Summoner players in Path of Exile 2 have always walked a difficult road. While other archetypes soar in popularity thanks to explosive damage, speed, or defensive layering, minion builds often lag behind, struggling to keep up with top-tier clear or bossing efficiency. With Patch 0.4.0 and the launch of the Fate of the Vaal league, many players are once again asking the same question: Is this finally the league where summoners shine?

Patch 0.4.0 brings several minion-related tuning changes, new Druid options, and improved early-game gearing paths. Although summoner builds still require more effort and often more currency to reach high-end performance, some setups are genuinely promising this league. Below is a comprehensive tier list based on performance in Patch 0.3.0, upcoming 0.4.0 improvements, and scaling potential from early game to endgame.

Understanding Summoners in Patch 0.4.0

The summoner landscape in PoE 2 is shaped by three core factors:

1. Early-game power and leveling speed

Minions either feel strong immediately or feel terrible until key skill gems and passives are online. Fortunately, Patch 0.4.0 improves early access to minion scaling via better quest rewards, charm slots, and Druid flexibility.

2. Minion AI and survivability

Patch 0.4.0 includes balance tweaks that slightly improve responsiveness for certain minions, but survival still hinges on player investment and passive choices.

3. Late-game scaling

Some ascendancies scale minions extremely well at high currency budgets. Others excel early but fall off as content difficulty spikes.

With these in mind, let's break down the best summoner builds going into Patch 0.4.0.

S-Tier Summoner Builds

These builds offer the best combination of early-game smoothness, endgame potential, and overall flexibility. They may require a moderate amount of currency to fully capitalize on their power, but even without perfect gear, they deliver strong performance across all content.

1. Spectre Shaman (Early Game King)

Spectre Shaman is currently the standout summoner for early progression thanks to its unmatched resource generation. The Shaman's Sacred Flow talent allows players to sacrifice charm slots for a massive boost to Spirit, the key resource for spamming minion skills and maintaining sustained summons.

Patch 0.4.0 enhances this start even more due to changes tied to the Act 2 quest Valley of Titans. Players now earn a belt with +2 charm slots much earlier, accelerating Spirit generation during the entire leveling phase. This single improvement drastically increases the efficiency of Spectre Shaman during the campaign and early maps.

Spectres scale nicely with added gem levels, minion life, and utility charms, allowing Shaman summoners to outrun and outlast many other builds during early progression.

Strengths

Top-tier leveling speed among summoners

Easy access to Spirit generation

Can summon a versatile mix of Spectres for damage or utility

Strong early-game mapping

Weaknesses

Falls off compared to Oracle or Lich in very high-end content

Requires respec or heavy investment to remain top tier later

Spectre Shaman remains the best way to start the league for summoner fans, even if it's not necessarily the ultimate endgame pick.

2. Oracle Summoner (Late-Game Powerhouse)

While Shaman dominates the early game, Oracle emerges as one of the strongest late-game minion builds. The Oracle talent tree contains numerous minion-focused nodes, offering incredible scaling for both damage and defense. Once players transition into high-end gear, the Oracle build can vastly outperform most minion setups from earlier patches.

Patch 0.4.0 brings incremental improvements to several minion skills and charm interactions, increasing Oracle's ceiling even further. Its defensive layering options make Oracle one of the safest choices for hardcore players as well.

Strengths

Exceptional late-game scaling

Outstanding defensive toolkit for minion builds

Synergizes with numerous minion types (Spectres, Zombies, Risen, etc.)

Ideal for players with significant Path of Exile 2 Currency to invest

Weaknesses

Requires a respec from early game builds

Not the best early-leveling option

Players seeking a build with enormous endgame potential will find Oracle to be one of the premier summoner choices.

3. Infernalist (Classic and Reliable)

The Infernalist build was a standout performer in Patch 0.3.0 and continues to remain strong in Patch 0.4.0. This build focuses on fiery minions and explosive elemental scaling. While it doesn't reach the absolute peak of Lich or Oracle at full gear investment, it retains excellent practicality and strong damage with moderate currency input.

Infernalist has consistent performance in mapping and bossing, benefiting from clear, predictable minion mechanics and straightforward gearing.

Strengths

Proven performance across multiple patches

Moderate investment yields competitive damage

Great mapping speed for a summoner build

Weaknesses

Lacks the ceiling of Oracle or Lich

Minion survivability can still be an issue in deep endgame

Infernalist continues to be one of the most reliable options for summoners who want something strong without intense micromanagement or complex itemization.

4. Ritualist and Lich with Evergrasping Ring

Lich and Ritualist summoners gained popularity in Patch 0.3.0, especially when combined with the powerful Evergrasping Ring, which dramatically boosts minion output. High-end Ring setups enable incredible scaling, allowing these builds to compete directly with Oracle at the top.

Lich, in particular, gains the most from Evergrasping, turning into a monstrous late-game option capable of tearing through endgame bosses with relentless minion pressure.

Strengths

One of the strongest late-game damage summoners

Evergrasping Ring offers uniquely powerful scaling

Excellent for boss farming and deep progression

Weaknesses

Requires expensive gear

Weak early game compared to Shaman

Riskier playstyle

For players targeting min-max endgame content, Lich and Ritualist with Evergrasping are absolutely worth considering.

Final Thoughts: The State of Summoners in Patch 0.4.0

Patch 0.4.0 doesn't completely revolutionize minion builds, but it does improve the leveling experience, increase early-game resource access, and expand late-game power options through skill and ascendancy changes. Summoners remain more investment-heavy than other archetypes, but the ceiling is undeniably higher than before.