[POE] The Best Skills in Path of Exile - Skill Functionality Vs DPS Numbers

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

While I believe these skills to be the best functioning skills in the game and thus are being rated by on an unlimited budget, if you are a new player, I would suggest staying with the "meta" skills that are still decent at killing bosses. This is because as a new player, you won't have as much access to currency and there will be more guides for these "meta" skills if you have a question about gear, skills, and passives.

[@xXVintersorgXx]

Do you have three spreadsheet available? I can't see that tiny as text on my phone

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@xXVintersorgXx Gonna have to find a magnifying glass or wait till you get to an actual screen. Sorry.

[@wh0reb0t]

@@Path_of_Chigurh How come Blade Vortex is so low?

[@beasthaven1571]

Feel the same with gem change?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@beasthaven1571 The philosophy still holds true. Built in quality of life coverage on gems is king.

[@leif2660]

Thank you for the video! As someone who's not played POE in a while and preparing for next week this is packed with value. Cheers! Now I just have to figure out which skills are fun to use...

[@davidj9977]

imo, skill gameplay is not the fun in poe, its about the league minigames and build optimization. skill animations are all the same, movement is the same. you push 0-2 buttons semi-mindlessly and colored lights kill the screen. if you want fun classes play Diablo, Last Epoch, VRising, or upcoming PoE2. But those games are about the class progression and once you reach class maxlevel their game/endgame variety is

[@tylerworrell7866]

Excellent vid dude! Appreciate the DPS breakpoints.

[@fokanson1516]

i mean some skills like lightning strike is still fine if you reach 10m dps, the clear is decent since you have some projectile although not as good as before. But i think some build use some technique to solve their clearing problem such as some totems build or CWDT build. Those skills are usually easier to scale their damage which you have room and budget for you to scale clearing. or maybe some explosion like herald of ice and ascendancy nodes from occultist and gladiator solve the clearing problem as well. Example like tornado shot and blade vortex obviously need more invest to play comfortable than some league start skills. but this is a little bit off topic. but i think a complete build is a more proper way to show if a skill is decent or not. I think you can try to consider like the build in a low budget (1 to 10 div), clearing with proper set up, survivability (maybe since it is softcore), budget to scale to 10M dps and playstyle to determine if it is a decent skill in softcore.

[@lulubegaga]

Fantastic! Now we need a new one for all the transfigured skill gems which might've improved a few of the already strong ones, or made some of the others worthy of your selection.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I hope we get a lot more gems too. Bit of a let down they didn't add more in 3.24.

[@ragzrag6410]

Some of these really make sense but i think at least flicker and BV should be rated higher. Flicker strike builds are probably the best mapping builds in the game given the movement speed and multistrike + splash damage for clear. BV if built right can also be super fast with tailwind onslaught boots + elusive and badge of the brotherhood as well as some nice explosions.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Kinda. I would argue those builds aren't flicker or BV builds, they are explosion builds. Flicker could be higher.

[@derva1019]

An update + separation into attack and spell would be great

[@soulysplays5732]

I am playing a Group self found Pathfinder -- Toxic Rain league start. And I was pretty comfortably clearing juiced T14s with subpar gear. I am Level 92 and I saw Tornado Shot on your list of skills that is busted. Do you have a guide on that skill gem? Also I crafted a Tornado shot of Cloudburst is that the recommended gem to use for that?

[@zedzeduk]

I understand the list, and I agree once you get over 10m DPS then really, unless you're out and out bossing you got enough DPS. Pick a skill that clears well. That said, I'm not sure I 100% agree that it's /all/ about the clear though, because dying (and having to run half way through map to get back to where you are), and/or having to press 4+ buttons to "make the build effective" also come in to play for me. i.e. an ideal skill is one that clears fast, but isn't a "glass canon" (or has room for Cast on death -> Portal ;-) ), and doesn't give me RSI. I do think Summon Skeletons (casters) is a reasonable well rounded build, and can allow for the player to spend most of the time looking for incoming damage and avoiding it. Although the way PoE is at the moment sometimes there is so much happening on the screen that it's hard to see what might happen next :D

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Yeh. Mage skeletons is on top of the list. In reality, you don't need to be very tanky for non bossing non deli content, so I'm not worried about defenses. Just get your normal resistances, ailment immune, cb immune, 5k hp, etc. and you good.

[@LeftysRage]

Makes list of top skill gems, forgets to add Firestorm.

[@Erelyes]

The problem with Soulrend is the AOE of the DOT. They nerfed it in 3.7 (13>10 radius which is a 41% reduction in area). It was amazing before, now it's merely 'OK' as you have to invest in AoE to make it feel good, and even then sometimes mobs will only get 'clipped' by the DOT AOE. It's also not true smart targeting as it just makes the projectile 'home' to a slight extent - you still have to aim it. I'd suggest that it's 'semi' smart targeting, and 'semi' base coverage/AOE, and a 5 or 6 overall.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I played it last league and it seemed like very strong coverage with returning projectile. Yeh, semi smart targeting is hurting it.

[@Erelyes]

@@Path_of_Chigurh How'd you play it - self cast? Totems?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@Erelyes Bow cast on crit.

[@divra_]

I am really curious on some of the rankings. I have not played every skill in this list and I don't know the context. Are you basing this on any amount of investment on the properties of the base skill or investment outside the skill? Why is soulrend and volatile dead so high up? Is it CoC cyclone? Another one I am curious about is split arrow? Isn't EK just a better projectile skill? As I have not played Kinetic Bolt I can't say how Bolt is better clear than Blast that seems crazy to me. (Ignoring transfigured gems) Winter Orb seems to be placed really low too for some reason. Can you make a follow up video to go more in depth in this topic, I am just curious.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I'm basing it off high budget build. Many skills make the list even though they have low base damage, they have high coverage. Like Soulrend.

[@Dan77111]

Nice video. The only adjustment I would do to the list is bumping flicker up to 6 or even 7 because of how it removes ms from the equation and makes both your damage and mobility scale off attack speed. On an unrelated note, I'd like to try going for a wander trickster next league, what's a good league start for it? My plan in maps is to swap over to kb/ps with a piscator's or something and then farm up for a transition to int stacking but I don't know if it's better to just arma crema and have a bunch more respeccing to do or if there's some other option with a more similar tree.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Flicker isn't higher because Flicker isn't doing the map clearing, its usually explosions. I don't have experience with wanders. I would just assume go a normal elemental damage wand, gear, and tree then transition to int when you have currency.

[@raulsantandertirado4400]

So, my thinking seems to have been correct. One can't make a high Attack Speed, Critical thief like build. There are just too many mobs to deal with. Thx.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

You can make any build you want, but in terms of strongest builds to make the most currency, no. I personally will value a fun build over a high currency making build most of the time. Just gotta know what you getting into.

[@philipbooth8970]

Thanks for the list, I started following your builds last leauge and made 3 of them and had a blast, any chance you would make a Volitile dead build or recommend one depended on upcoming patch and nerfs, awesome content and always look forward to more.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I made a VD build in 3.19. Could use as a template for 3.22. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5KqqYOkobKifLs

[@setaripantheon8801]

Nice video! A little off topic, but how would you make a Ethernity Shroud Spectral Throw? 😊

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Ty poe.ninja/builds/challenge?uniqueitems=The+Eternity+Shroud&skills=Spectral+Shield+Throw&sort=dps

[@Tibasu]

What about a list of skills that scale damage hard with minimum investment for SSF players

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I don't play SSF. Same idea still holds though. Skills that hit more of an area = more clear speed = more loot.

[@pedrammoradi6841]

Hi ,thanks for your content. I am new here and want to start playing poe, which charecter u prefere for farming currency?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Any build that is fast that has high screen coverage as a skill is good. Bow builds in general, but they can lack tankiness.

[@rtc2323]

Me when I see a Lightning Golem build literally moving forward while all the golems cover the screen in a lightning cacophony but it is not even a 5: =(

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I say "Here is a semi comprehensive list". Raise spectre and mage skeletons prob better than lightning golem.

[@rtc2323]

@@Path_of_Chigurh Raise Spectre if the frozen melon thrower persist after Crucible.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@rtc2323 I think your still stuck on maximizing damage. There are lots of Spectres that can get to 10mil dps and hit the whole screen.

[@rtc2323]

@@Path_of_Chigurh The problem is not getting to 10M or hitting the whole screen but how many divines does it take depending on the Raise Spectre/ Golem chosen.

[@luhcrankem6695]

i'm a newish player been meaning to try CA but i haven't seen much gameplay. what's the best ascendancy to run it on in your opinion, given that i dont care much about bossing, i solely want to map, don't need to be extremely tanky, and want fast move speed?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

I have a recent CA video on my channel. Will give you some information.

[@st.helmet6418]

With CA, is it arrow nova or volley version (or other)? And do you mean in a CA only or mixed with TR or deaths oath etc.? Haven't really seen any CA-centered builds as far as i remember :D

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Arrow nova. I will post a CA build in few days. Death Oath is no good.

[@diomedes0078]

​@@Path_of_Chigurhhow is DO no good but RF is a top skill?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@diomedes0078 Because Deaths oath can't kill rares due to such low damage.

[@diomedes0078]

@@Path_of_Chigurh this contradicts one of your key talking points, that DPS does not matter since every skill can be scaled sufficiently if you throw enough currency at it. Not that i disagree, just wanted to point it out.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@diomedes0078 Its a general statement. DPS doesn't matter because in pretty much every scenario, you can get the skill to 10m. Death aura is an outlier.

[@rousselalexandre1653]

moi j'ai test le ARC TOTEM (builde youtube , i have kikazu , soule mantle ; skullhead , and gem for kikazu tree-skill , i have probleme haste is maxx exp and dont have resist because lvl 10/11 map boss one shoot me

[@TheJoshM20]

What was the first skill/build he was using in this video?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Tornado Shot

[@forget2207]

What do you use for the first TS skin? It's very cool!

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

White Herald Effect

[@forget2207]

@@Path_of_Chigurh thx!

[@SpiritMEOW]

How does having explosions affect your ranking?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

IDK. I would have to see how much a build gives up to get explosions.

[@rakunishz]

Hi, do you by any chance have a spectral throw build that I could use for 3.22?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

i do not. just look up something like 3.21 dex stacking spectral throw. not that much has changed from 1 patch.

[@rakunishz]

alright thank you :) what about SST, the one u used in 3.21, is that ok in 3.22? can I just use the one from 3.21 or has it changed?@@Path_of_Chigurh

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

@@rakunishz it has changed since there is no lightning damage crucible passive. You can't do my sst build anymore.

[@dukekelvinpedro]

sir can you till me about archer level 40 what is the best gem and skill points please

[@1k_Synth]

Someone please tell me what the f is going on at 2:30? I’m a new player to Poe and this build looks sooo cool

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Summon Skeletons of Mages

[@rakunishz]

is the list still viable or would you change some stuff now?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

It will be viable forever as I state in the first few seconds of the video.

[@Foronymus]

What is the build at 2:51?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Raised Spectre

[@ErhardStyle]

Whats this skill build called? 02:10

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Venom Gyre

[@squarb111]

About 2:08 into the video there is a build with what looks like green butterflys to me. What skill/build is that? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4aoeWaXqqxpqLssi=PuaSjwOC8WDDQT5H&t=128

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Venom Gyre

[@squarb111]

Ty !@@Path_of_Chigurh

[@rtc2323]

Why is CA so high? Never played it.

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

It covers your whole screen when linked to arrow nova and has a lasting duration so any mob that is running at you or mobs that spawn will also die.

[@Larosamarie]

how use spellslinger ?

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

Link to a spell. then when you use an attack with a wand, it cast the spell.

[@Larosamarie]

@@Path_of_Chigurh it doesn't support my flamewall

[@Larosamarie]

and Rolling Magma hey guys how to connect them together ?

[@1201yo]

can share pob ?

[@choiboi23]

the only skills that matter, which have been nerfed many times yet still dominate every league because of its mechanics: TS and BV

[@Path_of_Chigurh]

False