Path of Exile 2 offers a wide variety of builds, but most players tend to categorize them as either expensive or budget-friendly. Expensive builds often require dozens of Divine Orbs to min-max damage and survivability, which can be a major grind-something the average player may not have time for. Fortunately, you don't need top-tier gear to enjoy the game or tackle the endgame.

In this guide, we'll highlight six budget builds in Path of Exile 2 that can perform exceptionally well without requiring expensive gear. Keep in mind that even budget builds may require around 10 to 20 Divine Orbs, depending on how optimized you want them to be.

1. Hollow Palm Monk

The Hollow Palm Monk is one of the most accessible and cost-effective builds in Path of Exile 2. The standout feature of this build is that it doesn't require a weapon to function. Players have demonstrated that Hollow Palm Monk can even defeat pinnacle bosses without gear.

The most popular skill combination involves Tempest Flurry paired with Falling Thunder or Whirling Assault. Following the buffs in Patch 0.4, Falling Thunder has become one of the best AoE clearing abilities, allowing for high burst damage. The build relies on critical hits and combo scaling to one-shot bosses, but removing the need for an expensive weapon makes it extremely accessible for budget players.

2. Minion Druid

Minion builds have found new viability with the Druid's Shaman Ascendancy. By using the Sacred Flow passive, players can gain up to 120 additional spirit. Combined with reservation efficiency nodes, this allows for a massive minion army, perfect for both clearing maps and tackling bosses.

Most minion builds utilize Raise Spectre, converting powerful enemies into loyal minions. Patch 0.4 removed the ability to use Frozen Mandibles, but alternatives like Gargantuan Wasps or Ants are viable substitutes, obtainable during Interlude 3. Spectres revive after dying, providing reliable damage over time, while a few regular minions act as offerings to empower your main minion army. Minion builds remain a strong budget option for players looking to farm safely and effectively.

Budget players can farm these minions easily or accelerate progression by POE2 Items to supplement their build, making Minion Druid both accessible and effective.

3. CoC Comet Sorceress

The Cast on Critical (CoC) Comet Sorceress is often associated with expensive gear, but it can perform well on a budget-friendly setup. This build works well for solo play or small squads of two to three players.

The core idea is to stack Critical Hit Chance to trigger CoC and launch Comets automatically. You can use Spark or Frostbolt as triggers-Spark adds Shock for extra damage, while Frostbolt can freeze enemies. Early-stage mana management can be tricky, so focus on items like Mana Remnants or rings with mana regeneration to smooth out casting. With the right setup, CoC Comet Sorceress delivers consistent damage without the need for high-end gear.

4. Crossbow Mercenary

Crossbows are often overlooked in Path of Exile 2, primarily because they are off-meta, but they remain a solid choice for budget players. Paired with Culling Strike, which is easy to obtain as a Witchhunter, Crossbow builds can be highly effective.

You can play either a grenade-based build using Explosive/Cluster Grenades or a projectile-based build with Fragmentation Rounds/Permafrost Bolts. Grenade builds excel at clearing groups, though visual clutter can obscure damage-over-time effects. Projectile builds provide high single-target damage and control via freeze mechanics. The Witchhunter's Sorcery Ward, recently buffed, offers additional defensive layers over Life and Energy Shield, making the build both safe and effective for budget players.

5. Machine Gun Warrior

While Warriors are traditionally Strength-based melee fighters, the Machine Gun Warrior uses Intelligence and the Titan Ascendancy to fire rapid skills like Ember Fusillade. By stacking nodes that reduce skill effect duration and combining them with Hulking Form, players can unleash a continuous barrage of projectiles almost instantly.

Adding cast speed and Time of Need allows near-constant healing and debuff removal, making this build hard to kill. Machine Gun Warrior proves that even traditionally melee classes can become budget-friendly ranged damage dealers, with impressive soloing potential in endgame content.

6. Plant Druid

Finally, the Plant Druid, utilizing the Oracle Ascendancy, is an affordable and fun build. It relies on Entangle and Thrashing Vines for both mobbing and bossing. With Physical and Spell damage mixed, you can spec passives more freely, optimizing both survivability and DPS.

Entangle slows enemies, and when paired with Bushwhack's unique boots, enemies are pinned, allowing Thrashing Vines to fully apply their AoE damage. For extra DPS, use Thunderstorm to water plants, triggering explosive effects. Combined with Oracle's Unseen Path, Plant Druid is ideal for new characters, capable of clearing content quickly while remaining budget-friendly.

Conclusion

Path of Exile 2 allows players to enjoy high-level content without breaking the bank. While expensive builds have their appeal, budget builds like Hollow Palm Monk, Minion Druid, CoC Comet Sorceress, Crossbow Mercenary, Machine Gun Warrior, and Plant Druid prove that fun, effective, and solo-capable setups are accessible to everyone.

For those who want to save time or access rare components quickly, you can buy POE2 Items or buy POE2 Currency, providing an easier route to fully optimized builds without sacrificing gameplay enjoyment. Whether farming maps or tackling bosses, budget builds in Path of Exile 2 offer high-value returns with minimal investment, making them perfect for casual and dedicated players alike.