The Lightning Arrow Deadeye stands as one of the most refined bow archetypes in the current Path of Exile 2 meta, blending extraordinary clear speed with scalable single-target damage. At its core, the build’s philosophy focuses on projectile scaling, critical strike synergy, and layered defenses, creating a fluid combat style that rewards precision and positioning. Leveraging the Deadeye ascendancy’s ability to enhance projectile count and range, Lightning Arrow chains across the battlefield, often eliminating threats before they appear on screen. For players seeking both high-speed mapping and boss-killing prowess, this setup offers an unmatched balance of efficiency and power, especially when paired with smart investment in PoE 2 Currency for optimal gearing.
The Deadeye ascendancy path is chosen to maximize projectile efficiency and damage output:
- Gathering Winds: Builds Gale Force stacks for sustained action speed, improving mobility and attack cadence.
- Endless Munitions: Grants two additional projectiles, multiplying both area coverage and single-target overlap.
- Focal Point: Enhances Marks for stronger single-target damage and enables returning projectiles, synergizing with Artillery Ballista for a shotgun effect.
- Far Shot: Rewards long-range positioning with a significant damage multiplier, encouraging safe and strategic play.
Skill gem setups in Path of Exile 2’s streamlined socket system allow for focused optimization. The primary clearing skill is Lightning Arrow, configured for balanced elemental scaling and utility:
| Skill | Support 1 | Support 2 | Support 3 | Support 4 | Support 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Arrow | Trinity Support | Elemental Damage with Attacks | Returning Projectiles Support | Increased Critical Damage | Inspiration Support |
For single-target encounters, Artillery Ballista is the preferred setup:
| Skill | Support 1 | Support 2 | Support 3 | Support 4 | Support 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artillery Ballista | Focused Ballista Support | Elemental Damage with Attacks | Increased Critical Damage | Inspiration Support | Concentrated Effect |
Auras and utility skills further refine the build:
- Auras: Grace, Determination, Herald of Ice.
- Movement: Dash or Frostblink with Second Wind.
- Utility: Sniper’s Mark with Mark on Hit, Blood Rage for Frenzy charges, Cast when Damage Taken with Molten Shell.
Endgame gearing emphasizes elemental damage, attack speed, critical strike scaling, and projectile speed while maintaining defenses:
| Slot | Key Stats |
|---|---|
| Bow | High flat Lightning & Cold Damage, Attack Speed, Critical Chance, optional +2 Arrows. |
| Quiver | +1 Arrow, Attack Speed, Crit Multiplier, Projectile Speed, Life. |
| Body Armour | High Evasion, Spell Suppression, Life, Resistances; target Hyrri’s Ire or crit-influenced rare. |
| Helmet | Life, Spell Suppression, Resistances, +1 Artillery Ballista Totem enchant. |
| Gloves | Attack Speed, Life, Spell Suppression, optional strike target implicit. |
| Boots | Movement Speed, Life, Spell Suppression, Tailwind on crit. |
| Amulet | Critical Multiplier, Life, Resistances, Added Elemental Damage; Hyrri’s Truth optional. |
| Rings | Life, Resistances, flat elemental damage; Kalandra’s Touch for high-end. |
| Belt | Stygian Vise with Life, Resistances, Elemental Damage with Attacks. |
The passive tree prioritizes bow and projectile damage nodes, critical strike clusters, and life nodes along the right side, incorporating Acrobatics and Wind Dancer for layered defense. Large Cluster Jewels with Feed the Fury, Fuel the Fight, and Martial Prowess provide substantial offensive boosts, while medium clusters featuring Repeater and Eye to Eye enhance both ballista output and attack speed. This combination ensures the Lightning Arrow Deadeye remains dominant in mapping and bossing alike, with room to scale further through strategic investment in PoE 2 Currency buy.
