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The Dual Strike of Ambidexterity is one of the least visually appealing skills in the game, which for many players is a favourable option as it removes a lot of clutter from your screen. It is a simple Strike Skill that requires Dual-Wielding, but its special gimmick makes it stand out among the other Attacks. It greatly boosts your main-hand Weapon Damage while basing the total Attack Speed only on the second Weapon. It allows for great flexibility, as you can use many different combinations depending on your Budget. Obviously, many endgame Items will be expensive, but the Build functions perfectly fine with regular Rare Items. Both Slayer and Champion are great Ascendencies for this build now, although the Slayer is the recommended option for the start. 

For the full Guide, you can check: Dual Strike of Ambidexterity Slayer

The Chaos Damage over Time spells receive solid buffs to their base Damage, but the biggest winner of this update is the Blight of Contagion, which not only got the damage upgrade but can also inflict one additional stack on enemies. It is now the strongest Chaos Spell in the game while also having the best Clear Speed and area coverage of them all, thanks to the Contagion spread. However, the Damage against Bosses is still not great. It will be good enough to unlock all four Voidstones or complete a simple tier 17 Map, but its main target is fast Mapping. The Trickster Ascendancy rightfully received a minor adjustment, but it is still one of the best Ascendancies for general Damage, sustain, and Defense package.

For the Guide please check: Blight of Contagion Trickster

The biggest change in the new update was made for the Elementalist Ascendency and Golems. This Build was already powerful in the previous version, but now it will probably be one of the strongest Casters in the game. The build is extremely flexible, as the Golems grant you a variety of powerful Buffs: Damage, Area of Effect, Cast Speed, as well as survivability via Life Regeneration, Chaos Resistance, and global Defense. The Chaos Golem no longer grants Physical Damage Reduction, but the Golem of the Safeguarding will still absorb all Melee Damage you take. Keep in mind, this Build is not friendly for new players. It is decent on its own, but the gear upgrades will definitely be expensive, as it piques the interest of a large number of players. For this reason, it is only recommended for experienced players. 

Full Guide: Crackling Lance Elementalist

The Gladiator Ascendency reworked in the previous update definitely passed the test of time as a successful League starter. It provides a very straightforward Gear progression, good Clear Speed with blood explosions, decent Damage against Bosses, and insane survivability during Mapping due to the Lucky Block Chance. The Svalinn Shield was one of the most popular Unique Items of the Settlers League for exactly this reason, and we strongly suspect this Shield will be either insanely expensive or not available at all this time. Just like the previous DoT Build, you will not have problems unlocking the Voidstones, but challenging the new Uber Bosses with this Build will not be an easy feat. 

Full Guide can be found here: Lacerate Gladiator  

Ever since its release, the Poisonous Concoction of Bouncing remains one of the best starting Builds possible. It offers massive Damage right from the start, and allows you to save money on Weapon upgrades. However, if you plan to challenge every new Boss added to the game at the highest difficulty, you will have to spend that money on your other Gear pieces and Jewels, as its single-target Damage quickly falls off at that point. The final version still uses Ralakesh's Impatience, although you will now have to sacrifice one small Cluster Jewel for the Endurance Charge generation. That said, you will have no problems completing the Atlas and all Voidstones with just random Rare Gear pieces. The Trickster nerf can be noticeable, but it is still a very powerful option. It can also be played as the Slayer Ascendency, as they share a very similar route. 

Full Guide can be found here: Poisonous Concoction of Bouncing Trickster

Doryani's Fist build may, at first glance, appear as if it hasn’t changed much. Even with the overhauled Berserker ascendancy, the desired passives remain identical to what they were. To truly grasp the buffs this build has received, we must shift our gaze to the untapped potential of mercenaries. Rather than wearing Doryani's Prototype yourself, you can now outfit your companion with it - it's an item that reduces enemies' Lightning Resistance. What’s more, your merc can also equip Algor Mortis or Legacy of Fury, both exceptional for any Lightning Damage-based builds. Yes, these items demand a higher character level, and will certainly not be within reach from the get-go, but the campaign can still be done with the more tried-and-true tools, like Tectonic Slam. So why Doryani’s Fist? It’s a build that requires neither a weapon nor a costly 6-link setup, which often puts a dent in your currency stash. Moreover, its damage won’t take a nosedive in endgame content. Berserker’s ascendancy provides ample damage through Rage and Warcries. We've tested it before, and it proved itself solid.

Full Guide: Doryani's Touch Berserker

Juggernaut remains untouched, with neither Warcries nor any other key skills seeing changes in this build. The hidden potential here lies in mercenaries. By equipping our bodyguard with items that grant a significant boost to Maximum Endurance Charges - pieces that are neither rare nor costly - we unlock a subtle yet powerful advantage. Because mercenaries function as Party members, we can share their Endurance Charges with our character through the Ambu's Charge chest. For a build that thrives on Charge generation, this is a monumental boon. While we're still not 100% certain if this mechanic will behave as expected, it's certainly worth keeping an eye on. Overall, this remains the tankiest option on our list, boasting high armour, physical damage reduction, maximum life, and excellent life recovery. The only caveats to consider are the Echoes of Creation helmet and a specific lab gem, both of which may be scarce or entirely unavailable on launch day. Still, it's trivial to reach T-16s using default Slams and gear pieces scavenged from the ground on crafted on a shoestring budget.

Full Guide: Consecrated Path of Endurance Juggernaut

Despite the nerfs to Polymath and Escape Artist, which we're allocating, not to mention the relevant-to-this-build tempering of the Elemental mastery for Inverted Elemental Damage, this build remains top-tier. It excels with Cold Exsanguinate and Reap Mines. In fact, Exsanguinate itself has received a modest buff. Given the nature of the changes, we can safely say that the overall impact on the build is minimal. It remains remarkably easy to play and gear up, making it perfect for players on a budget while still offering solid performance in boss fights, clear speed, and overall durability. It’s a fan-favorite for a reason and carries only a few strict requirements, with the only must-have gear piece being the ever-plentiful Hrimsorrow Gloves. As for the new Runegrafts on Masteries, we're uncertain whether they’ll affect Polymath, but if they do, we could be looking at a nice bump in damage.

Full Guide can be found here: Cold Exsanguinate Miner Trickster

Next is the Perfect Agony Blade Vortex, focusing on Poison Damage. Assassin, still somewhat neglected, hasn’t received any updates. The build itself got a few minor buffs - Unleash Support being one of them - but, at its core, it remains the same tried-and-true strategy. This is a reliable, budget-friendly starter. You’ll find yourself wielding cheap, effective uniques like Cold Iron Point or Obliteration, alongside Dendrobate and others. The trade-off? Low survivability and a slow build-up of poison damage, which can often prove fatal. Still, Perfect Agony allows us to scale off of Critical Strike Multiplier for increased Poison Damage, and when built correctly, this can evolve into one of the most potent poison setups in the game. This means you can keep building this character for weeks to come.

Full Guide can be found here: Blade Vortex Poison Assassin

When it comes to Bows, Deadeye, and Elemental Hit, this staple remains unchanged, and for good reason. The build was a solid choice before, and it still holds its ground. The only real tweak came with the Elemental Mastery adjustment for Inverted Resistances. As per usual, you’ll begin with Lightning Arrow and transition to the Transfigured Gem when it becomes available. This build is hands down the fastest on the list, ideal for mapping or clearing Legions on day one. However, if your goal is to topple pinnacle bosses or tackle T-17s, it may face some challenges, especially if you’re unable to invest in high-tier gear. Leveling can also be a bit of a grind if you’re lacking good items. In the grand scheme, this build’s sole purpose is straightforward: to make currency as quickly as possible once the patch goes live.

Full Guide: Elemental Hit of the Spectrum Deadeye

Elementalist, however, has undergone a significant overhaul. Gone is the simple 25% more damage from Shaper of Flames. Instead, this ascendancy now causes Ignited enemies to Convert 40% of their Damage to Fire. That's less damage and more durability. On top of that, we can now equip our mercenary with Eye of Malice and Legacy of Fury, items we'd typically wear ourselves - an extra boost of borrowed power that’s certainly worth celebrating. Fire Trap Elementalist remains a well-tested and reliable starter, and with the recent changes, it's even faster than most Trap builds, thanks to the addition of Frostblink. While its boss damage grows slowly, as you have to scale up gem level and burning damage to tackle the uber pinnacles, it's very high.

Full Guide: Fire Trap of Blasting Elementalist

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