Why Pathfinder Is So Strong in Patch 0.4

Pathfinder's biggest strength lies in flexibility. She can:

Stack double poison instances, massively scaling damage over time
Path efficiently into Witch or Path of Exile 2 Currency Warrior passive trees
Maintain high mobility without being interrupted
Adapt to bow, spell, or explosive-based playstyles

This combination allows Pathfinder to excel in mapping, bossing, and high-risk endgame content where survivability and consistency matter.

1) Poisonburst Arrow Pathfinder

After the nerfs to Lightning Arrow, Poisonburst Arrow has become the most popular build in Path of Exile 2. This playstyle focuses on Chaos and poison damage over time instead of elemental damage. Poisonburst Arrow explodes on impact, creating lingering poison pools that deal consistent damage. Pairing it with Vine Arrows slows enemies, keeping them inside poison zones longer and maximizing total damage output.

This build excels in both mapping and bossing. However, endgame bows, quivers, and poison-scaling jewelry can be costly. Many players choose to buy POE2 Items or trade Path of Exile 2 Currency to acquire these high-value items efficiently.

2) Spark Cast on Critical (CoC) Pathfinder

Thanks to Pathfinder's access to the Witch Ascendancy, spell-based builds are highly viable. Spark Cast on Critical (CoC) Pathfinder leverages Spark's high hit frequency to trigger powerful spells via CoC mechanics.

Spark triggers Arc and Comet for massive AoE and boss damage
High critical strike weapons and spell-scaling gear maximize output

This build is highly effective but can be expensive due to the demand for cheap POE 2 Currency critical-focused gear.