PoE 2 Race: Fastest Speedrun Strategies & Builds from the 1st Race

The first Path of Exile 2 race has ended, and the results were nothing short of astonishing. A warrior took the crown, outpacing competitors with a time that left everyone in disbelief. But how did he do it? What strategies and builds did dominate the first race? And what strategies you can use for the next race? Let's break it down.

How the PoE 2 Race Works

Before diving into the strategies, let's quickly go over the race format. Players sign up, create a new character (Solo Self-Found mode), and start at the Coast. Everyone remains motionless until the race begins. The goal? Be the first to defeat Act 3's Doriani.

However, there's a catch—while this isn't Hardcore mode, dying incurs a one-minute penalty where the player cannot move. This led to some creative adaptations, including nearly every racer carrying a shield in their off-hand for extra survivability while using Shield Charge to speed through areas.

The Champion: Mr. Angoras' Warrior Run

The biggest shock of the race was Mr. Angoras' performance—he finished in just 2 hours and 28 minutes, a full 30 minutes ahead of the next-best warrior. For comparison, the fastest sorceress took 4 hours and 3 minutes. That gap is massive!

Key Strategies:

• Shield Charge for Mobility: Angoras always carried a shield, using Shield Charge to traverse maps quickly.

• Bone Shatter for Damage: His primary attack skill was Bone Shatter, which obliterated enemies.

• Weapon Swapping for Efficiency: When moving, he had a shield equipped, but when attacking, he swapped to a two-handed weapon for maximum damage.

• Leap + Shield Charge Combo: Later in the race, he combined Leap with Shield Charge, alternating between them to move at unprecedented speeds.

• Seismic Cry + Perfect Strike for Bosses: This combination allowed him to deliver devastating hits, melting bosses almost instantly.

His meticulous preparation and mastery of movement techniques made this an unbeatable run.

Other Notable Performances

While warriors dominated the race, other classes had their own standout performances.

Infernal’s Witch Run

Infernal was the fastest non-warrior racer, securing victory for the Witch class. Many expected a minion-based build, but he surprised everyone by relying heavily on Contagion.

• Poison-Based Setup: He started with Flame Wall and Gas Cloud, applying poison for steady damage.

• Demon Form Transition: Upon reaching Act 2 and unlocking his ascendancy, he switched to Demon Form, drastically increasing his mobility.

• Contagion + Flame Wall Synergy: He continuously spread Contagion while dashing through enemies, allowing his Raging Skulls to finish off survivors.

Despite witches generally being slower, Infernal's speed and execution proved that the class can still be competitive.

Sarge’s Monk Run

Sarge's Ice Strike Monk clocked in at one hour slower than the best warrior. However, his approach was still fascinating.

• Early Chaos Damage: He started with Contagion, punishing enemies with chaos damage.

• Ice Wave + Frost Bomb for Burst Damage: This helped against tougher elites early on.

• Shield Charge for Mobility: Like warriors, he utilized Shield Charge whenever possible.

• Leap + Ice Strike Combo: Later in the run, he optimized movement further by adding Leap, allowing him to quickly reposition before unleashing Ice Strike.

This method made monks viable but still slightly behind warriors in terms of raw speed.

Ranger and Sorceress Struggles

• Fastest Ranger: Mr. Donatu, who likely used Shattering Concoction after transitioning from Lightning Ranger.

• Fastest Sorceress: A disappointing 4 hours and 3 minutes—sorceresses struggled with mobility and damage consistency.

Both of these classes are viable but currently lack the raw movement efficiency of warriors and monks.

Speedrunning Strategies: How to Improve Your Time

If you're looking to improve your PoE 2 speedrun, here are some general tips:

1. Prioritize Movement Abilities

Shield Charge, Leap, and Dash skills significantly reduce travel time. Always have some form of instant movement.

2. Weapon Swapping for Speed

Carry a shield for mobility and swap to a two-handed weapon for maximum damage output.

3. Optimize Death Management

While dying incurs a one-minute penalty, it is sometimes worth it if it allows you to kill bosses faster. The fastest runners died multiple times but still finished far ahead.

4. Shop for Key Items

Certain magic items can provide movement speed, attack speed, or damage boosts. Checking vendors regularly can make a huge difference.

5. Map Knowledge & Routing

Understanding randomized layouts can save valuable minutes. Some runners timestamp their own runs to refine their paths.

6. Act 1 Is the Most Important

Most of your core gear and skills come from Act 1. If you have a bad start, consider resetting and trying again.

What's Next? The Second Race

With Mr. Angoras setting a record-breaking time, the challenge now is to see if anyone can match or surpass his run. The next race will be another chance to refine strategies and push for even faster times.

Will you be participating? Have you tried speedrunning yourself? Let us know in the comments!

And if you’re looking for build guides, check out our recommended Warrior and Mercenary setups linked below.

Thanks for reading, and good luck in your next race!