The Sorceress is one of the Intelligence-focused classes inPath of Exile 2, and unlike the Witch, who is proficient in Chaos and Necromancy, this one is all about elemental magic. This class does just about everything one would expect from a mage-type character, from flinging fire balls, calling down meteors, and firing lightning from their fingertips.

Leveling up a Sorceress is fairly easy, especially when compared to classes like the Monk andWarrior inPoE 2. She’s a bit of a glass cannon, but with the right build, even this fragile spellcaster can have high degrees of survivability while still dealing tons of damage. Here’s one of many possible Sorceress leveling builds inPath of Exile 2that strikes a balance between AoE and single-target damage.

leveling an arc sorc in PoE 2

Updated June 09, 2025 by Marc Santos:While the changes brought by Dawn of the Hunt have negatively impacted most Path of Exile 2 builds, the builds themselves have remained mostly the same. This PoE 2 Sorceress leveling build in particular remains as viable as it was before, though we’ve added a small section to this guide that contains alternate Support Gem options for players who might want to try something new.

Path of Exile 2 Sorceress Leveling Build - Arc/Spark Setup

This is a Lightning build that usesArc as its main DPS skill for tough targets and Spark for small-medium-sized packs of monsters. Arc is a satisfying spell to use, and while it has its flaws early on, it scales well into the late game, especially once players start getting important gear and passive effects. As you’re leveling up, your skill bar should look something like this:

Use for general mobbing and boss killing.

Lightning sorc passives in POE 2

Use against bosses and elites.

If needed, replace withArchmagelater.

Swarms will be the biggest threat to you while doing Acts with this build, which is why we’ll useSpark and Flame WallwithPoE 2’sRaging Spirits buff. If you ever get swarmed by too many things at once, pop a Flame Wall and spam Spark until everything dies. Once you getLightning Conduit and Cast on Shock, you should have an easier time managing big hordes.

Your damage will start toseriously ramp up once you get the Archmage buff, which gives your spells bonus Lightning damage based on your max mana, though it will make your spells use more mana as well. If you don’t have this skill yet, stick with Raging Spirits in the meantime.

Lifesprig wand in PoE 2

Late Game Optional Build Variant

Once you start mapping, thisPath of Exile 2Sorceress build might feel like it’s lost its effectiveness, especially against bosses and elites. If this is the case, try the following Support Gems for Arc:

This Support Gem setupsignificantly increases the upfront damage dealt by Arcin exchange for less chaining/area of effect potential. Use it to zap big chunks of an enemy’s health bar off while Mana Tempest and Orb of Storms are active.

Path of Exile II Tag Page Cover Art

With this alternative Arc setup, you’ll need to rely on Spark more for mob-clearing. Use the following Support Gems to increase its late-game effectiveness:

Keep in mind that Controlled Destruction will prevent Arc from scoring critical hits, but it won’t affect any of your other offensive spells.

Path of Exile 2 Cover

Alternate Support Gems

While thePath of Exile 2Sorceress build above should work as-is, players still have a plethora of options to choose from. If you feel like the support gem setup above isn’t working, consider using the following:

Sorceress Leveling Build Passives

Since we’re mostly using Lightning skills, we’ll want to take passive nodes that buff Lightning damage and Shock. If you’re having trouble surviving, pick up a few Energy Shield passives. Try making your way to the following major passive nodes as you’re leveling up:

you’re able to see where these passive nodes are byusing the Passive Skill Tree Filter.

The Player Facing An Optional Boss

This build can transition into either the Stormweaver or Chronomancer Ascendancies, though it does have more straightforward synergies with the former.If you’re not sure which Ascendancy to get but are still interested in using Arc, then Stormweaver is the way to go.

For players who are having trouble surviving in Cruel difficulty and the early Atlas maps, consider gettingMind over Matter. This passive basically turns your mana into health, and considering how much you’ll be wanting more mana and mana regeneration stats as a Sorceress, taking Mind over Matter isn’t such a bad idea.

The Player Standing By Una’s Lute Box

There aren’t manySupport Gems inPoE 2that buff Arc’s damage output, so players will have to rely on getting both passive skills and gear with the right stats. As far as items are concerned, look for ones with the following modifiers:

You can save modifiers like Movement Speed and Critical Hit stats for the endgame. Keep in mind that Arc (and other magical abilities, for that matter), are counted as Spells, not Attacks. Any item that adds elemental damage to Attacks will not work.

Mighty Silverfist map boss in Path of Exile 2

The Player Getting The Book Of Specialisation From Una

Sorceress with Act 3 gear in PoE 2