Quick Links
Huntress was added toPath of Exile 2, alongside the Season of the Hunt league. This class brings forth two Ascendancies, each offering a new gameplay style, withRitualistbeing one of the most fun ones you can choose.
However, the Ascendancy takes a while to unlock, and your leveling process will rely on playing the base Huntress class properly with various skills and abilities. If you’re interested in playing the Huntress and eventually focusing on the Ritualist Ascendancy, this guide will cover all the necessary details.
Ritualist Build Overview
Ritualist is one of the two Ascendancies for the Huntress, and even though it isn’t as strong as the Amazon, the former is quite fun to play. However, you don’t get access to it until the middle of Act Two, which means you’ll have to play Act One and most of Act Two with the base Huntress class, which can be a bit rough.
If youplay the Huntress normally, which primarily includespressing Parry to gather Frenzy chargesand deal damage, you’ll have a very hard time, since thegameplay is clunky. Instead,you will be using Bleed as one of the key toolsto clear mobs as well as deal damage to bosses, thereby making the campaign very easy.
The good part here is that you can use the Bleed build to easily get through the early game, and pair it with the Ritualist Ascendancy to increase its potency. While theBleed build does struggle a bit in the mid-game, it gets stronger as you push through the endgame and Cruel Mode.
You will be usingskills like Rake, Bloodhound Mark, and Spearfield to deal damage, which are very easy to use, without the additional need to proc Frenzy charges.
One of the weaknesses of theHuntress class is that it is very squishy in the early game. However, thebleed build kills enemies fairly quickly, so it’s pretty much a case of offense being the best defense. Even then, learning boss patterns and understanding when to dodge or disengage will come in handy when fighting endgame bosses.
Ritualist Leveling Guide
Act 1
When in Act One, your focus will be to get the basics of the build, so that you can quickly clear through the bosses. You’ll needTwister and Whirling Slash to level up in the early game, until you can unlock Rake.
You’ll also need tounlock Stomping Ground and Concentrated Effect and attach them to Rake. Additionally, defeat the King of the Mists boss andunlock Herald of Blood, which will be a key skill for this build.
Don’t forget toattach Magnified Effect and Brutality to Herald of Blood. You’ll also have tounlock Disengagesince that will be your primary escape tool when you get surrounded by enemies.
/
Disengage
Act 2
In Act Two, you’ll need to strengthen the build even further and add a few more key skills that will amplify the damage. The first skill to unlock is Spearfield, and you’ll need toattachLacerateandRage.
You’ll also need tounlock Bloodhound’s Mark and attachBloodlustto it. If you can pick up a secondUncut Skill GemLevel Nine, you can unlockThunderous Leap and attachMartial Tempoto it.
Finally,unlock the skill Rapid Assault, though you don’t need to attach any support gems to it yet. In Act Two, you will have tocomplete the Trial of Sekhemasandunlock the Ritualist Ascendancyclass for the Huntress.
Once completed, unlock it, andopen the nodes, Physical Damage, and Corrupted Lifeforce. The second node willgrant you the skill called Blood Boil, but you don’t need to equip it just yet.
Martial Tempo
Act 3
In Act Three, you will start getting access toUncut Support GemLevel Two, which means quite a few of your skills will be upgraded. For starters,remove Twister and Rake, as you don’t need them anymore.
You will also get access toLesser Jeweller’s Orb, which you can use tounlock a third slot for both Spearfield and Rapid Assault. Unlock the skillHeavy Swingand attach it to Rapid Assaultalongside Concentrated Effect. You’ll also need tounlockComorbidity, Rearm, andClose Combat, and attach them to Spearfield.
As forHerald of Blood, you’ll need to attachBursting Plagueand Reach, alongside Magnified Effect.Equip the skill Blood Boilthat you got from the Ascendancy in Act 2, andattach Brutality, Acrimony, andPersistenceto it.
Finally,defeat the Bog Witch bossto receive a secondUncut Spirit Gem, and you canunlockWind Dancer. You’ll need toattachCannibalismandBlindto it. You must alsocomplete the Trial of Chaosfor two more Ascendancy points andunlock Reduced Resistances and Unfurled Finger.
Bloodlust
Cruel Mode And Mapping
Once you reach Cruel Mode and start getting Uncut Support Gem Level Three, you’ll be able to unlock a few more skills to enhance your build. You’ll need tounlockHeftand attach it to Rapid Assault. Finally, get access toHaemocrystals and attach it to Bloodhound’s mark.
Bloodlust, Haemocrystals
Passive Skill Tree
In the Passive Skill Tree, you’ll need to look for options thatincrease Dexterity since that is the primary stat for the Huntress. Additionally, unlock the skillsBlur and Primal Instinctsas quickly as possible since they willincrease Evasion Rating and Attack Speed.
You’ll also needEscape Velocity for Evasion Rating, Lasting Toxins to amplify Bursting Plague, andJavelin alongside Precise Point and Roll and Strikefor increased Spear damage.Fast Acting Toxins, Deterioration, and Wastingare also powerful skills that you should consider equipping as you level up the passive tree.
Finally,Bloodletting and Cruel Methods are also pretty good, since they will enhance your bleed damage.
Gear And Weapon
Tips To Play Ritualist Build
This Ritualist build is very simple to play, as it’s pretty much spamming one or two skills.In the early game, you will spam Rake on enemies, and they will pop like balloons as soon as you get one kill due to the Herald of Blood procs.
Once youunlock Rapid Assault, use that skill on mobsinstead of Rake to deal damage. Whenfighting bosses, Rapid Assault needs to be followed by Spearfield and Thunderous Leap,and you will shred through even the biggest of health bars.
