In this article we will provide you with the top 5 PoE Crucible league start builds in Path of Exile’s new season. We understand that choosing the right build can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a list of the most budget-friendly and easy-to-play builds that will help you quickly progress through the campaign and reach the end game.
Before we jump into our list of PoE Crucible league start builds, let us talk about PoE a bit, which every ARPG fan considers as a great Diablo 4 alternative.
Path of Exile is a free-to-play online action role-playing game (ARPG) that was developed and published by Grinding Gear Games in 2013. The game is set in the dark and gritty world of Wraeclast, where players must explore and survive in a vast and dangerous land filled with monsters, treasures, and mysteries. Players create their own character and customize their appearance, abilities, and playstyle. The game features a complex and deep character customization system, where players can choose from different classes and ascendancies, and allocate skill points to different passive and active abilities.
Path of Exile is known for its unique and challenging gameplay, where players must use their wits, skills, and strategies to overcome difficult challenges and progress through the game. The game features a variety of game modes, including the campaign, the endgame, and different leagues and events.
Every other third month, we are introduced to a new PoE season and lovers of this niche ARPG game are constantly in need of huge guides in this super complicated game. That’s why we have decided to create a PoE Crucible league start builds writing on our site. Before we jump into our recommended PoE Crucible league start builds, check out the PoE Crucible trailer from the Path of Exile Youtube channel below.
What are the best PoE Crucible league start builds?
Every other 3rd mount we are introduced to a new PoE season and gamers are constantly in need of huge guides in this super complicated game. That’s why we have decided to create a PoE Crucible league start builds writing on our site.
Here are our PoE Crucible league start builds recommendations:
- Toxic Rain Pathfinder
- Explosive Arrow Champion
- Righteous Fire Juggernaut
- Cold DoT Elementalist
- Seismic Trap Saboteur
Toxic Rain Pathfinder
First on our list is the Toxic Rain Pathfinder build, which is highly sought-after for the new season. This build uses multiple auras that grant you passive defenses and curses against enemies.
Toxic Rain with Ballista Totem support and Toxic Rain gems are the primary abilities used in this build. The changes to the Pathfinder ascendancy in 3.21 have affected the area of effect, but we have made adjustments to compensate for this loss. Below you may find Toxic Rain Pathfinder’s end-game skill tree.
Gem links of the Toxic Rain Pathfinder are as follows:
Main skills
- Toxic Rain – Void Manipulation – Vicious Projectiles – Mirage Archer – Efficacy – Increased Duration
- Toxic Rain – Ballista Totem – Multiple Totems – Focused Ballista – Withering Touch – Efficacy
Other skills
- Vaal Haste
- Vaal Grace
- Determination
- Defiance Banner
- Malevolence – Divine Blessing – Inspiration
- Despair
- Flame Dash
- Withering Step
- Vaal Molten Shell (Lv.10) – Cast when Damage Taken (Lv.1)
Recommended uniques:
- The Devouring Diadem, Necromancer Circlet
Check the PoB link here if you need further explanation of the build.
Explosive Arrow Champion
The second build on our list is the Explosive Arrow Champion build, which has been a popular league starter in the previous season. This build uses auras and curses, and its main gem is Explosive Arrow, which is played as a totem.
The changes in patch 3.21 have affected the fire damage mastery, causing a slight decrease in damage output. However, we have made adjustments to the mana reservation, as mentioned in PoE Crucible patch notes, to compensate for this loss. Below you may find Explosive Arrow Champion’s end-game skill tree.
Gem links of the EA Champion are as follows:
Main skills
- Explosive Arrow – Ballista Totem – Combustion – Deadly Ailments – Lifetap – Empower
- Frenzy – Blink Arrow – Lifetap – Culling Strike – Hextouch – Flammability
Other skills
- Arcanist Brand – Flame Surge – Lifetap
- Infernal Cry
- Determination
- Vaal Grace
- Summon Skitterbots
- Defiance Banner (only with 10% Mana Reservation Efficiency on Helmet)
- Vaal Molten Shell (Lv.1) – Cast when Damage Taken (Lv.10)
- Flame Dash – Lifetap
Recommended uniques:
- Dyadian Dawn, Heavy Belt
Check the PoB link here if you need further explanation of the build.
Righteous Fire Juggernaut
The third build on our list is the Righteous Fire Juggernaut build, which is not just a league starter but also a meta build that is played every season.
This build is highly recommended for its tankiness, high damage output, and good sustain. For leveling, we suggest starting with Arc and then using Armageddon Brand and finally Righteous Fire and Firetrap to progress through the campaign. Below you may find TRighteous Fire Juggernaut’s end-game skill tree. If we look at he PoE Crucible patch notes, there isn’t much changed in this build since the last two leagues.
Gem links of the RF Juggernaut are as follows:
Main skills
- Righteous Fire – Elemental Focus – Increased Area of Effect – Empower
- Fire Trap – Trap and Mine Damage – Swift Affliction – Empower – Burning Damage – Lifetap
Other skills
- Arcanist Brand (Lv.1) – Elemental Weakness – Flammability – Vaal Molten Shell
- Shield Charge – Faster Attacks – Lifetap – Infernal Cry
- Malevolence
- Summon Skitterbots
- Flame Dash (Lv.1)
- Determination
- Defiance Banner – Arrogance
Recommended uniques:
- Saffell’s Frame, Branded Kite Shield
- Legacy of Fury, Wrymscale Boots
- Brass Dome, Gladiator Plate
Check the PoB link here if you need further explanation of the build.
Cold DoT Elementalist
The fourth build on our list is the Cold DoT Elementalist build, which has seen an incredible amount of players as a league starter in the previous season.
This build uses Vaal Cold Snap, which deals strong initial cold damage and then cold damage over time. Cold DoT build provides high damage output, good clear speed, and high survivability. However, it has limited single-target damage and a slow playstyle. Below you may find Cold DoT Elementalist’s end-game skill tree.
Gem links of the Cold DoT Elementalist are as follows:
Main skills:
- Vortex – Creeping Frost -Inspiration – Controlled Destruction – Hypothermia – Cruelty
- Vaal Cold Snap – Bonechill – Controlled Destruction – Cruelty
Other skills
- Vaal Grace
- Defiance Banner
- Determination
- Clarity
- Elemental Weakness – Hex Bloom – Frostbite
- Shield Charge – Faster Attacks
- Vaal Molten Shell (Lv.10) – Cast when Damage Taken (Lv.1) – Frost Bomb
- Flame Dash
Recommended uniques:
- Eye of Malice, Callous Mask
Check the PoB link here if you need further explanation of the build.
Seismic Trap Assasin
Lastly, we have the Seismic Trap Assasin build, which has been affected by the changes in patch 3.21 as we can see from PoE Crucible patch notes. This build was one of the strongest builds in the previous season, but changes to the Saboteur ascendancy have affected its damage output and survivability. It is still one of the strongest PoE Crucible league start builds out there.
However, the poison archetype is still viable, and we suggest using Assassin ascendancy for the best results. Below you may find Seismic Trap Assasin’s end-game skill tree.
Gem links of the Seismic Trap Assasin are as follows:
Main skills
Seismic Trap – Trap and Mine Damage – Void Manipulation – Advanced Traps – Deadly Ailments – Unbound Ailments
Blade Trap – Withering Touch – Cluster Traps – Additional Accuracy (Single Target Trap)
Exsanguinate – Trap – Chain – Cluster Traps (Multi Target Trap)
Other skills
- Summon Skitterbots
- Determination
- Vaal Grace
- Withering Step
- Malevolence – Divine Blessing (Lv.1)
- Flame Dash
- Shield Charge – Hextouch – Despair – Temporal Chains
- Cast when Damage Taken (Lv.1) – Vaal Molten Shell (Lv.10)
Recommended uniques:
- The Devouring Diadem, Necromancer Circlet
Check the PoB link here if you need further explanation of the build.
When is the PoE Crucible launch day?
Path of Exile Crucible will be available for free starting from April 7th (PDT) on PC and Mac, and on April 12th (PDT) on Xbox and PlayStation. In this new expansion, players will delve into the history of the ancient titans who once shaped the land of Wraeclast, and if they prove their worth, they can harness their power and enhance their weapons.
Aside from the new storyline, the April expansion also features the Crucible challenge league, which introduces nine new Vaal Skills, Atlas Gateways, over ten new Unique Items, and enhancements to the Breach, Abyss, Passive Tree Masteries, Saboteur, Pathfinder, Ruthless, and more. The new content promises to provide exciting and challenging gameplay for both new and veteran players alike and with our PoE Crucible league start builds guide you will be ahead of everyone!
These top 5 league starter builds are the best cheap PoE Crucible league start builds for beginners in the new season. Feel free to play whichever build you like, but our PoE Crucible league start builds list should give you some ideas and help you progress through the game easily. We recommend checking the PoE Crucible patch notes using the link here before you decide which build you want to play. And don’t forget to grab your item filter from FilterBlade before the Crucible League starts.
