Path of Exile 2 0.4.0 Build Tier List

Path of Exile 2 patch 0.4.0 has now been live for several weeks, giving the community enough time to fully explore the impact of its balance changes.This update introduced a wide range of buffs, nerfs, mechanical adjustments, and a handful of undocumented interactions that have significantly reshaped the meta.Builds that dominated early testing have fallen behind, while others have quietly risen to the top thanks to improved scaling, better survivability, or stronger synergy with the new systems.

This tier list evaluates builds based on overall performance in patch 0.4.0, with a focus on endgame viability, consistency, survivability, and scalability.While personal preference and playstyle always matter, these rankings reflect how well each build performs when pushed into late-game mapping, bossing, and progression-heavy content.

Tier D Builds

Tier D builds are currently the weakest performers in patch 0.4.0.While they may still function for casual play or early leveling, they struggle to scale efficiently into endgame content and often require excessive investment to remain viable.

Hollow Palm Builds have taken a significant hit due to changes in scaling efficiency and defensive options.Without sufficient access to mitigation and recovery, these builds fall off hard in higher-tier content and are easily punished by modern enemy damage profiles.

Life Stacking Blood Leech builds suffer from reduced effectiveness in both sustain and damage.Patch 0.4.0 introduced changes that make pure life-based leech strategies less reliable, especially against burst-heavy encounters and prolonged boss fights.

The Frenzy Consuming Bow Build struggles with consistency.While it can deliver bursts of damage under ideal conditions, maintaining Frenzy charges and surviving incoming damage has become far more difficult after recent adjustments.

Whirlwind and similar mobile melee builds face issues with damage uptime and survivability.Despite their mobility, they lack the raw damage or defensive layering required to handle endgame encounters efficiently.

General Staff Caster Builds without Infusion are among the weakest caster options.Without access to infusion mechanics, these builds lack scaling depth and fall far behind infused alternatives in both damage and utility.

Tier C Builds

Tier C builds are functional but situational.They can clear content with the right setup, but they are often outclassed by stronger, more efficient alternatives.

General Deadeye Bow Builds remain playable, but their damage scaling no longer keeps pace with the current meta.Survivability is also a concern, particularly in content with heavy area damage or rapid enemy attacks.

Crossbow Multishot Builds perform adequately in early and mid-game scenarios but struggle to maintain relevance in late-game encounters due to limited single-target damage and scaling constraints.

Twister Rolling Stacking Builds offer a unique playstyle but are inconsistent.Their reliance on specific positioning and ramp-up mechanics makes them unreliable in fast-paced endgame content.

Bleed Builds remain serviceable, especially for players who enjoy damage-over-time playstyles.However, their overall damage output and clear speed lag behind more modern options.

Minion Invoker Builds can still clear content effectively, but recent changes have reduced minion durability and scaling.These builds now require more micromanagement and investment to achieve comparable results.

Tier B Builds

Tier B builds represent solid, dependable options that can comfortably handle most content in patch 0.4.0.While not the absolute strongest, they offer good balance between damage, survivability, and flexibility.

Lightning or Flame Infusion Sorceress Builds benefit greatly from infusion mechanics, offering strong elemental scaling and smooth clear speed.They perform well in both mapping and boss encounters when properly geared.

Cold Infusion Sorceress Builds excel in control and survivability thanks to chill and freeze mechanics.Their damage is consistent, and they offer excellent safety in difficult encounters.

Spear Frenzy Consumer Builds provide strong single-target damage and respectable clear speed.However, they require careful resource management and positioning to perform optimally.

Staff Crit Caster Builds have improved significantly with recent crit scaling changes.While they require more investment, their damage potential is impressive once fully online.

Chronomancer Curse Stacker Builds shine in group play and high-density content.Their ability to weaken enemies and amplify damage makes them valuable, though they are somewhat slower for solo progression.

Gemhand Melee Builds offer a unique hybrid playstyle with solid scaling.They are flexible and durable but fall just short of top-tier performance.

Warbringer Slam Builds deliver powerful hits and strong crowd control.While slower than other melee options, their raw impact and survivability keep them competitive.

Smith of Kitava Spirit Builds are reliable and thematic, offering balanced offense and defense.They perform consistently but lack the explosive scaling of higher-tier builds.

Tier A Builds

Tier A builds are among the strongest options in patch 0.4.0, capable of dominating endgame content with minimal weaknesses.

The Titan Hulkform Shapeshifter and Mace Slam Build stands out as a powerhouse.With exceptional durability, high burst damage, and strong scaling into late game, this build excels in both bossing and mapping.Its ability to absorb punishment while delivering devastating slams makes it one of the most reliable choices for progression-focused players.

Tier S Builds

Tier S builds define the current meta.These builds combine exceptional damage, survivability, and efficiency, making them the best choices for players aiming to push the hardest content in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.4.0.

Pathfinder Builds sit comfortably at the top of the tier list.Their unmatched flask synergy, mobility, and damage scaling allow them to adapt to virtually any content.Whether focused on poison, elemental damage, or hybrid setups, Pathfinder builds remain the most versatile and consistently powerful options available.

The Witch Hunter Sorcery Ward Hybrid Build is another standout.This build leverages strong defensive layers through Sorcery Ward while maintaining excellent damage output.Its ability to survive extreme encounters without sacrificing clear speed makes it one of the safest and most effective builds in the current patch.

Final Thoughts

Patch 0.4.0 has significantly reshaped the Path of Exile 2 build landscape.While some older archetypes have fallen behind, new synergies and balance changes have opened the door for powerful new strategies.Players looking to start the season or transition into endgame content should strongly consider Tier A and Tier S builds for the smoothest experience, while Tier B builds remain solid alternatives for those seeking variety.

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