Path of Exile is Grinding Gear Games' free-to-play action RPG that has defined the genre for over a decade with its extraordinary depth. The game features a passive skill tree with 1,300+ nodes, a gem system where skills are literal items socketed into gear, and a barter-based economy using currency orbs instead of gold. With quarterly league launches adding entirely new mechanics, endgame systems including the Atlas of Worlds with 100+ map tiers, and uber boss encounters that test the most optimized builds, PoE offers effectively infinite replayability.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headhunter Belt | S | Speed-clearing mapping builds | The most iconic chase unique — stealing rare monster modifiers on kill, stacking dozens of buffs that make you a screen-clearing god. |
| Mageblood | A | Every build in the game | The other chase unique — makes 4 of your utility flasks permanent. |
| Ashes of the Stars | A | Builds scaling gem levels (minions, spells, auras) | An amulet granting +1 to gem level and 10-20% quality to all skill gems. |
| Nimis | B | Projectile builds (Tornado Shot, Lightning Arrow) | A ring that makes projectiles return to you after reaching maximum distance. |
| Mirror of Kalandra | B | Ultimate endgame gear creation | The rarest currency item — duplicates any non-unique item. |
S-Tier: Headhunter Belt
The most iconic chase unique — stealing rare monster modifiers on kill, stacking dozens of buffs that make you a screen-clearing god. Worth 50+ Divines. Transform from normal character to ridiculous power level in dense maps. The aspirational endgame item.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Speed-clearing mapping builds |
| Key Mechanic | passive tree with 1300+ nodes |
| Recommended Build | Marauder |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Headhunter Belt: Pairs naturally with Marauder thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Mageblood
The other chase unique — makes 4 of your utility flasks permanent. Permanent 3,000+ armor, evasion, elemental resistance, and movement speed from flasks. Worth 100+ Divines. The most universally powerful item.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Every build in the game |
| Key Mechanic | 6-link gem system |
| Recommended Build | Witch |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Mageblood: Pairs naturally with Witch thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Ashes of the Stars
An amulet granting +1 to gem level and 10-20% quality to all skill gems. Quality bonuses on gems provide significant DPS/utility increases. Dropped by The Eater of Worlds. Best-in-slot for builds scaling gem levels.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Builds scaling gem levels (minions, spells, auras) |
| Key Mechanic | atlas passive tree |
| Recommended Build | Ranger |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Ashes of the Stars: Pairs naturally with Ranger thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Nimis
A ring that makes projectiles return to you after reaching maximum distance. This effectively doubles (or more) the hit count of projectile skills. Build-defining for Tornado Shot, Lightning Arrow, and other projectile builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Projectile builds (Tornado Shot, Lightning Arrow) |
| Key Mechanic | league mechanics |
| Recommended Build | Shadow |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Nimis: Pairs naturally with Shadow thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Mirror of Kalandra
The rarest currency item — duplicates any non-unique item. Worth 200+ Divines. Most players never find one. Mirrored items (copies of perfect crafted gear) represent the absolute ceiling of gear optimization.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Ultimate endgame gear creation |
| Key Mechanic | uber boss fights |
| Recommended Build | Templar |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Mirror of Kalandra: Pairs naturally with Templar thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Wraeclast
- Mageblood → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Ashes of the Stars → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Headhunter Belt → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Cap resistances at 75% before maps — elemental damage in maps kills instantly without capped resists. This is the #1 priority, above damage.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Path of Exile Guides
- Path of Exile Path of Exile Overview
- Path of Exile Best Builds
- Path of Exile Tier List
- Path of Exile Walkthrough
- Path of Exile Beginner's Guide
- Path of Exile Tips & Tricks
- Path of Exile Combat Guide
- Path of Exile Boss Guide
- Path of Exile Maps & Locations
- Path of Exile Crafting Guide
- Path of Exile Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Path of Exile, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
