POE Build Planner
Master the Art of Character Building
Create powerful and optimized builds for Path of Exile. Learn passive tree planning, gear optimization, and skill synergies to dominate Wraeclast.
Build Planning Fundamentals
Understanding the core concepts of build planning in Path of Exile. Every successful build starts with these fundamentals.
Key Points:
- League start vs endgame
- Budget considerations
- Content focus (mapping, bossing, delving)
- Solo vs group play
Key Points:
- Damage type (physical, elemental, chaos)
- Skill tags and scaling
- Support gem synergies
- Weapon/spell requirements
Key Points:
- Life vs Energy Shield vs Hybrid
- Resistance requirements
- Damage mitigation layers
- Recovery mechanisms
Key Points:
- Primary scaling stats
- Critical strikes vs non-crit
- Elemental vs physical scaling
- Aura and buff synergies
Common Build Archetypes
Characteristics:
- Minimal gear requirements
- Strong early game
- Easy to play
- Good for farming currency
Characteristics:
- High single target DPS
- Strong defenses
- Expensive to optimize
- Specific gear requirements
Characteristics:
- High movement speed
- Great AoE clear
- Lower single target
- Quality of life focused
Planning Process
Research
Study skills and mechanics
Planning
Create passive tree layout
Testing
Test in Path of Building
Iteration
Refine and optimize
Passive Tree Planning
Master the massive passive skill tree with 1,325 nodes. Learn efficient pathing, key node priorities, and optimization strategies.
- 7 starting areas for each class
- Notable passives provide major bonuses
- Keystone passives have powerful trade-offs
- Jewel sockets for customization
- Plan your route to key nodes
- Minimize travel nodes when possible
- Consider multiple paths to the same area
- Account for ascendancy synergies
- Life/ES nodes are highest priority
- Resistance nodes for elemental damage
- Armor/Evasion for physical mitigation
- Block and dodge mechanics
- Weapon-specific or spell damage nodes
- Critical strike chance and multiplier
- Elemental damage and penetration
- Attack/cast speed for DPS
Important Keystones
Powerful passive nodes that fundamentally change how your character works.
Effect:
Maximum Life becomes 1, Immune to Chaos Damage
Use Case:
Energy Shield builds that want chaos immunity
Warning:
Requires heavy ES investment
Effect:
Removes all mana, skills cost life instead
Use Case:
Life-based builds that want to ignore mana
Warning:
Need high life and life recovery
Effect:
Energy Shield protects Mana instead of Life
Use Case:
Hybrid builds with high mana costs
Warning:
Changes ES mechanics completely
Effect:
Life Leech applies to Energy Shield instead
Use Case:
ES builds that want leech recovery
Warning:
No life leech for actual life
Pro Tips
Start with life/ES nodes early for survivability
Plan your endgame tree but level progressively
Use Path of Building to test different configurations
Consider respec costs when planning major changes
Account for gear requirements in your planning
Gear Planning & Optimization
Plan your equipment progression from league start to endgame. Learn stat priorities, unique items, and crafting strategies.
Key Stats:
Tips:
- Weapon DPS is crucial for attack builds
- Spell builds focus on cast speed and added damage
- Consider weapon-specific passive nodes
Key Stats:
Tips:
- Shields provide block chance and defenses
- Quivers boost bow builds significantly
- Dual wielding offers damage bonuses
Key Stats:
Tips:
- Good source of resistances
- Many unique helmets offer build-enabling effects
- Consider enchantments for endgame
Key Stats:
Tips:
- 6-link is crucial for main skill
- Highest life/ES potential
- Many unique chests change gameplay
Gear Progression Timeline
Priorities:
- 4-link for main skill
- Life and resistances
- Movement speed
- Weapon upgrades
Budget:
Self-found gear
Priorities:
- 5-link main skill
- 75% elemental resistances
- Life pool 3000+
- Key unique items
Budget:
1-10 chaos per piece
Priorities:
- 6-link main skill
- High life/ES pool
- Damage optimization
- Endgame uniques
Budget:
Multiple exalts investment
Stat Priority Guidelines
Stats:
- • Life/Energy Shield
- • Elemental Resistances
- • Physical Damage Reduction
- • Block/Dodge Chance
Target:
75% resistances, 5000+ life/7000+ ES
Stats:
- • Weapon Damage
- • Critical Strike Chance/Multi
- • Attack/Cast Speed
- • Added Damage
Target:
Varies by build archetype
Stats:
- • Movement Speed
- • Mana/Mana Regen
- • Area Damage
- • Quality of Life
Target:
30%+ movement speed recommended
Build Optimization & Testing
Fine-tune your build for maximum efficiency. Learn testing methodologies, common pitfalls, and optimization strategies.
Strategies:
- Identify your damage scaling bottlenecks
- Balance crit chance vs crit multiplier
- Optimize support gem combinations
- Consider damage conversion mechanics
Strategies:
- Stack different mitigation types
- Ensure adequate recovery mechanisms
- Plan for elemental ailment immunity
- Consider guard skills and defensive auras
Strategies:
- Optimize movement skills and speed
- Improve area coverage and targeting
- Reduce skill downtime and delays
- Add utility skills for convenience
Strategies:
- Balance mana costs with regeneration
- Optimize flask usage and charges
- Consider reservation efficiency
- Plan for sustain in long encounters
Testing Your Build
Systematic approaches to validate your build's performance
Pros:
- • Accurate DPS calculations
- • Easy gear comparison
- • Passive tree planning
Cons:
- • Doesn't account for player skill
- • Some mechanics not modeled
Best Usage:
Essential for theory-crafting and optimization
Pros:
- • Real game environment
- • Tests actual performance
- • Easy to access
Cons:
- • Limited scenarios
- • No movement required
- • Doesn't test defenses
Best Usage:
Good for basic DPS validation and skill rotation testing
Pros:
- • Tests all aspects
- • Real monster interactions
- • Movement requirements
Cons:
- • Time consuming
- • Variable conditions
- • Requires investment
Best Usage:
Final validation before committing to the build
Common Mistakes
Problem:
Focusing only on damage while ignoring survivability
Solution:
Aim for 75% resistances and 5000+ life minimum
Problem:
Taking inefficient routes through the passive tree
Solution:
Plan your route and minimize travel nodes
Problem:
Building around expensive unique items without alternatives
Solution:
Plan budget alternatives and progression paths
Problem:
Not accounting for skill mana requirements
Solution:
Test mana sustain early and plan accordingly
Popular Build Archetypes
Explore proven build concepts that work well in the current meta. Perfect starting points for your own builds.
Pros:
- • Extremely tanky
- • Good league starter
- • Simple gameplay
- • Scales well
Cons:
- • Lower DPS ceiling
- • Slow clear early
- • Limited range
Key Items:
Playstyle:
Walk around and let enemies burn while being unkillable
Pros:
- • Great boss DPS
- • Good clear speed
- • Flexible scaling
- • Strong defenses
Cons:
- • Gear dependent
- • Complex mechanics
- • Expensive to optimize
Key Items:
Playstyle:
Melee strikes that shoot projectiles for both single target and clear
Pros:
- • Great league starter
- • Smooth progression
- • Good clear
- • Chaos damage
Cons:
- • Lower single target
- • DoT playstyle
- • Flask dependent
Key Items:
Playstyle:
Shoot toxic pods that deal chaos damage over time
Pros:
- • Insane single target
- • Very tanky
- • Satisfying gameplay
- • Unique mechanics
Cons:
- • Expensive
- • Complex trauma management
- • Slower clear
Key Items:
Playstyle:
Build trauma stacks for massive damage while staying alive
Build Categories
Characteristics:
- Self-found friendly
- Smooth progression
- Low gear requirements
Examples:
Characteristics:
- High single target DPS
- Strong defenses
- Expensive optimization
Examples:
Characteristics:
- High movement speed
- Great AoE clear
- Quality of life focused
Examples:
Ready to Plan Your Build?
Use our Timeless Jewel Calculator to optimize your passive tree and plan your perfect build.
Start Planning