As we gear up for another exciting Path of Exile league, the anticipation for countless hours of monster-slaying and map exploration is palpable. The 3.22 league is upon us, and while the patch notes haven't caused a major upheaval, that's not necessarily a bad thing. In this guide, we'll delve into Best Exceptional league starter builds that remain strong and effective, providing you with a solid foundation to conquer the challenges that lie ahead.

 

• RF Jug: Embrace the Eternal Fire
• Hexblast Mine Saboteur: Unleash Explosive Mayhem
• Shield Crush Juggernaut: Unyielding Power
• Rain of Arrows Raider: Master of Ranged Destruction
• BoneShatter Champion: Unleash the Bone Zone
• Conclusion

 

 

↖ RF Jug: Embrace the Eternal Fire

The RF Jug build, crafted by pox, has stood the test of time and remains a tried-and-true league starter. This build revolves around Righteous Fire (RF), an incinerating aura that engulfs enemies in flames. By maximizing your fire resistance and regeneration, you'll become an unstoppable force that walks through the game, leaving a trail of destruction. The build's tankiness and straightforward playstyle make it an ideal choice for newer players. Check out pox's comprehensive guide for an easy-to-follow journey through leveling and mastery of the RF Jug.

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/E3Jej73lYiC9

 

Pros:

• Consistency: The RF Jug build's mechanics are straightforward and consistent, making it easy to understand and execute, even for newer players.
• Tankiness: By overcapping fire resistance and investing in regeneration, the build becomes incredibly tanky, allowing you to withstand damage from various sources.
• Self-Sustaining: The build's reliance on fire damage and regeneration means you don't need to worry about mana or life flasks, providing a smoother gameplay experience.
• Map Clearing: The RF aura engulfs enemies in flames, resulting in efficient and fast map clearing, making it satisfying to mow down groups of foes.
• Endurance: The RF Jug build's resilience and survivability make it capable of handling challenging content, including encounters that might be difficult for other builds.

 

Cons:

• Slow Movement: Due to its reliance on being in close proximity to enemies to deal damage, the build can feel slow compared to faster-paced ranged or movement-based builds.
• Gear Requirements: While the build is strong, optimizing gear with fire resistance and regeneration modifiers can be essential for maximizing its potential.
• Single-Element Focus: The build's focus on fire damage limits its versatility against enemies with high fire resistance or elemental reflect mechanics.
• Endurance Charges: While the build benefits from Endurance Charges, maintaining them can be challenging, and their absence can weaken your defenses.
• Passive Tree Investment: The passive skill tree requires careful investment to optimize fire damage, resistances, and life regeneration, which might be overwhelming for new players.

 

↖ Hexblast Mine Saboteur: Unleash Explosive Mayhem

Unearth the power of the Hexblast Mine, a mine-based character that focuses on wreaking havoc with explosive blasts. The Hexblast Mine is exceptionally potent in dealing early-game damage and smoothly transitioning into end-game content. By following the detailed guide provided, you'll learn how to navigate the intricacies of this build, from leveling up The Saboteur ascendancy to unleashing the full potential of hex blasts. With versatile gear options and a flexible playstyle, this build is a force to be reckoned with.

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/zFKqA7LpJ-Gr

 

Pros:

• Explosive Damage: The Hexblast Mine build specializes in delivering high-explosive damage, allowing you to obliterate enemies with satisfyingly large explosions.
• Early-Game Dominance: This build shines in the early game, offering significant damage output that can make leveling and progressing through acts swift and enjoyable.
• End-Game Viability: As you transition into end-game content, the Hexblast Mine retains its potency, making it a versatile option for conquering challenging encounters and bosses.
• Flexibility: The build's mine-based mechanics offer a flexible playstyle, allowing you to strategize and position mines strategically to maximize damage.
• The Saboteur Ascendancy: By leveling up The Saboteur ascendancy, you gain access to valuable bonuses that enhance mine mechanics, improve survivability, and amplify damage.
• Versatile Gear Options: The build doesn't rely heavily on specific unique items, giving you flexibility in choosing gear that suits your playstyle and preferences.

 

Cons:

• Mine Mechanics Learning Curve: Operating a mine-based character requires practice and familiarity with mine mechanics, which might be challenging for newer players.
• Positioning Dependencies: Achieving optimal damage requires careful mine placement and positioning, which can be demanding during fast-paced encounters.
• Mana Management: Depending on your skill choices and resource management, maintaining a steady supply of mana for mine deployment might be a concern.
• Single Target Limitations: While the Hexblast Mine excels in dealing area damage, its single-target damage might feel comparatively lacking against certain bosses.
• Gear Investment: While versatile, the build still benefits from gear enhancements that maximize its potential, which might require time and investment.

 

↖ Shield Crush Juggernaut: Unyielding Power

Harness the brute strength of the Shield Crush Juggernaut to crush enemies and conquer challenges. While slightly slower than other melee builds, this Juggernaut build compensates with immense tankiness and impressive damage output. With a focus on defense and sustainability, this build is an excellent choice for those seeking a formidable league starter. The guide takes you through every step, from leveling to maximizing damage potential, ensuring a smooth progression through the game.

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/73LczysLq3n8

 

Pros:

• Unstoppable Tankiness: The Shield Crush Juggernaut build's primary strength lies in its exceptional tankiness. It boasts high survivability due to Juggernaut's defensive mechanics, making you nearly impervious to damage.
• Impressive Damage Output: Despite being slightly slower than some other melee builds, the Shield Crush Juggernaut compensates with substantial damage output, allowing you to efficiently dispatch enemies.
• League Starter Viability: This build is an excellent choice for starting a league, as it offers a reliable combination of defense and damage, enabling you to tackle challenges without significant gear requirements.
• Straightforward Playstyle: The build's straightforward mechanics make it accessible for both newer and experienced players, minimizing the learning curve.
• Focused on Sustainability: With a focus on defense and sustainability, the Shield Crush Juggernaut excels in extended engagements, enabling you to outlast enemies and bosses.
• Guide Support: The accompanying guide offers comprehensive information, guiding you through every step of the build's development, from leveling to optimizing damage potential.
• End-Game Viability: While it may start slightly slower, the build can progress smoothly into end-game content, providing a reliable choice for conquering the game's most challenging encounters.

 

Cons:

• Slower Movement: The Shield Crush Juggernaut's playstyle might feel slower due to its focus on tankiness and close-quarters combat, especially when compared to faster-paced builds.
• Limited Range: As a melee build, the Shield Crush Juggernaut's effectiveness is limited to close-range combat, potentially leading to difficulties against ranged enemies or mechanics that require ranged engagement.
• Gear Dependence: While not excessively gear-dependent, optimizing gear with the right defensive and offensive modifiers can significantly enhance the build's performance.
• Single-Element Focus: The build primarily deals physical damage, which may encounter limitations against enemies with high physical resistance or armor.
• Lack of Mobility Skills: The build's lack of mobility skills or movement-enhancing abilities might make maneuvering through maps and dodging hazards less intuitive.

 

↖ Rain of Arrows Raider: Master of Ranged Destruction

For those drawn to the elegance of ranged combat, the Rain of Arrows Raider offers a refreshing and potent option. This build capitalizes on the Rain of Arrows skill, backed by the Raider ascendancy for unparalleled speed and versatility. Fuzzy Doxy's extensive guide covers all the bases, from leveling to end-game content, providing you with a comprehensive resource to tackle any challenge that comes your way. Reign supreme as a master of ranged destruction with this exceptional league starter.

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/8dXtJYTV5SgW

 

Pros:

• Elegant Ranged Combat: The Rain of Arrows Raider build appeals to players who enjoy the finesse of ranged combat, allowing you to engage enemies from a safe distance while maintaining control over the battlefield.
• Versatility: Backed by the Raider ascendancy, this build offers unparalleled speed and versatility, enabling swift movement and responsive gameplay, even in the heat of battle.
• Potent Damage Output: The build's utilization of the Rain of Arrows skill provides substantial damage output, allowing you to dispatch enemies efficiently, making it satisfying to engage in ranged destruction.
• Speed and Mobility: The Raider ascendancy enhances the build's speed and mobility, enabling you to quickly navigate maps, dodge threats, and reposition as needed.
• Comprehensive Guide: Fuzzy Doxy's extensive guide ensures a smooth journey from leveling to end-game content, equipping you with the knowledge and strategies to overcome any challenge that you encounter.
• Adaptable for All Content: The build's versatility allows you to comfortably engage in various forms of content, from mapping to boss encounters, making it suitable for a well-rounded gameplay experience.
• League Starter Potential: With its comprehensive guide and adaptable mechanics, the Rain of Arrows Raider serves as an exceptional league starter option for players of all skill levels.

 

Cons:

• Learning Curve: As with any ranged build, positioning and mechanics require practice to maximize damage while avoiding enemy attacks and mechanics.
• Gear Optimization: While the build is adaptable, optimal gear can enhance its performance, which might require investment in acquiring specific items.
• Single-Target Limitations: Despite its ranged prowess, the build might encounter limitations against single, highly resilient targets that require sustained damage output.
• Elemental Resistances: Enemies with high elemental resistances might pose a challenge, necessitating careful strategy and gear choices.
• Mobility Skill Dependency: The build's reliance on mobility skills for evasive maneuvers might leave you vulnerable if these skills are on cooldown.

 

↖ BoneShatter Champion: Unleash the Bone Zone

Last but certainly not least, we have the BoneShatter Champion, a beloved and powerful build that has retained its glory. This melee-based character boasts remarkable tankiness, superb AoE capabilities, and versatility. The build's comprehensive guide, courtesy of Bennu's Gaming, walks you through every aspect, from initial setup to end-game potential. With the recent Trauma support gem, this build offers exciting possibilities for customization, making it a fantastic choice for conquering the league's challenges.

 

PoB Link: https://pobb.in/as_K7xlsmVbe

 

Pros:

• Proven Effectiveness: The BoneShatter Champion is a beloved and powerful build that has stood the test of time, boasting a track record of success and effectiveness.
• Tankiness: This melee-based character excels in tankiness, offering a robust defense that allows you to withstand hits and endure challenging encounters.
• Superb AoE Capabilities: With exceptional area of effect (AoE) capabilities, the BoneShatter Champion can efficiently clear groups of enemies, making map clearing and mob encounters satisfying.
• Versatility: The build's versatility allows it to adapt to various situations, making it effective against both single targets and crowds, enhancing its overall gameplay experience.
• Comprehensive Guide: Bennu's Gaming provides a comprehensive guide that covers every aspect of the build, from initial setup to end-game potential, ensuring a smooth and informed progression.
• Recent Trauma Support Gem: The introduction of the Trauma support gem offers exciting possibilities for customization, enabling you to tailor the build to your preferences and conquer the league's challenges.
• End-Game Potential: The BoneShatter Champion's potency extends into end-game content, making it a reliable choice for tackling even the most formidable bosses and encounters.

 

Cons:

Melee Mechanics Learning Curve: As a melee-based character, mastering positioning and mechanics for effective engagement might require practice and adjustment.

• Gear Requirements: While the build is powerful, optimizing gear with the right modifiers and items can significantly enhance its performance, potentially requiring investment.
• Mobility and Dodging: Melee builds might face challenges with mobility and dodging mechanics, making maneuvering around hazards and projectiles more challenging.
• Potential Reflect Damage: The build's powerful AoE capabilities might lead to inadvertent reflect damage, which can be dangerous if not managed carefully.
• Limited Elemental Options: The build might be limited in elemental damage options, potentially encountering difficulties against enemies with high elemental resistances.

 

↖ Conclusion

As the 3.22 league dawns upon us, the Path of Exile community eagerly awaits the chance to embark on another exhilarating journey. While the patch notes may not have caused a drastic shift, these five league starter builds promise thrilling adventures and the opportunity to carve your path to greatness. Whether you're drawn to fiery destruction, explosive mines, unyielding defense, ranged elegance, or bone-shattering force, these builds provide the perfect starting point to dominate the challenges that lie ahead. Best of luck, Exiles, and may your journey through Wraeclast be as rewarding as it is unforgettable.