Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), the highly anticipated sequel to Path of Exile (PoE), promises to deliver an even more immersive and expansive action role-playing game experience. Although details of PoE 2 are still being slowly unveiled, one thing is clear: it will continue to allow players to explore vast skill trees, master powerful abilities, and build uniquely customized characters. If you're planning to dive into Poe 2 trade with a focus on melee combat, then creating an effective warrior build is likely high on your list of priorities.
Warrior builds in PoE focus on high physical damage, durability, and tactical prowess. Whether you're looking to cleave through massive groups of enemies with a devastating sword or engage in strategic combat with powerful axes or maces, there are multiple ways to craft an effective warrior. In this guide, we'll cover the basics of building a warrior, the best warrior skills, suggested passive skill tree nodes, and key items that will help make your warrior build successful in Path of Exile 2.
1. Understanding the Warrior Archetype
The warrior archetype in Path of Exile 2 is generally associated with characters who wield powerful melee weapons and wear heavy armor. The most popular classes for warrior builds are:
Marauder: Known for strength and endurance, the Marauder is a classic choice for a warrior build, excelling in physical damage and tankiness. His ascension classes, like the Chieftain, Juggernaut, and Berserker, offer various playstyles that cater to offense, defense, or balance.
Duelist: The Duelist starts with a more balanced mix of strength and dexterity. Ascending into the Slayer, Gladiator, or Champion classes gives you access to skills that excel in both offense and defense, making him a versatile warrior.
Warrior builds are typically focused on maximizing damage output, survivability, and controlling the battlefield. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach, successful warrior builds typically focus on the following:
Physical Damage: Leveraging the power of axes, swords, maces, and other heavy-hitting weapons to maximize output.
Armor and Life: Ensuring your character can tank damage while dishing out punishment.
Elemental Damage: While physical damage is key, adding elemental modifiers or critical strikes can enhance a warrior's effectiveness.
2. Best Warrior Skills for PoE 2
There are several skills that stand out when considering the best warrior build in PoE 2. These skills emphasize high damage, effective crowd control, and boosting survivability.
Sunder
Sunder is a classic skill that has been a staple for warrior builds since Path of Exile's early days. It's a cleave-based skill that deals massive physical damage and works especially well when facing large packs of enemies. The skill generates shockwaves that can penetrate through enemies, dealing area-of-effect damage.
Synergy: Sunder scales very well with melee physical damage, weapon elemental damage, and critical strike modifiers. Players often combine it with fortify to reduce incoming damage and increase survivability.
Ascendancy Choices: Choosing the Juggernaut ascendancy class with its Unflinching passive skill can provide much-needed tankiness for a Sunder-based warrior build.
Lacerate
Lacerate is a dual-wielding skill that deals substantial damage with both melee strikes. It is a versatile skill that can deal both single-target and area-of-effect damage, making it highly effective for warrior builds that need to balance clear speed and boss-killing potential.
Synergy: This skill benefits greatly from increased attack speed, physical damage, and melee weapon upgrades. Combining it with Warcry effects and Bloodlust support can provide insane damage boosts.
Ascendancy Choices: Slayer is an excellent option for a Lacerate-based build because of the Headsman node, which boosts your critical strike and attack damage against enemies with low life.
Cyclone
Cyclone is one of the most iconic warrior skills, known for its ability to deal continuous damage while moving. It's an excellent choice for players who enjoy a fast-paced playstyle, as Cyclone provides both mobility and sustained damage.
Synergy: This skill scales with attack speed, critical strike chance, and life leech. It's often paired with Blood Magic to allow for efficient life regeneration while clearing large packs of monsters.
Ascendancy Choices: Berserker is a fantastic choice for Cyclone builds, as its Rite of Ruin passive skill boosts both attack speed and damage, making your Cyclone attack even more devastating.
Earthquake
Earthquake is a high-impact melee skill that slams the ground, dealing heavy damage in an area around the impact. The skill excels at delivering burst damage and is excellent for single-target boss fights.
Synergy: Earthquake works exceptionally well when paired with support gems like Melee Physical Damage and Brutality. Combining Earthquake with Fortify and Vaal Grace can also make you much harder to kill.
Ascendancy Choices: If you're focused on cheap POE 2 Currency Earthquake, Chieftain provides excellent synergies, thanks to the Tectonic Slam and AoE Fire Damage bonuses, along with extra resistance to elemental damage.
