Best Minions to Summon in Path of Exile 2: Dominate the Early Game

Minion builds in Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) offer a thrilling blend of strategy and chaos, allowing players to command armies of undead, elemental forces, and more. Whether you’re a Necromancer fanatic or a casual summoner, choosing the right minions can make or break your journey through Wraeclast. Based on the latest gameplay analysis and community feedback, we’ve ranked the top 5 minions for early-game dominance, along with tips to maximize their potential. From poison-cloud snipers to explosive skeletons, here’s your ultimate guide to building an unstoppable minion army.

1. Skeletal Sniper: The Budget-Friendly Artillery

“Why shoot arrows yourself when skeletons can do it better?”

Key Strengths:

• Gas Arrow Tactics: These sharpshooters fire piercing arrows that shred enemies, while their Gas Arrow skill blankets the battlefield in flammable poison clouds. Ignite these clouds for explosive chain reactions, melting packs of foes.

• Low Spirit Cost: Ideal for early-game resource management, allowing you to summon a horde without draining your Spirit reserves.

• Versatility: Perfect for both single-target DPS (bosses) and AoE clear (trash mobs).

Weaknesses:

• Squishy Backline: Protect them with tankier minions like Zombies or Skeletal Warriors, as they lack survivability.

SSEGold Pro Tip:

Pair with Ignite Support Gems to amplify their poison-to-fire conversions.

2. Skeletal Frost Mage: Crowd Control King

“Freeze first, ask questions later.”

Key Strengths:

• Ice Bomb AoE: Their signature ability unleashes a chilling explosion, dealing heavy damage while applying Chill and Freeze to slow enemy advances. This is invaluable for controlling swarms or creating breathing room.

• Boss Killer: The Chill effect reduces boss attack speed, giving your team time to reposition.

Weaknesses:

• High Spirit Cost: Requires careful Spirit management early on. Prioritize leveling Spirit-boosting passives or gear.

• Fragile: Position them behind melee minions to avoid quick deaths.

Synergy:

Combine with Skeletal Warriors to lock enemies in place while Frost Mages bombard them.

3. Skeletal Warrior: The Reliable Meat Shield

“Bones break, but they don’t bend.”

Key Strengths:

• Frontline Tank: These melee bruisers absorb damage and disrupt enemies with cleaving strikes, protecting your squishier ranged minions.

• Low Maintenance: No complex mechanics—just summon and let them brawl.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Damage: They’re more about survival than DPS. Supplement with high-damage minions like Arsonists.

• Spirit Efficiency: While cheap, spamming them can drain Spirit during prolonged fights.

Gear Focus:

Equip Minion Life and Resistance Gems to enhance their durability.

4. Skeletal Arsonist: The Sacrificial Nuke

“Death is just the beginning… of the explosion.”

Key Strengths:

• Explosive Demise: When Arsonists are near death, detonate them for massive AoE fire damage. This skill shines in crowded encounters, clearing entire packs in one blast.

• High Burst Potential: Perfect for players who love high-risk, high-reward gameplay.

Weaknesses:

• Timing Dependency: Requires micromanagement to maximize explosions.

Strategy:

Use Spell Echo Support to summon multiple Arsonists quickly, then trigger chain explosions during elite encounters.

5. Zombies: The Corpse-Powered Tanks

“Why fear death when you can wear it as armor?”

Key Strengths:

• Zero Spirit Cost: Summoned via the Raise Zombie spell, they’re free to cast (but require corpses).

• High Durability: Tougher and harder-hitting than Skeletal Warriors, making them ideal for soaking boss attacks.

• Burst Utility: Their short lifespan (10-15 seconds) forces aggressive playstyles, perfect for speedrunners.

Weaknesses:

• Corpse Dependency: Useless in corpse-scarce boss arenas. Pair with Desecrate or Flesh Offering spells to generate bodies.

• Temporary Presence: Frequent resummoning disrupts flow in prolonged fights.

Advanced Tactic:

Use Zombie Link Support to share damage taken across your horde, prolonging their survival.

Honorable Mentions

While the top 5 dominate early-game meta, these minions deserve situational consideration:

1. Summon Raging Spirit

• Pros: Fire-based skulls that aggressively chase foes. Great for supplementing single-target DPS.

• Cons: High Mana cost and short duration limit scalability.

2. Stone Golem

• Pros: Provides passive life regeneration to your party.

• Cons: Low damage output; primarily a support minion.

Minion Synergy Strategies

To dominate PoE 2’s early game, combine minions into lethal teams:

The Frostfire Combo

• Skeletal Frost Mages + Skeletal Arsonists: Freeze enemies with Ice Bombs, then detonate Arsonists for bonus damage against Chilled foes.

The Undead Wall

• Zombies + Skeletal Warriors: Use Zombies as primary tanks and Warriors as secondary blockers, creating layered defenses for ranged minions.

Poison Incineration

• Skeletal Snipers + Ignite Support: Stack poison clouds with Gas Arrows, then ignite them for exponential damage.

Gearing Your Minion Army

Spirit Optimization:

• Prioritize gear with +Spirit Regeneration or Reduced Minion Spirit Cost to sustain hordes.

Survival Essentials:

• Minion Life Gems: Boost tankiness for frontline units.

• Elemental Resistance Gear: Protect Frost Mages and Arsonists from elemental backlash.

Damage Amplifiers:

• Ignite/Chill Effect Modifiers: Enhance Sniper poison or Frost Mage slows.

• Minion Attack Speed: Critical for Skeletal Warriors and Zombies.
  

Early-Game Pitfalls to Avoid

• Overinvesting in Squishy Minions: Balance your army with tanks (Zombies) and DPS (Snipers).

• Ignoring Corpse Mechanics: Always pack Desecrate for Zombie sustainability.

• Spirit Mismanagement: Don’t spam high-cost minions like Frost Mages until you’ve leveled Spirit reserves.

Conclusion

Mastering minions in Path of Exile 2’s early game hinges on strategic diversity and synergy. The Skeletal Sniper and Frost Mage combo offers unrivaled crowd control, while Zombies and Warriors form an unbreakable frontline. For players craving explosions, Arsonists deliver satisfaction at the cost of micromanagement.

As the meta evolves, keep an eye on patch notes and community guides—especially for late-game minions like Spectres or Golems. For now, sharpen your summoning skills, experiment with builds, and remember: in Wraeclast, the deadliest weapon is an army that never tires.