This build guide focuses on combining two powerful skills, Stampede and Sunder, for a balanced mix of mobility, clearing speed, and devastating single-target damage. Designed for Path of Exile 2’s Warrior archetype, this build can handle endgame content, including Tier 15 maps, Trial Master fights, and boss challenges, with solid survivability and efficient gameplay.
Core Skills
1. Stampede
Stampede is a movement-based melee attack skill with high mobility and AoE damage potential. It’s great for engaging packs, repositioning, or dodging mechanics while dealing damage.
• Purpose:
Clear packs efficiently while maintaining high mobility.
• Mechanics:
Stampede charges forward, dealing area-of-effect (AoE) damage and triggering explosions when enemies are heavily stunned or armor-broken.
• Supports:
Devastate: Breaks enemy armor on stun.
Ruthless: Increases stun buildup.
Increased AoE: Boosts Stampede’s clearing capability.
2. Sunder
Sunder is a slower, high-damage skill that creates a shockwave spreading through enemies, making it very effective for pack clearing and dealing with distant enemies.
• Purpose:
High single-target damage for bosses or elite enemies.
• Mechanics:
Sunder sends shockwaves through enemies, applying massive physical damage and creating additional fissures with support gems.
• Supports:
Heavy Swing: Amplifies physical damage.
Upo: Adds more fissures for additional hits.
Bloodlust: Increases damage against bleeding enemies.
Brutality: Boosts physical damage further.
Playstyle and Strategy
• Stampede for Clearing:
Use Stampede to charge through packs of enemies, breaking their armor and causing explosions. The built-in AoE shockwave ensures enemies behind you also take damage, providing efficient map clearing.
• Sunder for Bosses:
Against tougher enemies, swap to Sunder for devastating single-target damage. Heavy swings and bleed mechanics ensure that bosses are hit multiple times with overkill potential.
• Shield Mechanics:
Equip a shield alongside your one-handed weapon to block incoming attacks from all angles, enhancing survivability.
Passive Tree Highlights
1. Giant’s Blood
• Allows wielding a two-handed mace as a one-handed weapon, enabling both high damage and the use of a shield.
• Requires massive strength investment, so prioritize nodes granting strength and increased attributes.
2. Survivability Nodes
• Hulking Form: Grants additional life and armor, improving tankiness.
• Heatproofing: Mitigates fire damage, which is crucial for survivability in high-tier maps.
3. Damage Nodes
• Internal Bleeding: Provides significant damage increases for physical attacks.
• Increased Attack Speed: Reduces the wind-up time for Sunder and enhances the fluidity of Stampede.
Gear Recommendations
• Weapon:
Use a high-physical-damage two-handed mace with added flat physical damage, melee skill bonuses, and critical damage.
Attack speed is preferred to improve Sunder’s animation time.
• Shield:
Focus on high block chance, armor, life, and resistances (especially chaos resistance).
• Armor:
Stack armor and life on chest, gloves, and boots.
Boots should have 30% movement speed to improve mobility for both clearing and dodging mechanics.
• Rings and Amulet:
Look for strength, life, resistances (especially chaos), and mana regeneration.
• Flasks:
Greater Fire Protection Flask: For survivability against fire-heavy enemies.
Life Flask with Instant Recovery: To recover quickly during intense fights.
Skill Gems and Links
• Stampede Setup (Clearing Packs):
Stampede + Devastate + Increased AoE + Ruthless
• Sunder Setup (Boss Damage):
Sunder + Heavy Swing + Upheaval + Bloodlust + Brutality
• Utility Skills:
Seismic Cry: Boosts stun buildup, useful against bosses.
Leap Slam: Provides an escape mechanism or quick repositioning.
Herald of Ash: Adds fire damage and helps with AoE clearing.
Clarity: Resolves mana issues and ensures sustained skill use.
Endgame Gameplay Tips
1. Adapt Playstyle to Content:
• Use Stampede for fast-paced clearing of maps.
• Switch to Sunder for focused boss fights or when dealing with elites.
2. Manage Mana:
• Equip life tap or mana regeneration nodes to sustain longer fights without running out of resources.
3. Survivability:
• Utilize the shield for 360° block coverage and stack chaos resistance for tougher maps.
• Position carefully during boss fights to avoid lethal mechanics.
4. Tweak Build for Comfort:
• Experiment with nodes like Earthbreaker or Empowered Attacks to adjust damage or survivability based on your needs.
Conclusion
This Stampede + Sunder Warrior Build offers a balanced mix of mobility, AoE clearing, and single-target boss damage. By investing in strength, leveraging Giant’s Blood, and utilizing a shield for extra survivability, this build shines in both endgame maps and challenging encounters. Whether you’re new to Path of Exile 2 or a seasoned player, this build provides an enjoyable, adaptable experience.
Ready to take on Wraeclast’s toughest challenges? Charge forward with Stampede and smash through the competition with Sunder!
