Path of Exile 2 is a game defined by freedom—freedom in class choice, skill combinations, and long-term character direction. Yet one challenge remains universal for both new and veteran players alike: getting to maps quickly, efficiently, and without burning currency on a character you may not even play in the endgame.

This guide presents a solution that sounds almost too good to be true: a single leveling build that works on every class, reaches mapping in roughly four hours, and costs only around 15 Exalted Orbs. Even more impressively, it achieves this without locking you into an endgame archetype. Once you reach maps, you can fully respec your passive tree, Path of Exile 2 Currency, or pivot into any late-game build you want.

This strategy was tested on a Sorceress—arguably one of the slowest starters in PoE 2—and still reached the start of mapping in just under five hours from level one. Faster classes can shave that time down even further.

The secret? Leveling every class as a Druid using an absurdly powerful Bear-and-Wolf hybrid setup that scales effortlessly through the campaign.

Why Level as a Druid on Every Class?

In PoE 2, early-game speed matters more than thematic purity. The Druid skill set offers something no other archetype can match during leveling: explosive melee damage, constant mobility, and absurd synergy between rage generation, totems, and terrain effects.

By temporarily adopting Druid skills, any class—Sorceress, Witch, Huntress, Ranger, or otherwise—can blast through acts with minimal friction. Once you hit maps, you simply respec into your actual endgame build and move on.

This build is not about long-term scaling or perfect defenses. It is about momentum, raw physical damage, and turning every monster pack into rubble before it can react.

Act 1 Gear: Cheap, Efficient, and Overpowered

Your Act 1 gear setup is deliberately simple and inexpensive, yet shockingly effective.

You begin with Wonderlust boots, granting 10% increased movement speed right from the start—one of the most valuable stats in early leveling. Movement speed alone can shave minutes off every act.

Next is Meginord’s Girdle, a cornerstone item providing a massive 49 Strength while also increasing flask effectiveness. The Strength scaling directly boosts your physical damage, while stronger flasks ensure survivability without defensive investment.

For rings, you’ll use two Blackheart Iron Rings, each providing added physical damage and chaos damage. These flat damage bonuses scale exceptionally well with fast-hitting melee skills.

Your helmet choice is Horns of Binden, which grants one Rage on melee hit and increases armor by 1% per Rage point. This creates immediate synergy with the build’s rage-based mechanics while improving survivability as you attack.

Chest armor is Mandragora, paired with a talisman that comfortably lasts the entirety of Act 1. Gloves are Northpaw Bracers, giving flat physical damage from level one—a deceptively powerful early boost.

At level eight, you upgrade with the Shorefoot Sigil, granting bonus Dexterity and increased roll distance, further improving movement flow and responsiveness.

With this setup, Act 1 can be completed in 35 to 40 minutes with minimal resistance.

Core Skill Philosophy: Bear Power, Wolf Speed

This build revolves around a clever blend of Bear and Wolf skills, combining raw slam damage with relentless mobility.

The Bear form provides access to Furious Slam, a devastating attack that creates Jagged Ground—a terrain effect that can later be detonated for massive damage. The Wolf form complements this by offering rapid movement, fast Rage generation, and fluid positioning.

At level one, your primary skills are Furious Slam and Shred. Shred launches you forward in Wolf form, rapidly applying Rage and granting increased attack speed when not at maximum Rage. This keeps your character in near-constant motion.

Furious Slam is supported by Rapid Attacks, Fist of War, and Heft, turning each slam into a brutal physical hit with ancestral boosts and heavy scaling.

Even at the earliest levels, this combination hits far harder than most campaign builds.

Totems and the Jagged Ground Explosion Engine

At level three, the build truly comes online.

You add Shockwave Totem and Pounce. Pounce allows you to instantly break enemy armor, while also benefiting from Momentum, granting up to 40% more damage as you travel. Combined with Magnified Area, each leap obliterates entire packs.

The Shockwave Totem is where things become borderline absurd. Its slam attack can trigger Jagged Ground eruptions, dealing up to 180% of the original attack damage. To put this into perspective:

Normal Slam: ~200 damage

Jagged Ground Explosion: ~900 damage

Your Furious Slam continuously creates Jagged Ground, and your totems repeatedly detonate it. This feedback loop results in screen-wide destruction that trivializes bosses and rares alike.

On bosses, applying Mark of Death instantly breaks armor and amplifies damage even further, ensuring rapid kills without mechanical complexity.

Support Gems and Totem Scaling

To maximize totem efficiency, you’ll use Urgent Totems Tier 3, allowing them to be summoned faster than ever. Add Rapid Attacks for a further 25% attack speed bonus, and Efficiency so your mana isn’t drained dry.

This setup does require a stack of Lesser Jeweler’s Orbs—around 20 in total—which most players will naturally accumulate. While you could invest additional currency into Greater Jeweler’s Orbs to create a four-link setup, the goal here is affordability, not excess.

At roughly 15 Exalted Orbs total investment, this build delivers exceptional value.

Tier 5 Gems and Fury of the Mountain

Once you hit level 14 and unlock Tier 5 support gems, you add Fury of the Mountain. This skill creates fissures that pulse alongside your totems, generating Rage continuously.

This enables near-infinite Furious Slams, creating a rhythmic, devastating playstyle:

slam, move, slam, move—Jagged Ground everywhere.

It’s important to remember that Jagged Ground cannot stack in the same location, so proper movement is key. You must reposition between slams to maximize terrain coverage and explosions.

Fury of the Mountain is supported by Rage, Rapid Attacks, and Branching Fissures, allowing it to scale aggressively far earlier than usual.

Your Spirit skill of choice is Herald of Ash, optionally supported by Magnified Area. While not essential, it adds additional clear speed and visual flair.

From Level 1 to 56: One Skill Setup, Endless Speed

The beauty of this build is its simplicity. From level one all the way to level 56, your core skills remain unchanged. The only additional skill you’ll add later is Walking Calamity, which further enhances damage and clear efficiency.

This consistency allows you to focus entirely on movement, positioning, and speed rather than constantly reworking your setup.

Passive Trees and Class Flexibility

While the example used here is a Sorceress, this build works on every class. Passive tree paths differ slightly depending on your starting location, but the philosophy remains the same: prioritize physical damage, Rage generation, totem effectiveness, and movement speed buy Path of Exile 2 Currency.

For convenience, class-specific passive point allocations can be linked separately, allowing you to follow a clean path regardless of your chosen character.

Once you reach mapping, the build has served its purpose. You can fully respec your passives, change ascendancies, and transition into your desired endgame setup—whether that’s a caster, ranged build, or melee specialist.

Final Thoughts

This universal leveling build is a testament to Path of Exile 2’s flexibility. By temporarily setting aside class identity and embracing raw efficiency, you can reach mapping faster than ever before—without expensive gear, complex mechanics, or fragile setups.

For league starters, alt characters, or players who simply want to get to the real game as quickly as possible, this Druid-based leveling strategy stands as one of the most effective methods currently available.

Four hours. Fifteen Exalted Orbs. Any class. Maps achieved.

Sometimes, efficiency really is the ultimate power.