The countdown to Path of Exile 3.27 is nearly over, and while the community debates new gems, never-before-seen ascendancies, and hype-driven build experiments that will inevitably collapse on day two, some players prefer certainty. Not every exile wants to spend their opening weekend screaming at trade chat or rerolling after Act 6. Some want comfort. Some want durability. Some, like our host's AI replacement, simply prefer not to experience the fragility of human failure POE currency.
If you are a brand-new player entering Path of Exile for the first time, this lineup is for you. If you've played ten leagues and want reliability over experimental disasters, this lineup is also for you. If you are a robot incapable of dying to bleed stacks, corrupted blood, and ego traps, then congratulations-you and Righteous Fire share something in common.
Let's begin.
- Pox's Righteous Fire Chieftain-The Eternal Comfort Pick
If Path of Exile veterans were asked to recommend one build-just one-to a new player with zero experience, the answer would almost universally be Righteous Fire Chieftain. It is a temple of safety. A fortress of regeneration. A spinning inferno of "I'm clearing the map even if I'm only half paying attention."
Why It Works for New Players
Autobomber-style gameplay without button overload
Top-tier defenses early and late
Scalable explosions and ignite proliferation
Comfortable bossing without finger gymnastics
Righteous Fire will never be the flashiest meta trend, nor will it win a speed-clearing contest against hyper-tuned Tornado Shot builds-but it will not fail you. Every league, every patch, every act of mortal coughing and biological weakness, RF Chieftain marches on.
If you are the type of player who enjoys playing PoE while simultaneously watching Netflix, eating dinner, or, as our robotic narrator suggested, maintaining your Clash of Clans village, this is the build that will carry you to maps without judgment.
- GazzyTV's Spectre Necromancer-Command the Undead, Command Success
Minion league starters have long held a reputation for comfort, but not all summoners are created equal. Some collapse without investment, some require late-game gems, and some require mechanics more complicated than a well-maintained CPU.
GazzyTV's Spectre Necromancer does none of that.
What Makes It Stand Out
Clear leveling structure
Early power spikes without expensive uniques
Endgame scalability into mirror-level setups
Strong balance of clear and single target
This is not the old-school "AFK minion commander" stereotype. Modern Spectre Necromancer is interactive, responsive, and far more engaging than its memes imply. It rewards players with consistent mapping, sturdy defense, and the rare PoE experience of letting others (undead, obedient, completely disposable others) do the dirty work.
Gazzy's guide is a full hand-holding path from Twilight Strand to Tier 17, with no unexplained leaps of logic or gear assumptions. If your ideal league start involves commanding the dead like a polite but sinister monarch, look no further.
- I'm Exile's Slam Berserker-Reliable Melee Impact Without the Clunk
Melee league starters are often compared to a malfunctioning servo arm: heavy, delayed, always half-a-second behind where you want them. Slam, however, is the exception-at least when constructed correctly.
I'm Exile's Slam Berserker guide is not just passable, but exceptional. Clear leveling trees, simple gearing checkpoints, and efficient defensive scaling make this build one of 3.27's strongest contenders.
Strengths
High single target from the jump
Robust defenses that scale with investment
Responsive feel, not the usual "swing and wait"
HC and Solo-Self-Found viableThe beauty of this archetype is how well it upgrades. Even with low currency, the build feels smooth. With moderate investment, it becomes a bossing machine capable of dismantling pinnacle encounters without resorting to obscure crafting rituals or three-exalt jewels from day two.
If your heart wants melee but your brain fears melee, this is your compromise.
- Zizaran's Explosive Arrow Champion-The Safety Standard
Explosive Arrow Champion is the spiritual comfort food of PoE league starts. It has been viable for years. It has been refined for years. And in a game where metas disintegrate faster than human flesh in robot-controlled acid simulations, longevity matters.
Why EA Champ Keeps Winning
Unshakeable defenses
Easy skill execution
Beginner-friendly gearing
Dependable boss damage after early setup
No, it will not clear like endgame Cold DoT or Volatile Dead or giga-juiced Tornado Shot. It is not designed to. EA Champion is the build you pick when you want to survive, progress, and reach Atlas endgame with dignity still intact.
Ziz's guide remains as reliable as ever-detailed without being overwhelming, structured without being rigid. You will not get lost. You will not get confused. You will not spontaneously combust unless you click the wrong map mod.
- BalorMage's Poison Necromancer-Buffed, Comfortable, and Perpetually Strong cheap POE exalted orbs
Poison Necro occupies a strange position in PoE discourse: eternally strong, frequently buffed, and yet never in the center of community screaming matches. It simply works, calmly and efficiently, league after league.
BalorMage's version emphasizes clarity and durability while still offering top-tier scaling when gear improves.
Highlights
Excellent bossing
Layered defenses that don't crumble
Easy leveling into smooth endgame
A written guide and PoB that cover every stage
If you want a minion feel with a DoT ramp personality, this is your perfect hybrid. Balor also hinted at upcoming Holy Relic Necromancer updates-another build historically praised for smooth leveling and near-absurd tankiness.
