Last updated: April 18, 2025 1:02 PM

Updated information according to the latest Patch/Release

Class Information

Warrior

Weapon:

Primary Attribute:

The Warrior class boasts a wide array of skills that can be utilized depending on the combat situation at hand.

For swiftly dispatching groups of weaker enemies, area-of-effect (AoE) abilities such as Earthquake, Ground Slam, and Sunder prove highly effective. These can be further enhanced with skills like Infernal Cry and Herald of Ash, which amplify AoE potential and cause enemies to explode upon defeat, making it easier to clear large packs.

When confronting formidable foes like bosses or powerful Rare monsters, it’s essential to strategically combine skills to maximize damage output.

Boneshatter is an excellent choice for single-target damage, as it progressively increases in power. However, this skill carries the risk of self-inflicted damage, requiring a substantial investment in defensive capabilities to prevent self-harm.

Supercharged Slam offers another avenue for dealing significant damage but comes with a lengthy charge time, making it risky in the heat of battle. To mitigate this, a combination of Armour Breaker and Leap Slam can be used to stun the target. Once the enemy is incapacitated, there’s an opportunity to fully charge Supercharged Slam and deliver a massive burst of damage.

The game’s mechanics have been updated to allow bosses to be effectively crowd-controlled (CC’d), but measures are in place to prevent them from being indefinitely stun-locked. When a boss is hit with abilities that cause stunning or freezing, an internal gauge begins to fill. Upon reaching its maximum capacity, the boss becomes susceptible to crowd control effects. However, if the boss has recently been affected by CC, it will require a greater number of hits to fill the gauge again for subsequent crowd control.

This internal gauge isn’t static; it gradually decreases over time if the boss isn’t continuously subjected to CC abilities, resetting to its default state. This design allows players to rebuild stun or freeze effects after a certain period, ensuring that crowd control can be reapplied strategically without being overpowered.

Stun mechanics are particularly significant for characters wielding Maces. These weapons often come with inherent features that enhance stun effects, creating a strong synergy. Because many Mace attacks have slower execution times, it’s advantageous to stun an enemy first. This tactic provides an opportunity to charge up a heavy attack, resulting in a substantial burst of damage while the enemy is incapacitated.

Boneshatter

TBC

Boneshatter

TBC

Boneshatter

TBC

Boneshatter

TBC

Boneshatter

TBC

Boneshatter

T1 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Melee, Strike

Level: 1

Cost: 10 Mana

Attack Speed: 60% of base

Attack Damage: 50%

Requires: Level 1

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Attacks enemies with a melee Strike. The Strike will cause a Heavy Stun on enemies that are Primed for Stun. Upon causing a Heavy Stun it will also create a Shockwave, dealing a large amount of damage in an area.

+2 to Melee Strike Range
Does not cause Stun buildup

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Earthquake

T1 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Duration, Slam, Melee

Level: 2

Cost: 10 Mana

Attack Speed: 75% of base

Attack Damage: 66%

Requires: Level 3, 9 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Smashes the ground, dealing damage in an area and leaving behind Jagged Ground that slows enemies. The Jagged Ground erupts in a powerful Aftershock after a short duration. Attacking again before the eruption will not create another area of Jagged Ground.

Jagged Ground you create has 100% increased Effect
Jagged Ground duration is 3 seconds
Impact radius is 1.8 metres
Jagged Ground radius is 2.2 metres

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Rolling Slam

T1 Active Skill

Attack, Slam, AoE, Melee

Level: 12

Cost: 48 Mana

Attack Damage: 188%

Requires: Level 42, 96 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Slam the ground to Stun enemies and knock them away, then continue forward and perform a devastating second Slam.

+1.5 seconds to Attack Time
Base radius is 1.4 metres
Base secondary radius is 1.8 metres

First Slam:

20% increased Stun Duration on enemies

Hits Stun Enemies as though dealing 100% more Damage
Second Slam Attack Damage: 276%

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Shield Charge

T3 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Movement, Travel, Physical, Channelling, Melee

Level: 4

Cost: 12.93 Mana per second

Cooldown Time: 3.0 sec

Attack Time: 0.50 sec

Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%

Attack Damage: 100%

Requires: Level 10, 25 Str

Requires: Shield

Channel to charge in the target direction. You will crash into enemies on you path, stopping your charge and dealing damage to enemies in the area.

10 to 15 Base Off Hand Physical Damage
2 to 3 Added Physical Damage per 15 Armour on Shield
Base impact radius is 2.4 metres

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Armour Breaker

T3 Active Skill

Attack, Melee, Strike, AoE

Level: 12

Cost: 20 Mana

Attack Speed: 80% of base

Attack Damage: 86%

Requires: Level 42, 96 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Attack with a forceful blow, knocking enemies back and weakening their armour.

Knocks Enemies Back on Hit
+2 to Melee Strike Range
Hits Break 1562 Armour

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Shockwave Totem

T3 Active Skill

Attack, Totem, Melee, Slam, Physical, Duration, Nova

Level: 2

Cost: 28 Mana

Cast Time: 0.60 sec

Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%

Requires: Level 3

Raises a Totem that Slams the ground around it, repeatedly damaging nearby enemies. Earthquake’s Jagged Ground erupts when in this Slam.

Totem lasts 12 seconds
Limit 1 Totem
Totem base attack time is 3 seconds
Totem deals 5 to 8 base Physical Damage

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Infernal Cry

T3 Active Skill

Warcry, AoE, Trigger, Fire, Duration

Level: 3

Cost: 16 Mana

Cooldown Time: 8.00 sec

Use Time: 0.80 sec

Requires: Level 6, 16 Str

Performs a warcry, taunting nearby enemies to attack the use and Empower subsequent Attacks. Consumes all Endurance Charges to Empower additional attacks. Enemies in the warcry’s area are destabilised and will Combust on death.

4% increased Warcry Speed
Empowers the next Melee Attack you perform, plus an additional Attack per Endurance Charge consumed
Warcry radius is 4 metres
Empowered Attacks gain 25% of Damage as Fire Damage per 5 power of enemies in range, up to 100%

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Earthshatter

T5 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Slam, Duration, Melee

Level: 5

Cost: 13 Mana

Attack Speed: 80% of base

Attack Damage: 85%

Requires: Level 13, 34 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Slam the ground, sending out a fissure that deals area damage to enemies it passes under and thrusts a spike from the ground when it ends. Warcries or other Slam Attacks performed near the spike will cause it to shatter damaging surrounding enemies.

Maximum 5 Spikes
Spike duration is 6 seconds
Deals Damage along the fissure’s Path and in a 1 metre radius around the emerging spike

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Perfect Strike

T5 Active Skill

Attack, Channelling, Physical, Fire, Duration, Melee

Level: 3

Cost: 10.52 Mana per second

Attack Speed: 120% of base

Attack Damage: 121%

Requires: Level 6, 17 Str

Charge up your weapon while channelling. Releasing the moment you fully charge will release a wave of fire.

Converts 40% of Physical Damage to Fire Damage

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Leap Slam

T7 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Movement, Travel, Slam, Melee

Level: 12

Cost: 31 Mana

Attack Damage: 188%

Requires: Level 42, 96 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Jump into the air, damaging and knocking back enemies with your mace where you lang. Enemies you would land on are pushed out of the way.

+0.65 seconds to Attack Time
+0.35 seconds based on distance travelled
Base impact radius is 2.5 metres
25% more stun buildup
500% more Stun buildup against
Enemies with fully Broken Armour
Ends Fully Broken Armour on Enemies after Hitting

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Resonating Shield

T7 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Sustained, Physical, Channelling

Level: 6

Cost: 11.25 Mana per second

Attack Time: 0.80 sec

Attack Damage: 38%

Requires: Level 21, Level 38

Requires: Shield

Repeatedly strike your Shield with your weapon causing damaging shockwaves in an area around you. Enemies hit by the shockwave lose Armour for a duration. While using Resonating Shield your Shield is raised and you will Block all incoming Blockable hits.

Hits Break 59 Armour
19 to 29 Base Off Hand Physical Damage
2 to 4 Added Physical Damage per 15 Armour on Shield
Shockwave radius is 1.8 metres

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Sunder

T9 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Slam, Melee

Level: 12

Cost: 44 Mana

Attack Damage: 275%

Requires: Level 42, 96 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Slams the ground, creating a wave of churning terrain that damages enemies in a sequence of areas in front of you. A number of enemies hit by the wave will release a shockwave, damaging other enemies.

+1.4 seconds to Attack Time
100% increased Critical Damage Bonus
Base Radius is 0.9 metres
Always Critically Hit Enemies with fully Broken Armour
Ends Fully Broken Armour on Enemies after Hitting
Wave causes Shockwaves from up to 5 Enemies in each Area
Wave Damages 5 Areas
Wave gains +2 to radius with each Area in the Sequence

Shockwave

Attack Damage: 164.4%

Base secondary radius is 1.2 metres

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Volcanic Fissure

T9 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Slam, Duration, Melee

Level: 7

Cost: 11 Mana

Attack Speed: 80% of base

Attack Damage: 98%

Requires: Level 27, 46 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace

Slam the ground, creating a winding fissure that deals area damage while travelling outwards then persists fro a duration. Slamming a fissure with a different Slam skill will cause it and all connected fissures to trigger Aftershocks.

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Spinning Inferno

T9 Active Skill

TBC

Shield Wall

T9 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Melee, Physical, Duration

Level: 9

Cost: 41 Mana

Attack Time: 1.25 sec

Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%

Attack Damage: 100%

Requires: Level 31, 72 Str

Requires: Shield

Ram your Shield into ground, throwing up a wall of earth on either side and losing your Shield for the duration of the skill. Enemies can attack the walls and your Slams will instantly destroy them. Each wall segment explodes when destroyed, damaging enemies around it.

29 to 43 Base Off Hand Physical Damage
Base duration is 6 seconds
2 to 4 Added Physical Damage per 15 Armour on Shield
Base radius is 2.5 metres
Wall sections have 832 maximum Life

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Seismic Cry

T11 Active Skill

Warcry, AoE, Duration

Level: 12

Cost: 27 Mana

Cooldown Time: 8.00 sec

Cast Time: 0.80 sec

Requires: Level 42, 96 Str

Performs a warcry, Taunting and Knocking back nearby enemies. If a Heavy Stunned enemy is hit, your next slam does an additional Aftershock.

Deals 23 to 35 Physical Damage
Knocks Enemies Back on Hit
22% increased Warcry Speed
Base radius is 4 metres
200% increased Knockback Distance
400% more Stun buildup
Hits ignore Enemy Monster Physical Damage Reduction
Exerts the next 1 Melee Slam Attacks you perform
Exerts additional attack per Endurance Charge

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Supercharged Slam

T11 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Channelling, Slam, Melee

Level: 11

Cost: 27.22 Mana per second

Attack Time: 1.00 sec

Attack Damage: 111%

Requires: Level 41, 95 Str

Requires: Two Hand Mace

Channel to charge up a heavy swing, drawing earth from the ground to enlarge your mace. Release to Slam the ground, dealing damage in an area around the impact, followed by Aftershocks dealing damage in a large area.

Base impact radius is 1.6 metres
Warcries can Empower this Attacks as though it was not Channelled
100% more Damage with Hits for each stage
Maximum 3 Stages
Channelling ends 1 second after reaching maximum Stages
Releases 1 Aftershock per Stage

Aftershock:

Base radius is 2.8 metres
+5 to Radius per stage per previous Aftershock
100% more Damage with Hits for each stage

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Stampede

T11 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Melee, Slam, Duration, Channeling, Travel

Level: 11

Cost: 44 Mana

Attack Damage: 161%

Requires: Level 41, 95 Str

Requires: One Hand Mace, Two Hand Mace

Charges forward, cracking the earth and leaving a patch of Jagged Ground with every footstep. At the end of your charge, a massive leaping Slam damages enemies and causes all patches of Jagged Ground to erupt in Aftershocks.

Base impact radius is 3.2 metres
Warcries can Empower this attack as though it was not Channelled

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Hammer of the Gods

T13 Active Skill

Attack, AoE, Melee, Slam, Duration

Level: 11

Cost: 46 Mana

Cooldown Time: 24.00 sec

Attack Speed: 50% of base

Attack Damage: 1307%

Requires: Level 41, 95 Str

Requires: Once Hand Mace, Two Hand Mace

Entreats the Ancestors to crush your enemies, manifesting a massive hammer that falls from the sky onto your target.

Base duration is 2.5 seconds
Base radius is 2.4 metres
Can’t be Evaded

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

Ancestral Warrior Totem

T13 Active Skill

Totem, AoE, Physical, Duration

Level: 13

Requires: Level 52, 119 Str

Requires: One Hand Mace, Two Hand Mace

Raises a Totem that uses socketed Mace skills.

Totem lasts 20 seconds
Limit 1 Totem
Totem base attack time is 1 second
Totem deals 17 to 25 Base Physical Damage

Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.

While detailed information about the Warrior’s Ascendancy Classes in Path of Exile 2 is not yet available, it is confirmed that there will be three distinct options. As a Strength-based class, the Warrior’s Ascendancies are expected to revolve around strength-related themes.

Using the Marauder from the original Path of Exile as a reference point, several possibilities emerge for these Ascendancies.

One likely Ascendancy might specialize in dealing Fire Damage, synergizing with abilities like Infernal Cry and Herald of Ash. This would enhance damage output and improve efficiency in clearing groups of enemies.

Another Ascendancy could focus on defense, emphasizing attributes such as increased Armour, enhanced Life, and boosted Fire Resistance.

Lastly, an Ascendancy may adopt a “glass cannon” approach—delivering massive damage but also being more vulnerable to incoming attacks.

Overview of Path of Exile 2’s Skill System

Path of Exile 2 introduces a unique approach to character abilities, setting it apart from traditional action role-playing games. Instead of skills being tied to specific classes, they are represented as items called Skill Gems that can be socketed into your character’s Skill Gem page. This innovative system allows any class to use any skill, providing immense flexibility and customization in building your character.

Disclaimer: The information in this guide is accurate at the time of writing and will be updated post-launch to remain current.

Understanding the Different Types of Skill Gems

In Path of Exile 2, your character’s abilities—whether it’s engaging in melee combat, casting spells, or summoning creatures—are all derived from Skill Gems. By equipping and combining various gems, you can tailor your playstyle to suit your preferences. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of gems you’ll encounter:

Active Skill Gems
- Description: These gems grant you the primary abilities used during gameplay, such as attacks, spells, and summoning skills.
- Function: Equipping an Active Skill Gem allows you to use that ability in combat. These are the core skills that define your character’s capabilities on the battlefield.
Support Gems
- Description: Support Gems modify and enhance the effects of Active Skills.
- Function: When linked to an Active Skill Gem, a Support Gem can alter the skill’s behavior—for example, increasing its damage, changing its element, or adding additional effects like area damage or life leech.
Buff Gems
- Description: Buff Gems provide enhancements that can be either temporary or permanent.
- Function: These gems offer boosts to your character, allies, or minions, such as increased attack speed, improved defenses, or enhanced elemental resistances.
Uncut Gems
- Description: Uncut Gems are special items that can be transformed into a gem of your choice.
- Function: Depending on the type of Uncut Gem, you can select an Active, Support, or Buff skill to add to your collection. Additionally, Uncut Gems can be used to level up existing Active Skill Gems, increasing their effectiveness.
Meta Gems
- Description: Meta Gems are advanced gems that trigger under certain conditions or modify skills in complex ways.
- Function: These gems introduce sophisticated mechanics, such as automatically casting a linked skill when specific criteria are met. More detailed information about Meta Gems will be provided as it becomes available.

Active Skill Gems in Path of Exile 2

In Path of Exile 2, Active Skill Gems are essential items that grant your character a variety of abilities, including melee and ranged attacks, spells, and summoning skills. Unlike traditional class-restricted systems, these gems can be used by any class, offering a high degree of flexibility in how you build and play your character.

Acquisition and Customization

Uncut Skill Gems: Throughout the campaign, you’ll discover Uncut Skill Gems. These are blank gems that can be engraved to become the Active Skill Gem of your choice. This allows you to select skills that align with your desired playstyle.
Skill Gem Sockets: Each character has access to nine Active Skill Gem sockets located in the Skill Window. You can equip these sockets with any Active Skill Gems you obtain, customizing your character’s abilities to suit various combat scenarios.

Equipping and Managing Skills

Skill Window Placement: Active Skill Gems are placed into the leftmost sockets of your Skill Window. Once slotted, these skills become available for use in combat.
Skill Bar Assignment: After equipping a skill, you can assign it to your Skill Bar, typically found at the bottom right of the screen near your Mana Orb. This location may vary based on your platform and whether you’re playing solo or in co-op mode.
Flexible Configuration: You can change the skills assigned to your Skill Bar at any time. By clicking on the Skill Bar, a popup window will display all your available skills, allowing you to rearrange them according to your needs.

Categories of Active Skills

Active Skill Gems can be classified into several types, each serving a different combat role:

Melee Attacks: Focused on close-range combat, these skills are ideal for characters who engage enemies directly.
- Examples: Boneshatter, Earthquake
Ranged Attacks: These skills allow you to attack enemies from a distance using bows or other projectile weapons.
- Examples: Lightning Arrow, Escape Shot
Spells: Magical abilities that can damage enemies, apply effects, or manipulate the battlefield.
- Examples: Contagion, Ball Lightning
Minion Skills: Summon creatures or entities that fight alongside you, providing additional damage or support.
- Examples: Raise Zombie, Bind Spectre

Skill Gems and Weapon Requirements

While any class can use any Skill Gem, many skills are designed to work with specific weapon types. This means that to use certain abilities, you must have the appropriate weapon equipped. For instance:

Weapon-Specific Skills: Lightning Arrow requires a bow to function, as you cannot fire arrows without one.
Equipment Synergy: Choosing the right weapons to match your skills is crucial for maximizing your character’s effectiveness in combat.

All Games

Warrior

Boneshatter

Boneshatter

Boneshatter

Boneshatter

Boneshatter