Path of Exile 2 has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Raise Spectre Skill, enhancing the Occult Skills category and addressing the prior limitations of the Minion mechanics. Inheriting this ability from its predecessor, Path of Exile 2 promises a rich and diverse Summoner playstyle, thanks to the extensive variety of monsters that populate its world.
Spectres, which represent spectral forms of defeated foes, can be summoned from virtually any creature in the game, excluding unique bosses. These revived entities come equipped with their own special abilities and behavior patterns, providing substantial benefits in battles. Risen Spectres can serve as pseudo-support units for your other minions or stand alone as formidable damage-dealers.
Top Spectres in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt (0.2.0)
With hundreds of potential Spectres derived from the game’s vast array of creatures, crafting an exhaustive list would require a comprehensive compendium. Instead, we’ve curated a selection of ten standout Spectres suited for various roles including DPS, Tanking, and hybrid builds.
Frost Wraith
Spirit Cost: 80
Location: Cemetery of the Eternals, Act 1
Frost Wraiths deliver significant cold damage through projectile attacks and can build a formidable Freeze ailment on enemies. Their area-of-effect Frost Nova attack makes them especially useful when equipped with Multiple Projectiles and cold-support gems.
Bloodrite Priest
Spirit Cost: 90
Location: Temple of Kopec, Act 3
True to their name, Bloodrite Priests prioritize blood-based attacks, inflicting moderate physical damage with three-projectile shots. Utilizing the Exsanguinate skill on a cool-down grants them both area coverage and spell benefits when paired with the right support gems.
Vaal Guard
Spirit Cost: 50
Location: Utzaal, Act 3
Vaal Guards have quickly gained popularity following the Dawn of the Hunt update due to their explosive gameplay. They can launch grenades that ignite vast areas, dealing substantial fire damage with both Explosive and Oil Grenades, proving to be a strong DPS choice as they level up.
Regurgitating Vulture
Spirit Cost: 70
Location: Deshar, Act 2
These toxic carrion birds thrive in the Vastiri Deserts, deploying poisonous strikes that wreak havoc on foes. With abilities mirroring those of Frost Wraiths, they can excel with support gems that enhance poison effects.
Chaos Zealot
Spirit Cost: 60
Location: Trial of Chaos, Act 3
These followers of chaos unleash waves of Spark projectiles that inflict moderate lightning damage. With proper augmentation, they can serve as a powerful choice through both regular acts and endgame scenarios.
Filthy Crone
Spirit Cost: 120
Location: Apex of Filth, Act 3
For players seeking to impose additional damage through curses, the Filthy Crone adeptly casts debilitating afflictions like Vulnerability, Despair, Enfeeble, and Temporal Chains. However, keep in mind the high spirit cost and potential curse conflicts.
Doryani’s Elite
Spirit Cost: 70
Location: The Black Chambers, Act 3
This elite cadre mirrors the Vaal Thaumaturgist and utilizes quick-moving Lightning Orbs that act as delayed explosive mines, causing widespread area damage. Pairing them with enhancements like Feeding Frenzy can magnify their destructive potential.
Azak Fledgling
Spirit Cost: 50
Location: Azak Bog, Act 3
Delivering quick projectile strikes, these Spectres offer outstanding performance for their spirit cost. Enhancements such as Corrosion Support can further amplify their damage output while applying armor-shredding poison effects.
Priest of the Sun
Spirit Cost: 100
Location: Temple of Kopec, Act 3
This fire-oriented Spectre excels in ranged casting, capable of executing both a slow-moving Solar Orb and a devastating Solar Beam. This versatility makes it a solid alternative for players who lean towards caster builds.
Faridun Heavy Infantry
Spirit Cost: 60
Location: Spires of Deshar, Act 2
For players favoring melee combat, the Faridun Heavy Infantry serves as an excellent frontline option. These stout warriors deliver solid damage with their spears while also providing tank-like durability, making them a reliable choice when accompanied by Feeding Frenzy and Brutality.
Evaluating Spectres in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt (0.2.0)
While the top ten Spectres presented are formidable choices, it’s crucial to recognize that player preferences might dictate varying rankings. Due to the balance issues present in Patch 0.2.0, many are currently gravitating towards the highest DPS options. However, unique choices can work wonders depending on individual playstyles, so players should explore whatever Spectres resonate most with them.
| Tier | Spectres |
| S | Vaal Guard, Priest of the Sun, Frost Wraith |
| A+ | Chaos Zealot, Doryani’s Elite |
| A | Bloodrite Priest, Regurgitating Vulture, Azak Fledgling |
| B | Faridun Heavy Infantry, Filthy Crone |
For example, the Filthy Crone might be assessed as B-tier for standard DPS builds, yet it can shine in group settings where it fulfills a curse-supporting role. Meanwhile, the Azak Fledgling performs exceptionally well in early acts, but its effectiveness wanes midway through the game, thus placing it at A-tier.
Moreover, keep in mind that this list isn’t definitive. As players continue to experiment with the expansive pool of enemies, the meta can change to reflect new balance adjustments and developments, bolstering the evolving landscape of Spectral summons.