Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.2.0: Best build for every class

Patch 0.2.0 of Path of Exile 2 reshuffled the deck with new Ascendancies and reworked passives—and as always, the meta settled fast. Whether you're tearing through maps or bossing, the community's already zeroed in on what hits hardest for each class. Here's a quick, class-by-class breakdown of the strongest builds right now.
1. Huntress - Lightning Spear Crit CasterNothing clears maps faster than Lightning Spear. With pinpoint crit scaling and massive AoE, this build thrives on speed and one-click devastation. Pair it with Storm Lance and Sniper’s Mark, and the screen clears itself.

Core:

• Lightning Spear
• Herald of Thunder
• Barrage + Sniper’s Mark
• Storm Lance

2. Lich (Witch) - Essence Drain & Wither Chaos DoTThe Lich’s chaos damage setup centered on Essence Drain and Contagion feels tailor-made for 0.2.0. It’s all about spreading decay fast, then melting bosses with Hexblast and Withering Presence. Plus, the curses are stronger than ever. The passive tree buffs sustainability while bypassing energy shield shenanigans with pure DoT.

Core:

• Essence Drain
• Contagion
• Despair
• Hexblast

3. Ranger - Glacial Lance BarrageLooking for a reliable, high-clear-speed Ranger build? Glacial Lance fires icy death in every direction, and the crit-based support setup turns it into a screen-shattering force. Cold scaling and Cast-on-Crit combos make this a machine gun of elemental damage. Great for fast mapping and freezing entire rooms.

Core:

• Glacial Lance
• Hypothermia
• Combat Frenzy
• Wind Dancer

4. Warrior (Smith of Kitava) - Boneshatter SlammerTanky and brutal, this melee beast uses Boneshatter and Infernal Cry to turn its own damage into an AoE nuke. Seismic Cry and Hammer of the Gods give it reliable boss-killing power. Built-in tankiness means you can focus fully on offense. The new ascendancy makes high-risk melee viable in endgame content.

Core:

• Boneshatter
• Infernal Cry
• Leap Slam
• Herald of Ash

5. Invoker (Witch) - Ice Strike ExplosionsElemental mayhem meets cooldown-free spam. Ice Strike chains into icy shards, amplified by Herald of Ice and Unbound Avatar. Toss in Combat Frenzy and Charged Staff for faster casts and icy wipes.

Core:

• Ice Strike
• Herald of Ice
• Combat Frenzy
• Charge Infusion

6. Mercenary (Gemling Legionnaire) – Grenade Ballista HybridGas + Oil Grenades control space, while Artillery Ballista dishes out real damage. It’s the most tactical build in the meta, requiring planning — and rewarding it with rapid mob clear and boss utility.

Core:

• Gas Grenade
• Oil Grenade
• Artillery Ballista
• Flash Grenade

7. Stormweaver – Spark Spam + Flame WallSpark is still alive and crackling. This build is all about area control with Flame Wall and rapid zaps. Pair with Arc and Conductivity for boss damage, and gear for mana regen to keep Archmage happy. It’s versatile, smooth to play, and scales from campaign to endgame with minimal friction.

Core:

• Spark
• Flame Wall
• Orb of Storms
• Arc

Final ThoughtsEvery build here thrives in a different niche—some are clear-speed demons, others excel at boss melts or staying alive. But they all have one thing in common: they're the top dogs of 0.2.0. Looking to push ladder, farm fast, or just blow stuff up in style? Pick the class, plug in the build, and you’re good to grind.