Path of Exile 2 continues to evolve with the release of the Third Edict patch. Balance changes have shifted the power of several subclasses, and players are already testing which archetypes perform best across early league progression and late-game content. This tier list, based on the insights of Jungroan, Ben, Ruetoo, and Fubgun, provides an overview of the strongest subclasses in the current patch.

This guide breaks down subclasses into tiers (S, A, B), explaining their strengths, weaknesses, and how they fit into different playstyles. Whether you are interested in projectile builds, spellcasters, minion summoners, or poison archetypes, the list below will help you decide on the most effective subclass for Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.

S Tier List – The strongest subclasses in Path of Exile 2

Deadeye

Deadeye is currently considered the fastest subclass in the game, with speed being its primary advantage. The reworked mark nodes now provide between 100% and 200% increased critical strike chance in the worst-case scenario, and in the best case they allow four free marks. Projectile-based builds benefit the most from these changes, making Deadeye the premier choice for bow skills.

Key abilities such as Snipe, Lightning Spear, and Lightning Arrow remain extremely powerful, with improved charge consumption and scaling. Any build that relies on projectiles will generally reach its highest potential in the Deadeye subclass, which explains its dominance in the current patch.

A Tier List – Strong and reliable subclasses

Blood Mage

Blood Mage stands out as the best subclass for spellcasters, particularly because of its strong scaling. The league start may be less stable if you immediately commit to the archetype, which is why many players recommend beginning with safer starter builds such as Essence Drain + Contagion + Chaos Bolt before transitioning into Blood Mage later.

Other viable early-game alternatives include Living Bomb + Fireball or infusion-based spellcaster setups. In late-game scenarios, the subclass shines when paired with item combinations such as Rathpith Globe, Veil of the Night, Rondel of Fragility or Yoke of Suffering, and Adonia’s Ego. These setups provide exceptional scaling, making Blood Mage one of the most dangerous spellcaster archetypes overall.

Infernalist

Infernalist is the strongest subclass for minion builds and is also suitable for direct-damage playstyles. A notable setup involves using Cold Snap against bosses every second to generate fire infusion, paired with Loyal Hellhound for consistency. Critical damage scaling becomes particularly impressive in the late game thanks to Grinning Immolation.

The subclass also benefits from significant improvements to Demon Form in this patch, especially with the addition of weapon enabling and focus mechanics. This combination makes Infernalist a top-tier choice for summoners and hybrid builds.

Lich

Lich provides a strong defensive toolkit while also delivering effective clear speed in the early game with Rupture the Soul. After the adjustments to Chaos Bolt, Blood Mage may slightly out-damage Lich in chaos-based spellcaster setups, but Lich remains highly competitive.

Its ability to provide additional utility for minions, combined with its natural survivability, ensures it stays among the most reliable choices. Players who prefer balance between offense and defense will find Lich an excellent option.

Witchhunter

Witchhunter currently offers one of the strongest passive setups in Path of Exile 2. With access to 100 passive abilities, the subclass allows nearly any character to focus entirely on curse application and shock stacking. This alone can increase overall damage by 150–250%, making it a highly impactful choice.

While not all potential builds have been discovered yet, the baseline strength of Witchhunter is already incredibly high. Reports also suggest the subclass has received additional buffs in this patch, solidifying its position as one of the strongest damage-focused archetypes.

B Tier List in Path of Exile 2 – Playable but outperformed by stronger subclasses

Stormweaver

Stormweaver’s effectiveness depends heavily on whether a build requires extremely high infusion generation. However, following the patch 0.3 changes, Snap can no longer generate infusions from orbs, which indirectly weakened Elemental Storm builds. As a result, Stormweaver has lost some of its previous appeal and now sits in the lower tier.

Amazon

Amazon remains a capable projectile subclass but is overshadowed by Deadeye, which does everything better. The reduction in critical strike efficiency hit Amazon’s scaling significantly. Nevertheless, the increased accuracy can still make it a decent choice in the early game before transitioning to a stronger subclass.

Pathfinder

Pathfinder is the best subclass for poison-based builds. Core abilities such as Poisonburst Arrow and Acid Burst deliver consistent damage over time and scale well with extended poison duration and critical strike bonuses. While there are questions about the overall strength of poison skills after the recent changes, Pathfinder remains a dependable choice for players who prefer damage-over-time archetypes.

Warbringer

Warbringer offers impressive defenses thanks to Svalinn, making it one of the tankiest subclass options. The new set introduced in the patch is designed for totem-based builds, while Corrupting Cry becomes viable after the first Ascendancy. Although not as offensively strong as top-tier subclasses, Warbringer is a solid option for defensive and support-oriented playstyles.

Conclusion

The Path of Exile 2 subclass tier list for the Third Edict patch highlights the current power distribution across the game’s archetypes.

• Deadeye dominates the S Tier as the most powerful subclass for projectile builds.
• Blood Mage, Infernalist, Lich, and Witchhunter are all excellent A Tier options, offering strong scaling and flexible builds for spellcasters and minion players.
• Stormweaver, Amazon, Pathfinder, and Warbringer remain viable, but they are generally outperformed by higher-tier subclasses.

As Path of Exile 2 continues to receive patches and balance updates, these rankings will evolve. For now, this tier list provides a reliable framework for choosing the best subclass in Patch 0.3.