Path of Exile is an intricate action RPG with incredible build diversity. Every class has multiple ascendancy subclasses and the game allows players to equip skill gems that entirely define a character's abilities. While this level of freedom is a huge part of what makes the game so appealing, it also presents a major challenge, especially for newcomers trying to figure out where to start. With so many combinations available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

Fortunately, the Secrets of the Atlas league in Patch 3.26 has brought some major changes that make it a great time to start playing. Notably, melee builds have received considerable buffs, and the new Runesmithing table adds even more variety to build creation. Even if you're not looking to go the melee route, there are still some powerful ranged and spell-based builds that are perfect for beginners. Here are ten beginner-friendly builds that are easy to play, don't require expensive gear, and can take you deep into the endgame.

Cyclone of Tumult Juggernaut

Cyclone has always been one of the most beginner-friendly skills in the game. Just press and hold the button, spin in circles, and your enemies die. In 3.26, Cyclone of Tumult adds a twist by increasing attack speed and area of effect with each stage, up to six, at the cost of reducing your movement speed. This downside is completely negated by choosing the Juggernaut class and taking the "Unstoppable" node, which prevents your movement speed from ever dropping below 100%.

The build is straightforward and can be made powerful on a budget. A recommended weapon is Marohi Erqi, a unique maul that provides huge base damage. You can ignore its accuracy penalty by taking the Resolute Technique keystone, which ensures all your attacks hit. This build is ideal for players who want a simple, tanky character that can spin through maps and bosses alike without much micromanagement.

Boneshatter Slayer

Boneshatter is a high-risk, high-reward melee skill that scales damage through a stacking mechanic called Trauma. Each time you hit enemies with Boneshatter, you gain a Trauma stack that increases your physical damage, but also deals damage to you. That makes survival tricky, but the Slayer ascendancy's Brutal Fervour node provides overleech, allowing you to sustain life through aggressive attacks.

The skill has received buffs in 3.26, with a much higher damage scaling than previous versions. Early on, crafting a Despot Axe with essences or basic fossils can carry you far. Belt of the Deceiver is a great early-game unique item that boosts survivability and damage. While not ideal for bossing unless you invest in stronger gear, this build is excellent for general mapping and makes learning leech mechanics intuitive.

Hexblast Mines Saboteur

If you prefer a more calculated playstyle, the Hexblast Mines Saboteur is an excellent option. Instead of casting spells directly, you throw mines that detonate and cast Hexblast automatically. This eliminates the long cast time of Hexblast and allows you to deal massive chaos damage with good area coverage and single-target damage.

Hexblast scales its damage based on the lowest elemental resistance of an enemy rather than chaos resistance, so applying elemental curses like Flammability or Frostbite is more effective than standard chaos-related debuffs. The Saboteur ascendancy is ideal for mine builds thanks to nodes like Explosives Expert and Pyromaniac, which boost mine damage and provide excellent recovery. This build is safe, effective, and easily upgradeable with gear like Sandstorm Visage and a high-crit wand later in the league.

Righteous Fire Inquisitor

Righteous Fire is a classic "walk through and kill everything" build. It deals damage to enemies in a radius around you, but also burns your own health. The Inquisitor ascendancy fixes this by creating Consecrated Ground that rapidly regenerates your life and energy shield. With Pious Path, you essentially nullify the self-damage from Righteous Fire and can map quickly with great survivability.

You'll want to aim for items like Utula's Hunger for extra life, Legacy of Fury to explode nearby enemies, and Replica Soul Tether for added energy shield. While not the best bossing build due to a lack of burst damage, the Righteous Fire Inquisitor is one of the most forgiving and straightforward mapping builds available for new players.

Toxic Rain Ballista Pathfinder

Toxic Rain fires pods that deal chaos damage over time. When linked with Ballista Totem Support, you summon totems that do the shooting for you, allowing you to stay mobile and safe. This build is simple and effective, with many of its core items being rare gear that can be easily crafted using essences.

To increase survivability, wear Lightning Coil, which converts physical damage to lightning. Pair that with a Topaz Flask and Pathfinder's flask-related nodes to mitigate elemental damage. Pathfinder also grants near-permanent flask uptime, including life flasks for sustain. This build is extremely efficient for progression and farming, and it scales well into the endgame.

Frost Blades of Katabasis Slayer

Frost Blades is a ranged-melee hybrid skill that chains projectiles to nearby enemies. The Katabasis version introduces a damage-over-time component by leaving chilled ground. While the DoT is effective, most of your damage still comes from direct hits.

You'll want to use unique items like The White Wind (a powerful dagger for off-handless setups), Heatshiver (adds fire damage when hitting frozen enemies), and Southbound gloves to double your freeze duration. The Slayer ascendancy gives you overleech and more damage against tougher foes. The build is fun, relatively safe due to its range, and can freeze-lock packs before they reach you.

Ice Nova of Frostbolts Hierophant

This build combines Ice Nova and Frostbolt, where you cast Ice Nova after Frostbolt to trigger multiple novas from each projectile. It sounds complex, but you only need to press one button thanks to Kitava's Thirst, which automatically casts Frostbolt when you spend a certain amount of mana.

Ice Nova is linked to Archmage Support, which adds massive lightning damage based on your mana pool. The Hierophant ascendancy supports this with mana stacking bonuses and defensive tools. Although the gear can get expensive Path Of Exile currency later, the early stages are manageable. Once set up, the build clears fast and hits hard with minimal effort.

Storm Rain Deadeye

Storm Rain is a bow skill that creates beams of lightning between arrows. It deals consistent damage in a large area, and Deadeye enhances this with additional projectiles and speed. You don't need fancy gear—just a bow with multiple elemental types to trigger Trinity Support, which grants extra elemental damage and penetration.

Deadeye was slightly nerfed in 3.26, particularly Tailwind and Far Shot, but it remains a top choice for ranged builds. This build is reliable, easy to level with, and doesn't require much micromanagement. It's great for new players who want to avoid close combat.

Lightning Arrow Deadeye

Lightning Arrow chains lightning damage to nearby enemies, clearing screens in seconds. The build benefits from Deadeye's projectile bonuses and is very cheap to start. In 3.26, Lightning Arrow got buffed with higher base damage, making it even more potent.

Craft a basic Spine Bow with essences, and use Lightning Coil or Hyrri's Ire for defense. Trinity Support, once again, helps scale your damage when you mix fire, cold, and lightning. For single-target, you can use a Barrage or Ballista totem setup. With massive AoE, satisfying visual effects, and solid scaling, this is one of the most popular league starter builds every patch.

Lightning Strike Warden

With the Raider ascendancy removed, the new Warden class takes its place, and it's already proving to be extremely powerful. Lightning Strike is a melee skill that shoots out projectiles, and in 3.26, it received a major buff to its base damage scaling. Combined with the Warden's unique elemental nodes, you get a build that can deal huge amounts of damage while applying powerful ailments like Shock and Scorch.

Oath of Spring and Oath of Summer allow you to heavily debuff enemies, while Avatar of the Wilds provides a massive boost to elemental damage through Unbound Avatar. The build uses melee tinctures to increase damage, and while positioning matters, the gameplay is intuitive. This is easily one of the strongest and most beginner-friendly melee builds in the current league.

Final Thoughts

Path of Exile's 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas League provides an excellent opportunity for new players to jump in. Whether you prefer melee, ranged, totems, mines, or self-burning fire walkers, there's a build that fits your style. These ten builds are easy to start with, effective throughout the campaign, and powerful enough to carry you well into the endgame. The key is to pick a playstyle you enjoy and stick with it. From there, the rest of Wraeclast will open up to you.