This is a leveling build for the Warrior in Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2)'s Dawn of the Hunt Update that uses Perfect Strike, Boneshatter, and Jump Slam to finish Act 3. Check out this Warrior leveling build, including its progression, equipment, socketables, skills, and playstyle!

Strike Warrior Build Summary

Strike Warrior Leveling Build

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Build Setup
Strike Warrior
Simple Gameplay High AoE and Single Target Damage Vulnerable to Mobbing due to Melee Playstyle Relies on Stun and Stun Buildup

Build Setup
Strike Warrior
Simple Gameplay High AoE and Single Target Damage Vulnerable to Mobbing due to Melee Playstyle Relies on Stun and Stun Buildup

Build Setup
Strike Warrior
Simple Gameplay High AoE and Single Target Damage Vulnerable to Mobbing due to Melee Playstyle Relies on Stun and Stun Buildup

The Warrior Class gives players a balance of tankiness and damage. Specializing in melee AoE and single-target damage, Warriors aim to charge into enemy packs and set up satisfying killing blows.

Strike Warrior FAQs

Why Focus on Strength?

The Warrior is generally the tankiest among all the classes. Thus, not many enemies can kiill you in one shot, even in the early game. Thus, focusing on strength allows you to unlock better weapons and skills that have considerable strength requirements.

How Does the Warrior Class Progress to Other Ascendencies?

In general, you would want to invest in one high AoE skill and one high single-target damage skill. Skills such as Boneshatter and Perfect Strike are more than enough to carry you until the late game. From there, you are free to choose which build path you would like to take.

Strike Warrior Equipment

Equipment
Weapon 1					Helmet						Weapon 2 Offhand
					Body Armour
Gloves						Belt				Boots
Health Flask			Ring 1			Amulet				Ring 2			Mana Flask

Weapons

Two-Handed Mace, One-Handed Mace, and a Shield

Though this may vary depending on the player's preference, Warriors will most commonly use a Two-Handed Mace as the main source of damage. The One-Handed Mace and Shield in the second weapon loadout will mostly be used specifically for Shield Charge, which can be used to engage enemies or as an escape tool.

List of Weapons

Armor

Armour-heavy Armour

You will invest heavily in Strength as a Warrior. Use armour with Strength as its only attribute requirement since many armours that require Intelligence and Dexterity will not be viable. Use whatever provides the best modifiers and armour in your current area through enemy drops or by gambling with Finn, Risu, or Alva.
List of Armors

Accessories

Switch Rings Depending on the Enemy

You may opt to switch out your rings to increase resistances depending on the boss or enemy you are fighting. You may also equip Iron Rings when clearing through the story to slightly increase damage.
List of Rings

Runes and Soul Cores

Equipment	Sockets
Weapon	Iron Rune
Armor	Body Rune Rebirth Rune

Runes are not a priority in Acts 1 - 3 since you will most likely switch around equipment often and would not be able to fully benefit from them. However, you may consider using Runes if you find yourself stuck in a certain area.

For your Weapon, you can use two Iron Runes to get a 40% Physical Damage boost. As for your Armor Runes, slot in Body Runes for more health or Rebirth Runes for life regeneration for more survivability.

Charms

Sapphire Charm	・Increased Duration ・Increased Charges ・Recover Life when Used
Topaz Charm	・Increased Duration ・Increased Charges ・Recover Life when Used
Thawing Charm	・Increased Duration ・Increased Charges ・Recover Life when Used

For Act 1, use a Sapphire Charm for Cold Resistance to help with defeating Count Geonor. Same with Act 2, use a Topaz Charm to deal with Jamanra, the Abomination.

The Thawing Charm is the build's primary charm, as getting frozen often leads to death during the end game.

List of All Charms

Strike Warrior Skills

※ The Support Gems' priority are arranged in a descending order. The first one being the most important and the last being the least crucial.

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Skill	Support Gems
Boneshatter	Impact Shockwave
Perfect Strike	Window of Opportunity Concentrated Effect
Rolling Slam	Overpower
Shield Charge	Stomping Ground

The first skill you get in the game as Warrior is Rolling Slam. This serves as a great early source of AoE damage. Paired with Boneshatter, you are set to clear packs of enemies throughout the early game. Perfect Strike will be your best single-target damage skill against all bosses throughout all acts as Warrior. Shield Charge is used to engage or escape and does not need much investment if you do not intend to use one in the late game.

Boneshatter	Impact Shockwave
Perfect Strike	Window of Opportunity Concentrated Effect
Leap Slam	Overpower
Shield Charge	Stomping Ground
Rolling Slam	-

Playstyle and skill use relying on stuns remains the same, but Leap Slam will replace Rolling Slam.

Boneshatter	Impact Shockwave Martial Tempo
Perfect Strike	Window of Opportunity Concentrated Effect Execute
Leap Slam	Overpower Magnified Effect
Shield Charge	Stomping Ground
Time of Need	Fast Forward Vitality

Obtain spirit by defeating The King in the Mists and unlock Time of Need for a solid Persistent buff to help with survivability. Level up all skills through better Uncut Skill Gems or by using equipment that provide levels to all melee skills.

List of Skills

Strike Warrior Passive Tree

Passive Tree Progression

Passive Nodes
1.	Brutal and Smash	2.	Singular Purpose, Shockwaves, and Resolute Technique
3.	Crushing Verdict and Skullcrusher	4.	Titanic (Optional)

You will focus on getting as much Melee Damage as you can in Act 1 with the nodes Brutal and Smash. This should be enough to carry you throughout the first act.

Build towards Resolute Technique to help deal with the many evasive enemies in Act 2. You can then get Singular Purpose and Shockwaves next for better map clearing. For Act 3, build towards Crushing Verdict and Skullcrusher to further improve your damage.

Though optional, you can also build towards Titanic if you are lacking Stun Buildup to reliably proc Boneshatter. It is important to note that too much Stun Buildup is bad because it can stun enemies immediately instead of priming them for Boneshatter.

Passive Skill Tree Guide and List of Passives

Strike Warrior Progression

Act 1 Progression

To progress through Act 1 and beat Count Geonor using the Lightning Mercenary leveling build, follow these steps:

#	Step by Step Guide to Act 1 Leveling
1	Equip Rolling Slam and defeat The Bloated Miller .
2	Head for the Mysterious Campsite at Clearfell to get a Level 1 Uncut Skill Gem . Use it to obtain Boneshatter .
3	Defeat Beira of the Rotten Pack to obtain Head of the Winter Wolf for the Cold Resistance to prepare against Count Geonor.
4	Complete Treacherous Ground to get a Level 1 Uncut Support Gem and slot in Window of Opportunity .
5	Proceed to Grelwood and defeat Areagne, Forgotten Witch to get another Level 1 Uncut Support Gem for Concentrated Effect . Note: Make sure to loot the Witch Hut to get Medium Flasks.
6	Defeat The Brambleghast to get a Level 2 Uncut Skill Gem and use it to upgrade your Boneshatter.
7	Progress to The Grim Tangle and defeat The Rotten Druid to obtain another Level 1 Uncut Support Gem. Use it to slot in Overpower in Rolling Slam.
8	Look for the Haunted Treasure Inside the Tomb of the Consort and defeat the rare enemy to acquire a Level 1 Uncut Support Gem and slot in Impact Shockwave . Note: Once you find a Level 3 Uncut Skill Gem, use it to equip Shield Charge .
9	Defeat The Crowbell at the Hunting Grounds to obtain a Book of Specialisation for additional passive points.
10	Search and complete your first Ritual in the same area to get a Level 4 Uncut Support Gem and use this to upgrade your Fragmentation Rounds.
11	Start looking for the Dryadic Ritual in the same area to get an extra Level 1 Uncut Support Gem . Use it to slot in Stomping Ground .
12	Enter Freythorn to defeat The King in the Mists for +30 Spirit and a Level 4 Uncut Spirit Gem .
13	Complete The Lost Lute at the Ogham Farmlands to obtain a Book of Specialisation for more passive points.
14	Search for the Crop Circle in the same area to defeat Vargir the Feral Mutt and obtain a Level 4 Uncut Skill Gem and use it to upgrade Boneshatter.
15	Proceed to Ogham Village and defeat The Executioner to free Leitis and acquire a Level 5 Uncut Skill Gem. Note: Use the Uncut Skill Gem to get Perfect Strike . Use your extra Uncut Support Gems and slot in Window of Opportunity and Concentrated Effect for more damage.
16	Head for The Manor Ramparts and look for The Gallows to get a free Level 1 Uncut Support Gem (To be used later).
17	Search and defeat the Candlemass, the Living Rite at Ogham Manor to get the Candlemass' Essence for the free +20 Maximum Life.
18	Continue and defeat Count Geonor to complete Act 1. Note: Make sure you have Medium Flasks since this boss fight has 2 Phases so you will be spending a good amount of time learning and surviving the mechanics.

Complete Act 1 Walkthrough

Act 2 Progression

To progress through Act 2 and beat Jamanra, the Abomination using the Warrior leveling build, follow these steps:

#	Steps
1	Complete the Earning Passage quest for an Uncut Skill Gem Level 5. Use it to upgrade Boneshatter .
2	Defeat Balbala, The Traitor to gain access to The Trial of Sekhemas. Ascendancy: You can attempt to finish the Sekhema's Trial to get your first Ascendancy Skill: ┣ Warbringer : Upon picking the Warbringer, it is recommended to get Anvil's Weight and Imploding Impacts. ┗ Titan : Upon picking the Ascendancy Class, it is recommended to get Colossal Capacit and Hulking Form. ┗ Smith of Kitava : Upon picking the Smith of Kitava, it is recommended to get Living Weapon and Against the Anvil.
3	Clear Mobs in Keth until you get the Kabala Clan Relic (to be used later).
4	Defeat Kabala, Constrictor Queen to get a Book of Specialisation .
5	Defeat The Ninth Treasure of Keth in the Galleria for a random Jewel.
6	Open the Guarded Sarcophagus for an Uncut Support Gem Level 1.
7	Three Elemental Offering Ring choices: Ruby Ring, Sapphire Ring, and Topaz Ring for flame, cold, and lightning resistance respectively. It is recommended to choose the Topaz Ring to prepare for Jamanra, the Abomination .
8	Clear The City of Seven Waters for an Uncut Support Gem.
9	Destroy the Effigy located in the Shrine of Bones for an Uncut Support Gem Level 1.
10	Clear Mobs in The Bone Pits until you get the Sun Clan Relic (to be used later).
11	Complete A Theft of Ivory quest for an Uncut Support Gem Level 1.
12	Place both Relics in the Valley of Titans to complete the Ancient Vows quest. Choose the Sun Clan Relic for more Mana Flask Recovery.
13	Complete A Crown of Stone quest for an Uncut Support Gem Level 1.
14	Complete the Tradition's Toll quest to get a Book of Specialisation .
15	Defeat the Watchful Twins for a Djinn Barya .

Complete Act 2 Walkthrough

Act 3 Progression

To progress through Act 3 and beat Doryani using the Warrior leveling build, follow these steps:

#	Steps
1	Defeat Rootdredge to get Uncut Skill Gem Level 9. Use it to upgrade Perfect Strike or Boneshatter .
2	Loot the basket found in the Orok Campfire to get a Lesser Jeweller's Orb . Use it to upgrade Perfect Strike and equip Execute .
3	Defeat the Mighty Silverfist for a Book of Specialisation .
4	Complete The Slithering Dead to get the Venom Draught of the Lost . We suggest taking Mana Regeneration for more mana sustainability in the endgame.
5	Interact with the Ravaged Corpse in the Jungle Grave to get a rare Belt. Take the Rawhide Belt for more Life Recovery Flasks.
6	Defeat Ignagduk, the Bog Witch for 30 Spirit and Uncut Spirit Gem Lvl 10 and use it to get Time of Need .
7	Submit the Tribal Vengeance to get a charm. Choose the Antidote Charm for increased defenses against Poison.
8	Complete the Trial of Chaos for more Ascendancy Points. Ascendancy: You can attempt to finish the Sekhema's Trial to get your first Ascendancy Skill: ┣ Warbringer : Upon picking the Warbringer, it is recommended to get Renly's Training and Turtle Charm. ┗ Titan : Upon picking the Ascendancy Class, it is recommended to get Mysterious Lineage and Stone Skin. ┗ Smith of Kitava : Upon picking the Smith of Kitava, it is recommended to get Coal Stoker and Smith's Masterwork.
9	Blackjaw, the Remnant for +10% Fire Resistance.
10	Obtain an Uncut Spirit Gem Lvl 10 from Treasures of Utzaal and save it for the endgame.
11	Offer the Mushrooms in Apex of Filth to obtain Ultimate Mana Flask and Ultimate Life Flask .
12	Use the Sacrificial Heart for Weapon Set Skill Points.

Complete Act 3 Walkthrough

Strike Warrior Playstyle

Skill Rotations

※ Press on what type you are fighting for a more detailed explanation on the playstyle and skill rotation.

Type	Skill Rotation
Mobbing	Act 1: Act 2 and 3:
Bossing	Act 1 to 3:

Mobbing

For general mobbing, you will spam Leap Slam into or nearby enemy packs with the goal of having as many enemies primed for stunning as possible. Once enemies can be stunned, you can use Boneshatter to deal massive AoE damage.

In Act 1 to early Act 2, however, use Rolling Slam in place of Leap Slam to prime enemies for stunning.

Bossing

For bossing, you will rely almost entirely on Perfect Strike to defeat bosses throughout Acts 1 to 3. Spamming Perfect Strike and using Boneshatter when bosses are primed for stun is more than enough to clear the game all the way to Doryani.

Strike Warrior Recommended Builds

After completing Act 3, these are the recommended build options that will allow you to progress through the Cruel Mode and clear the Endgame pinnacle content:

Flaming Smith of Kitava

Flaming Smith of Kitava NEW

Focus: AoE, High Single Target Damage, Physical, Tank

If you would prefer to fully hone in on the build's original concept, the Tank Smith of Kitava has incredibly high resistances and further improves Boneshatter to clear through enemy packs along Fire Spell on Hit.

Warcry Warbringer

Warcry Warbringer NEW

Focus: AoE, Ignite, Stun

If you chose to go the path of the Warbringer, the Warcry Warbringer allows you to silence the hordes of the corrupted by drowning them out with your shouts.

Slam Bleed Titan

Slam Bleed Titan UP

Focus: Aftershocks, Stun, Bleed

If you chose to go down the path of the Titan, the Slam Bleed Titan ruptures the very earth alongside their foes with menacing slams.

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Related Guides

List of All Builds

Dawn of the Hunt Best Builds

Rank	Build
	Lightning Spear Amazon Glacial Lance Deadeye Spark Blood Mage Cast on Ignite Comet Infernalist
	Dark Effigy Lich Slam Bleed Titan Bleed Bow Deadeye Ballista Tactician Storm Wave Invoker Poison Bleed Rapid Assault Ritualist Poison Pathfinder
	Flaming Smith of Kitava Lich Necromancer Bleed Twister Amazon Thorns Smith of Kitava Mana Stack Chayula Grenadier Gemling Legionnaire Fire Grenade Witchhunter Lightning Arrow Deadeye
	Warcry Warbringer Ice Lightning Invoker Spark Stormweaver

Dawn of the Hunt Leveling Builds

Strike Warrior	Lightning Ranger	Spark Sorceress
Arsonist Minion Witch	Lightning Mercenary	Lightning Monk
Bleed Huntress

All Build Guides

List of Builds by Class
Huntress				Mercenary				Monk
Witch				Sorceress				Warrior
Ranger				-				-
Other Build Guides
Dawn of the Hunt Leveling Builds						How to Make a Good Build

Warrior Leveling Builds

Strike Warrior NEW

Focus: AoE, High Single Target Damage, Physical

Warrior Endgame Builds

Fire Explosion Warbringer	Focus: Burst, AoE, DoT, Stun
Slam Bleed Titan UP	Focus: Aftershocks, Stun, Bleed
Shockwave Totem Titan	Focus: AoE, Mobbing, Stun, Fast Clear
Flaming Smith of Kitava NEW	Focus: AoE, High Single Target Damage, Physical, Tank
Warcry Warbringer NEW	Focus: AoE, Ignite, Stun
Thorns Smith of Kitava NEW	Focus: Thorns, Critical Hit, Physical Damage

Warrior Class and Ascendancy Guides

Base Class
Warrior
Ascendancies
Warbringer	Titan	Smith of Kitava