Path of Exile 2: A Complete Guide to the Warrior Class and Its Ascensions

In Path of Exile 2's Early Access, six distinct classes await players, each offering a unique gameplay experience. Additionally, each class can specialize further through two Ascension options, unlocking powerful new abilities and transformative changes to their playstyles. This guide provides a detailed look at the warrior class, helping you decide which path to take during the Early Access launch.

 

The Warrior in Path of Exile 2 is the embodiment of raw power and resilience. As a heavily armored melee fighter, the Warrior is designed to deal massive damage while surviving overwhelming hordes of enemies. With slow but devastating attacks and impressive defensive capabilities, the Warrior is ideal for players who aren’t afraid to jump into the fray and land crushing blows. Utilizing mace-and-shield mechanics alongside powerful Warcries, the Warrior offers a versatile playstyle that excels in both offense and defense.

 

Warrior Playstyle

The Warrior relies on brute strength to overpower enemies with heavy, deliberate attacks. While his strikes may be slower compared to other classes, they pack immense power, especially with abilities focused on area-of-effect damage and crowd control. The Warrior’s shield enhances his survivability, allowing him to block devastating attacks and counter enemies with well-timed retaliations.

 

Core Mechanics of the Warrior:

• Mace Mechanics: Deliver slow yet destructive strikes that can stun enemies or alter the terrain to gain a tactical advantage.
• Shield Block: The Warrior can actively raise his shield to completely block incoming damage, including spells, from a single direction. However, this generates a Stun Meter—when it reaches 100%, the Warrior is momentarily stunned.
• Warcries: Mighty shouts that can amplify attacks, weaken enemies, or generate beneficial effects such as Rage, empowering the Warrior further.

 

Flexibility with Shields

Although many of the Warrior’s skills center on two-handed maces, the use of shields unlocks a defensive playstyle. Abilities like Shield Charge and Seismic Shield allow the Warrior to block attacks, push back enemies, and deal significant damage. This flexibility enables players to tailor their builds to suit their preferred balance of offense and defense.

 

Warrior Abilities

The Warrior’s skill set is tailored for dealing devastating damage, controlling enemy groups, and engaging in focused one-on-one combat. Here are some examples:

 

• Earthbreaker: Splits the ground with a powerful strike, dealing area damage. Each attack leaves aftershocks that explode, causing additional damage.
• Seismic Cry: A Warcry that greatly amplifies the next attack, doubling its damage on a successful hit. Perfect for clearing groups or tackling tough foes.
• Stampede: Charges through enemies, dealing damage and leaving behind fiery trails of molten lava that cause additional fire damage.
• Shield Charge: Armed with a shield, the Warrior rushes forward, knocking back and stunning enemies while fully blocking incoming attacks during the charge.
• Shockwave Totem: Summons a totem that emits shockwaves, stunning and damaging enemies in its vicinity.
• Lava Slam: A powerful strike that summons fountains of lava from the ground, causing burning area damage.

 

The Warrior features over 20 active abilities that integrate maces, shields, and Warcries, allowing for diverse build options. Whether focusing purely on raw strength or balancing offense and defense, the Warrior offers plenty of opportunities for customization.

 

Warrior Ascension Classes

Similar to other classes, the Warrior can specialize further through Ascension classes, unlocking powerful bonuses that expand their combat potential. These specializations allow the Warrior to focus either on raw strength or group support capabilities. In the Early Access version of Path of Exile 2, two Ascension classes are available for the Warrior:

 

1. Warbringer

The Warbringer is the ideal choice for players seeking a combination of raw power and tactical versatility. This Ascension focuses on Warcries and totems to enhance the Warrior’s attacks and provide new abilities, such as the Answered Call mechanic, which summons ancestral spirits to aid in combat.

 

Key Features and Bonuses of the Warbringer:

• Answered Call: Summons ancestral spirits bound to totems, which assist in battle by executing skills like Slam attacks or Shockwaves.
• Jade Heritage: Grants a protective layer that absorbs all incoming damage until it shatters.
• Warcaller’s Bellow: Explodes enemy corpses, dealing additional area damage.
• Greatwolf’s Howl: Removes cooldowns from Warcries, allowing near-continuous use.

 

Warbringer Playstyle:

The Warbringer excels at creating an aggressive yet versatile build, combining area damage with strong defensive options. The emphasis on totems and Warcries makes this specialization especially appealing for players who want to control the battlefield while delivering devastating attacks.

 

2. Titan

The Titan Ascension transforms the Warrior into an unstoppable juggernaut, emphasizing pure strength and destructive attacks. The Titan specializes in stunning enemies and dealing massive physical damage through abilities like Earthbreaker and Crushing Impacts.

 

Key Features and Bonuses of the Titan:

• Earthbreaker: Each strike generates aftershocks that deal additional area damage.
• Crushing Impacts: Increases the chance to stun enemies and significantly boosts damage against stunned targets.
• Surprising Strength: Grants bonus damage when enemies are stunned, enabling devastating attack combinations.
• Unyielding Mountain: Reduces damage taken when surrounded by enemies and enhances the Warrior’s attack power.

 

Titan Playstyle:

The Titan is the perfect choice for players who want to develop their Warrior into a slow yet unstoppable damage powerhouse. With a focus on stun mechanics, this specialization is highly effective against elite enemies and bosses, who can be overwhelmed by brute force.

Conclusion: Mastering the Warrior in Path of Exile 2

The Warrior offers a robust and engaging playstyle for players who enjoy the thrill of close combat and the satisfaction of landing devastating blows. Whether you choose the tactical versatility of the Warbringer or the unyielding power of the Titan, the Warrior class provides an array of tools to conquer any challenge.

 

Optimize Your Build with POE 2 Currency

To unlock the full potential of your Warrior and access the best gear, make sure you stock up on POE 2 Currency. It’s essential for crafting powerful items, enhancing your build, and dominating the game. Start your journey with the right resources and make the most of your Path of Exile 2 experience!