Path of Exile 2: Leveling an Amazon with Lightning Spear - A Complete Guide
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to effectively level an Amazon-inspired character focusing on Lightning Spear, covering everything from early leveling strategies, passive skill tree progression, gear recommendations, and Path of Exile 2 Trade. Whether you're a veteran returning to the new world of Wraeclast or a newcomer eager to master the electric storm, this article will equip you to dominate with your lightning-charged spear.
Understanding the Amazon Archetype in Path of Exile 2
Before diving into the specifics of Lightning Spear, it's essential to define what "Amazon" means in the Path of Exile universe. Traditionally inspired by classical mythology, an Amazon is a swift, ranged-to-melee hybrid warrior, proficient with spears and lightning-infused attacks.
In Path of Exile 2, this translates to a character class/build that:
Utilizes lightning damage as the primary damage type.
Employs spear or polearm weapons for melee combat and some ranged utility.
Balances offensive power with mobility and survivability.
Given that Path of Exile 2 allows even deeper customization, building your Amazon around the Lightning Spear skill will focus heavily on lightning damage scaling, attack speed, and elemental penetration.
What is Lightning Spear?
Lightning Spear is a skill gem in Path of Exile 2 that summons a charged spear of lightning and hurls it at enemies, dealing significant lightning damage on hit. This skill has both ranged and melee aspects: the thrown spear deals damage at a distance, and melee attacks with a spear can be enhanced by the same elemental scaling, blending the ranged and melee elements of an Amazon perfectly.
Key Attributes of Lightning Spear:
Deals primarily lightning damage.
Has a chance to shock enemies, increasing their damage taken.
Scales well with increases to lightning damage, elemental damage, and attack speed.
Can be supported by a variety of skill support gems to improve damage, critical strike chance, or area of effect.
Early Leveling Tips
Starting strong is critical in Path of Exile 2, where the leveling curve can be steep.
1. Skill Gem Setup
Begin by equipping the Lightning Spear gem as soon as you find it (usually early in Act 1 or through vendors).
Use the Faster Attacks Support and Elemental Damage Support gems to boost your initial damage output.
Supplement your main skill with utility gems like Leap Slam for mobility and Lightning Warp for quick movement through maps.
2. Passive Skill Tree Priorities
Path of Exile 2's skill tree is vast, but for an Amazon Lightning Spear build, focus on:
Lightning Damage nodes: These increase the base lightning damage and are essential for boosting your spear's effectiveness.
Attack Speed: Faster attacks mean more spears thrown and higher DPS.
Critical Strike Chance and Multiplier: Lightning builds benefit greatly from crits due to the high shock chance synergy.
Life and Resistances: Survivability is key, so grab life nodes early to offset incoming damage.
Piercing or Projectile nodes: If your build relies on the thrown spear hitting multiple enemies or piercing through them.
Weapon and Gear Recommendations
The weapon choice is crucial. Since the Amazon archetype revolves around spears and polearms, here are ideal weapon types:
Rare or Unique Polearms/Spears: Look for ones with +lightning damage, increased attack speed, or added elemental damage. Unique items like Storm Lance or similar can provide early boosts.
Jewelry: Focus on rings and amulets that boost lightning damage, increase attack speed, critical strike chance, or life.
Armor: Prioritize gear that enhances life, resistances, and energy shield if your build supports it.
Support Gems to Maximize Lightning Spear
Maximizing Lightning Spear's potential requires careful gem linking. Consider these:
Elemental Damage with Attacks Support: Increases elemental damage from attacks.
Added Lightning Damage Support: Adds flat lightning damage, boosting base damage.
Critical Strike Chance Support: Raises your chance to crit, synergizing well with shock mechanics.
Increased Critical Strike Multiplier Support: For devastating critical hits.
Chain Support: Useful if you want your lightning spears to bounce between enemies, excellent for clearing packs.
Levelling Progression Strategy
Early Levels (1-20)
Focus on survivability by grabbing life nodes early and equipping gear with resistances.
Use Lightning Spear primarily for single-target damage; supplement with movement skills to avoid damage.
Upgrade your weapon frequently to maintain damage output.
Mid Levels (20-50)
Begin investing heavily into lightning damage and attack speed nodes on the skill tree.
Consider adding Chain Support to clear groups of enemies more efficiently.
Upgrade gear to include life leech and elemental resistances.
Late Levels (50+)
Your Lightning Spear should now deal massive damage. Invest in critical strike nodes to maximize shock uptime.
Use flasks that boost elemental resistances and increase lightning damage.
Refine your passive tree to balance survivability and damage output.
Ascendancy Choices for the Amazon Lightning Spear
While Path of Exile 2 will have its unique ascendancies, it's expected that the Amazon-inspired class might resemble or evolve from the existing Ranger or Duelist archetypes with modifications for lightning and spear playstyles, you can also buy Path of Exile 2 Currency to exchange the materials for improving.
Key ascendancy nodes to look for:
Lightning Damage Boosts: Any node that increases lightning damage or grants shock chance.
Attack Speed Increases: To maximize DPS.
Survivability: Life regeneration or energy shield nodes.
Utility: Movement speed or evasion bonuses.
Managing Mana and Resource Sustain
Using Lightning Spear frequently can drain mana quickly. Here's how to mitigate:
Invest in mana regeneration nodes on the tree.
Use support gems like Reduced Mana Cost Support linked to your main skill.
Use gear that provides mana leech or increases maximum mana pool.
Tips for Effective Combat
Keep Moving: Use your mobility skills to avoid enemy damage and reposition for optimal spear throws.
Shock Management: Shocked enemies take more damage, so maintain consistent damage application to maximize this effect.
Target Priority: Focus on high-threat targets first, using your spear's ranged attack to kite enemies when needed.
Leverage Piercing: If your spear can pierce enemies, use it to hit multiple foes in a line, clearing waves efficiently.
Endgame and Beyond: Scaling Your Lightning Spear
Once you reach the endgame content of Path of Exile 2, your build can be fine-tuned with:
Crafting High-End Gear: Look for rare or crafted items with % lightning damage, critical strike bonuses, and attack speed.
Socketing Jewels: Utilize jewels with lightning damage and critical strike bonuses in your passive tree.
Optimizing Flask Usage: Flasks that increase lightning damage, reduce elemental damage taken, and grant life leech can be game-changers.
Summary
Leveling an Amazon build around Lightning Spear in Path of Exile 2 is an electrifying and rewarding experience. By focusing on lightning damage scaling, attack speed, and survivability, you can dominate both early and late game challenges with graceful precision.
From gathering your first spear and leveling with Lightning Spear, to fine-tuning your gear and passive skill tree, this guide offers a roadmap for creating a powerful and versatile Amazon character ready to light up the battlefield.