Discover everything you need to know about the best Spectres tier list for Path of Exile 2, including how to get them while progressing.

Spectres in Path of Exile 2 have a significant impact on gameplay, especially if you’re playing a minion-based or summoner build. You can bind the spirit of almost any monster you kill using the Bind Spectre skill. The Dawn of the Hunt brings some new creatures into the game and changes the properties of some previous ones. The stronger the enemy, the more spirit it costs to summon and maintain. This can force you to make strategic choices as to which one to use. You need to experiment with synergies, like combining curse-based ones with elemental damage to optimize damage and utility. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best Spectres tier list in Path of Exile 2 and what makes them the best and worst ones.
Spectres Overview
Spectres are a type of minion that players can summon by capturing the spirit of a defeated enemy. They have an inherent implicit modifier of increased elemental damage. The effectiveness is determined by its specific stats and modifiers. This includes things like base damage, attack speed, elemental damage modifiers, and modifiers related to spirit or mana. Find the Spectres with high damage potential and relevant elemental modifiers. The spirit modifiers on them can be very useful if you’re playing a minion build.
Spectres can be used by various classes, but they are particularly well-suited for the Witch. They are crucial for summoner builds as they can significantly boost a character’s power. They can serve as allies, fighting alongside the player and retaining the abilities they possess in life. Their strength and abilities depend on the original monster’s characteristics. However, summoning them consumes a resource called spirit, with the cost varying based on the power. If this ally is defeated, it will respawn after a short period, similar to other minions.
Best Spectres Tier List
Here’s the best Spectres tier list in Path of Exile 2.
Tier | Spectres |
---|---|
S-Tier | Vaal Guard, Faridun Impaler, Priest of the Sun |
A-Tier | Frost Wraith, Regurgitating Vulture, Cultist Archer |
B-Tier | Forsaken Miner, Nettle Ant, Gilded Beetle, Azak Fledgling, Bloodrite Priest |
C-Tier | Serpent Shaman, Filthy Corne |
S-Tier
Vaal Guard

- Spirit Cost- 50
- Location- The Ziggurat Refuge, Utzaal, Library of Kamasa – Act 3
- Skills and Traits-
- Slows enemy movement speed
- Applies Fire Exposure
- Throws grenades to deal Fire Damages
Vaal Guard is the best Spectre to use in Path of Exile 2 because it deals significant damage, particularly with its grenade attack. This comes with a high base damage multiplier (440%) and area damage. The grenade attack provides area damage, making it effective for clearing groups of enemies. The Vaal Guard has unique abilities that make it stand out among others, such as grenade attacks and flat damage increases. This is highly useful for dealing with single targets and clearing efficiently. Make sure to get the ones that cost 50 Spirit. Pairing it with the right skill gem can even make it more effective and damage-dealing in tougher encounters with bosses.
Faridun Impaler

- Spirit Cost- 120
- Location- The Spires of Deshar – Act 2
- Skills and Traits
- Deals Physical Hit Damage
- Can inflict Bleeding
- Projectile attacks
Faridun Impaler comes with unique abilities that allow you to hit hard and cover a lot of ground. The attack from this can apply bleeding to the target. The bleeding effect allows you to inflict damage over time. This slowly drains the enemy’s health bar, and the enemy will be dead after a few seconds. The Projectiles attacks from Faridun Impaler allow you to hit multiple enemies in combat. This makes it easy to control the battlefield, along with some physical hits to enemies.
Priest of the Sun

- Spirit Cost- 100
- Location- Temple of Kopec in Act 3
- Skills and Traits
- Deal Fire Damage
- Solar Beam
- Slow-Moving Solar Orb
Priest of the Sun is a good Spectre in Path of Exile 2 that deals high fire damage, and the minions can use two special attacks. While the second one is a Solar Beam that deals heavy damage, the first one is a slow-moving Solar Orb that deals moderate damage in an area. The Solar Beam attack can pierce through targets, allowing it to eliminate the enemies quickly. Priest of the Sun is an excellent choice for Infernalists who prefer an alternative to Vaal Guards.
A-Tier
Frost Wraith

- Spirit Cost- 80
- Location- Cemetery of the Eternals – Act 1
- Skills and Traits
- High Energy Shield
- Deals Cold Damage
- Can trigger explosions
- Projectile attack
The Frost Wraith is an excellent choice for players during leveling. This one has high crowd control capabilities and quick clear times. Use its projectiles to freeze enemies while explosions from Frost Wraith can deal additional damage to frozen foes. Use the Frost Wraith to deal cold damage and inflict a significant freeze ailment buildup. This can have an area of effect Frost Nova attack in melee combat.
Regurgitating Vulture

- Spirit Cost- 70
- Location- Deshar – Act 2
- Skills and Traits
- Deals Chaos Damage
- Can inflict Poison
- Projectile attack
Regurgitating Vulture allows you to deal Chaos Damage to targets caught in them. If you’re running a Chaos Lich build, then this is the best one for you, based on your build. This is highly effective against a cluster of enemies, as you can eliminate a group of enemies with it. Pair it with the right skill gem and support gem to make it more effective and damage-dealing in combat. Regurgitating Vulture works the same as Frost Wraiths because it lobs Caustic Mortars at ranged enemies. It works well with the ailment-oriented and swift affliction support gems.
Cultist Archer

- Spirit Cost- 70
- Location- Freythorn – Act 1
- Skills and Traits
- Can spawn blooming sprouts that deal chaos damage
- Fires an AoE skill that rains chaos damage on enemies
- Range-focused Spectre
Cultist Archer is the highest damaging Spectre in the game and has the capability to clear AOE. It uses AOE skills that deal huge amounts of Chaos damage. Use this one to fire an AOE skill that allows you to rain Chaos damage on the foes, making it easy to eliminate them. It can also spawn blooming Sprouts that deal chaos damage in an area.
B-Tier
Forsaken Miner

- Spirit Cost- 70
- Location- Mawdun Quarry and Mawdun Mine – Act 2
- Skills and Traits
- High damage output
- Projectile-based explosions
Forsaken Miner fires two grenades per cast, with solid base damage. It excels at crowd control with its freezing projectiles and explosion mechanics. You can use this for both early leveling and endgame. It has high durability and can freeze on enemies. The clear speed is stunning and very useful when supported with cold or AoE scaling gems. This is a good ally for summoners who want to apply consistent chill and freeze effects. This allows the players to keep good area coverage and survivability.
Nettle Ant

- Spirit Cost- 40
- Location- Infested Barrens – Act 3
- Skills and Traits
- High Attack Speed
- High Movement Speed
- Physical melee attacks
Nettle Ant has a fast attack speed, allowing the players to take down enemies in combat. This is a straightforward Spectre that can deal high melee attacks, giving you more flexibility during battle. However, the major drawback of this ally is their low health.
Gilded Beetle

- Spirit Cost- 90
- Location- Trial of the Sekhemas – Act 2
- Skills and Traits
- Buffs damage output
- Buffs Mana Regeneration
- Deals AoE Lightning damage
- Lightning Nova
Gilded Beetle uses its Warcry near enemies to increase damage and the Mana Regeneration of nearby allies. However, the increment in damage depends on the number of enemies present when the ability is used. Gilded Beetle can deal a high area of effect lightning damage, allowing you to defeat a group of enemies within a few hits. It also grants mana regen and damage output along with the lightning nova to the players equipping it.
Azak Fledgling
- Spirit Cost- 50
- Location- Azak Bog in Act 3
- Skills and Traits
- Poison Damage
- Corrosion Support
Azak Fledgling can shoot out darts very fast and deals massive damage and applies poison on hit. This is extremely strong for spirit cost and use Corrosion Support to break the enemy’s armour with the poison damage. We recommend you pair it with the skill that increases its combat efficiency.
Bloodrite Priest
C-Tier
Serpent Shaman

- Spirit Cost- 90
- Location- Keth, The Ziggurat of Refuge – Act 3
- Skills and Traits
- Increases Physical Damage taken by enemies
- Chance to inflict Bleeding on Hit
- Curses enemies
- Nova spell
Serpent Shaman can boost your offense significantly if you want to deal high physical damage. The enemies can take enhanced Physical damage if affected by this Spectre’s Curse. The hits can avoid a portion of the target’s Armour. It also has the chance to inflict Bleeding when attacking a cursed foe in combat. Serpant Shaman applies a curse that increases physical damage taken, making it an excellent choice for physical builds.
Filthy Crone
- Spirit Cost- 120
- Location- Apex of Filth in Act 3
- Skills and Traits
- Curse on enemies
Filthy Crone is a decent Spectre to use if you want to increase your damage by weakening the enemies. It allows you to curse multiple enemies with Vulnerability, Despair, Enfeeble, and Temporal Chains. However, you don’t need to summon multiple witches. The reason is pretty simple: they can override the applied curses. The high spirit cost can make it difficult to summon multiple enemies.
FAQs About Spectres in Path of Exile 2
What is Spectre in Path of Exile 2?
Spectres are a type of minion that players can summon by capturing the spirit of a defeated enemy. They have an inherent implicit modifier of increased elemental damage.
How do I get Spectre in Path of Exile 2?
The Bind Spectre skill gem is essential for summoning Spectres. Once the Bind Spectre gem becomes available, you can capture the spirit of a defeated monster. You need to defeat a monster and use the skill gem to capture its spirit. Now, summon the captured enemies to fight alongside you.
Which is the best Spectre in Path of Exile 2?
Vaal Guard is the best Spectre to use in Path of Exile 2 because it deals significant damage, particularly with its grenade attack. This comes with a high base damage multiplier (440%) and area damage.
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