The Dawn of the Hunt update in Path of Exile 2 has brought with it a wave of build experimentation, especially for the Huntress class. With two unique ascendancies - Amazon and Ritualist - players now face a choice between Amazon's fast-paced, high-precision playstyle and its strategic, explosive power. Here we present the best huntress builds for each ascendancy, with a clear overview of their mechanics, strengths, and how they fit into the current meta.

PoE 2 Huntress Ascendancy: Amazon or Ritualist?

When choosing between Amazon and Ritualist, it comes down to what kind of gameplay you enjoy.

• Amazon specializes in accuracy-scaling, movement speed, and critical strikes, with many builds focusing on spear or bow skills. Ascendancy nodes like Penetrate, Falcon Dive, and Predatory Instinct offer strong offensive scaling, while Stalking Panther supports high evasion defense.

• Ritualist enables minion synergies, powerful corpse-based skills, and unique mechanics like Mystic Attunement and Utility Belt for powerful ring stacking. Nodes such as As the Whispers Demand and Unfurled Finger open up creative build paths with massive potential.

If you’re looking for consistent, fast-paced combat with strong mobility, go Amazon. If you want explosive, calculated gameplay with powerful burst windows and utility stacking, go Ritualist.

PoE 2 Best Amazon Builds

The Amazon ascendancy shines with builds that scale off accuracy, critical strikes, and movement. Here are some of the top-performing options.

1. Twister Amazon Build

This Twister Amazon build focuses on high-speed, skill-based gameplay that rewards mechanical precision and rhythm. The core of the build revolves around building up Whirlwind Stages using Whirling Slash, setting up chilled ground with Frostbolt, and then unleashing devastating Twisters amplified by Barrage-consumed Frenzy Charges. The Amazon ascendancy brings unique value by converting Accuracy into both Attack Speed and Flat Physical Damage, making scaling straightforward through Dexterity and gear with high Accuracy. While initially complex due to a multi-step rotation, it becomes fluid with practice and offers one of the smoothest campaign experiences available. Its strength shines in clear speed, with respectable bossing potential once mastered.

Skills

• Main Damage Skill: Twister (scales with Whirlwind Stages and ground effects)

• Setup Skills: Whirling Slash (builds Whirlwind Stages), Frostbolt (creates chilled ground)

• Utility Skills: Barrage (consumes Frenzy Charges for extra Twisters), Combat Frenzy (generates charges via freeze)

• Support Skills: Tame Beast (companions offering buffs), Precision (accuracy boost)

Skill Rotation

1. Cast Frostbolt to lay chilled ground.

2. Use Whirling Slash three times to reach max Whirlwind Stages.

3. Activate Barrage to consume Frenzy Charges (if facing elites or bosses).

4. Cast Twister to deal massive AoE.

5. Repeat the cycle, maintaining chilled ground and whirlwind uptime.

Passive Tree

• Rush projectile and attack speed nodes early for smoother leveling.

• Take Dance with Death for 25% more skill speed—drop your shield to benefit.

• Invest in projectile damage, accuracy scaling, and Dexterity clusters.

• In later levels, scale attack speed and projectile multipliers, and consider Falcon Technique if crit-focused.

Ascendancy Nodes

• Falcon Dive – Converts Accuracy into Attack Speed.

• Predatory Instinct – 50% increased damage against weakened (rare/unique) enemies.

• Critical Strike – Accuracy contributes to crit chance.

• Penetrate – Converts 25% of Accuracy Rating into flat Physical Damage.

Gearing

• Weapon: Fast-attacking spear with flat Physical and/or Elemental Damage, high Attack Speed.

• Armor: Evasion-based gear with Life and Resistances.

• Rings: Look for Accuracy, Flat Damage to Attacks, and Dexterity.

• Amulet: Projectile skill level, Accuracy, or Attributes.

• Boots: Movement Speed and Evasion.

• Shield: Use early, then remove once you spec into Dance with Death.

2. Poison Lightning Spear Amazon Build

This build is a unique hybrid that leverages poison scaling with lightning-based projectile skills, made possible through three key uniques in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt: Spear of Lora, Plague Finger, and Lyosday. The synergy allows you to stack poison infinitely with no chance investment, while also converting elemental damage into poison for massive DoT scaling. Lightning Spear and Storm Lance serve as the main offensive tools, with Orb of Storms enabling Wither and Crit Weakness application via a weapon swap setup. Amazon ascendancy nodes enhance this further by scaling Accuracy into Flat Damage and Critical Strike Chance. The build offers excellent clear speed, strong bosses scaling, and satisfying layered gameplay with snapshot mechanics and aura stacking.

Skills

• Main Damage Skills: Lightning Spear (mapping), Storm Lance (bossing)

• Utility Skills: Orb of Storms (Wither + Crit Weakness), Sniper’s Mark, Herald of Plague

• Support Skills: Wind Dancer, Ghost Dance, Combat Frenzy (optional)

• Aura Setup: Withering Presence, Herald of Plague, Ghost Dance, Wind Dancer

Skill Rotation

1. Cast Sniper's Mark and Orb of Storms before engaging.

2. Use Lightning Spear to clear packs.

3. Against tougher enemies, stack Storm Lance spears and release at max.

4. Maintain Herald of Plague and Wind Dancer for survivability.

5. Swap weapons back after Orb setup to resume main DPS rotation.

Passive Tree

• Prioritize Lasting Toxins for 100% increased poison duration.

• Invest in Accuracy and Crit Clusters to scale with Amazon's Ascendancy.

• Add projectile and lightning damage nodes for versatility.

• Take Ghost Dance and Wind Dancer nodes for defense.

• Grab poison-specific modifiers and skill duration bonuses.

Ascendancy Nodes

• Critical Strike – Accuracy directly boosts crit scaling (tripled effect).

• Penetrate – Converts Accuracy to flat Physical Damage.

• Infused Avatar – 50% chance not to consume Infusion Charges.

• Predatory Instinct – Movement and skill speed against weakened enemies.

Gearing

• Weapon: Spear of Lora – Enables stacking poisons infinitely.

• Gloves: Plague Finger – Converts all damage types to poison damage.

• Amulet: All Attributes + Spirit. Utility-focused.

• Chest: High Evasion + Energy Shield to support Ghost Dance.

• Rings: Flat Elemental Damage to Attacks, Life, Accuracy.

• Weapon Swap: Wicked Quill for Orb of Storms setup.

3. Bleed Amazon Build

This build transforms the Huntress into a deadly critical bleed specialist. By using Rake for high-impact melee hits and Spearfield to prepare enemies with Incisions and build Rage, it can output massive bleed damage. Disengage adds mobility and enables ranged scaling, while Blood Hunt acts as a powerful execute skill that converts accumulated blood loss into a final, devastating blow. Critical strike scaling is vital, and the build takes full advantage of Amazon’s accuracy-to-crit ascendancy. It excels at both mapping and bossing, with a satisfying gameplay loop that rewards tactical positioning and timing.

Skills

• Main Damage Skills: Rake (bleed source), Blood Hunt (execute)

• Setup Skills: Spearfield (Incision + Rage), Disengage (distance scaling)

• Debuff Tools: Blood Hound’s Mark (armor break + stun), Herald of Blood (explosions)

• Flex Skill: Spear Throw (optional ranged DPS)

Skill Rotation

1. Begin with Spearfield to apply Incision and generate Rage.

2. Use Rake from a distance to maximize damage and apply Bleed.

3. Immediately Disengage to reset for another charged Rake.

4. Reapply Spearfield and Mark as needed.

5. Use Blood Hunt on low-health bosses to detonate blood loss.

Passive Tree

• Stack Bleed Magnitude, Crit Chance, and Attack Speed.

• Path into Incision Scaling and Crit Multi clusters.

• Invest in Accuracy -> Crit Conversion nodes.

• Consider Evasion and Knockback on Bleed for defense and control.

• Optional: expand into Companion-based aura nodes for extra damage.

Ascendancy Nodes

• Critical Strike – Accuracy becomes your crit source.

• Predatory Instinct – +50% damage to weakened foes.

• Penetrate – Flat Physical Damage via Accuracy (if high base).

• Stalking Panther – Boost Evasion if using Queen of the Forest setup.

Gearing

• Weapon: High Physical Damage Spear with Accuracy and Crit Multiplier.

• Rings: Flat Physical to Attacks, Life, Crit Chance.

• Amulet: Accuracy, Crit Multi, Melee Skill Level.

• Chest: Evasion or hybrid with high Life.

• Gloves: Attack Speed and Physical Damage.

• Companion: Temporal Bubble or Haste for utility and defense.

PoE 2 Best Ritualist Builds

Ritualist builds focus on ring/amulet synergies, elemental damage layering, and companion/pet buffs. Here are standout builds worth trying.

1. Lightning Spear Ritualist Build

This Ritualist build emphasizes Lightning Spear and Explosive Spear as its core damage tools, leveraging Barrage and Overabundance to layer projectiles for single-target burst and map clearing. The Ritualist ascendancy focuses on gear synergy, with bonuses from rings and amulets amplified significantly. A third ring slot from Unfurled Finger and synergy from Mystic Attunement allow for powerful stat stacking. While companions can offer useful buffs, the real strength lies in the elemental scaling and utility layering through lightning-based supports. This build feels great in mid to high-tier maps and can scale well into endgame with proper gearing.

Skills

• Main Skills: Lightning Spear (clear), Explosive Spear (bossing)

• Support Skills: Barrage (multi-cast), Expedite (faster detonation), Overabundance

• Utility Skills: Thunderous Leap (mobility), Conductivity, Herald of Thunder

• Companion: Tame Beast (buff-focused)

Skill Rotation

1. Open with Thunderous Leap for fast engagement.

2. Use Lightning Spear for general clearing.

3. On bosses, activate Barrage, then cast Explosive Spear.

4. Reapply Conductivity to reduce lightning resistance.

5. Maintain Herald of Thunder and cycle Leap > Spear transitions.

Passive Tree

• Prioritize Lightning Damage, Projectile Speed, and Skill Speed.

• Take Dance with Death and drop your shield for 25% more skill speed.

• Scale Attack Damage, Area of Effect, and Companion Buffs.

• Add Spirit Reservation and Elemental Penetration nodes.

Ascendancy Nodes

• Unfurled Finger – +1 Ring Slot (opens massive stat potential).

• Mystic Attunement – Ring and Amulet bonuses are more effective.

• As the Whispers Demand – Apply rare monster mods to yourself.

• Ritual Sacrifice – Enables sacrifice mechanics and unique buffs.

Gearing

• Weapon: Elemental-focused spear with Attack Speed and Lightning Damage.

• Gloves: Woe’s Vice – Converts Explosive Spear’s Fire into Lightning.

• Rings: High flat elemental damage and resistances.

• Amulet: Attributes and Spirit, bonus to projectile or elemental skills.

• Boots: Movement Speed, Evasion, Life.

• Companion: Look for Haste aura or Elemental Resistance aura variants.

2. Bleed Ritualist Build

This is a reliable, campaign-tested Bleed Ritualist Huntress build that thrives on physical DoT scaling and hybrid melee-ranged gameplay. It uses Rake as a primary melee bleed applicator and Spear Throw to generate frenzy charges and ranged pressure. The defining mechanic is Blood Loss, which is tracked visually on enemies and becomes the fuel for the devastating Blood Hunt execute. The build also incorporates Herald of Blood to cause AoE explosions on death, making it efficient for both bossing and clearing. While the Amazon ascendancy offers crit scaling later, Ritualist is perfectly viable for campaign and early mapping due to its flexible gear synergy and sustainability options. And it will save your time for PoE 2 Trade early, as it is budget!

Skills

• Main Damage Skills:

  Rake (bleed application, AoE)

  Spear Throw (Frenzy generation, ranged bleed)

  Blood Hunt (execute based on Blood Loss)

• Mobility: Disengage

• Support & Utility:

  Herald of Blood (on-death explosions)

  Blood Hound’s Mark (heavy stun + armor break)

  Combat Frenzy (generate charges on freeze)

Skill Rotation

1. Open with Rake from range for max bleed and AoE.

2. Disengage immediately to maintain hybrid synergy and reposition.

3. Use Spear Throw to pin enemies and generate frenzy charges.

4. Cast Blood Hunt on enemies with high Blood Loss (under 35% HP).

5. Maintain Blood Hound’s Mark to amplify stun and armor break.

6. Let Herald of Blood clear packs via chain explosions.

Passive Tree

• Stack Physical Damage, Bleed Magnitude, and Attack Speed early.

• Take Dance with Death, dropping shield for 25% more skill speed.

• Grab nodes for Melee Strike Range, Accuracy, and Crit Chance for scaling.

• Add Bleeding Ailment and Execute Damage clusters as you progress.

• Jewel slots can be added mid-campaign.

Ascendancy Nodes

• Unfurled Finger – +1 Ring Slot opens gear flexibility.

• Mystic Attunement – Amulet and Ring bonuses become stronger.

• Ritual Sacrifice – Use rare modifiers on self via Ritualist mechanics.

• As the Whispers Demand – Grants Ritual Sacrifice skill.

Note: This build optionally transitions to Amazon later for crit bleed scaling.

Gearing

• Weapon: High Physical Damage spear (80–150 DPS), flat phys + % phys.

• Rings: Look for Venopuncture for early game (bleed bonuses + STR).

• Amulet: Spirit, STR/DEX, optional +melee or projectile skill level.

• Armor: Prioritize Life, Evasion, and Resistances.

• Gloves: Flat Physical Damage to Attacks.

• Boots: Movement Speed + Life.

• Belt: Utility Belt with Life and Resists.

• Charm: Use Staunching to counter Venopuncture’s chill effect.

3. Lightning Spear & Storm Lance Ritualist Build

This dual-skill Ritualist build is designed for a smooth campaign-to-maps transition, combining Lightning Spear for fast AoE clearing and Storm Lance for concentrated boss damage. Leveraging Barrage, Conductivity, and Orb of Storms, it excels in both single-target and pack situations. The Ritualist ascendancy supports this with bonus ring interactions and companion utility, including aura-boosting beasts. Thunderous Leap handles mobility, while Combat Frenzy and Sniper’s Mark provide charge generation and critical scaling. It's a well-rounded, flexible build with room to scale through gear and spirit-based utility.

Skills

• Main Damage Skills:

• Lightning Spear (clearing)

• Storm Lance (bossing, ramp-up damage)

• Support Skills:

• Barrage (for Storm Lance and Lightning Spear)

• Conductivity (curse for lightning res reduction)

• Combat Frenzy (generate frenzy charges)

• Herald of Thunder (passive lightning damage)

• Utility:

• Thunderous Leap (mobility)

• Orb of Storms (optional for Wither/Crit Weakness)

• Sniper’s Mark (single-target burst)

Skill Rotation

1. Leap into enemies with Thunderous Leap.

2. Cast Sniper’s Mark on rare/unique enemies.

3. Use Lightning Spear for fast clear.

4. For bosses, stack Storm Lance spears, then release.

5. Use Barrage to enhance Storm Lance or Lightning Spear casts.

6. Apply Conductivity periodically for lightning res debuff.

Passive Tree

• Early focus on Projectile Damage, Lightning Scaling, and Skill Speed.

• Take Dance with Death and drop shield for skill speed.

• Scale Accuracy, Attack Speed, and Storm Lance damage.

• Add Elemental Penetration, Aura Effect, and Spirit Reservation as needed.

• Grab Evasion and Reflexes for defense and mobility.

Ascendancy Nodes

• Unfurled Finger – Grants a third ring slot (great for elemental scaling).

• Mystic Attunement – Increases power of rings and amulet.

• Ritual Sacrifice – Enables self-buffing with rare monster modifiers.

• As the Whispers Demand – Grants Ritual Sacrifice skill for rare affix activation.

Gearing

• Weapon: Spear with Lightning Damage, Attack Speed, and Elemental Penetration.

• Rings: Flat Lightning or Elemental Damage, Resistances, Attributes.

• Amulet: +Projectile Skills, Attributes, or Spirit.

• Gloves: Attack Speed, Lightning Res, possibly Woe’s Vice for conversion.

• Armor: Evasion-focused with Life and Resistances.

• Boots: Movement Speed and Life.

• Companion: Aim for Haste Aura or Elemental Resistance Aura.