Dear exiles, the Path of Exile 3.23 expansion: Affliction is coming. Today, the professional PoE shop MmoGah will share the top 6 league starter builds with you. Concluding Absolution Guardian, Cobra Lash Deadeye, Boneshatter Juggernaut, Divine Ire Totems Hierophant, SRS Necromancer, and Phys Reap Hierophant build.
1. Absolution Guardian
Absolution:
Quality now causes Minions to have 0-40% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate instead of dealing 0-20% increased Damage.
The first build is Absolution Guardian. Absolution was buffed in 3.23 Affliction. You can use Vaal Absolution if you get it fast enough, and the Minion from Vaal Absolution is pretty strong, especially with the new cooldown bonuses.
Build Performance
Tankiness: 5 Stars
Clear: 4 Stars
Bossing: 4 Stars
Speed: 3 Stars
Notes
This is a very tanky build for a starter.
This build has a high block chance without Glancing Blows + Regeneration + DR from Ascendancies.
Minions are ranged and auto-targeting, so you won't miss many enemies on the maps.
EZ acts thanks to the Radiance.
The speed of this build is overall alright.
Absolution Guardian build is a pretty strong starter with good buffs in the Affliction league, and I think it will work well.
2. Cobra Lash Deadeye
Cobra Lash:
Now has "Projectiles deal 8% more Damage with Hits and Ailments for each Remaining Chain" (previously 5% with Hits). No longer has +50% to Damage over Time Multiplier for Poison from Critical Strikes.
Quality now causes the skill to Chain +0-2 Times instead of providing 0-30% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Build Performance
Tankiness: 4 Stars
Clear: 5 Stars
Bossing: 2 Stars
Speed: 5 Stars
Notes
This build has Good CC (crowd control) due to constant knockback, which greatly helps with surviving.
A lot of instant leech helps with this, too.
This build has great clear and AoE due to chain and returning projectiles.
This build is very speedy.
This build needs clusters and covenants for bossing.
3. Boneshatter Juggernaut
Boneshatter:
Quality now provides +0-1% more Damage per Trauma instead of 0-20% increased Stun Duration on enemies.
Build Performance
Tankiness: 5 Stars
Clear: 5 Stars
Bossing: 3 Stars
Speed: 4 Stars
Notes
This build is a tried and true starter that works.
You can delete packs immediately.
This build has the greatest survivability at Juggernaut.
The speed will be fast with Leap Slam.
Boneshatter build was one of the classics for the past few leagues, and it's still working well.
4. Divine Ire Totems Hierophant
Divine Ire:
Now has a maximum of 10 Stages. The Beam now deals 240% more Damage with Hits per Stage after the first (previously 110%) and 100% more Damage with Ailments per Stage after the first (previously 30%). It no longer has 50% less Damage while Channelling, a 40% chance to gain an additional Stage when Hitting a Normal or Magic Enemy, or gains an additional Stage when Hitting a Rare or Unique Enemy.
Quality now provides 0-20% increased beam width instead of 0-10% increased Area of Effect.
Build Performance
Tankiness: 3 Stars
Clear: 4 Stars
Bossing: 5 Stars
Speed: 2 Stars
Notes
This build has stable Damage to enemies.
It clears well but takes time to set up.
This build has a safe gamestyle common for totem builds.
It performs well with a five-link but requires Soul Mantle, which can be expensive.
Like many totem builds, this build is not a zooming material.
Immune to curses.
Divine Ire Totems is one of the new builds that will work in the Affliction League. It will be a strong starter because it's fresh and prominent.
5. SRS Necromancer
Summon Raging Spirit (SRS) Necromancer is another Minion base build that should shine well at the Affliction League. It was a popular starter before, and not many things have changed.
Build Performance
Tankiness: 4 Stars
Clear: 4 Stars
Bossing: 4 Stars
Speed: 4 Stars
Notes
This is a balanced build that has decent survivability and Damage.
Based on the previews, this build has access to spectres, which should provide strong supportive bonuses for this league.
The speed is also decent since we have access to haste via divine blessing.
This build can scale well to the endgame of other Necromancer builds.
SRS should be a stable starter that could be good with all aspects of the game.
6. Phys Reap Hierophant
How does the new Ralakesh's Impatience work exactly?
For most purposes, it's the same as actually having maximum charges. You'll gain the inherent stats granted by charges. Anything that gives you stats per charge will behave as if you had maximum charges, and so forth. This removes the abuse cases involving unequipping the boots and then spending the charges (though the bonuses are also no longer tied to being stationary).
Build Performance
Tankiness: 3 Stars
Clear: 4 Stars
Bossing: 5 Stars
Speed: 3 Stars
Notes
This build can provide exceptional Damage.
There is incredible potential to scale into an endgame Phys reap version if you decide to stick with the build.
The defence for the build is offence.
Shock immune while you use Malachai's Loop+Tempest Shield.
This build is not very fast but can use a shield charge.
Conclusion
These six strong league starters were originally from the Youtuber ronarray. You can click here to watch the whole video if you like animation. I hope you have an amazing start in the 3.23 Affliction.