BEST & Most SURVIVABLE Classes in Path of Exile 2 (Week 7)

Summary

In this video, Dry Bear examines the evolving trends on the leaderboards of Path of Exile 2, with a focus on class popularity and survivability. Comparing Standard League, Solo Self-Found, Hardcore, and Hardcore SSF categories, he highlights shifts in class usage, especially the rise of Gemling Legionnaire and Blood Mage while observing drops in Storm Weaver and Dead Eye. He also explores survival rates, noting significant improvements across most classes, with some exceptions like Titan and Warbringer. With upcoming patch changes and the potential for a full reset, the video offers insightful predictions about the future of class dynamics in the game.

Takeaways

• 😀 Storm Weaver and Dead Eye have seen a significant drop in popularity over the last two weeks in the standard league, as players explore other builds.
• 😀 Invoker builds, particularly those utilizing dual Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder, continue to dominate in Solo Self Found (SSF) leagues due to their high survivability and damage output.
• 😀 Pathfinder builds, especially the Concoction build, are on the rise in Hardcore and Hardcore SSF leagues due to their flexibility and strong survivability.
• 😀 Witch Hunter continues to be one of the least popular ascendency classes across all leagues, consistently appearing at the bottom of the leaderboard.
• 😀 Titan and Warbringer have experienced a decline in popularity, particularly in Hardcore leagues, due to issues with armor-based builds and lack of flexibility.
• 😀 Blood Mage and Gemling Legionnaire are rising in popularity, with new builds emerging that take advantage of their unique attributes and mechanics.
• 😀 Hardcore league players are showing improved survival rates overall, with most classes surviving longer due to better gameplay strategies and optimization.
• 😀 Despite rising in other leagues, Blood Mage and Gemling Legionnaire have seen a drop in Hardcore SSF, where the competition is tougher and survival is more challenging.
• 😀 Survivability has generally increased across the board, with the notable exception of Storm Weaver and Titan, who have seen drops in survival rates in Hardcore leagues.
• 😀 The upcoming balance patch is expected to bring significant changes to the class meta, with some ascendency builds receiving buffs and others potentially being nerfed.

Q & A

What classes have seen a drop in popularity in the standard League since the last check-in?

Storm Weaver and Dead Eye have both experienced significant drops in popularity in the standard League, with other classes like Gemling Legionnaire and Blood Mage rising in their place.

Why is the standard League considered an extreme case for class popularity?

The standard League allows players to buy items from trade and complete builds quickly, making it easier for players to switch to the current 'flavor of the month' class or build, leading to frequent shifts in popularity.

What class is currently dominating the top leaderboards in standard League?

Storm Weaver, specifically the Storm Weaver Mage Spark build, has been dominating the standard League leaderboards due to its clear speed and ability to one-shot bosses.

Which class has shown the most growth in popularity in standard League?

Gemling Legionnaire and Blood Mage have seen the most noticeable increase in popularity, likely due to new builds and interactions that players have discovered.

How does the Solo Self-Found (SSF) category differ from the standard League in terms of gameplay?

SSF removes the ability to trade or use other players' items, meaning that players must rely entirely on their own loot and builds. This makes it a more representative experience of the game's difficulty and class balance.

Which build is rising in popularity within the standard SSF league?

Invoker builds, specifically those using Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder, have been rising in popularity due to their high freeze buildup, screen-clear potential, and good single-target damage.

Why are Dead Eye builds dropping in popularity across all leagues?

Dead Eye builds are losing favor because they can be more difficult to build without high-cost items, and players are shifting towards other classes like Pathfinder or Gemling Legionnaire for better results.

In the Hardcore League, what makes Infernal Minion builds a popular choice?

Infernal Minion builds are popular in the Hardcore League because Minions can block projectiles and stop melee enemies, and they also offer damage conversions that help players survive and deal more damage.

How has the popularity of Pathfinder changed in the Hardcore League?

Pathfinder has seen an increase in popularity within Hardcore League, likely due to its safer builds that incorporate the Concoction interaction, offering movement and tankiness without relying on risky mechanics like sniping.

What classes have seen drops in both Hardcore and Hardcore SSF leagues?

Dead Eye, Titan, Warbringer, and Witch Hunter have seen drops in both Hardcore and Hardcore SSF leagues. These classes have struggled with survivability, and their builds tend to require specific gear or mechanics that are not performing well in the current meta.