Which Class Is Best in Path of Exile?
One of the first big decisions every player makes is: Which class should I play? It's a question that sparks endless debate, because PoE doesn't have a simple answer. Unlike many RPGs where one class dominates, PoE is designed around flexibility. Any class can, in theory, become powerful. But depending on your goals-whether it's farming efficiently, clearing maps quickly, or taking down endgame bosses-some classes fit better than others.
This guide will help you understand each class in Path of Exile, what makes them strong, and how to decide which class is "best" for your playstyle.
Understanding Classes in Path of Exile
Before diving into rankings, let's clear up how classes work in PoE.
Seven Base Classes: Marauder, Ranger, Witch, Duelist, Templar, Shadow, and Scion.
Starting Position: Each class starts at a different location on the Passive Skill Tree, influencing their natural strengths (strength, dexterity, intelligence, or hybrids).
Ascendancies: Each class has 3 ascendancies (specialized subclasses unlocked in the Labyrinth), except Scion who has one highly flexible ascendancy.
In reality, the "best class" isn't about the base class-it's about the ascendancy you choose. Ascendancies define your build's identity, giving powerful bonuses that shape how you play.
The Classes in Detail
1. Marauder
Primary Stat: Strength
Playstyle: Tanky, melee-focused, durable frontliner.
Ascendancies: Juggernaut, Berserker, Chieftain
Strengths:
High life pool and survivability.
Great for melee or slam-based builds.
Juggernaut is one of the tankiest ascendancies in the game.
Weaknesses:
Slower playstyle compared to dexterity-based classes.
Gear-dependent for damage scaling.
Best For: Players who like being unkillable juggernauts in melee range.
2. Ranger
Primary Stat: Dexterity
Playstyle: Fast, agile, ranged damage dealer.
Ascendancies: Deadeye, Pathfinder, Raider
Strengths:
Incredible clear speed with bow builds (Deadeye).
Pathfinder excels at flask usage and poison builds.
Raider offers insane movement and attack speed.
Weaknesses:
Lower survivability if not carefully geared.
Endgame bossing is harder without heavy investment. You need to buy POE currency for it.
Best For: Players who love speed, projectiles, and hit-and-run tactics.
3. Witch
Primary Stat: Intelligence
Playstyle: Spellcaster, minions, or elemental control.
Ascendancies: Necromancer, Elementalist, Occultist
Strengths:
Necromancer is the go-to for summoner builds (zombies, skeletons, spectres).
Elementalist excels at elemental AoE destruction (fire, cold, lightning).
Occultist dominates chaos damage and curses.
Weaknesses:
Can feel squishy without investment.
Some builds require micromanagement of minions or curses.
Best For: Players who enjoy magic, minions, or elemental explosions.
4. Duelist
Primary Stat: Strength/Dexterity hybrid
Playstyle: Agile melee or hybrid fighter.
Ascendancies: Slayer, Gladiator, Champion
Strengths:
Slayer has fantastic life leech and sustain.
Gladiator is king of bleed/explosion builds.
Champion offers powerful tankiness with fortify and aura support.
Weaknesses:
Some builds require precise positioning.
Lower versatility compared to Witch or Templar.
Best For: Players who like melee combat with more agility than Marauder.
5. Templar
Primary Stats: Strength/Intelligence hybrid
Playstyle: Spellcasting bruiser, support caster, or totem user.
Ascendancies: Inquisitor, Hierophant, Guardian
Strengths:
Inquisitor is one of the best spell damage ascendancies.
Hierophant is the totem king (popular for ballista or spell totems).
Guardian excels at support and aura synergy (great for party play).
Weaknesses:
Mobility can be slower than other classes.
Some builds require very specific gear.
Best For: Players who enjoy spellcasting or hybrid tanky caster playstyles.
6. Shadow
Primary Stats: Dexterity/Intelligence hybrid
Playstyle: Assassin, trapper, or chaos/poison specialist.
Ascendancies: Assassin, Saboteur, Trickster
Strengths:
Assassin dominates crit-based builds.
Saboteur is unrivaled for trap and mine playstyles.
Trickster offers hybrid survivability with evasion/ES.
Weaknesses:
Often glass-cannon oriented.
High skill expression-easy to die if you're not careful.
Best For: Players who like fast-paced, sneaky, high-DPS builds.
7. Scion
Primary Stats: Balanced (can access all attributes)
Playstyle: Jack-of-all-trades with maximum flexibility.
Ascendancy: Ascendant (can take parts of other ascendancies)
Strengths:
Can combine multiple ascendancy bonuses.
Very flexible-good for creative builds.
Access to the center of the Passive Skill Tree.
Weaknesses:
Harder to play optimally-requires deep game knowledge.
Less specialized power compared to dedicated ascendancies.
Best For: Experienced players who want maximum freedom and build experimentation.
Which Class Is the Best?
The short answer: There isn't one.
Path of Exile is designed so that any class can be powerful with the right build. But if we break it down by different goals, we can highlight which classes stand out.
Best for Beginners: Necromancer (Witch)
Minion builds are forgiving-your army does most of the work.
Great survivability, low gear requirement, and strong damage.
Easy learning curve while still viable in endgame.
Best for Speed & Mapping: Deadeye (Ranger)
High mobility and projectile chaining clears maps fast.
Perfect for farming Path of exile currency efficiently.
Best for Bossing: Slayer (Duelist) or Juggernaut (Marauder)
Slayer's life leech and huge melee damage shine in boss fights.
Juggernaut's tankiness makes endgame bosses more manageable.
Best for Hardcore (No-Death Mode): Juggernaut (Marauder) or Champion (Duelist)
Both are extremely tanky with strong defenses.
Great choices if survival is your priority.
Best for Advanced Players: Scion (Ascendant)
Unmatched flexibility, but requires deep knowledge.
Lets you experiment with hybrid ascendancy combos.
Meta Considerations
Each new League and balance patch shakes up the meta. For example:
Summoners may be overpowered one league, then nerfed the next.
Totem builds or poison builds often rise and fall in popularity.
Certain ascendancies are "safe picks" (Juggernaut, Necromancer, Slayer), while others shine depending on patch notes.
It's always wise to check League starter guides before choosing your class each season.
Final Thoughts
So, which is the best class in Path of Exile? The truth is: the best class is the one that fits your playstyle.
If you're new, Necromancer is an excellent entry point.
If you want speed and farming efficiency, Deadeye or Raider shine.
If you want to crush bosses, Slayer or Juggernaut won't let you down.
If you want flexibility and experimentation, Scion is unmatched.
At the end of the day, Path of Exile rewards creativity and knowledge more than class choice. With the right build, any class can conquer endgame. So pick the playstyle you enjoy most, dive into the Passive Tree, and start shaping your Exile into a legend.