-target situations. The Duelist, Monk, Templar, and Druid are also strong contenders with their unique strengths, but the Marauder remains the best overall choice for most melee-focused builds.
Top Single-Target Classes in PoE 2
For players looking to excel at defeating bosses, this section highlights the best classes for single-target (ST) damage in PoE 2. These classes are capable of easily dispatching Uber bosses, even with low-budget gear.
Single-Target Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Witch | Exceptional single-target damage through minions, allowing players to focus on dodging boss mechanics. |
| S-Tier | Templar | Very tanky and capable of facetanking most Uber boss attacks. |
| S-Tier | Shadow | High damage scaling on a low budget, capable of one-shotting bosses with traps. |
| S-Tier | Duelist | High durability through leech and fast attack speed, making it strong for boss fights. |
| S-Tier | Marauder | Tanky with excellent damage, can utilize a variety of builds. |
| A-Tier | Monk | Mobile with great DPS, can easily stagger bosses with freeze effects. |
| A-Tier | Huntress | A hybrid melee and ranged class with high DPS uptime and mobility. |
| A-Tier | Ranger | Very strong against Uber bosses, but requires high investment to shine. |
| A-Tier | Mercenary | Capable of high DPS with the right build, but requires gear. |
| A-Tier | Sorceress | Can spec into single-target-focused builds with high one-shot potential. |
| B-Tier | Warrior | Very resilient, can tank bosses effectively but has slower kill speeds. |
| B-Tier | Druid | Durable but may lack the single-target damage output compared to other classes. |
Best Single-Target Class in PoE 2
The Shadow is considered the best single-target class in Path of Exile 2. With the ability to deal millions of damage using traps and a low-budget build, Shadow excels at boss killing while still being viable in other content.
Best AoE Classes in PoE 2
In Path of Exile 2, most classes are versatile and capable of both great AoE and single-target (ST) damage, depending on the skills they utilize. However, some classes excel at maximizing AoE abilities, allowing them to clear entire screens of enemies swiftly. The rankings below focus on the classes that are exceptional in using AoE skills efficiently.
AoE Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Ranger | Excellent screen-wide AoE using bow skills, with high damage that scales based on the number of targets. |
| S-Tier | Mercenary | Similar to Ranger but with more defense options and capable of working on a lower budget. |
| S-Tier | Sorceress | Great AoE through powerful long-range spells, perfect for clearing large enemy packs. |
| A-Tier | Huntress | Strong hybrid of melee and ranged, with excellent single-target and AoE capabilities. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Effective AoE through damage-over-time (DoT) spreading builds. |
| A-Tier | Monk | Strong elemental skills, but slower clears due to melee playstyle. |
| A-Tier | Druid | Good AoE with tankiness, but may feel slow when using bear form. |
| A-Tier | Warrior | Very tanky with good AoE, but scaling physical damage can be challenging. |
| A-Tier | Duelist | Excellent movement speed but limited by lower range spells. |
| A-Tier | Marauder | Great AoE through ignite and explosion builds; AoE-focused builds are similar to ST ones. |
| B-Tier | Witch | Slow clear speeds due to minions, and can feel monotonous due to low interactivity. |
| B-Tier | Templar | Very tanky in all content but suffers from slow clears and low damage. |
Best Class for Multi-Target in PoE 2
The Ranger, Sorceress, and Mercenary are expected to be the best classes for multi-target combat in PoE 2. All three classes share two key traits that set them apart from the rest: the ability to deal damage from long range and the capacity to clear entire screens with just one cast of a skill.
Best Speedfarming Class in PoE 2
Speedfarming is an essential aspect of PoE 2, allowing players to clear content quickly and efficiently to farm currency and items. Below is the tier list of classes that excel at speedfarming through various activities:
Speedfarming Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Ranger | Excellent scaling in the endgame, high mobility, and screen-wide AoE clears. |
| S-Tier | Marauder | Great ignite builds, strong AoE, and access to good mobility. |
| S-Tier | Sorceress | Long-range AoE that can cover entire screens, great on a low budget, with decent mobility. |
| A-Tier | Mercenary | Similar to Ranger, good at all stages but may struggle due to reliance on crossbows. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Trap/DoT playstyle falls off in speed, slower clears, decent mobility, and AoE. |
| A-Tier | Duelist | Strong AoE and ST, but melee classes clear slower, and it can be hard to get good gear. |
| B-Tier | Monk | Good mobility, average clear speed, with both melee and ranged capabilities. |
| B-Tier | Huntress | Hybrid melee/ranged, good mobility, and decent clear speeds. |
| B-Tier | Druid | Slow class by design, may require two weapon sets, and multiple skills for optimal clears. |
| B-Tier | Witch | Sluggish clears due to minions, better suited for ST than AoE, endgame gear is challenging to obtain. |
| C-Tier | Warrior | Slow class by design, heavily focused on melee. |
| C-Tier | Templar | More defensive, low movement speed, and needs expensive gear for fast clears. |
Best Class for Farming in PoE 2
The Ranger and Mercenary are expected to be the best classes for farming in PoE 2. Rangers have long been a top choice for speedfarming in PoE 1, thanks to their high damage, excellent mobility, and large AoE. Mercenaries are expected to follow a similar path, offering high efficiency in farming.
Best Endgame Class in PoE 2
In Path of Exile 2, each class can excel in the endgame due to the way the game scales through gear and other factors beyond just character power. Although all classes have the potential to succeed in the endgame, some have better tools for scaling damage and survivability with lower investment or more accessible gear.
What Is the Best Class for PoE 2’s Endgame?
The Ranger, Mercenary, and Duelist are expected to be the best classes for the endgame. These classes have passives that empower their preferred skills and offer strong defensive stats, giving them a slight edge over others.
Best Hardcore Classes in PoE 2
In Hardcore mode, the priority shifts from pure damage to survivability, as death is permanent. Below is a list of classes with the best defensive options while still maintaining a decent damage output.
Hardcore Classes Tier List
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Templar | Very tanky, doesn’t require rare uniques, powerful at all stages of the game. |
| S-Tier | Mercenary | More resilient than Ranger, with excellent AoE and solid defense. |
| S-Tier | Druid | Very tanky, strong AoE, with debuffing capabilities. |
| S-Tier | Warrior | Great defense through block, decent AoE, and can survive heavy hits. |
| A-Tier | Marauder | Balanced between tankiness and DPS as a melee fighter. |
| A-Tier | Duelist | Good defense through leech but prone to getting one-shot. |
| A-Tier | Witch | Safe due to minions, easy to scale damage, but limited interactivity. |
| A-Tier | Sorceress | Long-range with defense through slowing/freezing enemies, making her safer. |
| A-Tier | Monk | Melee class with access to sustain, but tough in the early game. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Relies on dodge, which can be unreliable in Hardcore. |
| A-Tier | Huntress | Requires heavy investment, alternating between melee and ranged can be dangerous. |
| B-Tier | Ranger | Squishy and prone to one-shots, generally not viable for Hardcore. |
What Is the Best Hardcore Class in PoE 2?
The Templar is expected to be the best class for Hardcore. It is one of the most resilient classes in the game, offering solid damage while heavily investing in defense. Templars can efficiently complete both maps and Uber bosses at a decent pace without sacrificing survivability.
PoE 2: Best Classes for Softcore
In Path of Exile 2, the Softcore mode focuses on two critical aspects: the ability to kill monsters as fast as possible and the capacity to move through maps at top speed. This combination of damage output and mobility is what distinguishes the best Softcore classes. In this section, we evaluate each class based on three main factors: speed of clearing maps, ability to take down bosses, and ease of gameplay.
Some classes excel at wiping out entire screens of enemies with powerful AoE attacks, while others shine in single-target encounters against bosses. A good Softcore class will balance these abilities to offer efficiency in all areas of the game. Here are the rankings and explanations of the best Softcore classes in PoE 2.
Tier List for Softcore Classes
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Ranger | Unmatched AoE and single-target (ST) damage with the fastest map clear speed. Rangers are perfect for quickly tearing through packs of enemies and bosses. |
| S-Tier | Mercenary | Similar to the Ranger, but with slightly lower DPS. Still offers great mobility, AoE, and damage, making it another top choice for Softcore. |
| A-Tier | Shadow | Exceptional early-game damage from traps and DoT builds. Great for the first few weeks of a new league but can lose some effectiveness in the late game. |
| A-Tier | Sorceress | Fantastic AoE with long-range attacks. Although her single-target damage can be lacking early on, she is incredibly tanky and can fight from a distance. |
| A-Tier | Marauder | A versatile melee class with access to both melee attacks and spells. Has the potential for strong AoE and ST damage, especially with the right build. |
| A-Tier | Huntress | A hybrid class combining elements of the Ranger, Mercenary, and Marauder. Offers flexibility and is highly effective against both bosses and map farming. |
| A-Tier | Monk | Impressive AoE damage, though complex to master. The Monk’s elemental damage scaling makes it a powerful choice for those who enjoy fine-tuning builds. |
| B-Tier | Druid | Slightly slower in map clearing compared to top-tier classes, but offers excellent tankiness and reliable AoE, particularly in bear form. |
| B-Tier | Duelist | Excels in single-target combat, but suffers from limited AoE capabilities, making it less efficient for large-scale map clearing. |
| B-Tier | Warrior | Offers decent AoE and single-target damage with good durability, but scaling physical damage can be difficult without the right gear. |
| B-Tier | Witch | Slow when clearing large packs of enemies due to her reliance on minions, but she shines in boss fights with her powerful single-target damage. |
| C-Tier | Templar | Typically slower in both early and mid-game, with most of his builds focusing on defense rather than speed, except for a few specific cases. |
Why the Ranger is the Best Softcore Class in PoE 2
For Softcore players, the Ranger reigns supreme due to her unparalleled ability to clear maps with lightning speed. The combination of high mobility, screen-wide AoE damage, and powerful single-target capabilities makes the Ranger the ultimate choice for fast-paced gameplay. With the right build, she can melt entire groups of enemies in seconds, while also taking down bosses efficiently. The Ranger’s strength in both AoE and boss fights, combined with easy access to the best-in-slot gear through trading, positions her at the top of the Softcore class rankings.
PoE 2: Best Classes for Solo Self-Found (SSF)
Solo Self-Found (SSF) mode in Path of Exile 2 adds an extra layer of challenge to the game by restricting players from trading or receiving assistance from others. In this mode, the ability to perform well with average or easily obtainable gear becomes crucial, as you won’t have access to the best items through trading. Therefore, the best SSF classes in PoE 2 are those that can thrive with common gear and don’t rely on rare uniques to excel in combat.
In this section, we’ve ranked each class based on how well they can perform under these constraints, focusing on their survivability, damage potential, and gear independence.
Tier List for SSF Classes
| Tier | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Templar | Highly durable with decent damage output. The Templar shines in SSF due to his ability to perform well without relying on rare or unique items, making him a reliable all-rounder. |
| S-Tier | Mercenary | A tankier version of the Ranger with excellent AoE and damage from a safe distance. Performs well in SSF with a lower budget, making it one of the strongest choices for the mode. |
| S-Tier | Marauder | A versatile, tanky class with access to strong AoE and single-target damage. The Marauder thrives in SSF with mostly rare items, making him dependable and powerful. |
| A-Tier | Witch | Safe and tanky thanks to her minion builds and spell-based options. Requires no expensive items due to her strong base damage, making her a solid choice for SSF. |
| A-Tier | Druid | Resilient in bear form and capable of debuffing enemies with powerful AoE abilities. Offers great survivability and flexibility, making the Druid strong throughout the game. |
| A-Tier | Warrior | Offers powerful defense through block mechanics and decent AoE damage, but struggles to scale physical damage effectively without the right gear. |
| B-Tier | Duelist | Good sustain through leech mechanics but may require unique items to fully shine. Although strong, the Duelist relies on gear for optimal performance. |
| B-Tier | Monk | A durable class with powerful crowd control abilities such as freeze and chill. The Monk can hold his own in both offensive and defensive scenarios, but may require precise play. |
| B-Tier | Huntress | A hybrid class that requires multiple gear sets for both melee and ranged playstyles, making it more difficult to manage in SSF compared to other options. |
| B-Tier | Sorceress | Performs well on a low budget, but struggles to scale effectively into the endgame without specific items. |
| C-Tier | Shadow | Although strong in the early game, the Shadow’s builds often fall off in the endgame, making it harder to maintain high damage output without specific meta builds. |
| C-Tier | Ranger | While top-tier in Softcore, the Ranger is difficult to gear properly in SSF due to her reliance on specific items, which are hard to acquire without trading. |
Why the Templar is the Best SSF Class in PoE 2
In Solo Self-Found mode, the Templar stands out as the best choice due to his high survivability and ability to perform well without rare or unique items. The Templar’s defensive capabilities allow him to survive tough encounters, while still dealing enough damage to clear maps and bosses. His versatility and resilience make him the perfect SSF class for players who want to progress through content without relying on gear obtained through trading.
Best Class for Boss Farming in PoE 2
In Path of Exile 2, boss farming is a critical activity for players looking to acquire valuable loot and progress through the game's most difficult encounters. When it comes to efficiently farming bosses, certain classes stand out for their ability to deal powerful single-target (ST) damage while remaining resilient enough to survive Uber boss attacks. Uber bosses are some of the most dangerous and rewarding enemies in the game, and being able to withstand their powerful attacks while consistently dealing damage is key to successful farming.
Classes that specialize in damage-over-time (DoT) effects or summoner-based gameplay tend to excel in boss farming. These playstyles allow the player to focus more on avoiding dangerous mechanics and boss attacks, which is crucial in high-stakes fights, rather than constantly worrying about dealing damage. The most efficient boss-killing classes are those that can combine massive single-target damage with survivability, which allows them to stay in the fight longer and ultimately defeat the boss faster.
Top Classes for Boss Farming:
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Shadow: The Shadow class is expected to be one of the top contenders for boss farming. With its access to absurd damage scaling through traps and DoT-based abilities, the Shadow excels at high-damage builds that can shred Uber bosses. This class also boasts great evasion, allowing it to dodge deadly boss attacks, and the ability to deal consistent damage over time while staying safe from harm. Shadow's ability to utilize spark builds makes it even more versatile, as players can adapt their builds to either long-range or close-quarters fights.
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Witch: As a summoner archetype, the Witch shines in boss farming thanks to her minions doing most of the damage. This allows the player to focus entirely on dodging boss mechanics and surviving, while their army of minions continues to chip away at the boss's health. Additionally, the Witch can scale her minions to deal extreme amounts of single-target damage, making her one of the best classes for defeating Uber bosses on a budget. Her defensive options, such as life leech and energy shield, also make her incredibly resilient.
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Duelist: The Duelist brings high physical damage and leech mechanics to the table, which makes him an excellent choice for boss farming. His raw damage output allows him to kill bosses quickly, while his leech abilities keep him alive during difficult encounters. The Duelist’s ascendancies give him access to increased attack speed and critical strikes, making him one of the fastest boss killers when fully geared. His survivability through life leech makes him a durable class for Uber boss fights.
While other classes can certainly defeat bosses, these three—Shadow, Witch, and Duelist—offer a unique combination of damage scaling and survivability, making them more efficient at handling single-target encounters, even on a lower budget.
Best Class for Mapping in PoE 2
When it comes to farming maps in Path of Exile 2, the ability to clear large areas quickly is essential. Efficient map farming allows players to gather valuable currency and items at a much faster rate, which is a cornerstone of progression in PoE. The best mapping classes are those that combine high damage, great area-of-effect (AoE) capabilities, and excellent mobility to clear waves of enemies with minimal downtime.
Many classes in PoE 2 are capable of fast map clears, but some outshine others due to their inherent strengths in these areas. Here are the top classes for efficiently clearing maps:
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Ranger: The Ranger is an exceptional class for map farming due to her unmatched AoE capabilities and fast movement speed. With skills that can cover the entire screen, she can take down large packs of enemies in seconds while quickly moving from one area to the next. The Ranger’s mobility also allows her to dodge incoming attacks, which is essential for maintaining momentum while farming maps.
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Mercenary: Much like the Ranger, the Mercenary excels at clearing maps with high speed and efficiency. Although the Mercenary has slightly lower DPS than the Ranger, this class offers more defensive options, making it a safer pick for players who want to minimize the risk of dying while farming. The Mercenary’s balance of damage, mobility, and defense makes it a top choice for players looking to farm maps quickly and safely.
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Sorceress: The Sorceress brings long-range, powerful spells to the table, making her a strong contender for map farming. Her spells cover a wide area, allowing her to clear entire screens of enemies from a distance. While her single-target damage might be lacking early in the game, the Sorceress's AoE capabilities make her incredibly efficient for clearing maps. She also has good defensive options, such as freezing or slowing enemies, giving her an added layer of protection.
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Huntress: The Huntress is a hybrid class that combines elements of both ranged and melee combat. Her versatility allows her to quickly switch between playstyles, making her highly effective at map farming. Whether she’s clearing enemies with ranged attacks or dealing massive single-target damage with melee, the Huntress’s adaptability ensures that she’s always effective on the battlefield.
Best Class for Other Activities in PoE 2
In Path of Exile 2, certain activities require specific builds and strategies to be completed efficiently. For these activities, some classes outperform others due to their unique mechanics or skill sets. Below is a list of common currency-farming activities and the best class choices for each:
| Activity | Class | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Heist | Ranger/Huntress | These classes offer exceptional mobility, allowing players to rush through Heists as quickly as possible while avoiding traps and guards. |
| Delve | Templar | As the tankiest class in the game, the Templar is ideal for deep Delves, where high survivability is essential to survive the increasing difficulty. |
| Blight | Witch | A specialized minion build for the Witch allows her to easily AFK Blighted maps, as her minions handle all the enemies while she focuses on strategy. |
| Sanctum | Shadow | The Shadow excels at dealing damage from a distance using traps and spark builds, making him perfect for Sanctum runs where no-hit strategies are common. |
Each of these classes has been tailored to the unique requirements of these activities, making them the best choices for players looking to optimize their farming strategies.
FAQ
What is the best class to play in PoE 2?
Determining the "best" class to play in Path of Exile 2 is highly subjective and depends largely on your playstyle, preferences, and what goals you have set in the game. Each class in PoE 2 offers a distinct gameplay experience, with its own set of strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to label one class as universally the best.
It's important to note that in PoE 2, the class you choose primarily determines your starting point on the passive skill tree, rather than your character's strength. Much of your power will come from your ascendancy choice and the build you follow. Thus, whether you enjoy the fast-paced, agile playstyle of the Ranger, the control over an army of minions as the Witch, the ability to shapeshift as the Druid, or the brute force of the Warrior, each class has its place in the game. Your choice should be guided by what playstyle excites you the most, as no class is definitively the "best" in every situation.
What class should you play in PoE 2?
When it comes to picking a class in Path of Exile 2, personal preference and playstyle are the most important factors to consider. There's no "one-size-fits-all" answer to which class you should play, as PoE 2 is highly balanced and offers a wide variety of playstyles across all 12 classes. If you're new to the game, starting with an easier, beginner-friendly class like the Witch or Sorceress might be a good choice. On the other hand, if you're more experienced and prefer fast-paced combat or high DPS, classes like the Ranger or Mercenary could be the way to go.
How many classes are there in PoE 2?
There are 12 classes available in Path of Exile 2. Each class comes with its unique features and abilities, offering a distinct playstyle that can be further customized through the ascendancy system. These classes provide a wide range of choices for players, allowing them to tailor their gameplay experience to suit their preferences, whether they prefer to play as a ranged attacker, a spellcaster, or a melee fighter.
How many ascendancies are there in PoE 2?
In PoE 2, each of the 12 classes has access to three unique ascendancies. These ascendancies significantly alter the playstyle of each class, providing players with new passive abilities, stat boosts, and specialized roles in combat. In total, there are 36 ascendancies across all classes, giving players plenty of opportunities to fine-tune their character's build to match their preferred playstyle or to focus on specific game activities like boss farming, speedfarming, or Hardcore play.
Will PoE 2 have more classes?
As of now, there's no official information regarding the introduction of additional classes in future updates of Path of Exile 2. However, given the game's rich class variety, enhanced further by the ascendancy system, it seems unlikely that new classes will be added anytime soon. The developers have provided a comprehensive set of classes and ascendancies that already offer vast customization options, so players can explore different builds without the need for new classes.
What is the easiest class in PoE 2?
For players looking for an easy-to-play class in PoE 2, the Witch is often considered the best choice, especially for beginners. Her summoner builds are straightforward, as her minions deal most of the damage, allowing the player to focus on positioning and avoiding damage. The Witch's ascendancies also offer powerful curse-based builds, making her a versatile and resilient class with strong AoE potential. Additionally, her minions and curses allow her to safely engage enemies from a distance, providing a lower skill ceiling than some other classes.
What is the best solo class in PoE 2?
Most classes in Path of Exile 2 are designed to offer strong solo play potential, thanks to the wide variety of skills and passive abilities they can access. However, based on the experience from PoE 1, some classes stand out for solo play. The Ranger, Mercenary, and Huntress are likely to be top contenders for the best solo classes, as they excel at both damage and survivability. These classes have strong scaling toward the endgame, which makes them ideal for solo players looking to tackle challenging content.
What is the best DPS class in PoE 2?
For players seeking to maximize damage output, the best DPS classes in PoE 2 are likely to be the Ranger, Mercenary, or Huntress. These classes excel in dealing significant amounts of damage, whether it's through ranged attacks or specialized builds that allow them to deal high single-target damage (ST) or clear large packs of enemies with Area-of-Effect (AoE) skills. Ranged classes are typically the top contenders for DPS roles, as they can consistently deal damage while avoiding danger.
What is the best support class in PoE 2?
While not much is known yet about the ascendancies in PoE 2, some classes are expected to excel in support roles. Based on what we know from previous versions of the game, the Marauder, Templar, Druid, and possibly the Witch and Sorceress will likely be powerful support classes. These classes offer a variety of abilities that can empower their allies or debilitate enemies, making them invaluable in group play.
What is the best speedfarming class in PoE 2?
For speedfarming in PoE 2, classes like the Ranger, Mercenary, and Huntress are expected to dominate. These classes offer high mobility, strong AoE damage, and the ability to clear entire screens of enemies quickly. Speedfarming is all about efficiency and the ability to quickly kill large numbers of enemies, and these ranged attack-based classes excel in that regard.
What is the best class for Hardcore in PoE 2?
In Hardcore mode, survival is the top priority, and the Templar is expected to be one of the best Hardcore classes. With a kit focused on durability, defense, and healing, the Templar can withstand significant punishment, making him an ideal choice for players looking to avoid death at all costs. Other strong contenders for Hardcore include the Druid, Warrior, and Marauder, all of whom offer excellent survivability.
What is the most played class in PoE 2?
Although official statistics aren't yet available for Path of Exile 2, it's likely that classes like the Ranger, Druid, Sorceress, and Witch will be among the most popular. These classes were highly popular in PoE 1 due to their versatile playstyles, strong endgame potential, and accessibility for both new and experienced players.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best class to start with in Path of Exile 2 ultimately depends on your personal preference and the playstyle that you enjoy most. Every class in the game has its unique strengths and abilities, allowing you to tailor your journey through Oriath to your liking. Whether you're drawn to powerful spellcasting, high mobility, or brute strength, there's a class that will resonate with you.
Our PoE 2 Best Classes Guide is designed to help you make informed decisions about which class to play, ensuring that your progression through the game is smooth and enjoyable. As new content is released, we will continue to update this guide with the latest strategies and information to help you build a powerful character that can tackle the challenges of PoE 2.
For those who prefer a more direct route to success, we also offer Path of Exile 2 boosting services, allowing professional players to assist in optimizing your character quickly and efficiently.
We hope our Path of Exile 2 Classes Tier Lists and insights will help you navigate the game and lead you to success. May your adventures in Oriath be filled with epic loot, thrilling battles, and unforgettable moments.