The Warrior is Path of Exile 2's Strength-based melee class, specializing in big, hefty swings. They are slow, technical fighters who bide their time and strike when the right opportunity presents itself, offering an almost Souls-like game experience that rewards patience and quick thinking.

Playing as a Warrior early on is challenging but rewarding when approached with the right mindset and build. Here's a Warrior leveling setup to help smooth your progression through the early game and prepare you for the Ascendancy system later in PoE 2.

Warrior Leveling Skills in PoE 2

This starter build revolves around stunning enemies, breaking armor, and wiping out large packs of mobs while burning down bosses. It provides a balanced approach to mobbing and boss fights, keeping your leveling experience efficient.

Active Skills

Rolling Slam + Boneshatter Combo:

Use Rolling Slam to set up mobs, then cancel into Boneshatter for massive AoE damage. If an enemy is primed for Stun, Boneshatter will often finish them, unleashing a shockwave that damages nearby enemies.

Activate Herald of Ash to ignite nearby mobs after a kill, further increasing your clearing efficiency.

Perfect Strike (Boss Killer):

Charge Perfect Strike by holding its button until your weapon flashes, then release it to guarantee an Ignite proc. This is your go-to ability for melting boss health bars.

Leap Slam:

Useful for mobility and staggering enemies' core skill for positioning and interrupting boss attacks.

Armour Breaker:

Reduces enemy Physical defenses, making it invaluable for bosses or tanky mobs. Combine this with Rolling Slam for devastating results.

Warrior Leveling Build Passives

This passive tree focuses on enhancing damage, stun buildup, and survivability. It's tailored for two-handed weapon builds but can be adjusted for dual-wielding or shield setups if needed.

Key Passive Nodes

Increased Damage Against Heavy Stunned Enemies:

Boosts your damage output against stunned foes, synergizing with Boneshatter and Rolling Slam.

Chance to Aftershock:

Adds extra damage after initial attacks, perfect for dealing with tough enemies.

Skullcrusher:

Provides critical boosts to Mace damage and stun duration.

Split the Earth:

Amplifies AoE damage and armor-breaking capabilities.

Survival Enhancements

Polished Iron:

Increases your Armour, helping mitigate early-game Physical damage.

Made to Last:

Lets you recover 15% of prevented Physical damage as Life, improving sustain during prolonged fights.

Resolute Technique:

Ensures your attacks never miss at the cost of critical strikes. If your Accuracy Rating is lacking, this node is essential.

Recommended Items for Warrior Leveling

Equip items that complement your damage-dealing and survivability needs. Here are the key modifiers to look for:

Increased Physical Damage: Boosts the overall effectiveness of your attacks.

Bonus Strength: Increases your damage and life pool.

Bonus Armour: Helps mitigate Physical damage.

Accuracy Rating/Dexterity: Ensures consistent hits.

Maximum Life: Improves your durability.

Elemental Resistances: Reduces damage from elemental sources, especially critical in higher acts.

Weapon Choices

Two-Handed Weapons:

Offers the highest damage potential for this build.

Dual-Wielding Maces or Shields:

Viable alternatives if you need additional defenses or attack speed but sacrifice raw power.

Tips for Farming Gear

Reset Instances:

Re-enter zones to farm for better gear or experience.

Target Bosses:

Focus on high-value enemies that drop better loot.

Use Crafting:

Utilize basic crafting recipes to upgrade your gear as needed.

By following this guide, you'll turn your Warrior into a force to be reckoned with, capable of smashing through mobs and bosses alike while staying durable enough to handle any challenge Path of Exile 2 throws at you.

To further enhance your gameplay, consider acquiring PoE currency and PoE items to optimize your build. With the right gear and upgrades, you can ensure your Warrior performs at peak efficiency, making progression through the game smoother and more rewarding.