PoE Builds 3.23: Top 3 Meta Builds of Week One

Greetings, exiles! The Affliction League has brought exciting new challenges and opportunities, and I’m here to break down the three most dominant builds that emerged during week one. These statistics come directly from poe.ninja’s comprehensive build tracking, giving us reliable insights into what strategies top players are employing to conquer Wraeclast’s newest threats.

Understanding the meta is crucial for efficient progression, whether you’re racing to endgame or planning a steady campaign. These builds represent the optimal balance of power, speed, and accessibility that experienced players have gravitated toward.

When selecting your league starter, consider not just raw power but also how the build scales with investment and handles different content types. Each of these top performers excels in specific areas while maintaining respectable performance across the board.

1. Lightning Arrow Deadeye

Dominating the meta with an impressive 20%+ adoption rate among high-level players, the Lightning Arrow Deadeye continues to be the premier choice for speed-focused exiles. Despite the Vengeant Cascade nerf, the introduction of the Returning Projectiles Support gem has maintained this build’s incredible clear speed and single-target damage, making it the go-to option for efficient mapping and currency farming.

The key to this build’s continued dominance lies in its mechanical efficiency. Lightning Arrow’s chain reactions combined with returning projectiles create devastating area coverage while maintaining strong boss damage. This guide provides both budget and complete versions, each with dedicated Path of Building links and passive trees, allowing you to start with minimal investment and scale into endgame power.

Pros

Exceptional Clear Speed

Outstanding Boss Damage

Excellent Currency Farming Potential

Straightforward Build Process

Safe Ranged Combat Style

Cons

Limited Defensive Capabilities

Budget

To clear white maps

4 links + affordable gear

80 x Chaos Orbs

To clear yellow maps

5 links + mid-tier equipment

150 x Chaos Orbs

To complete the Atlas

6 links + optimized gear

4 x Divine Orbs

In the budget configuration, the Yoke of Suffering amulet serves as your only mandatory unique item. This powerful accessory provides elemental damage amplification through shock application, significantly increasing your damage output against all enemies.

For the complete version, beyond the Yoke of Suffering, you’ll need to acquire Lioneye’s Fall and Thread of Hope unique jewels. While these represent substantial investments, they provide exponential damage scaling that transforms the build into an endgame powerhouse.

Clear Speed: 10/10

Boss Damage: 10/10

Survivability: 8/10

2. SRS Guardian

Capturing over 9% of the high-level player base, the Summon Raging Spirits Guardian represents the pinnacle of minion build efficiency. As experienced players know, minion builds consistently deliver exceptional performance, but this particular setup offers the best cost-to-benefit ratio in the current meta. It provides a straightforward and secure approach to completing all content with minimal currency investment and mechanical complexity.

This build’s strength lies in its layered defensive approach combined with consistent damage output. The Guardian ascendancy provides innate tankiness through its aura nodes and defensive bonuses, while the raging spirits deliver reliable damage without requiring precise targeting or positioning.

Pros

Budget-Friendly Setup

Exceptional Survivability

Strong Single-Target Damage

Reliable Currency Generation

Ideal League Starter

Perfect for New Players

Simple Construction Process

Smooth Leveling Experience

Safe Playstyle

Three Complimentary Auras

Cons

No Evasion Mechanics

Unable to Leech Life or Mana

Continuous Spirit Casting Required

Budget

To clear white maps

4 links + economical gear

60 x Chaos Orbs

To clear yellow maps

5 links + intermediate equipment

100 x Chaos Orbs

To complete the Atlas

6 links + quality gear

4 x Divine Orbs

Clear Speed: 8/10

Boss Damage: 9/10

Survivability: 10/10

3. Tornado Shot Deadeye

Commanding approximately 7% of the high-level player population, the Tornado Shot Deadeye maintains its status as the quintessential archer build. Tornado Shot’s inherent power eliminates the need for Returning Projectile support, allowing you to maintain Mirage Archer for enhanced clear speed and smoother gameplay. Similar to the Lightning Arrow setup, this guide includes both budget and premium versions, enabling you to begin with minimal resources and progressively upgrade as your currency accumulates.

The build’s effectiveness stems from Tornado Shot’s unique projectile behavior. Each shot releases multiple secondary projectiles that seek nearby targets, creating exceptional area coverage while maintaining strong single-target damage through precise aiming and positioning.

Pros

Superior Clear Speed

Excellent Boss Damage

Effective Currency Farming

Simple Construction Process

Safe Ranged Combat Approach

Cons

Moderate Defensive Capabilities

Budget

To clear white maps

4 links + cost-effective gear

80 x Chaos Orbs

To clear yellow maps

5 links + intermediate equipment

150 x Chaos Orbs

To complete the Atlas

6 links + high-quality gear

4 x Divine Orbs

In the budget configuration, the Yoke of Suffering amulet stands as your sole required unique item. This essential component delivers elemental damage enhancement via shock application, dramatically boosting your damage against all enemy types.

For the complete iteration, in addition to the Yoke of Suffering, you must obtain Lioneye’s Fall and Thread of Hope unique jewels. These represent significant investments but provide multiplicative damage scaling that elevates the build to endgame dominance.

Clear Speed: 10/10

Boss Damage: 10/10

Survivability: 8/10

When choosing between these top-tier builds, consider your playstyle preferences, available time investment, and mechanical skill level. Lightning Arrow excels for players prioritizing speed and efficiency, while SRS Guardian offers unparalleled safety and beginner-friendliness. Tornado Shot provides a balanced approach with excellent clear and respectable boss damage.

For optimal performance, focus on mastering each build’s unique mechanics. Lightning Arrow users should practice positioning to maximize chain reactions, SRS players need to develop rhythm for continuous spirit summoning, and Tornado Shot enthusiasts must hone their aiming precision for maximum damage output.

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https://www.mmogah.com/news/poe/poe-builds-323-top-6-league-starters-builds

References

https://poe.ninja/builds/affliction

No reproduction without permission：OnLineGames Guides » PoE Builds 3.23: Top 3 Meta Builds of Week One Master the top 3 Path of Exile Affliction League builds with expert strategies and budget optimization tips