Path of Exile 2: Best Pathfinder Builds in Patch 0.4

With the Last of the Druids update, the Pathfinder Ascendancy quickly rose to Path of Exile 2 Currency the top as the most popular league starter choice in Path of Exile 2. While her ability to sprint without getting knocked down was a major quality-of-life improvement, it's far from the only reason players gravitated toward the class. Pathfinder's flexible passive tree access, powerful poison scaling, and ability to spec into either Witch or Warrior paths make her one of the most versatile ascendancies in patch 0.4.

If you missed the early meta rush or are looking to reroll, this guide covers the four best Pathfinder builds in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.4, explaining how they work and why they shine in endgame content.

Explosive Grenade Pathfinder

Explosive Grenade Pathfinder is an off-meta but highly rewarding option. Thanks to Pathfinder's shared passive tree access with the Mercenary, scaling grenade and explosive damage is straightforward.

Grenade skills can clear entire screens of enemies
Bossing damage remains strong
Skill scaling is universal-buffing one grenade boosts others

Visual clutter can be an issue due to multiple explosions, but this build rewards creativity. But it can get rare, explosive-boosting Path of Exile 2 Items quickly.

Ice Shot Pathfinder

For players who prefer cold-based bows over poison, Ice Shot Pathfinder is a solid choice. The buffs to Freezing Mark in patch 0.4 make this build viable in endgame content:

Ice Shot splits into multiple fragments, providing wide area coverage
Herald of Ice chains explosions for screen-clearing efficiency
Bossing remains reliable, especially with cold damage scaling

Compared to Poisonburst Arrow or Spark CoC, Ice Shot is generally more budget-friendly. Those aiming for speed progression can still buy POE2 Currency or specific Path of Exile 2 Items to obtain premium bows and cheap POE 2 Chaos Orbs cold-scaling jewelry early.