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PoE 2 Build

Ailment Gunslinger Full Build Guide (Zero to Hero) | All Variants

Mercenary

Gemling Legionnaire

Starter

End Game

Creator

By Lazy Exile

Updated on Dec 22, 2024

Dec 22, 2024

Build Overview

Hey guys, I'm Lazy Exile.

This is my starter in PoE 2, and I have taken this character to the endgame, and this character will be able to do ALL CONTENT given enough currency invested, but this build comes online at low-budget as well!

This build is a good league starter because you are not relying on any unique items to be strong (until endgame variants). We're scaling physical damage for Ailment and have multiple layers of offense and defense. This character is a tanky all-rounder and will be able to run all map mods. Everything is very well put together.

This guide will take you through the leveling process from Act 1 all the way to the endgame (Zero to Hero).

Different variants are available, and I also explain in detail what you need to do. If you have any questions, check out the FAQs by the end of this guide or watch my video.

DISCLAIMER: POE 2 is a new game, and things might not be optimal as there is much to learn. I'll keep this build updated, so come back often and check if there are any changes. The changelog is at the bottom of this page.

This is a part of my league starter from theorycrafted to gameplay progression. If you want to see the build in action, look for Lazy Exile on YouTube. Thanks!

Build Variants

Act 1-2

Act 3 - Cruel

Early Mapping

Endgame (Weapon Swap)

Intro

Our setup is available right out of the gate and is very strong. This setup will take you from level 1 to level 26, where you will swap to the Act 3 setup with Glacial Bolt and more support gems available.

General Gameplay

We are using Permafrost Bolts to freeze mobs and Fragmentation Rounds to shatter them for massive damage.
To clear a pack of mobs, you will also want to use Contagion to spread the poison damage from your Fragmentation Rounds with Envenom linked.
Fragmentation Rounds to armour break and High Velocity Rounds to consume the armour break will be your single target rotation, with occasionally mixing in Permafrost Bolts to freeze (every 10-15 seconds).

Act 1-2 Variant

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Equipment

Set 1

Set 2

Pick up all crossbows and use the one with the highest physical DPS—DO NOT craft them with Exalted Orb!

If you get an Exalted Orb, use it to buy a weapon upgrade; it's the most important thing in the build because we're an attack-based build.

Breakpoint:

Weapon: For the Normal Campaign, just pick up or purchase crossbows from the vendor, and it'll be fine. You should save your extra currency to purchase a crossbow later after Act 3.
Stat Priorities:
Physical Damage > Crit Chance > Other Damage Mod > All
Boots: Should have 10+ movement speed here
Other gear: Look for +# to Maximum Life and Resistances

Gearing

By far the best way to progress and get better gear in the campaign is by checking the vendor in town every time you level up! This is optional if it's your second character, but if it's your first character or you're on SSF, it's very important to do so.
Besides that, pick up all the armour/evasion base gear from the campaign, as it helps you evade some attacks and mitigate physical hits with armour. We will be naturally very tanky because we are taking strength attribute nodes in the passive skill trees.
Priority + # to Maximum Life on your gears early on, and eventually +#% to Fire/Cold/Lightning Resistance.
A good source to quickly craft your items will be using Orbs of Transmutation, Orbs of Augmentation, and Regal Orbs on your gear.
DO NOT use Exalted Orb to slam on your item. If you do drop one in the campaign, use it to buy a weapon upgrade (a.k.a. the best crossbows at your level).
I go over how to find the best crossbow in the campaign in the video, so check it out.
Pick up all the items with sockets and disenchant them to build up for the Artificer Orb, then use it to put sockets in your item and runes to fix your resistances.
If you have any questions, come to my Discord (link in the description of my videos) and ask for help. I'll help you if I'm online.

Act 1-2 Variant

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Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 10

Dex 25

Int 25

Crossbow Shot

Fragmentation Rounds

Permafrost Bolts

High Velocity Rounds

Contagion

Wind Dancer

NOTE:

When cutting gems, if you don't find your skills, click the "All Gems" tab at the bottom right of the Gem Cutting Menu.
If you can't equip a gem due to requirements issues, fix it on the trees by allocating the attributes or by equipping items. Always check the vendor and pick up any gears with attributes.
Some bosses have small hitboxes, so swap to Permafrost Bolts if you have a problem shooting and freezing them with Glacial Bolt
Remember to use Uncut Skill Gem to upgrade your skill gem levels (don't leave them at low levels as they will deal less damage).

Act 1

The first gem you get is Fragmentation Rounds. You have the option to use it or use Default Attack (which is very strong as well).
For your first support gem:
- Envenom if you want to use Fragmentation Rounds
- Lightning Infusion if you want to use Default Attack (stronger in the early level, but you need to get lucky Support Gems drops if you want to swap to the main setups later)
For your first Uncut Skill Gem you get in town, cut Permafrost Bolts, this will be used mainly to freeze and chill your enemies so you don't get swarmed.
Support gem to cut for this skill is Glaciation 1st, then Cold Infusion 2nd.
For your second Uncut Skill Gem, cut Contagion, as this will be the bread and butter early game combo to deal AoE damage.
Cut Arcane Tempo and Magnified Effect
For your third Uncut Skill Gem, cut High Velocity Rounds, and this will be the main single-target skill you will use for bosses or tanky rares.
Prioritize cutting Lacerate 1st then Scattershot 2nd for this skill.
After clearing the Freythorn quest—kill The King in The Mist, you will get +30 spirit and an Uncut Spirit Gem, use it to cut Wind Dancer.
Note: Aura needs to be activated; press G to open the skill panel and right-click the Wind Dancer icon.

Act 2

Once you get a level 7 Uncut Skill Gem, cut Glacial Bolt to replace Permafrost Bolts as this is a massive DPS and QoL boost to your character. Use the same support gem as before.
You should also complete the Trial of the Sekhemas to get your first Ascendancy Point, which is Adaptive Capability. Once you have done that, make sure to respec all the attribute points on the skill tree to Strength and keep just enough Dexterity to equip the crossbow (talk to The Hooded One and respec the passive skills, click on the node and change it to Strength).

Skill Rotation

We are using Permafrost Bolts to shoot and freeze the monsters. Your goal is to engage with this opener and try to freeze 1 or more monsters.
Cast Contagion on a FROZEN monster and swap to Fragmentation Rounds to shatter it and deal a massive amount of poison damage, which will transfer/prolif across all the monsters in the pack, and they will all likely die.
For bosses or rares, you will use Fragmentation Rounds to poison and armour break, then swap to High Velocity Rounds to consume the armour break ailment, then repeat until the boss is dead.
Occasionally (every 10-15 seconds), rotate back the Permafrost Bolts to freeze the boss for a big Fragmentation Rounds hit.

Act 1-2 Variant

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Passive Tree

main:

122

set 1:

set 2:

Attribute

For the attribute nodes, in the early game, take whatever is needed to equip gems and items. Once you finish the Trial of the Sekhema in Act 2, convert all the attribute nodes to Strength and keep just enough Dexterity to equip the crossbow.

Pathing

Beeline to Exposed Wounds as it helps us inflict poison with Fragmentation Rounds and break more armour with Corrosion.
Then go straight to Overwhelm for maximum early game damage. You don't need defense in the early game, so the more damage, the faster you progress.
Next, take Cruel Methods to help break armour and add physical damage to your skills; this will contribute to the ailment magnitude inflicted on the mobs.
Beeline to Instant Reload next as it really helps smooth out the crossbow gameplay. More reload = attack more.
Next, go grab Advanced Munitions to increase the chance to inflict Ailment. This will work for both your poison and bleeding (2 for 1).

Act 1-2 Variant

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How it Works

FAQs

Why does my single-target damage feel low?
- For the campaign at least, a good crossbow will carry your damage. The build single-target is not exceptional, but it is not weak.
Permanent Campaign Buff?
- I'm taking the 25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate and +10% to Chaos Resistance.
- Reasons:
  - We're stunned immune -> Don't need the increased Stun Threshold
  - We can fix Ailment with Charms (keep them in your inventory)
  - We have mana issues late game, and there's not a lot of point to get mana regeneration in our location of the passive skills tree
  - We take chaos resistance because it is a premium stat. It's really hard to cap chaos resistance in the late game.
Act 1-3 is too hard.
- Most builds come online after Act 3, so if you feel like you're not doing any damage early on, it's a normal thing, don't feel bad.
Why are we taking Stars Aligned⁣ in the earlier setup?
- This is a good node to help smooth out the campaign because your damage will be low, and most bosses enrage or do more damage or perform more mechanics at low life (35% hp threshold), so it'll really help with finishing the campaign bosses. Later on, we don't need this as we need more consistent damage.
What is my loot filter?
- It's available in my Discord. Come check it out, and I'll still need to update it to fit better in the endgame.