PoE2 Huntress Release & Best Builds Recommendation

The Huntress is the newest class coming to Path of Exile 2 in the highly anticipated 0.2.0 patch, how to build around this character wields a spear? Today we'll bring an overview of the PoE 2 Huntress class along with the release date and best builds recommended.

PoE2 Huntress Release Date & Overview (Skills, Pros & Cons)

The Huntress class in Path of Exile 2, set to debut in the upcoming 0.2.0 patch (Dawn of the Hunt) that is scheduled on April 4, 2025, this character has multiple play styles. With a unique skill set that includes abilities like Rapid Assault and Puncture, players can engage enemies from a distance or dash into close quarters for devastating attacks. The Huntress wields a spear, allowing for versatile play styles that incorporate bleeding effects and elemental damage, catering to both hybrid and specialized builds. The gameplay showcases dynamic abilities, including a range of elemental spear attacks such as the Blazing Lance and Storm Spear, each offering unique effects and damage potential. The class appears to prioritize mobility, enabling players to move in and out of combat efficiently, which adds a layer of strategy to encounters.

Pros

• Versatile Playstyle: Can be played as a melee, ranged, or hybrid character.

• Elemental Damage Options: Offers a variety of elemental spear attacks (fire, ice, lightning) for diverse builds.

• High Mobility: Skills like Puncture and Back Step allow for quick repositioning during combat.

• Unique Abilities: Features innovative mechanics such as enhanced attacks upon disengagement and a focus on bleeding effects.

• Visual Appeal: Abilities like the Blazing Lance create stunning visual effects during gameplay.

Cons

• Balance Concerns: Potential for overpowered builds if certain abilities dominate the meta.

• Skill Complexity: New players may find the hybrid mechanics and skill combinations overwhelming.

• Uncertain Ability Changes: Some showcased abilities may be altered or removed before the final release, leading to unpredictability.

• Dependence on Timing: Requires good timing and positioning, which might not suit all playstyles.

List of Huntress Skills in PoE 2

Whirling Slash 

Storm Spear 

Impale

Puncture 

Ice Spear 

Rapid Assault

Spearfield

Blazing Lance

Sandstorm Swipe (DNT)

Spear Vortex (DNT)

Infusing Strike (DNT)

Spear Mine (DNT)

Top PoE 2 Huntress Builds

1. Whirling Slash AOE Build

This build transforms the Huntress into a whirlwind of death by maximizing her Whirling Slash ability, creating massive screen-filling AOE damage through repeated casts and strategic positioning. The playstyle involves expanding the slash radius before exploding it for massive area damage, supplemented by Impale and Puncture for crowd control and single-target damage. This approach works exceptionally well because it leverages the Huntress's natural bonuses to area effect and movement speed, creating a damage profile that excels at clearing large groups quickly while maintaining mobility to avoid incoming attacks.

Core Abilities:

Whirling Slash (primary damage ability)

Impale (for mobility and crowd control)

Puncture (for single-target damage and bleed)

Passive Tree Path:

Focus on increasing the area of effect for Whirling Slash

Boost movement speed and evasion

Invest in attack speed and critical strike chance

Add life and energy shield for survivability

2. Elemental Spear Throw Build

The Elemental Spear Throw build specializes in ranged combat by cycling through different elemental damage types, applying status effects, and triggering resistance penetration mechanics. By utilizing Storm Spear, Ice Spear, and Blazing Lance in combination with Rapid Assault for close-quarters finishing, this playstyle keeps enemies at bay while dealing consistent damage from a safe distance. Its strength lies in the versatility of elemental damage, allowing adaptation to various enemy types and map layouts while benefiting from the Huntress's inherent projectile bonuses and critical strike potential.

Core Abilities:

Storm Spear (lightning damage)

Ice Spear (cold damage)

Blazing Lance (fire damage)

Rapid Assault (melee finisher)

Passive Tree Path:

Enhance elemental damage for each spear type

Increase projectile speed and accuracy

Boost critical strike chance and multiplier

Add life regeneration and resistance scaling

3. Mobility Melee Build

This build emphasizes the Huntress's melee capabilities through a fast-paced playstyle that keeps you constantly moving and attacking. Using Impale to reposition and control enemies while dealing damage with Puncture and Sandstorm Swipe, this approach thrives on the Huntress's starting bonuses to attack speed and evasion. The strength of this build lies in its ability to maintain pressure while avoiding damage through constant movement, creating a high-damage playstyle that's difficult for enemies to pin down, making it particularly effective against bosses and in tight map sections.

Core Abilities:

Impale (primary damage and mobility)

Puncture (single-target damage and bleed)

Sandstorm Swipe (melee AOE)

Whirling Slash (emergency crowd control)

Passive Tree Path:

Maximize attack speed and critical strike chance

Enhance movement speed and evasion

Invest in life and physical damage reduction

Add bleed damage multiplier and stun duration

4. Hybrid Melee/Ranged Build

The Hybrid Melee/Ranged Build offers unparalleled adaptability by combining the Huntress's strengths in both combat styles. This playstyle allows you to switch seamlessly between Whirling Slash and Rapid Assault for close-quarters combat, and Storm Spear Throw when creating distance, with Impale providing positional control. Its greatest strength is versatility—able to handle any combat situation by balancing melee and ranged damage output while maintaining strong survivability through strategic positioning and the Huntress's natural evasion and movement bonuses.

Core Abilities:

Whirling Slash (melee AOE)

Storm Spear (ranged damage)

Impale (mobility and control)

Rapid Assault (melee finisher)

Passive Tree Path:

Balance between melee and ranged damage bonuses

Enhance both attack speed and projectile speed

Invest in life and energy shield

Add critical strike chance and multiplier

5. Bleed Damage Build

The Bleed Damage Build excels by maintaining constant pressure through bleeding attacks, utilizing Spearfield to create damaging zones that apply bleed effects across the battlefield. By combining abilities like Puncture and Whirling Slash, players can stack multiple bleeding effects on enemies, creating sustained damage over time rather than relying on burst damage. This approach maximizes the Huntress's bleeding damage potential while providing consistent damage output against tough enemies. The build creates natural battlefield control through its damage-over-time mechanics, forcing enemies into specific movement patterns while they take continuous damage. Additionally, this build leverages the Huntress's versatile attack options, allowing players to adapt their bleeding damage application based on enemy positioning and vulnerability.

Core Skills:

Puncture: Lunge attack causing bleeding and stun

Spearfield: Ground spears that damage on contact

Rapid Assault: Quick melee strikes with bleeding potential

Whirling Slash: Area damage that can apply bleeding effects

Passive Tree Path:

Focus on increasing bleed damage and duration

Prioritize critical strike chance to maximize bleeding effects

Invest in attack speed for consistent damage application

Consider evasion and movement speed for survivability