Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt has taken the action RPG world by storm with its stunning new features, expanded skill trees, and revamped ascendancy classes. The latest update has introduced a plethora of powerful builds designed to tackle the toughest content in the game, especially Tier 15 maps and endgame encounters. These builds offer players a mix of damage, mobility, survivability, and scaling potential, ensuring that no matter your preferred playstyle, there's a build for you to explore.

In this guide, we'll break down the top-performing builds for high-tier mapping and endgame content, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal setups. Whether you're into fast-paced projectile builds, tanky spellcasters, or melee-focused combat, these builds provide effective solutions for navigating the dangerous and rewarding endgame of PoE 2: Dawn of the Hunt.

1. Lightning Spear Amazon Build

• Class: Huntress (Amazon)

• Type: Projectile-based, high chaining, AoE

The Lightning Spear Amazon is a powerhouse when it comes to clearing packs of enemies. Utilizing Lightning Spear as the main skill, this build benefits from the ability to chain projectiles across entire screens, thanks to synergy with Vault, Fork, and Barrage. These mechanics ensure that no monster goes unscathed, making mapping a breeze.

For bossing, this build uses Storm Lance and Explosive Spear to provide decent single-target damage. Frenzy Charges and Combat Frenzy add a layer of speed and damage scaling, ensuring both mapping and bossing remain smooth. The build is very affordable early on and scales well with gear investment.

• Clear Speed: Very High

• Boss Damage: Moderate to Strong

• Cost: Low

• Strengths: Excellent chaining mechanics, high mobility, and fast mapping

2. Tangletongue Lightning Spear Build

• Class: Huntress (Amazon)

• Type: Critical Strike, Projectile-based, Elemental (Lightning-focused)

For players looking for more power and versatility, the Tangletongue Lightning Spear build offers incredible scaling via critical strikes. With the Tangletongue unique item, this build doubles critical strikes, massively boosting damage. Lightning Spear, combined with Fork and Cast-on-Crit setups, can wipe out entire screens in seconds.

Rage generation and Rising Tempest further speed up mapping, while Storm Lance and Exposure provide strong single-target boss damage. The Sacred Flame offhand offers significant bonuses to both damage and resource generation, making this build an excellent choice for those who want to scale into higher-end content.

• Clear Speed: Very High

• Boss Damage: Strong

• Cost: Medium to High

• Strengths: Double crit scaling, great AoE, smooth cast-on-crit mechanics

3. Chaos Lich Build

• Class: Witch (Lich Ascendancy)

• Type: Chaos DoT, Energy Shield tank

The Chaos Lich build is perfect for players who love damage-over-time (DoT) mechanics and a more tanky approach to endgame content. Built around Essence Drain and Contagion, this build excels at clearing large groups of enemies while sustaining a hefty amount of Energy Shield (ES) for survivability.

With over 9,000 ES and reliable recharge mechanics, this build can tank hits while continuously dishing out damage. Boss damage is decent, particularly when utilizing Dark Effigy and Despair for debuffs. If you enjoy DoT-based gameplay and staying tanky, the Chaos Lich is a solid choice.

• Clear Speed: High

• Boss Damage: Steady

• Cost: Low to Medium

• Strengths: High survivability with consistent damage output

4. Lightning Arrow Deadeye Build

• Class: Ranger (Deadeye)

• Type: Bow, Shock-based, high-speed farming

If you're after a build that can rapidly clear maps with minimal effort, the Lightning Arrow Deadeye build is a fantastic choice. By combining Lightning Arrow with Lightning Rod, Orb of Storms, and Voltaic Mark, this build delivers strong AoE and shock-based damage.

Thief's Torment helps resolve mana issues, making this build ideal for those who want to farm fast while still maintaining competitive single-target damage. It's a flexible build that suits players who enjoy shooting from a distance while zipping through high-tier content.

• Clear Speed: Exceptional

• Boss Damage: High

• Cost: Medium

• Strengths: Speed, efficiency, and easy to play

5. Primal Strike Ritualist Build

• Class: Ritualist

• Type: Melee + Projectile Hybrid, Lightning-focused, High Speed

The Primal Strike Ritualist build is a hybrid setup that blends Lightning Spear for screen-wide AoE clear with Primal Strike for massive single-target damage. As a Ritualist Ascendancy, this build scales attack-based flat damage from various sources like charms, rings, and auras, making it highly adaptable.

With Frenzy Charges, Shock, and Lightning Exposure, the build delivers consistent damage while maintaining high mobility. The use of Ritual Sacrifice and Dance with Death provides additional buffs that make this build perfect for clearing both Tier 15 maps and endgame bosses.

• Clear Speed: Very High

• Boss Damage: Strong

• Cost: Low to Medium

• Strengths: Fast-paced hybrid gameplay with solid AoE and single-target damage

6. Leap Slam Titan Build

• Class: Warrior (Titan)

• Type: Slam-based melee, AoE focused

For those who enjoy straightforward, slam-based melee combat, the Leap Slam Titan build is an excellent pick. This build relies on Leap Slam to trigger Aftershock, supported by Clash and Momentum for wide-area damage. Hammer of the Gods and Rolling Slam add extra burst for boss encounters.

It's a simple and effective build, requiring minimal gear investment, and is perfect for players who prefer a no-nonsense playstyle. While it lacks the flashy mechanics of other builds, its reliable AoE and moderate boss damage make it a solid contender for high-tier content.

• Clear Speed: Great

• Boss Damage: Moderate

• Cost: Low

• Strengths: Easy to play, good AoE, straightforward

7. Storm Wave Invoker Build

• Class: Monk (Invoker)

• Type: Lightning-based, energy shield caster

The Storm Wave Invoker build is a caster-focused setup that uses Storm Wave to deal consistent damage while utilizing Tempest Bell for tougher enemies. This build focuses on defensive mechanics, using Chaos Inoculation, Eternal Youth, and Ghost Dance to absorb damage through Energy Shield.

With proper gear investment and positioning, this build performs well in high-tier content, making it a great choice for players who prefer energy shield-based defenses while still packing a punch in terms of damage output.

• Clear Speed: Good

• Boss Damage: Strong

• Cost: Medium

• Strengths: Effective defensive setup, reliable damage uptime

8. Boneshatter Smith of Kitava Build

• Class: Warrior (Smith of Kitava)

• Type: Stun-based melee, aftershock synergy

For a build that focuses on stunning enemies and triggering massive aftershocks, the Boneshatter Smith of Kitava build is a fantastic option. Using Bone Shatter to trigger aftershocks and Leap Slam to initiate combat, this build excels in dealing large amounts of area damage.

With Hammer of the Gods and Rolling Slam adding additional burst, this build can melt through packs and bosses alike. It's perfect for players who like tanky melee combat with solid scaling and AoE potential.

• Clear Speed: High

• Boss Damage: High

• Cost: Medium

• Strengths: High AoE, reliable scaling

9. Auto Shockwave Warbringer Build

• Class: Warrior (Warbringer)

• Type: Totem-based, auto-trigger setup

The Auto Shockwave Warbringer build is one of the easiest builds to play while still being effective. It combines Shockwave Totem, Ancestral Warrior Totem, and Mace Strike for an automated offense. With Scavenge Plating for survivability and Hammer of the Gods for burst damage, this build allows for minimal micromanagement.

It's ideal for players who prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach to combat, where the totems do the majority of the work while you focus on positioning.

• Clear Speed: Very High

• Boss Damage: Strong

• Cost: Low

• Strengths: Minimal micromanagement, reliable performance in both solo and group play

10. Explosive Shot Witchhunter Build

• Class: Mercenary (Witchhunter)

• Type: Projectile-based, elemental explosion

The Explosive Shot Witchhunter build focuses on Explosive Shot and Shock Burst Rounds to deal massive elemental damage. With multiple Heralds and the Tree Dragon Mask, this build shifts between ignite and shock, enhancing its single-target damage significantly.

Mapping is dynamic, with the ability to clear multiple packs quickly, while bosses are eliminated at an alarming rate when all effects are active. This build is ideal for players who love explosive damage and high synergy between multiple effects.

• Clear Speed: Extreme

• Boss Damage: Very High

• Cost: Medium

• Strengths: High synergy, explosive damage output

Conclusion

Each of the builds in this tier list offers a unique playstyle while being optimized for high-tier content in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt. Whether you're looking for fast clearing speed, high survivability, or versatile scaling options, these builds provide the tools necessary to conquer Tier 15 maps and endgame bosses.

These builds showcase the diversity of options available in PoE 2, catering to players of all preferences—from projectile enthusiasts to tanky spellcasters. As always, the key to success in PoE 2 is adapting to the ever-changing landscape, so experiment with different builds and find the one that best suits your gameplay style.

Want to take your endgame to the next level? Check out ELD.gg for cheap Path Of Exile 2 Currency to help you get started with your chosen build today!