Path of Exile 2 Warrior Guide

Dec-09-2024

 

In Path of Exile 2, the new Warrior class adds depth with powerful melee attacks, Maces, and unique mechanics like Stun system and Warcries. It's versatile for up-close combat players who enjoy both offense and defense.

 

In this guide, we'll delve into the Warrior's unique characteristics, its skill set, build options, and how it compares to the Marauder class.

 

 

Warrior Class Overview

The Warrior in Path of Exile 2 is a Strength-based melee class that starts in the same region of the passive skill tree as the Marauder. While both share a similar foundation, the Warrior diverges significantly in its focus on Maces, Warcries, and unique mechanics that enhance its survivability and damage output. Warriors are built for players who enjoy heavy hitting, close-range combat and are less concerned with staying at a safe distance from enemies.

 

The Warrior is a class that thrives in physical combat. You'll often see yourself charging into battle with a massive weapon, whether it's a Mace or a shield, dishing out devastating blows to your enemies. However, this class does come with its challenges, particularly its relatively slow movement speed. To counter this, you need to optimize your build to either enhance mobility or focus on tanking damage while they take down the enemies.

 

Signature Weapon

The Mace, a two-handed weapon, remains a staple in Path of Exile 2 for the Warrior class. Known for its high damage potential, the Mace's slow attack speed is offset by powerful Slam and Warcry mechanics. These attacks are ideal for players who enjoy the visceral feeling of hitting enemies with great force, delivering massive chunks of damage with each strike.

 

In PoE 2, the Mace will be the signature weapon for the Warrior, and its use will tie directly into the class's core mechanics, particularly those revolving around Stun and Slam attacks. Warriors will also have the option to equip one-handed weapons paired with a shield for a more defensive playstyle, leveraging the shield's active block skill for added survivability.

 

Warrior Mechanics

The Warrior class introduces a refined Stun mechanic that will be a key part of your gameplay. In Path of Exile 2, bosses and enemies are now capable of being reliably stunned, but there are limits. If you stun a boss or enemy repeatedly, an internal gauge will fill, and once it's full, the enemy will be stunned. However, after being stunned, the gauge will reset, requiring more hits to stun again. This means that while you can reliably stun bosses, you cannot lock them in place indefinitely.

 

The combination of Stun mechanics with powerful Slam attacks is the heart of the Warrior's gameplay. As you stun enemies, you can charge up your Mace's heavy-hitting Slam skills, which deal tremendous damage but often have slower animation speeds. This synergy between Stuns and Slams creates an engaging rhythm of breaking down enemy defenses before delivering a devastating blow.

 

Warrior Skill Gems

The Warrior has access to a wide array of skill gems that focus on both offense and defense. Many of these skills are related to Mace attacks, but there are also powerful Warcries and Totems that further enhance the Warrior's combat capabilities. Below are some of the key skill gems available to the Warrior:

 

Earthquake - Deals AOE damage to the ground and causes aftershocks, making it effective for clearing mobs.

Boneshatter - Deals escalating damage over time but at the cost of dealing damage to yourself.

Rolling Slam - Deals damage and stuns enemies in the area of effect, followed by an additional slam for more damage.

Shield Charge - Charges forward with your shield, dealing damage and knocking enemies back.

Infernal Cry - Applies a debuff to enemies and deals explosion damage when an enemy dies under the effect.

Leap Slam - Leaps to a target and deals damage, perfect for closing gaps quickly.

Shockwave Totem - Summons a totem that deals damage over time to nearby enemies.

Supercharged Slam - A powerful, slow-charging attack with massive burst damage potential.

Ancestral Warrior Totem - Summons a totem that aids in combat by calling upon ancestral spirits.

 

These skill gems allow you to specialize your Warrior in various ways. For instance, you could use Earthquake and Infernal Cry for fast mob clearing or Boneshatter and Supercharged Slam for single-target burst damage.

 

Ascendancy Classes

In PoE 2, each class has three Ascendancy options, and the Warrior is no exception. At the Early Access launch, the Warrior will have two primary Ascendancy choices: Warbringer and Titan.

 

Warbringer: Focused on Warcries and Totems, this Ascendancy emphasizes support and utility, empowering the Warrior's ability to deal damage to enemies with Warcry effects. It also has passive bonuses to shield effectiveness, making it a great choice for players looking for a balance of offense and defense.

 

Titan: The Titan Ascendancy is centered around enhancing the Warrior's Slam abilities and improving the Stun mechanic. This Ascendancy is ideal for players who want to focus on big, slow, powerful attacks that deal massive damage. With Titan, you'll also gain additional defensive bonuses, including more life, armor, and a larger backpack to carry more items.

 

Warrior Build Ideas

When building a Warrior, you'll need to choose between maximizing offense or defense. The Warrior is versatile enough to handle both, but finding the right balance is crucial for survival and effectiveness in endgame content.

 

Offensive Build: Focus on maximizing Slam damage with skills like Boneshatter, Supercharged Slam, and Rolling Slam. To support this, you could select Warbringer for added Warcry effects or Titan for improved Stun and Slam mechanics.

 

Defensive Build: If you prefer a more tanky build, consider using a one-handed weapon and shield setup. Choose Warbringer to bolster your defenses with a shield and defensive Warcry buffs, or go Titan for higher life and armor, while still dishing out devastating slow attacks.

 

What to Keep in Mind

Balance Between Offense and Defense: The key to success with the Warrior class is finding the right balance between offense and defense. While you may be tempted to focus on dealing as much damage as possible, don't neglect your survivability. Whether you're using a two-handed Mace or a one-handed weapon with a shield, ensure that your build is capable of withstanding the challenges posed by tougher enemies.

 

Skill Synergy: Pay attention to how your skills work together. For instance, you can use Leap Slam or Shield Charge to quickly engage enemies, then follow up with Supercharged Slam for massive damage. Infernal Cry or Shockwave Totem can further enhance your damage output when combined with Boneshatter for single-target fights.

 

The Warrior class in Path of Exile 2 offers powerful melee attacks, Stun and Slam mechanics, and versatile build options. With Ascendancy choices like Warbringer and Titan, it's perfect for close-combat players looking to add strategy to their physical combat.