Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) has introduced a revitalized PvP system, offering players a chance to test their skills and builds against others in intense, strategic battles. Whether you’re a seasoned PvP veteran or a newcomer looking to dive into competitive play, this guide will walk you through the best PvP builds for 2025, their strengths, and how to optimize them for victory.
1. The Unstoppable Juggernaut
Ascendancy: Juggernaut
Core Skills: Molten Strike, Leap Slam, Immortal Call
Key Passives: Unyielding, Unrelenting, Unbreakable
Gear: Kaom’s Heart (chest), high armor and life gear
The Juggernaut build is a tanky powerhouse, designed to absorb damage while dishing out consistent melee damage. With high life and armor, this build excels in prolonged fights, making it ideal for players who prefer a durable, hard-to-kill playstyle.
- Strengths: Exceptional survivability, high damage output with Molten Strike.
- Weaknesses: Limited mobility, vulnerable to kiting by ranged builds.
2. The Elementalist’s Storm
Ascendancy: Elementalist
Core Skills: Storm Burst, Orb of Storms, Lightning Warp
Key Passives: Elemental Equilibrium, Elemental Overload, Heart of Thunder
Gear: Shavronne’s Wrappings (chest), energy shield and spell damage gear
The Elementalist build focuses on burst damage and mobility, using lightning-based skills to quickly eliminate opponents. Lightning Warp allows for quick repositioning, making it difficult for melee builds to pin you down.
- Strengths: High burst damage, excellent mobility, strong crowd control.
- Weaknesses: Squishy if caught off-guard, mana-intensive.
3. The Necromancer’s Army
Ascendancy: Necromancer
Core Skills: Raise Spectre, Skeletons, Zombies
Key Passives: Spiritual Aid, Spiritual Command, Bone Barrier
Gear: Bones of Ullr (chest), minion life and damage gear
The Necromancer build overwhelms opponents with an army of minions, providing both damage and distraction. This build is perfect for players who enjoy a more tactical, hands-off approach to PvP.
- Strengths: High damage output with minions, excellent survivability.
- Weaknesses: Minions can be wiped out by AoE attacks, slower playstyle.
4. The Slayer’s Fury
Ascendancy: Slayer
Core Skills: Cyclone, Whirling Blades, Leap Slam
Key Passives: Bane of Legends, Headsman, Overwhelm
Gear: Kaom’s Heart (chest), high physical damage and life gear
The Slayer build is a whirlwind of destruction, using Cyclone to deal massive AoE damage while maintaining high mobility. This build is ideal for players who enjoy fast-paced, aggressive gameplay.
- Strengths: High damage output, excellent mobility, strong AoE.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable to ranged attacks, requires precise positioning.
5. The Occultist’s Curse
Ascendancy: Occultist
Core Skills: Vortex, Enfeeble, Temporal Chains
Key Passives: Cursed Enemies, Cursed Ground, Void Beacon
Gear: Shavronne’s Wrappings (chest), energy shield and chaos resistance gear
The Occultist build focuses on controlling the battlefield with curses and chaos damage. Vortex provides consistent damage over time, while Enfeeble and Temporal Chains weaken opponents, making them easier to handle.
- Strengths: Strong crowd control, high survivability with energy shield.
- Weaknesses: Slow damage output, vulnerable to burst damage.
6. The Trickster’s Speed and Subterfuge
Ascendancy: Trickster
Core Skills: Cyclone, Lacerate, Flicker Strike
Key Passives: Evasion, Energy Shield, Ghost Dance
Gear: High evasion and energy shield gear
The Trickster build is all about speed and evasion, using hit-and-run tactics to outmaneuver opponents. Flicker Strike allows for quick, unpredictable movements, making it difficult for enemies to land hits.
- Strengths: High mobility, excellent survivability with evasion.
- Weaknesses: Squishy if caught, requires precise timing.
7. The Deadeye’s Precision
Ascendancy: Deadeye
Core Skills: Barrage, Tornado Shot, Sniper’s Mark
Key Passives: Critical Strike Chance, Critical Strike Damage, Wind Dancer
Gear: High critical strike chance and damage gear
The Deadeye build excels at ranged combat, using precise attacks to eliminate opponents from a distance. Barrage and Tornado Shot provide both single-target and AoE damage, making this build versatile in PvP.
- Strengths: High damage output, excellent range, strong critical strikes.
- Weaknesses: Squishy, vulnerable to melee builds.
8. The Guardian’s Protection
Ascendancy: Guardian
Core Skills: Auras, Curses, Defensive Passives
Key Passives: Energy Shield, Armor, Aura Effectiveness
Gear: High energy shield and aura effectiveness gear
The Guardian build is a support powerhouse, providing buffs to allies and debuffs to enemies. This build is ideal for team-based PvP, where its defensive capabilities can turn the tide of battle.
- Strengths: Excellent survivability, strong support capabilities.
- Weaknesses: Low damage output, reliant on teammates.
9. The Assassin’s Blade Blast
Ascendancy: Assassin
Core Skills: Blade Blast, Flicker Strike, Smoke Mine
Key Passives: Critical Strike Chance, Critical Strike Multiplier, Elusiveness
Gear: High critical strike chance and multiplier gear
The Assassin build focuses on burst damage and mobility, using Blade Blast to deal massive AoE damage and Flicker Strike for quick repositioning. This build is perfect for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
- Strengths: High burst damage, excellent mobility.
- Weaknesses: Squishy, requires precise timing.
10. The Ascendant’s Versatility
Ascendancy: Ascendant
Core Skills: Customizable based on chosen ascendancies
Key Passives: Versatile, adaptable to multiple playstyles
Gear: Depends on chosen ascendancies
The Ascendant build allows players to combine the strengths of two ascendancies, creating a versatile and adaptable build. This build is ideal for players who enjoy experimenting with different playstyles and strategies.
- Strengths: Highly customizable, adaptable to various situations.
- Weaknesses: Requires careful planning, can be complex to optimize.
PvP in PoE2 offers a thrilling and competitive experience, with a wide range of builds to suit every playstyle. Whether you prefer tanky melee builds, bursty spellcasters, or tactical minion masters, there’s a build for you. Experiment with these PoE2 PvP builds, refine your strategies, and dominate the arena in 2025!
You can also check out the Guide to PoE 2 Farming: Best Builds Revealed.