Path of Exile 2 Tier List Guide: 24 January 2025 META

Path of Exile 2 has been in the works for a while, and the excitement around its upcoming launch has players buzzing with anticipation. With the 2025 META shaping up, it’s time to take a closer look at the top-tier builds and how the new patch is adjusting the game’s landscape. From buffs and nerfs to fresh strategies, this tier list will help you decide which build to aim for in the new era of Path of Exile 2.

In the latest patch for Path of Exile 2, the developers have made some important changes. While they focused mainly on improving monster behavior and quality of life, several builds did see tweaks that will affect how they perform in the upcoming 2025 META.

Some builds received nerfs, while others received buffs. The core idea of the tier list is to rank the builds based on how powerful and viable they are for end-game content. In this guide, we’ll break down the best builds from S-tier to D-tier, providing you with detailed insights into which builds dominate the game, which ones are still useful, and which ones are getting left behind.

The D-Tier Builds: The Underdogs

1. Grenade Builds

The grenade-based builds, such as Gas Grenade, once had their time in the spotlight, but they’ve been outpaced by other setups. While these builds can still clear enemies with explosions, the slow detonation times and awkward gameplay make them less optimal for high-level content. These builds just don’t scale as efficiently as others and have fallen behind in the META.

2. Ice Sorceress

The Ice Sorceress build, once known for its broken performance, has been nerfed significantly. With long cooldowns and lower damage on its Ice Comet skill, it struggles to keep up with more versatile and faster builds. The Ice Sorceress is no longer the powerhouse it once was and sits firmly in D-tier.

3. Fireball Sorceress (Nerfed)

Similar to the Ice Sorceress, the Fireball Sorceress had potential but received a significant nerf. Its reliance on frost wall to scale damage is no longer effective enough for high-tier content. While still fun to play, it’s not optimal for the most challenging encounters.

The C-Tier Builds: Struggling in the 2025 META

1. Ignite Warrior

The Ignite Warrior build focuses on dealing damage with fire-based attacks, setting enemies ablaze. While it can clear large enemy packs, its single-target damage is lackluster, and it struggles to compete against other warrior setups like the Ice Hammer build. Despite the slight buffs to Warrior classes, the Ignite Warrior remains in C-tier due to its slower scaling and reduced impact in the late game.

2. Permafrost Mercenary

This build uses freezing mechanics and explosive detonations to deal with bosses and large groups of enemies. While the extra crowd control element can make fights easier, the build still struggles with AOE clear speed and scaling compared to more optimized builds. It’s a fun choice, but not one for top-tier performance.

3. Bone Storm Warrior

Bone Storm builds focus on slow but high-damage clearing with Bone Storm as the main skill. While it has some fun crit variants, its slow clearing speed and lack of mobility leave it behind in comparison to faster, more powerful builds. It’s best suited for players who like a more laid-back playstyle, but not optimal for high-end content.

The B-Tier Builds: Good, But Not Meta-Dominating

1. Explosive Shot Ranger

This build excels in AOE damage, using explosive shots with various buffs to clear screens full of enemies in moments. However, its single-target damage is lacking, so you’ll need to use a skill like Shock Burst for bosses. It’s a fun, explosive build but falls short in some areas compared to S-tier and A-tier picks.

2. Corrupting Cry Warrior

The Corrupting Cry Warrior build focuses on armor breaking and offensive block, using the Stampede skill to charge enemies and create explosive effects. While it has a lot of crowd control potential and strong AOE damage, it doesn’t quite match up to the more optimized warrior builds like the Ice Hammer or Totem Warrior.

3. Poisonous Concoction

The Poisonous Concoction build is a fast-paced poison-based DPS setup. While it received a nerf recently, it’s still a solid choice for players looking for an easy-to-setup, cheap, and fast poison build. The downside is that its single-target damage isn’t as high as some other poison setups, but it remains effective for farming and clearing large groups of enemies.

The A-Tier Builds: Strong Performers

1. Tempest Flury Build

Known for its strength stacking mechanics, the Tempest Flury build revolves around scaling strength, dexterity, and intelligence to create insane damage output. It’s one of the most versatile builds for scaling in Path of Exile 2, and with the right items, it can reach near godlike power. This build can be both a budget-friendly entry point or a powerhouse if fully optimized.

2. Blink Lightning Sorceress

While it faced a slight nerf with the Temporalis body armor change, the Blink Lightning Sorceress is still one of the best caster builds. This build scales damage from spark projectiles while offering exceptional mobility, allowing you to zip around the battlefield with ease. Although the nerf reduced spam potential, it remains a strong pick for players who want a mix of mobility and massive damage.

3. Frost Mage

The Frost Mage build focuses on powerful skeletal Frost Mages that do massive damage while also freezing enemies. This setup offers one of the best defenses in the game, as you can reach up to 30,000 energy shield in the late game. It’s a solid choice for players looking for high DPS with a reliable defense mechanism.

4. Shattering Concoction Ranger

This Ranger build is all about speed and control. By throwing freeze bombs and causing massive explosions, the Shattering Concoction Ranger is one of the fastest clear-speed builds in the game. Plus, with the ability to permanently freeze mobs and bosses, it provides both offensive and defensive strength in equal measure.

The S-Tier Builds: Dominating the 2025 META

1. Lightning Arrow Ranger

The Lightning Arrow Ranger is one of the most powerful and fastest builds for farming and end-game content. Capable of obliterating enemies in seconds, this build excels in both clearing maps and taking down bosses. With its high mobility and strong damage scaling, it’s one of the go-to builds for anyone looking to dominate the game.

2. Ice Shot Ranger

Known for its impressive single-target damage and AOE potential, the Ice Shot Ranger build combines speed farming with high DPS. The synergy between the Ice Shot and its lightning-infused abilities allows for quick and efficient clears, and it’s especially effective against tougher bosses, making it a staple in the 2025 META.

3. Spark sorceress

This build shines with its insane lightning damage potential. The Spark sorceress has a visually stunning gameplay style, as it paralyzes and annihilates monsters with relentless lightning strikes. Although some players might face Mana issues, with optimized gear, this build can easily become an unstoppable force in both clearing and bossing.

4. Skeletal Sniper Witch

For those who love minion-based builds, the Skeletal Sniper Witch excels in both clearing speed and boss damage. By leveraging the Detonate Dead mechanic and combining it with powerful minions, this build delivers high DPS while offering good survivability. It’s a fantastic choice for players who enjoy a more strategic playstyle with plenty of minions doing the heavy lifting.

Tier List Path of Exile META – 24 January 2025

The 2025 META in Path of Exile 2 is an exciting time for players, with a fresh batch of builds and gameplay strategies emerging. While some old favorites are still hanging on in the lower tiers, new and optimized builds are pushing the limits of what’s possible in the game.

If you’re aiming for the highest DPS and fastest clear speeds, you’ll want to focus on the S-tier builds like Lightning Arrow Ranger, Ice Shot Ranger, and Spark sorceress. But if you enjoy more niche or fun builds, the B and C-tier options still offer plenty of excitement, though they might need a little extra effort to compete at the highest level.