Path of Exile 2's Patch 0.3.0, The Third Edict, has reshaped the landscape for summoners. The minion and spectre ecosystem has undergone significant rebalancing, and for the first time in the sequel's beta cycle, spectres feel like they're edging toward true endgame viability. With changes to spirit costs, damage multipliers, quality-of-life improvements, and the addition of over 100 new monsters to the pool, summoners now have more options than ever.

In this article, we'll break down the spectre changes in PoE 2's 0.3 update, then dive into a spectre tier list featuring the best melee, ranged, and caster options for levelling, mapping, and bossing.

Spectre Changes in Path of Exile 2 0.3: The Third Edict

The 0.3 patch has made spectres more accessible and rewarding, with key highlights including:

· Unique Monster Cap: You can still summon multiple spectres, but only one of each kind of monster.

· Spirit Cost Overhaul: Expensive spectres (like Death Knights) are cheaper, while budget options have become more costly.

· Flat Damage Buff: All spectres and tamed beasts now deal 25% more damage at every gem level.

· Bind Spectre Quality: Now grants 0–20% more minion damage, replacing the previous reservation reduction.

· Treant Foulspawn Return: This fan-favourite minion is once again available as a spectre.

Other hidden buffs include support gem flexibility, better reservation efficiency via uniques and passives, and the removal of accuracy requirements. Together, these changes create a more fluid summoner experience.

However, issues remain: reliance on weapon swap resets, cooldown-limited skills, clunky AI, and questionable bossing scalability. Even so, summoners finally have a healthy meta pool to work with.

PoE 2 0.3 Spectre Tier List: Best Minions for Every Role

Below are the strongest spectres currently available in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3.0, categorised by melee, ranged, and caster roles.

1. Death Knights (Melee / Bossing / Levelling)

· Pros: Extra ability, insane single-target damage, reduced spirit cost.

· Cons: Requires good positioning and AI cooperation.

Death Knights are the kings of boss content. Their forward AoE slash hits like a truck (800k–1M damage per swing) and spirit reductions make them more affordable. They are the definitive pick for bossing spectres in 0.3.

2. Vile Vultures (Melee / Clearing / Levelling)

· Pros: Strong AI, AoE coverage, good durability.

· Cons: Still somewhat costly.

With aggressive behaviour, large AoE, and synergy with Lich's Rupture the Soul, Vile Vultures are exceptional mappers. Their consistency and aggression make them one of the most reliable spectres for summoners.

3. Rotting Demolitionists (Ranged / Mapping)

· Pros: Explosive barrels obliterate packs, excellent mapping speed.

· Cons: Optimal damage tied to weapon swap cooldown resets.

Demolitionists shine in dense maps, throwing barrels as their opener. They're less ideal for bosses but unmatched for clearing.

4. Cultist Archers (Ranged / Mapping)

· Pros: Wide AoE with Scattershot + Fork, strong with supports.

· Cons: Cooldown limits DPS.

Cultist Archers remain a popular pick for players who want a screen-wide clear. With cooldown support or weapon swap tricks, they can become devastating.

5. Blade Dash Transcendent (Melee / Mapping)

· Pros: Gap closer, fast attacks, affordable.

· Cons: Short leap cooldown.

One of the few melee spectres who can keep pace with a fast-moving player, Blade Dash Transcendents are efficient, aggressive, and great for rush-style mapping.

6. Forgotten Saders (Melee / Budget)

· Pros: Cheap, reliable gap-closer, steady DPS.

· Cons: No flashy mechanics, lower ceiling.

Think of Forgotten Saders as “budget Death Knights.” They're simple, effective, and accessible for early progression.

7. Regurgitating Vultures (Ranged / Mapping)

· Pros: Poison AoE everywhere, excellent early progression.

· Cons: Weak scaling for bosses.

Poison builds benefit heavily from these vultures. While they fall short on bosses, they're still one of the best mapping tools for summoners.

8. Val Skeletal Priest (Caster / Bossing / Mapping)

· Pros: Unique leaping lightning ability, strong with weapon swap.

· Cons: Long cast time without resets.

Skeletal Priests provide overlapping lightning barrages with clever resummoning. For players who enjoy creativity and micro, they're one of the most rewarding choices.

9. Iron Thermurges (Ranged / Flexible)

· Pros: Instant fireball spam, flamethrower burst.

· Cons: Lacks standout mechanics compared to top-tier picks.

Iron Thermurges are reliable all-rounders, excelling in both mapping and bossing. Their instant attack behaviour makes them consistent damage contributors.

10. Dorianis Elite (Fire Variant / Ranged / AoE)

· Pros: Wide fire spread, huge AoE denial, very strong scaling.

· Cons: Setup delay before firing.

Among the flashy picks, fire Dorianis Elites stand out for raw spectacle and wide-area damage. Their ramp-up makes them less reliable for fast-paced farming, but they're powerful for sustained encounters.

11. Valgards (Melee / Budget)

· Pros: Cheap, solid health pool, shotgun attack.

· Cons: Long wind-up, short range.

While not flashy, Valgards remain viable as low-cost melee spectres. Perfect for early levelling or players experimenting with spectres before committing to expensive setups.

Challenges & Considerations for Spectres in 0.3

Even with these buffs, spectres still come with caveats:

· Weapon Swap Dependency: Many top-tier spectres rely on resummon resets or cooldown tricks.

· AI Limitations: Body blocking and clunky targeting reduce effectiveness, especially in melee builds.

· Cooldown Gating: Several ranged and caster spectres are bottlenecked by cooldowns.

· Endgame Scaling: Many mapping spectres fall off in pinnacle boss fights without heavy Path of Exile 2 Currency investment.

Final Thoughts

Path of Exile 2's 0.3.0 The Third Edict has made spectres more rewarding than they've ever been in the sequel's beta. The spirit cost changes open up rare, powerful monsters like Death Knights and Vile Vultures, while the 25% global damage boost makes nearly every spectre more viable.

For summoners, this patch marks a turning point. Whether you prefer boss-melting Death Knights, map-clearing Rotting Demolitionists, or creative lightning Skeletal Priests, there's now a spectre for every playstyle.