Completing the Lightning Spear Amazon Leveling Build in PoE 2

The Huntress is a versatile melee and ranged hybrid class in Path of Exile 2, harnessing the spear to tackle various challenges. She can fluidly switch between close combat and long-range attacks, excelling particularly with the Lightning Spear skill, which is the focus of this guide.

Initially, using Lightning Spear for leveling may feel somewhat ineffective due to its low damage output, but this quickly improves as you integrate additional Support Gems and other skills. Let’s delve into everything you need to know about progressing through the campaign as the Lightning Spear Huntress.

Build Overview

The backbone of this build is the Lightning Spear, and the goal is to maximize its damage while employing defensive tools like Wind Dancer, Ghost Dance, and the Electrocute effect provided by its Support Gem.

For boss encounters and tougher opponents, we also incorporate Storm Lance as a secondary attack option, which offers superior single-target damage potential. Both Lightning Spear and Storm Lance can synergize well with various buffs, allowing you to alternate as the situation demands.

This build emphasizes Evasion Rating and Energy Shield, providing two layers of defense. This combination, along with Ghost Dance, makes it challenging for foes to deal significant damage, resulting in a noticeably durable character.

Leveling Skills and Support Gems

Before gaining access to Combat Frenzy, utilize Cull the Weak to generate Frenzy Charges by defeating low-health foes. You can use these charges to significantly enhance the damage of your next Lightning Spear or Storm Lance attack.

Once you unlock Combat Frenzy, the build really kicks into gear. With the Electrocute buildup from Lightning Spear, paired with Pin linked to Wind Dancer, you’ll consistently generate Frenzy Charges, allowing your Lightning Spears to continually deal increased damage.

It’s advisable to delay using Sniper’s Mark until you unlock your first Ascendancy points and gain access to Critical Strike. Until then, your chance to land critical hits will be too low to optimize this skill’s benefits.

Once you have the necessary Critical Strike boosts from the Passive Tree, you can effectively use Sniper’s Mark for more damage and to generate Frenzy Charges against bosses and tougher enemies.

As you near the end of the campaign and your Evasion Rating rises, be sure to incorporate Ghost Dance into your build for extra defense. This ability restores your Energy Shield based on your Evasion Rating each time you take damage, consuming a charge in the process.

With a high Evasion Rating, hits will be less frequent, meaning when they do occur, you’ll often have a charge ready to replenish your Shield.

Passive Tree and Ascendancy

On the Passive Tree, initially focus on nodes that enhance damage, particularly to boost the effectiveness of Lightning Spear and Storm Lance. Look for nodes such as Primal Instinct, Catalysis, Maiming Strike, Falcon Dive, and specific spear nodes like Javelin, Focused Thrust, Precise Point, and Roll and Strike.

Afterwards, transition towards defensive nodes like Mindful Awareness from the Monk section, Beastial Skin, Enhanced Reflexes, and Spectral Ward.

When selecting attribute nodes, aim for a mixture of Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence, depending on the requirements for your Skill Gems and equipment at any given moment. These requirements may change during the leveling process, so keep an eye on them and take advantage of Passive refunds when the cost is lower.

Ascendancy

1. Critical Strike
2. Elemental Infusion
3. Predatory Instinct
4. Penetrate

The first two Ascendancy points upon unlocking the Amazon should go towards the initial Accuracy node and Critical Strike, significantly improving your DPS. This step empowers you to stack Accuracy on your gear and across various Passive Tree nodes, enhancing your overall Critical Hit Chance.

Next, acquire Elemental Infusion to provide an additional DPS boost for Lightning Spear. The Infuse Weapon ability from this node will cause your next two Lightning Spears to explode, dealing extra Lightning Damage upon impact.

Choose between Predatory Instinct and Penetrate based on your current accuracy; both provide comparable increases in damage output. If you’ve amassed substantial Accuracy when reaching your fifth and sixth Ascendancy Points, unlocking Penetrate first may be preferable.

Equipment and Stats

Equipment Example

Throughout your journey, the key aspect to focus on is optimizing your Spear. Keep an eye out for any that boost Physical or Lightning Damage and don’t hesitate to use your crafting resources to enhance it. Use an Artificer’s Orb to add a socket to your Spear if needed, and insert an Iron Rune (or upgrade to a Greater Iron Rune if available) for maximum damage output.

For your armor, prioritize increasing your Evasion Rating while incorporating flat Dexterity to your items when possible. Finding boots that enhance Movement Speed can be a game-changer, allowing you to dodge fast enemies without overly relying on slower dodge rolls. Movement Speed is among the top attributes in Path of Exile 2.

Stay vigilant with your Resistances while progressing through the campaign since they are vital for damage mitigation. Try to maintain them at or near the 75 percent cap. Utilize Runes on your armor to help reach these thresholds.

With the Dawn of the Hunt update, most adversaries have received buffs, increasing challenge levels in the early game. Make sure to upgrade your potions as often as possible to manage the increased damage you’ll face in new areas.