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PoE 2 Build

[0.5] Essence Drain + Contagion + Ember Fusillade + Early Mapping by goldfarmingGUIDE

Updated on May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026

Build Overview

!Working Progress!

This is my starter Build for 0.4 - It is a very solid and safe Build which will get you through the Campaign into Mapping in ~4-6 Hours.

Campaign Loot Filter: https://www.filterblade.xyz/?profile=dopefish86&saveState=WJMIOHSQX573AD&isPreset=false&game=Poe2

Strengths and Weaknesses

  • Very Consitant and Safe Campaign Starter
  • Super High Damage, Does not depend on Gear
  • Very high DPS during the Campaign
  • Not very Tanky
  • Not the Best Endgame Build

Build Variants

Key TODOs for Act 1:

- In the Grelwood, Kill the With in Aregane's Hut for a Level 1 Support Gem

- Kill all Bosses with simply Essence Drain + Chaos Bolt. Take the Unleash Support from Contagion and put it to Chaos Bolt for Bossfights. You should have no Issues with any of the Bosses.

- On Level 6 kill the Devourer in the Mud Flats (Level 2 Skill Gem + Level 1 Support Gem Quest Reward)

- In the Tomb of the Consort (Cemetery) you can search for the Haunted Treasure for another Level 1 Support Gem

- In the Hunting Grounds, Kill the Crowbell for +2 Skill Points. If you still nee another Level 1 Support you can do the Dryadic Ritual here as well

- In Ogham Farmlands find Una's Lute for +2 Skill Points

- In Ogham Manor (1st Floor) you can Kill Candlemass, the Living Rite for +20 Max Life

- Make sure to Hit Level 15 before Act 1 Boss. Port to Town on Level 15 and get Level 5 Skill Gem the Reward from Leitis, get Ember Fusillade and kill the Boss.

- You should be level 15 when Killing the Boss so you have Blackflame Covenant.

Equipment

item
1
item
8
item
5
item
10
item
9
item
2
item
6
item
7
item
4
Equipment Priority
+10

- Try to get aWithered Wand with Level 3 Chaos Bolt and +1 Chaos Skills
- Focus is nice with Spelldamage or Cast Speed.
- When you reach Level 5 you should Look for a Talisman with Increased Attack Speed - Pounce is a great Mobility Skill and Benefits from the Attack Speed.
- 10% Movement Speed Boots of course always good.

You should have no issues aquiring all these items from Vendors.

Here is a Vendor Regex you can use: "% i.+mov|ch.+da|sp.+da|^\+.*ills$|st spe|k s" <- Make sure it include the quotes!

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 5

Dex 20

Int 25

1

Contagion

Set 1

supportunleashplayer
supportmagnifiedareaplayer
2

Chaos Bolt

supportunleashplayer
3

Essence Drain

Set 1

supportchainplayer
supportswiftafflictionplayer
4

Pounce

supportrapidattacksplayer
5

Withering Presence

6

Orb of Storms

supportincreaselimitplayer
supportunleashplayer
7

Ember Fusillade

supportunleashplayer
compresseddurationsupportplayer
Gem Priority
+10

You Start with Unearth and Contagion.

If you want to go fast, you stop using Unearth as soon as you get Essence Drain. Get Chain I on Essence Drain immediately! Now you just Contagion into Essence Drain or Essence Drain into Contagion (Try out which fits your Playstyle).

You can continue Using Unearth and level it up if you like. It's a slower Playstyle where you can actually kill all Mobs and end up pretty overleveled. But the Minions from Unearth are Spreading the Contagion very nicely. It gives you more Survivability as you don't skip through mobs and end up dying when getting knocked down while sprinting.

Note: You don't need a Second Unleash Support. You only need it for the early Boss Fights and you can simply swap it back and forth between Contagion and Chaos Bolt.

Chaos Bolt is your Main DPS against Bosses. Rotation is Essence Drain, 4x Chaos Bolt, Essence Drain, ...

As soon as you get Ember Fusillade and Reach Level 15 for Blackflame Covenant your Rotation becomes Essence Drain, Orb of Storms, Ember Fusillade, Ember Fusillade, Ember Fusillade

Passive Tree

main:
123
123
set 1:
20
20
set 2:
20
20

Quest Rewards

Check which quests you’ve completed on your character
Ogham Manor — Candlemass, the Living Rite
+20 to maximum Life
Valley of the Titans — Medallion
30% increased Charm Charges gained
+1 Charm Slot
The Venom Crypts — Venom Draught
25% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
Abandoned Prison — Goddess of Justice
30% increased Life Recovery from Flasks

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