Best Builds for Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt

Discover the best builds to pursue for the Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, including new class and ascendancy builds with high damage potential, survivability, and support.  

best builds for path of exile 2 dawn of the hunt

The Best Build for Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt is a character build that is highly efficient in endgame content. The endgame content of Path of Exile 2 includes the toughest challenges within the high-tier maps. Clearing the high-tier maps is only possible by running a ruthless build that maximizes high damage, survivability, utility, and efficiency. Unlike beginner builds or campaign builds that rely on low gear and simple mechanics, the endgame builds require proper passive skill tree setups, specific gear, and skill gems. Moreover, players must refine their strategies for the build for higher efficiency and an increase in the clearing speed.

In this guide, we will tell you the best builds for Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt and how each one plays out.

Best Build for Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt – Overview

Creating a build suitable for the endgame content of Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt relies on your preferred playstyle. You need to decide if you want ranged spellcasting, summoning minions, or melee combat. Choosing the best stats, ascendancy, gear, and passive skills is crucial for your best build. Due to the vast variety of ways you can set up the passive skill tree, you can enhance the potential of the character’s skills. For instance, choosing a setup like Bone Lich, you can use the abilities like Bone Cage and Bonestorm. These abilities help greatly in crowd control and single-target damage. So, it all depends on you how you want to pursue your character in the endgame content to stand out in clearing high-tier maps.

Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Leveling Builds

Choosing the best Leveling build can make your progress smooth at the initial stages. Our PoE 2: Dawn of the Hunt leveling builds include Huntress Ritualist and Huntress Amazon for high mobility and fast attacks. The Leveling builds maximize damage and survivability during the early game. Here are the best PoE 2: Dawn of the Hunt leveling builds.

Ritualist Huntress Leveling Build

ritualist huntress leveling build playstyle

The Ritualist Huntress Leveling build in POE 2 provides unique playstyles and mechanics by combining ranged attacks, melee combat, and minion support. Include weapons like the Swift Spear to deal massive damage to enemies. Pairing this weapon with skills like Explosive Spear allows you to deal additional damage and explode at the end of its Detonation Time. Explosive Spear, Lightning Spear, Spear Stab, Barrage, Thunderous Leap, Herald of Thunder, Wild Dancer, Tame Beast, and Disengage are the best skills that we add for this Ritualist Huntress leveling build.

Barrage can boost your single target DPS if you get a level 5 skill gem. Explosive Spear is a damage dealer that you use with Barrage on a single target. Lightning Spear is an absolute AoE clear beast, and Thunderous Leap is a good mobility skill to move around. Infuse Weapon with support gems like Cold Master, Fire Mastery, and Lightning Mastery can take this build to a whole new level. Use Unfurled Finger for additional ring slots and Mystic Attunement to enhance all stats on rings and amulets by 25%. However, this build requires excellent gear to work, and it deals less burst damage during the mid-game.

Here are all the best Skills to have for the Ritualist Huntress Leveling Build.

  • Explosive Spear
  • Lightning Spear
  • Spear Stab
  • Barrage
  • Thunderous Leap
  • Herald of Thunder
  • Wind Dancer
  • Tame Beast
  • Disengage
  • Infuse Weapon

Pros and Cons of Ritualist Huntress Leveling Build

Ritualist Huntress Leveling Build ProsRitualist Huntress Leveling Build Cons
Hybrid PlaystyleRequires Excellent Gear
Ritual SacrificeLess Burst Damage
High Damage Output 

Amazon Huntress Leveling Build

amazon huntress leveling build playstyle

The Amazon Huntress Leveling build in POE 2 offers a dynamic and versatile playstyle that combines agility, ranged attacks, and elemental prowess. Skill selection is very crucial during the early stages as it determines your playstyle and combat strategies. Include a Formed Spear and Leather Buckler to deal massive damage to enemies. Parrying the enemies’ attacks allows you to block any attack and counterattack with a powerful strike. Parry, Spear Stab, Disengage, Rake, Blood Hunt, Herald of Blood, Shield Charge, and Storm Lance are the best skills to add for this leveling build.

Investing in regular stats, defensive stats, and offensive stats is crucial as they complement your playstyle. However, this build requires proper aiming to attack the enemy with a spear. Mana Management is also crucial to maintain to frequently use the skills during combat.

Here are all the best skills to have for the Amazon Huntress Leveling Build.

  • Parry
  • Spear Stab
  • Disengage
  • Rake
  • Blood Hunt
  • Herald of Blood
  • Shield Charge
  • Storm Lance

Pros and Cons of Amazon Huntress Leveling Build

Amazon Huntress Leveling Build ProsAmazon Huntress Leveling Build Cons
High Mobility and EvasionRequires Aiming
Clear SpeedMana Management
Excellent Physical Damage 

Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Endgame Builds

Get a stronger build for the endgame content, as you will encounter high-level enemies and bosses later in the game. Using the leveling build in the endgame can leave you vulnerable, as enemies in the endgame take more damage to deal with. Here are the best endgame builds in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt.

Huntress Herald of Blood Build

Huntress Herlad of Blood build playstyle

The Huntress Herald of Blood build in Path of Exile 2 offers a high-damage playstyle that focuses on applying bleed effects. Focus on nodes that increase physical damage and attack speed, along with the critical strike chance and bleed effects. Our build includes weapons like Crossblade Spear and Mammoth Targe to deal massive damage to enemies. Use the Shield to protect your character from the incoming attacks.

Lightning Spear, Rake, Disengage, Thunderous Leap, Storm Lance, Primal Strikes, Herald of Blood, Herald of Thunder, Wild Dancer, Parry, and Infusion Weapon are the best skills for the Huntress Herald of Blood build in Path of Exile 2. Focus on physical and lightning damage on as many pieces as possible. This build is currently really honed in on DPS, but you don’t need to spec into evasion much yet due to the damage output. However, this build has a slower clear speed, and it depends on the gear you equip during your journey.

Here are all the best skills to have for the Huntress Herald of Blood Build.

  • Lightning Spear
  • Rake
  • Disengage
  • Thunderous Leap
  • Storm Lance
  • Primal Strikes
  • Herald Blood
  • Herald of Thunder
  • Wild Dancer
  • Parry
  • Infuse Weapon

Pros and Cons of Huntress Herald of Blood Build

Huntress Herald of Blood Build ProsHuntress Herald of Blood Build Cons
Strong Damage Over TimeSlower Clear Speed
Great for BossingGear Dependancy
High Mobility 

Chaos Lich Build

chaos lich endgame build

The Chaos Lich build in Path of Exile 2 revolves around chaos damage, curses, and energy shield mechanics. The Chaos Lich Endgame build in POE 2 combines chaos damage with minion synergies and energy shield mechanics. This setup excels in delivering high-damage output while maintaining high defenses. Invest in gear that boosts maximum mana and converts mana to an energy shield.

Chaos Lich Endgame build includes weapons like Volatile Wand and Stoic Sceptre. Intelligence, Dexterity, and Strength are the main attributes to focus on for this setup. Dark Effigy, Essence Drain, Contagion, Profane Ritual, Despair, Blasphemy, Withering Presence, Convalescence, Discipline, and Sigil of Power are the best skills gems to add to this build. Choose the support gems that complement your skills and make them even more effective. However, this build becomes fragile if Energy Shield fails, and you need good gear to maintain spellcasting, especially in longer boss fights.

Here are all the best skills to have for the Chaos Lich Build.

  • Dark Effigy
  • Essence Drain
  • Contagion
  • Profane Ritual
  • Despair
  • Blasphemy
  • Withering Presence
  • Convalescence
  • Discipline
  • Sigil of Power

Pros and Cons of Chaos Lich Build

Chaos Lich Endgame Build ProsChaos Lich Endgame Build Cons
Massive Chaos DamageResource Management
Energy ShieldFragile If Energy Shield Fails
Explosive Clear Speed 

Lich Minion Build

lich minion build playstyle

The Lich minion build in POE 2 covers all the progression from the league starter leveling setup to an endgame setup. This build focuses on chaos damage scaling and minion synergy. Opt for scepters with high Spirit modifiers and minion-related stats. Our build includes Withered Wand and Rattling Sceptre as the weapons to deal massive damage. The ich requires more strategic gearing and passive allocation than the Infernalist ascendancy.

You can unlock a powerful and rewarding summoner playstyle if you manage mana, leverage critical strikes, and make excellent gear choices. Skeletal Sniper, Skeletal Arsonist, Skeletal Cleric, Shield Charge, Pain Offering, Despair, Contagion, Essence Drain, Convalescence, and Dark Effigy are the best skills for the Lich minion build. Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence are the best regular attributes to focus on as they can highly complement your build. However, this build is slower in the early game and depends on gear.

Here are all the best skills to have for the Lich Minion Build.

  • Skeletal Sniper
  • Skeletal Arsonist
  • Skeletal Cleric
  • Shield Charge
  • Pain Offering
  • Despair
  • Contagion
  • Essence Drain
  • Convalescence
  • Dark Effigy
  • Raging Spirits

Pros and Cons of Lich Minion Build

Lich Minion Build ProsLich Minion Build Cons
AOE ClearGear Dependent
High Minion DPS PotentialSlower Early Game
Cursing Strategy 

Smith of Kitava Build

smith of kitava ascendancy path of exile 2

The Smith of Kitava build in Path of Exile 2 offers players the ability to blend martial prowess with blacksmithing craftsmanship. This Ascendancy allows warriors to enhance their weapons and armor. This infuses them with fiery attributes and summons manifestations of their weapons. This build includes weapons like Marauding Mace and Feathered Fortress to deal with the enemies in combat.

Sunder, resonating Shield, Flammability, Infernal Cry, Scavenged Plating, Overwhelming Presence, Shield Charge, Boneshatter, Seismic Cry, and Herald of Ash are the best skills to include for the Smith of Kitava build in POE. Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence are the basic skills to focus on, improving your efficiency during combat or exploration. However, this build has low mobility and requires excellent gear in the endgame. You will have low mobility, so choose the gear and skills that increase your mobility.

Here are all the best skills for the Smith of Kitava Build.

  • Sunder
  • Resonating Shield
  • Flammability
  • Infernal Cry
  • Scavenged Plating
  • Overwhelming Presence
  • Shield Charge
  • Boneshatter
  • Seismic Cry
  • Herald of Ash
  • Fire Spell on Hit
  • Detonate Dead

Pros and Cons of Smith of Kitava Build

Smith of Kitava Build ProsSmith of Kitava Build Cons
High Burst DamageSlow Playstyle
Crowd ControlLow Mobility
Solid AOR for ClearsGear Dependent in Endgame

Lightning Spear Amazon Build

lightning spear amazon playstyle poe2

Lightning Spear Amazon build in Path of Exile 2 offers versatile playstyles and focuses on ranged attacks using lightning-infused spears. This build includes weapons like Grand Spear and Aegis Buckler to deal massive damage in tough encounters. Use the Buckler to parry the enemy attacks for a follow-up counterattack. Lightning Spear, Primal Strikes, Thunderous Leap, Disengage, Companion: (0), Cast on Shock, Wind Dancer, Herald of Thunder, Infuse Weapon, and Combat Frenzy are the best skills for the Lightning Spear Amazon build.

We add the support skills that complement your skills and make them even more effective while battling enemies. Death Rush has great modifiers because we benefit from Accuracy more than any other class. Swap between the Combat Frenzy and Companion (0) for bossing. However, this setup highly depends on gear and requires proper resource management.

Here are all the best skills for the Lightning Spear Amazon Build.

  • Lightning Spear
  • Primal Strikes
  • Thunderous Leap
  • Disengage
  • Companion: 0
  • Cast on Shock
  • Wind Dancer
  • Herald of Thunder
  • Infuse Weapon
  • Combat Frenzy

Pros and Cons of Lightning Spear Amazon Build

Lightning Spear Amazon Build ProsLightning Spear Amazon Build Cons
High Clear SpeedGear dependency
Safe Ranged PlaystyleResource Management
More Versatility 

Bleed Huntress Build

huntress class poe 2

The Bleed Huntress build in Path of Exile 2 focuses on high single-target damage with physical damage scaling and great mobility. This unique setup excels particularly for bossing and focuses on the efficient scaling of bleed damage. Bleed is a damage-over-time effect that applies when you deal physical damage to an enemy. The more attacks you land, the more bleed you can stack on enemies. Our build includes skills like Twister, Whirlwind Lance, Spearfield, Blood Hunt, Shield Charge, Bloodhound’s Mark, Herald of Blood, Combat Frenzy, and Wild Dancer.

We add the Support Gems with each skill to make that skill gem even more powerful and effective. Investing in regular stats, defensive stats, and offensive stats is crucial as they complement your playstyle. Sword Spear and Grim Spin Ridged Buckler are the best weapons to choose for the Bleed Huntress build in Path of Exile 2. However, this build depends on physical damage and requires high attack speed to dominate enemies.

Here are all the best skills for the Bleed Huntress Build.

  • Twister
  • Whirlwind Lance
  • Spearfield
  • Blood Hunt
  • Shield Charge
  • Bloodhound’s Mark
  • Herald of Blood
  • Combat Frenzy
  • Wild Dancer

Pros and Cons of Bleed Huntress Build

Bleed Huntress Build ProsBleed Huntress Build Cons
Damage Over TimeDepends on Physical Damage
Great For BossingRequires High Attack Speed to Shine
High Mobility      

FAQs About the Best Builds for Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt

How do I acquire Ritualist Huntress Leveling Build’s new skills?

The Huntress class in Path of Exile 2 has a wide variety of skills, primarily centered around elemental damage. Getting new skills involves obtaining skill gems that you can socket into the equipment to grant corresponding abilities. You can obtain the skill gems while progressing through the campaign, or you can purchase the skill gems from the vendors.

How important is gear for my Smith of Kitava build?

Gear in Path of Exile 2 is crucial for any build, including your Smith of Kitava build. The Gears determine how strong and survivable your build will be in combat. Gear in the Smith of Kitava build allows you to handle the tougher battles in Path of Exile 2, so always focus on improving gear through crafting, buying, or farming.

Can I re-spec any build if I make a mistake?

Yes, you can respec your build by refunding passive skill points through The Hooded One, an NPC located in the Clearfell Encampment. Complete the “Sorrow Among Stones” quest in Act 1 to unlock this feature. However, it will take you 2 to 5 hours, depending on your pace.

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