Get ready, Exiles! Path of Exile 2’s Early Access is getting its first major content update. It’s called Dawn of the Hunt, and it launches on April 4th (PDT). This update was revealed during the recent GGG livestream. It’s packed with features, but the clear highlight for many is the new Path of Exile 2 Huntress class. Here at Chromas Gaming, we’re diving deep into this spear-wielding warrior. Let’s explore why she’s one of the most anticipated additions in Dawn of the Hunt.
Introducing the Path of Exile 2 Huntress: An Azmeri Warrior Exiled
The Huntress comes from the Azmeri people. They are a culture deeply connected to spirits but also bound by strict traditions. The GGG reveal hinted at her story. She was exiled for using the forbidden power of a skill gem, likely to defend her village. Now, this skilled warrior brings her deadly spear mastery to Wraeclast in the Dawn of the Hunt update.
Based on the gameplay shown, the Path of Exile 2 Huntress looks very mobile. She seems to be a Dexterity-focused character. She expertly weaves between melee strikes and ranged spear throws.
Huntress Spear Gameplay in PoE 2: Dawn of the Hunt
Spears are the core of the Path of Exile 2 Huntress‘s identity, introducing fresh combat mechanics:
- Dynamic Hybrid Combat: Forget just standing still! Spears offer extended melee reach. They also incorporate a short dash, letting the Huntress constantly reposition.
- Spears are Throwable: This adds fantastic versatility. The Huntress can hurl her spears at enemies from a distance.
- Parry & Powerful Counters: Equip a Buckler, a new shield type ideal for the Huntress. This unlocks the Parry skill. Time it right to automatically counter monster attacks and stun them. Follow up with skills like Disengage (a damaging backward leap) after a Parry. This triggers bonus effects like explosions and grants Frenzy charges. It’s a key tactic for the Path of Exile 2 Huntress.
- Whirlwinds and Tornadoes: Whirling Slash creates a blinding vortex. Exiting it triggers an explosion. You can combo this further. Use it over elemental ground effects (like fire from Explosive Spear) to infuse the blast. Alternatively, throw Twisters into the whirlwind to unleash devastating elemental tornadoes.
- Master of Bleed: The Huntress excels at weakening targets. Skills like Rake and Blood Hunt apply significant Bleed. This is displayed as “Bloodloss” on the enemy health bar. Expect powerful build synergies around this mechanic.
- Ride into Battle: The Summon Rhoa Mount skill is truly unique for an ARPG. You can traverse the battlefield at full speed while unleashing attacks!
- Beast Taming: Live up to the Huntress name. Tame wild beasts to fight alongside you as powerful companions. They even keep their original monster mods.
Path of Exile 2 Huntress Ascendancies: Ritualist or Amazon?
Upon completing the Labyrinth in the Dawn of the Hunt expansion, the Path of Exile 2 Huntress chooses her Ascendancy:
- The Ritualist: This path uses forbidden Azmeri magic. It focuses on sacrifice, chaos, curses, and powerful trinkets.
- As the Whispers Ask: Grants the crucial Ritual Sacrifice skill.
- As the Whispers Demand: This powerful node allows you to use Ritual Sacrifice on yourself, removing 20% of your maximum Life to gain a potent, random Monster Modifier temporarily. A high-risk, high-reward playstyle!
- Corrupted Lifeforce: Grants the Blood Boil skill, likely unleashing visceral chaos damage upon your foes.
- Trinket Mastery: The Ritualist also shows mastery over magical trinkets. Mystic Attunement significantly increases bonuses gained from equipped Rings and Amulets, Unfurled Finger grants an additional Ring Slot (worn unconventionally, perhaps around the neck based on previous reveals?), and Intricate Sigils enhances the new Charm system by adding a slot and boosting charge generation.
- Other Enhancements: The tree also features nodes for boosting Physical Damage, Movement Speed, Life Recovery, and Attributes, and reducing Mana cost, Spirit cost, and enemy Elemental Resistances. This path leans heavily into manipulating life force, curses, and powerful item bonuses for devastating effect.
- The Amazon: Trained as an elite guard for important Azmeri elders, the Amazon focuses on perfected, traditional spear and shield combat techniques, mastering the flow of battle. Key nodes revealed include:
- Predatory Instinct: Reveals weaknesses in the defenses of Rare and Unique enemies, significantly boosting your damage against them.
- Elemental Infusion: Consuming charges (Power, Frenzy, Endurance) infuses your weapon with corresponding elemental power (Cold, Lightning, Fire), causing projectile attacks to explode on impact.
- Critical Strike: Converts excess Accuracy into Critical Strike Chance, rewarding precise attacks.
- Mystic Harvest: Allows your elemental damage, in addition to physical, to leech Life, boosting survivability.
- Azmeri Brew: Enhances flask usage, allowing Life flasks to recover Mana and Mana flasks to recover Life.
Why We’re Excited for the Huntress
The Path of Exile 2 Huntress will bring incredible dynamism to PoE 2. Players can fluidly switch between melee and ranged combat. The tactical depth of Parry adds another layer. Plus, the intriguing Ascendancy options offer massive build potential. Will you choose the dark pacts of the Ritualist? Or perhaps the refined techniques of the Amazon? Either way, the Path of Exile 2 Huntress Dawn of the Hunt update promises a thrilling new experience.
We can’t wait to experiment with spear builds. We’re excited to see what the community creates when Dawn of the Hunt launches on April 4th (PDT)!
What part of the Path of Exile 2 Huntress Dawn of the Hunt reveal are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comments below!