If you’ve spent any time grinding through Path of Exile 2’s endgame, you already know one thing: speed matters. Whether you’re farming for experience, chasing Exalted Orbs, or just burning through maps for loot, having a build that clears fast and handles bosses efficiently is crucial. With the release of Patch 0.2.0 and the Dawn of the Hunt expansion, a lot of endgame favorites got hit with the nerf hammer. But that doesn’t mean we’re out of options. In fact, the community has already found some bangers that thrive in the new meta.
In this guide, I’m breaking down the best endgame builds for fast farming in Path of Exile 2, tested and proven by grinders who live for clear speed. These builds aren’t just fun—they’re efficient, powerful, and optimized to get you results in the current patch. So whether you’re new to PoE 2’s endgame or just looking to swap to something with more burst and mobility, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s dive into the top fast-farming builds that are crushing it right now.
1. Shockwave Totem Warrior (Warbringer) – King of AoE Clear
When it comes to fast map clear, few things beat the raw coverage of Shockwave Totems. This Warrior build is a textbook example of how to keep your hands clean while your totems do all the heavy lifting. Perfect for players who want a bit of ranged safety but still want to feel like a powerhouse.
Key Skills and Setup:
Main Skills: Shockwave Totem, Ancestral Warrior Totem, Mace Strike
Supports: Close Combat, Overpower, Inspiration, Vitality, Precision
Passive Utilities: Scavenged Plating, Time of Need, Hammer of the Gods
Why it Works:
Shockwave Totem dishes out huge area damage, letting you clear packs before they even see you. You use Mace Strike mainly to build Rage, then watch the explosions. The synergy here lies in Close Combat and Overpower giving your totems more bite, while Sunder buffs the Ancestral variant.
Gear-wise, you’ll want to grab a Cultist Greathammer to enable Armor Breaker with Mace Strike. It’s a key interaction post-patch.
Farming Efficiency:
Shockwave Totem Warrior is perfect for low-effort, high-reward grinding. If you’re running mid-tier to high-tier maps and want minimal risk with maximum coverage, this is the build.
2. Explosive Shot Mercenary (Witchhunter) – Herald Bomber Reborn
Remember the OG Elemental Hit builds from PoE 1? This is PoE 2’s answer to that, but with way more fireworks. This Mercenary build plays like a walking light show—Explosive Shot triggers a cascade of elemental Herald effects that obliterate mobs.
Key Skills and Setup:
Main Damage Skills: Explosive Shot, Shockburst Rounds
Heralds: Herald of Ice, Herald of Thunder, Herald of Ash
Supports: Martial Tempo, Scattershot, Fire Penetration, Lightning Infusion
Essential Gear:
The Three Dragons helm – flips ignite into shock
Expert Forlorn Crossbow – fast, solid base
Bloodstone Amulet – to help with elemental penetration
Why it Works:
The entire build hinges on The Three Dragons, which turns Explosive Shot into a shock engine. That shock enables your Heralds to auto-trigger massive AoE. Pair it with Shockburst Rounds for heavy single-target bossing. This combo makes clearing mobs feel like cheating.
Veteran Tip:
If you’re looking to grab cheap PoE 2 items to get this build rolling, the Three Dragons isn’t insanely priced right now. It’s a great pickup for budget-conscious players aiming to max out their clear speed.
3. Bonestorm Witch (Blood Mage) – Crit-Based Carnage
If crits make you smile and blood sacrifices don’t faze you, this Witch build is your go-to. Bonestorm Witch thrives on big single-target crits while clearing the screen with Bone Cage and Bonestorm. It’s a little more technical than the others, but it pays off in raw damage.
Core Setup:
Main Skills: Bonestorm, Bone Cage, Bone Blast
Supports: Brutality, Inevitable Critical, Supercritical, Spell Cascade
Special Mechanic: Life Remnants from the Blood Mage ascendancy
Gear Needs:
Attuned Wand
Gilded Vestments
Expert Wicker Tiara
Why it Works:
High crit chance scaling means your Bone Blast crits hit like trucks. Combine that with Blood Mage’s damage per max life and you’re looking at one of the highest damage-per-second setups in PoE 2 right now. Just be mindful of the Sanguimancy drawback early on—it’s best to wait until you have four ascendancy points before diving deep.
Fast Farming Verdict:
This one’s especially great for boss rush farming or targeted unique drops. While it’s not quite as easy-going as totem builds, experienced players will love the control and raw power.
4. Ice Shot Ranger (Deadeye) – Lightning Arrow’s Frozen Cousin
If you loved Lightning Arrow Deadeye in PoE 1, Ice Shot Deadeye in PoE 2 is going to feel like home. This build offers top-tier mob clear with insane projectile synergy and elemental burst damage.
Core Skills:
Ice Shot, Lightning Rod, Orb of Storms
Supports: Martial Tempo, Ricochet, Cold Infusion, Scattershot
Must-Have Gear:
Widowhail + Primed Quiver – for serious attack speed
Queen of the Forest – for movement speed synergy
Why it Works:
You fire once, and everything dies. Seriously. This build makes use of Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder to chain elemental reactions, while Lightning Rod and Orb of Storms crank up your single-target damage. Widowhail and the Primed Quiver are massive for attack speed and scaling.
Endgame Efficiency:
It’s a top-tier mapper. Clear speed is among the best in PoE 2 right now, especially when you’re running high-density content like breaches or Abyss events.
5. Time Freeze Sorceress (Chronomancer) – Control the Battlefield
Sometimes fast farming isn’t just about raw speed—it’s about controlling the fight so you never slow down. Enter the Time Freeze Sorceress, a Spark-based crit build that abuses Chronomancer time-bending mechanics for absurd uptime and survivability.
Core Skill Gems:
Spark, Time Freeze, Time Snap, Temporal Chains, Conductivity
Support Gems:
Cast on Crit (Comet), Soul Offering, Frost Wall, Second Wind, Magnified Effect
Gear to Grab:
Siphoning Wand, Rattling Sceptre, Expert Keth Raiment, Feathered Tiara
Why it Works:
Chronomancer’s Time Freeze locks enemies in place, while Time Snap resets your cooldowns so you can loop crowd control endlessly. Spark brings the damage, and high crit stacking makes it scale like crazy. It’s a little more complex than just spamming one button, but it’s worth it.
Farming Verdict:
Excellent for dangerous endgame zones or farming high-risk encounters where dying once can ruin the run. Plus, it’s just insanely fun freezing time and watching enemies crumble.
Final Thoughts – Which Fast Farming Build Is Right for You?
Choosing the best endgame build for fast farming in Path of Exile 2 really depends on your playstyle. Totem lovers should jump on the Shockwave Warrior. Glass cannon fans might gravitate toward Explosive Shot Merc or Bonestorm Witch. And if you want a bit more finesse, the Ice Shot Ranger or Time Freeze Sorceress have your back.
The PoE 2 meta is still evolving, and new builds are popping up every week. But these five have been stress-tested in the latest patch and deliver some of the fastest clear speeds in the game. No matter which one you choose, you'll want the right gear to support your farming goals—and that’s where grabbing cheap PoE 2 items from a trusted source like PVPBank can really accelerate your progression.
So what are you waiting for? Pick your favorite, gear up, and start farming like a pro.