PoE 2 0.4 Tier List - Top 10 Best League Starter Builds (The Last Of The Druids)

With Path of Exile 2 0.4: The Last of the Druids launching, the build meta has shifted in exciting ways. The arrival of the Druid class, massive skill and support gem updates, and reworked passive trees have shaken things up for both veterans and newcomers. If you're looking for the best league starter builds that can carry you through the campaign and into the endgame, this guide covers the top options, practical leveling advice, and how to get each build set up efficiently.

PoE 2 0.4 Best Build Tier List

Patch 0.4 introduces the highly-anticipated Druid class, featuring versatile shapeshifting forms—Bear, Wolf, and Wyvern, each with a distinctive playstyle. The Druid's ability to swap seamlessly between animal and human forms, empowered by new Talisman weapons, opens up novel build options. Both Shaman and Oracle ascendancies offer further specialization, supporting animal forms, spellcasting, summoning, and hybrid approaches.

Beyond the Druid, traditional powerhouses like Mercenary (crossbow builds), Witch (chaos and minion hybrids), and Warrior (shield builds) remain excellent choices, especially with the campaign and league economy reset. The addition of over 20 new skills, 35 new supports, and 250 passive nodes has diversified the leveling experience, but some builds have emerged as the most reliable and effective for league start.

Top 10+ PoE 2 0.4 Best League Starter Builds for Fate of the Vaal

Below you’ll find top builds for league start in The Last of the Druids, including Druids in all forms, proven crossbow builds, summoner hybrids, and shield warriors. Each section gives an overview of the build's strengths and how to get started.

1. Volcanic Bear Druid (Bear Form Druid, Shaman Ascendancy)

The Volcanic Bear is a tanky, high-impact melee build that dominates with slam attacks and volcanic eruptions. By generating and maintaining Rage, this build unleashes devastating area damage while remaining durable.

How to Set Up:

• Class: Druid

• Weapon: Talisman (Bear form) – automatically transforms you when used.

• Key Skills:

• Bear Maul / Furious Slam: Your core attack, generates rage and endurance charges.

• Volcano: Uplifts a volcano, creating AoE fire projectiles; slamming the volcano triggers more eruptions.

• Ferocious Roar: Warcry skill that can be socketed with other warcries (e.g., Infernal Cry for explosions).

• Walking Calamity (Ultimate): After stacking glory by generating rage, trigger meteors and a massive firestorm for huge damage.

• Supports: Prioritize new primal and lineage supports, fire proliferation, increased area, and rage support.

• Ascendancy: Shaman is recommended for bonuses to rage, spell synergy, and the unique Apocalypse skill.

• Leveling Tips:

• Early on, focus on melee slam skills and volcano synergy.

• Build endurance and rage with bear attacks, and use volcano for boss nukes.

• Seek out items that boost physical and fire damage, and stack life/armor for defense.

• Slot a talisman with Demonic form for extra flair and power.

2. Arctic Pack Leader (Wolf Form Druid, Shaman/Oracle Ascendancy)

This build leans into fast-paced, cold-based attacks, freeze mechanics, and minion summoning. The wolf form offers agility, movement, and icy AoE, plus the ability to summon wolf allies.

How to Set Up:

• Class: Druid

• Weapon: Talisman (Wolf form)

• Key Skills:

• Lunar Assault: Swipe in an arc, converting physical to cold and stacking chill/freeze.

• Cross Slash: Leap backwards, triggering ice explosions and consuming marks for bonus effects.

• Marking Skills: Socket glacial or predator’s mark in a special slot to enhance boss damage and minion summoning.

• Lunar Blessing (Ultimate): Offer rage to the moon for a huge buff to cold damage, attack speed, and movement for you and your pack.

• Supports: Herald of Ice, increased chill/freeze, minion supports for summoned wolves, cold penetration.

• Ascendancy: Shaman for more rage and spell synergy, or Oracle for additional passives and minion bonuses.

• Leveling Tips:

• Use cold attacks for AoE clear and boss control.

• Summon wolves for extra damage and distraction.

• Chain thunderstorm for extra freeze buildup before engaging packs.

• Prioritize attack speed and cold damage gear.

3. Lightning Gust Wyvern (Wyvern Form Druid, Shaman Ascendancy)

The Wyvern is a hybrid melee/caster form focused on lightning and wind, using combo points and power charges to trigger unique effects. Its playstyle is dynamic, with strong mobility and burst potential.

How to Set Up:

• Class: Druid

• Weapon: Talisman (Wyvern form)

• Key Skills:

• Wing Blast: Backward leap that can stun, knockback, and generate power charges.

• Devour: Leap onto enemies/corpses, gaining power charges and restoring life.

• Oil Barrage: Vomit oil projectiles, which can be ignited for fire/lightning damage.

• Flame Breath (Ultimate): Fly up and channel a devastating fire breath, ignoring rage costs for the first 4 seconds.

• Supports: Lightning, shock, and combo-based supports; Herald of Thunder for extra shock chance.

• Ascendancy: Shaman for rage and elemental spell scaling, plus the powerful Apocalypse skill.

• Leveling Tips:

• Stack combo points and power charges for empowered attacks.

• Use devour for sustain and to trigger additional charge effects.

• Use oil barrage and flame breath for boss damage and large packs.

• Seek lightning damage, attack speed, and combo scaling gear.

4. Apocalyptic Caster Druid (Human Form Druid, Oracle Ascendancy)

The Caster Druid specializes in elemental spellcasting, focusing on earthy vines, thunderstorms, and totems. This build weaves together plant summoning, AoE spells, and totem automation for a unique, versatile playstyle.

How to Set Up

• Class: Druid

• Weapon: Wand or staff, focus on spell power.

• Key Skills:

• Entangle: Summon plants/vines acting as fissures.

• Thunderstorm: Rain boosts vines, increases AoE and CC duration.

• Spell Totem: Consumes charges to raise totems that cast socketed spells—great for volcano or other AoE spells.

• Support Gems: Advanced Storm for moving storms, elemental proliferation, totem duration.

• Ascendancy: Oracle for extra passives, minion/totem efficiency, and Foresight (double boss damage).

• Leveling Tips:

• Summon vines and empower them with rain for AoE and crowd control.

• Use spell totems for automation and extra DPS.

• Stack spell damage, elemental damage, and totem-related passives.

• Highly flexible—can pivot into any element as needed.

5. Mercenary Storm Blast Bolts/Grenades (Crossbow Build, Tactician Ascendancy)

This classic crossbow build remains a top-tier league starter, renowned for its speed, bossing, and versatility. Using Storm Blast Bolts and grenades for explosive clear and single-target burst, it offers a safe and powerful campaign experience.

How to Set Up

• Class: Mercenary

• Weapon: Crossbow (upgrade frequently—look for added elemental or physical damage, and +projectile levels).

• Key Skills:

• Storm Blast Bolts: Plant bolts in the ground, then detonate with grenades or mortar cannon.

• Grenades: Main source of boss damage; detonate bolts for big hits.

• Galvanic Shards: For mapping and clear, especially after act one.

• Artillery Ballista: Pins and maims enemies; increases your damage output.

• Supports: Multi-shot, elemental armanent, double barrel, fire/lit/ice support.

• Ascendancy: Tactician for projectile synergy, pinning, and extra damage.

• Leveling Tips:

• Use fragmentation rounds and basic attacks early, swap to grenades and galvanic shards as you progress.

• Upgrade crossbow often and craft sockets for key skills.

• Focus on flask upgrades and basic life/elemental resists for defense.

• Use the campaign shopping list and weapon upgrade tricks for smooth progression.

6. Shield Warrior – Shield Wall/Resonating Shield (Warrior, Warbringer Ascendancy)

Shield builds with the Warrior remain among the most reliable and tanky ways to breeze through the campaign. Shield Wall provides excellent defense and consistent damage, while Resonating Shield offers faster mapping with proper setup.

How to Set Up

• Class: Warrior

• Weapon: High-armor shield and one-handed mace or club; dual wield for bossing if needed.

• Key Skills:

• Shield Wall: Defensive skill, great for campaign.

• Resonating Shield: Fast clear for endgame with movement speed nodes.

• Warcry Skills: Fortifying Cry, Infernal Cry for extra AoE and sustain.

• Supports: Physical/elemental damage, attack speed, leech, life gain on hit.

• Ascendancy: Warbringer for infinite warcry uptime and defensive bonuses.

• Leveling Tips:

• Focus early on shield wall for safety.

• Upgrade to resonating shield and movement speed as gear improves.

• Stack armor, life, and resistances for survivability.

• Use rage and warcries for extra offense and utility.

7. Hybrid Witch Chaos Summoner (Witch, Minion/Chaos Hybrid)

This build combines chaos spellcasting with powerful minion support, using Unearth minions, Essence Drain/Contagion, and Living Bomb for versatile clear and bossing. Weapon swap points allow for efficient hybrid scaling.

How to Set Up

• Class: Witch

• Weapon: Wand and scepter for spell/minion bonuses.

• Key Skills:

• Unearth: Summons minions with high base damage, snapshot minion stats with weapon swap.

• Essence Drain/Contagion: Core chaos DoT combo.

• Bone Cage/Living Bomb: Alternate for bossing or burst.

• Supports: Prolonged duration, spell cascade, poison, unleash, brutality.

• Passive Tree: Invest in chaos, spell, and minion nodes. Weapon swap points for minion scaling.

• Leveling Tips:

• Start with Bone Cage and spell supports for fast clearing in early acts.

• Transition into unearth minions and chaos skills by act three.

• Use weapon swapping to snapshot minion stats for bosses.

• Stack life, ES, and mana for survival.

8. Hollow Palm Monk (Storm Wave Monk, Invoker Ascendancy)

The Hollow Palm Monk is a nimble, unarmed melee build that excels by leveraging the unique Hollow Palm mechanic: no weapon, no gloves, only your bare hands—and massive stacking of Dexterity for attack speed, evasion, and damage. This build is famous for its smooth progression through the campaign once you get past the early levels, and for requiring minimal gear to function well. After a rough start, it surges in power with Storm Wave and branching fissures, creating one of the fastest and most satisfying melee clears in the game.

How to Set Up:

• Class: Monk

• Ascendancy: Invoker (for most, but others are possible)

• Leveling Order:

• Act 1: Begin with Glacial Cascade and Frozen Locus for clear. Use a Quarterstaff for the “monk” fantasy, but many players use bows for convenience; here, the aim is to stay true to the archetype.

• Level 13: Rush Hollow Palm as soon as possible. Swap to unarmed (no weapon, no gloves)—the core mechanic of the build. Prioritize Dexterity on all gear and from passive tree.

• Act 2: Continue with Glacial Cascade and Frozen Locus until level 22. Pick up Ice Strike for some extra melee power and Storm Wave when available.

• Level 22+ (Act 2/3 and onward): Storm Wave becomes your main skill, supported by Branching Fissures (support gem level 3). Use Herald of Thunder and Wind Dancer (if available) for extra clear and survivability. Shattering Palm with Ancestral Call and Fury of Frost can be used as a movement/dashing tool. Continue to prioritize Dexterity, Evasion, and Life on gear. Armor is fine for the campaign if Evasion/ES gear isn’t available—Hollow Palm remains strong regardless.

• Supports:

• Storm Wave: Branching Fissures, Elemental Armament, and later Rapid Attacks.

• Ice Strike: Rapid Attacks, Elemental Armament (for cold conversion/clear).

• Frozen Locus: Use with Glacial Cascade for early clear; pop Frozen Locus with Glacial Cascade for AoE.

• Herald of Thunder: For clear and shock.

• Wind Dancer or Ghost Dance: For defense (pick based on preference and available gear).

• Mana Leech/Clarity: To solve mana issues in the midgame.

• Passive Tree:

• Path to Hollow Palm as quickly as possible.

• Invest heavily in Dexterity, Melee Damage, Attack Speed, Evasion, and Life.

• Pick up Storm Wave and Branching Fissures nodes for scaling.

• Later, select Wind Dancer, Ghost Dance, and mana efficiency nodes as needed.

• Gear:

• No weapon, no gloves (mandatory).

• Stack as much Dexterity as you can.

• Prioritize Evasion (or Armor if Evasion isn’t available in campaign), Life, and Resistances.

• Use Prismatic Ring and other sources to balance resistances.

• Quality-of-life upgrades: Movement speed boots, life/mana flasks, upgraded jewelry with Dex and resists.

• Playstyle Tips:

• Early acts can feel rough, Glacial Cascade and careful positioning make it manageable.

• Once you have Storm Wave with Branching Fissures, the build feels fast and powerful, with great clear and solid single-target.

• Use dashing skills and movement supports for speed.

• Hollow Palm scales mostly with level and Dexterity, so gear pressure is low (making this build reliable for league start).

• Bosses: Maintain distance with Storm Wave, use Ice Strike when safe, and keep movement up to avoid hits—late campaign bosses can hit very hard if you’re underleveled.

9. Essence Drain Contagion Witch (EDC Witch, Lich Ascendancy)

Essence Drain Contagion Witch is one of the smoothest and most reliable league starters in Path of Exile 2—offering effortless campaign clear, strong bossing, and excellent survivability with minimal gear pressure. The build focuses on applying Essence Drain for single-target chaos damage over time, then spreading the effect to entire packs via Contagion. It feels strong from the moment you unlock the core combo and only gets better as you scale into the endgame, with the potential to pivot into Blood Mage or other advanced setups.

This build excels due to its damage-over-time mechanics, safe playstyle, and the ability to push through the campaign on basic gear. Even with just a +2 chaos wand from Act 2, you can finish the entire campaign and hit maps comfortably, which is a testament to the build’s power and accessibility.

How to Set Up:

• Class: Witch (Lich Ascendancy recommended; Blood Mage for endgame is top tier)

• Skill Progression:

• Act 1: Begin with Flame Wall and minions (Skeletal Snipers) for single-target and clear. Quickly add Contagion (level 3) and Essence Drain (level 6) as soon as available. Early on, run a Wand/Scepter or Focus—prioritize anything with spell/chaos damage or energy shield. Use On Earth to supplement damage until gear improves.

• Act 2: Transition fully into Essence Drain + Contagion as your main combo. Drop minions and Flame Wall once you get a good focus and wand. Check vendors at every level up for a +2 chaos Withered Wand. This is your biggest power spike! Use Chain and Zenith on Essence Drain for spread and quality of life. If you get a good focus, drop on Earth and minion skills.

• Act 3+: Upgrade to level 9 and 10 skill gems as soon as you can for damage scaling. At level 31, add Dark Effigy for bossing. At level 36, activate Blasphemy + Temporal Chains aura for massive safety and comfort. Around act 3-4, invest in defensive passives and energy shield as your gear allows. Continue to check for upgrades on wand/focus, but the build performs even with act 1-2 gear.

• Supports:

• Essence Drain: Zenith, Chain (early), Swift Affliction, and Poison if available.

• Contagion: Rapid Casting, Magnified Area, Unleash (for more spread/targets), and Chain or Zenith.

• Dark Effigy: Withering Touch, Poison.

• Blasphemy: Temporal Chains, Despair (secondary curse once you have double curse unlocked).

• On Earth: Use until you get a good focus and can drop minions/minion supports.

• Totem: If you want, add Withering Totem for bosses with Withering Touch and Poison.

• Passive Tree:

• Path to chaos and DoT nodes quickly.

• Prioritize energy shield/life, spell/chaos damage, and any cast speed or AoE.

• Take defensive clusters as soon as you feel squishy, usually act 3-4.

• Lich Ascendancy is recommended for early league; Blood Mage for advanced endgame.

• Gear:

• Weapon: +2 chaos Withered Wand (craft with alchemy/regal/exalted as soon as you find it).

• Offhand: Focus with spell/chaos/energy shield mods.

• Armor: Stack Energy Shield (ES) wherever possible, but use what you can get until act 4+.

• Jewelry: Resistances, energy shield, chaos damage, spell/cast speed.

• Charms: Poison, energy shield, resistances, anything that helps smooth the campaign.

• Flasks: Life, mana, and utility flasks to taste.

• Prismatic Ring: Always pick up, roll with alchemy for big res boosts.

• Playstyle Tips:

• Apply Contagion to packs, then fire Essence Drain at a target to trigger screen-wide DoT spread.

• Use Flame Wall and minions only until the core combo is online, then drop for pure spellcasting.

• Always check vendors for wand upgrades, do not gamble for wands, as only Withered Wands are good for this build.

• Level Contagion alongside Essence Drain in campaign, mana cost is not an issue.

• Play greedy for speed, but pivot into defense if you start dying.

• For bosses, apply Despair and Dark Effigy, then spam Essence Drain and keep Contagion up.

10. Storm Blast Bolts Mercenary (Tactician Crossbow Build)

The Storm Blast Bolts Mercenary, built around the crossbow-using Tactician, is emerging as one of the most explosive, efficient, and satisfying league starters in PoE 2.0.4. This build’s core is the interaction between Storm Blast Bolts, which lays up to 30 charged bolts on the ground—and powerful detonators like Grenade skills or Mortar Cannon, resulting in massive single-target and map-clearing bursts.

The build shines as soon as you unlock Storm Blast Bolts in the first zone of Act 3, where the leveling experience transforms from “average” to “one-shotting campaign bosses.” With the Tactician ascendancy, all projectiles pin enemies, boosting both damage and safety. Automated support from Artillery Ballista and Mortar Cannon further streamlines boss fights and clearing, while Galvanic Shards offers fast, reliable clear speed prior to and after Act 3.

This build is particularly notable for its ability to one-shot campaign bosses (even pinnacle bosses at tier three) and for rivaling the efficiency of Lightning Rod Deadeye, but with a fresh, crossbow-centric playstyle.

How to Set Up:

• Class: Mercenary

• Ascendancy: Tactician (for automated pin and projectile synergy)

• Leveling Progression:

• Acts 1–2: Use Galvanic Shards for clear and early bossing, with Grenades for extra burst. Artillery Ballista aids in pinning/maming for extra boss and rare damage. Upgrade to best available crossbow with added elemental or physical damage, and socket with multi-shot, elemental armanent, or double barrel as available.

• Act 3: Unlock Storm Blast Bolts in the first zone. This is your main skill for the remainder of the campaign. Set up Storm Blast Bolts as your primary bossing tool, detonating with Grenades or Mortar Cannon (preferably automated by Mortar Cannon for ease). Continue using Galvanic Shards for general clear—its chaining and pinning remain strong. Pick up a companion in Act 3 for a movement and attack speed boost.

• Acts 4+ and Interludes: Continue the same rotation: Galvanic for clear, Storm Blast Bolts for bosses. Upgrade crossbow as you go, but the build functions even in solo self-found and with basic crafts. Bosses can be one-shot or heavily chunked with a single Mortar Cannon detonation of stacked bolts. Tactician’s second ascendancy (mid-act 3) ensures all projectiles pin, making even late bosses trivial.

• Endgame/Mapping: Storm Blast Bolts and Grenades/Mortar Cannon carry the build into mapping and early endgame with little adjustment.

• Supports:

• Storm Blast Bolts: Multi-shot, elemental armanent, double barrel, and anything that boosts area or elemental damage.

• Mortar Cannon: Automates grenade detonation for bossing.

• Galvanic Shards: Intervate, double barrel, multi-shot for clear.

• Artillery Ballista: Mame and pin for both offense and defense.

• Companion: Attack/movement speed.

• Passive Tree:

• Invest in projectile damage, attack speed, area damage, and crossbow nodes.

• Prioritize pin bonuses, reload speed, and crossbow-specific clusters.

• Take life, resistances, and movement speed as needed for survivability.

• Gear:

• Crossbow: Upgrade often, prioritize added damage, +projectile levels, and reload speed.

• Armor: Stack life, resistances, and movement speed.

• Jewelry: Seek attack speed, elemental/phys damage, and resistances.

• Flasks: Life, mana, and quicksilver.

• Charms: Area damage, projectile damage, and reload speed.

• Playstyle Tips:

• For bosses, always stack as many Storm Blast Bolts as you can (up to 30), then detonate with a grenade or let Mortar Cannon do it automatically.

• Use Galvanic Shards for rapid clear and to maintain momentum through maps.

• Pinning from Tactician and Artillery Ballista keeps you safe and ramps up damage.

• Upgrade crossbow at every opportunity, but don’t stress—this build is extremely forgiving and can crush content on basic gear.