Quick Links
The Huntress is a melee/ranged hybrid class inPath of Exile 2that utilizes the spear to adapt to any situation. While the Huntress can easily move in and out of melee range, she is just as strong at long range, especially with the Lightning Spear skill, which will be the center of the build we’ll be looking at today.
At first, leveling with Lightning Spear can be tricky due to its low damage, but this quickly changes as you slot in more Support Gems and other Skills. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about leveling through the campaign with the Lightning Spear Amazon.
The core of this build isLightning Spear, and everything else essentiallyrevolves around getting its damage as high as possiblewhile using defensive tools likeWind Dancer, Ghost Dance, and the built-inElectrocute effectprovided by the Support Gem of the same name.
For bosses and tankier enemies, we are also usingStorm Lanceas a secondary attack, which has muchhigher single-target DPS, but is buffed in many of the same ways as Lightning Spear, so it’s easy to alternate between the two depending on the circumstances.
This build also utilizesEvasion RatingandEnergy Shieldfor two defensive layers. These, combined withGhost Dance, will give enemies a hard time inflciting any actual damage to you, making this build quite tanky.
Lightning Exposure
Concentrated Effect
Before you gain access toCombat Frenzy, useCull the Weaktogenerate Frenzy Chargesby executing low-health enemies. Frenzy Charges can bespent by your next Lightning Spear or Storm Lanceto greatly boost its damage and effect.
Once you get Combat Frenzy, this build really starts to take off. WithLightning Spear’s Electrocute build-up, combined with havingPin linked with Wind Dancer, you’ll be able to constantly generate Frenzy Charges, meaning your Lightning Spears will repeatedly get powered-up.
Early on, you may want to useExplosive Spearlinked withExpeditetoDetonate Storm Lance’s spearsbefore you switch over to Lightning Spear, as this combo’sdamage is higher in the early game. You can still use Lightning Spear for clearing groups of enemies, especially if you’re taking advantage ofCull the Weakor theParrymechanic to buildFrenzy Charges.
Additionally,hold off on using Sniper’s Mark until you unlock your first Ascendancy points and get Critical Strike. Until then, your Critical Hit Chance will be too low to make use of Sniper’s Mark.
Once you haveCritical Strikeand a fewCritical Hit-boosting nodeson the Passive Tree, you may make use of Sniper’s Mark for extra damage and Frenzy Charges against bosses and high-health enemies.
Barrage can be used todouble up on Lightning Spear throws, as it willconsume Frenzy Chargesto throw additional Lightning Spears. This one skill provides ahigh DPS buff, so use it as you level, Mana permitting.
As you approach the end of the campaign and yourEvasion Ratingis higher,slot in Ghost Dancefor another defensive layer. This buff willrestore your Energy Shield based on your Evasion Ratingwhen you’re hit, consuming a stack of the buff in the process.
With high Evasion Rating, you won’t really take hits that often, meaning when you do, you’ll almost always have a stack ready to restore your Shield.
Passive Tree And Ascendancy
For the Passive Tree, you mainly be focusing ondamage-boosting nodesearly on to get Lightning Spear and Storm Lance’s damage up to respectable levels. This is accomplished through nodes like Primal Instinct, Catalysis, Maiming Strike, Falcon Dive, and all of theSpear-specific nodes: Javelin, Focused Thrust, Precise Point, and Roll and Strike.
From there, you’ll want to move into moredefensive nodessuch as Mindful Awareness in the Monk portion of the Tree, Beastial Skin, Enhanced Reflexes, and Spectral Ward.
For primary attribute nodes, use amix of Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence, depending on what you need at the time forSkill Gem and Equipment Requirements. These can change over the course of the leveling process, so be sure to keep an eye on them as you level. Make use ofPassive refunds earlywhen the cost is lower.
Ascendancy
Your first two Ascendancy points after unlocking Amazon should be spent on the firstAccuracy node and Critical Strike. This represents a massive DPS buff, allowing you to beginstacking Accuracy on your gearand various nodes in the Passive Tree toboost your Critical Hit Chance.
From there, getElemental Infusionnext for another DPS boost for Lightning Spear. UsingInfuse Weapon, which is granted by the Ascendancy node, willinfuse your next two Lightning Spears, causing them toexplode for additional Lightning Damage on impact.
You can getPredatory InstinctorPenetrateineither order, as they both provide similar DPS boosts. If you already have high Accuracy by the time you unlock your fifth and sixth Ascendancy Points, Penetrate may be better to unlock first.
Equipment And Stats
As you level this build through the campaign,the most important thing to be on the lookout for is a strong Spear. If you find anything with increasedPhysical DamageorLightning Damage, set it aside anduse your currencies to craft it up. Use anArtificer’s Orbto add a slot to your Spear if necessary, and slot in anIron Rune(or a Greater Iron Rune, if you have one) for the highest damage increase.
Be sure tosalvage items with Quality or Socketsto get the items you need to improve your Spear once you craft one with the stats you need.
For armor, try tostack up your Evasion Rating early on, while also getting flatDexterityon items where possible. Additionally, if you can find a pair ofboots with Movement Speed, hang on to them for as long as you can.Movement Speed is one of the best stats in Path of Exile 2,as it will let you escape fast enemies without having to rely on the slow dodge roll.
Be sure tostay on top of your Resistancesas you progress through the campaign. These are one of thebiggest sources of damage reduction, so get them up to the75 percent capin any way you can. Make use ofRunes on your armorto reach these caps.
Dawn of the Hunt has buffed almost every enemy, making the early game even harder.Upgrade your potions as frequently as possibleto deal with the extra damage you’ll be taking in every new area you explore.
