Top 5 Ascendancies to Play in Path of Exile

Path of Exile is one of those games where there are endless ways to build your character, but at the core are the Exiles – the base classes and their ascendancies. In PoE1, a few ascendancies really stand out, either because they're super strong or just really fun to play. Knowing them makes life way easier whether you're mapping, bossing, or just figuring out what to roll next PoE 1 Currency.

Take Trickster, for example. People love it for the speed and flexibility. It's great at dodging hits, stacking energy shield, and dishing out chaos or elemental damage. With sustain through life and mana leech, it feels good in both solo play and parties. A lot of popular Trickster builds run Essence Drain or Smite, since they hit hard and still let you stay mobile.

Then there's the Slayer, the Duelist ascendancy that's all about melee carnage. High damage, strong leech, great clear, and bossing power. Cyclone is the classic pairing here—spin to win, heal as you go, and smash through content at crazy speed. If you like charging into the fight and never letting go, Slayer is perfect.

Juggernaut is the complete opposite vibe. This is the tank pick. Tons of armor, regen, and ways to shrug off damage. You basically plant yourself in the middle of the pack and let them bounce off you while you slam the ground or use other AoE skills. It's simple, tough, and super reliable—especially good for new players or anyone who wants to feel unkillable.

On the caster side, you've got the Occultist. This ascendancy shines with chaos damage, curses, and energy shield stacking. It's slower paced but deadly, especially with damage over time skills. Summoners and chaos casters love it, since it weakens enemies while staying safe behind shields. It's not as flashy as some builds, but in endgame it really shows its strength.

Finally, there's the Chieftain. Think fire damage and totems with a side of tankiness. Builds often revolve around Righteous Fire or other fire skills, backed up by totems that either deal damage or add extra defense. It's a solid middle ground—strong damage, good sustain, and flexible for most types of content.

All in all, these five ascendancies—Trickster, Slayer, Juggernaut, Occultist, and Chieftain—cover a wide range of playstyles. Fast and evasive, brute-force melee, unbreakable tank, curse-based caster, and fire-themed hybrid. If you understand what they bring to the table, it's a lot easier to pick the kind of build that fits your style and actually enjoy the grind through maps, bosses, and everything the game throws at you PoE buy Currency.