Introduction
Path of Building (PoB) is the go to tool for planning, simulating, and optimizing builds in Path of Exile. It allows players to experiment with passive trees, skill gems, gear, and buffs without spending currency in game.
However, over time, the community has developed forks of PoB, which add extra features or modernize the interface. This guide will compare the official PoB vs community forks, helping you understand which version best suits your needs.
Key Differences Between PoB and Community Fork
1. Updates and Maintenance
Official PoB: Updated regularly by the original developers for bug fixes and compatibility with new leagues.
Community Fork: May receive more frequent or experimental updates, often including features requested by the player community.
2. Features
Official PoB: Focuses on reliable, stable build simulation, detailed DPS calculations, and passive tree planning.
Community Fork: May include extra features like enhanced UI, build sharing improvements, automatic skill tree import from the game, or custom calculation modules.
3. Stability
Official PoB: Generally more stable and tested, with fewer crashes or errors.
Community Fork: Could be less stable due to rapid feature addition, but often includes cutting edge tools that power users prefer.
4. Compatibility
Official PoB: Fully compatible with the latest game patches and official passive tree structures.
Community Fork: Sometimes lags behind the official game updates or introduces its own custom calculations that might differ slightly from live game results.
5. Community Support
Official PoB: Supported by forums, GitHub, and official documentation.
Community Fork: Often supported on Discord or Reddit, with rapid response from active contributors.
Tips for Choosing Between Official PoB and Community Fork
If you want stability and reliability for standard builds, stick with official PoB.
If you enjoy experimenting with new features or need advanced build tools, try a community fork.
Always back up your builds before switching between versions to avoid compatibility issues.
Keep both versions handy if you want to compare calculations or test experimental features.
Conclusion
Both the official Path of Building and community forks serve important roles for Path of Exile players. The official PoB provides stability, accurate calculations, and consistent updates, while community forks offer extra features, experimental tools, and rapid enhancements. Understanding the differences allows you to pick the version that matches your playstyle, whether you’re planning complex endgame builds or just optimizing your DPS.
