Path of Exile 2: Best Spear Skills in Dawn of the Hunt, Ranked

The introduction of Spear skills in Path of Exile 2 with the Dawn of the Hunt update adds exciting new mechanics, especially for the Huntress class, which combines dexterity with a spear and buckler for dynamic combat. This guide ranks the best Spear skills in the game, offering a range of utility, damage, and elemental options to help players decide on the most effective skills for their Huntress builds.

10. Disengage: Parry and Riposte

Skill Gem Level: 1

Mana Cost: 6

Base Attack Damage: 93%

Disengage is a beginner skill that offers both mobility and damage. When used after a successful parry, it jumps backward while striking an enemy, dealing bonus damage and granting a frenzy charge. This makes it an excellent choice for early-game clearing, especially when paired with Spear Throw for efficient mob clearing after a parry.

Best for: Early-game mobility, hit-and-run tactics, and frenzy charge generation.

9. Twister: Tornado Toss

Skill Gem Level: 1

Mana Cost: 4

Base Attack Damage: 72%

Twister fires a tornado that travels erratically, dealing decent damage to enemies in its path. While the base damage is somewhat low, it becomes more powerful when combined with Whirling Strike, as Twister fires additional tornadoes within Whirling Strike's vortex. This synergy makes Twister a solid choice for mob clearing in the early game.

Best for  Efficient mob clearing with synergy from Whirling Strike.

8. Lightning Spear: Ranged Elemental Damage

Skill Gem Level: 3

Mana Cost: 10

Base Attack Damage: 127%

Lightning Spear is a high-damage ranged skill that can inflict the shock debuff on enemies. Upon hitting a target, it bursts, shooting projectiles at nearby enemies, offering great mob-clearing potential. With the addition of frenzy charges, this skill can split into multiple Lightning Spears, increasing the damage output for large groups of enemies.

Best for: High ranged damage with mob clearing potential.

7. Rake: Bleed Application

Skill Gem Level: 3

Mana Cost: 2

Base Attack Damage: 61%

Rake is a reliable skill for applying bleed, with a guaranteed bleed proc on any monster it hits. It also functions as a travel skill, pulling the Huntress toward enemies. If the full distance is traveled before hitting an enemy, the damage increases significantly, making Rake a potent option for bleed-based builds.

Best for: Applying bleed effects and mobility in bleed-focused builds.

6. Rapid Assault: Multi-Stab

Skill Gem Level: 5

Mana Cost: 15

Base Attack Damage: 36%

Rapid Assault is a flurry of stab attacks that leave spearheads stuck in enemies, causing bleed and offering a detonator effect that triggers AoE damage when the spearheads explode. This skill works well as part of a bleed-based rotation, but it requires a detonator skill to maximize its potential.

Best for: Bleed-focused builds that incorporate detonator mechanics.

5. Storm Lance: Lightning Rod

Skill Gem Level: 5

Mana Cost: 11

Base Attack Damage: 85%

Storm Lance is a powerful elemental skill that sticks an electrified spear into the ground, periodically zapping nearby enemies and dealing lightning damage. It also causes shocked ground at the end of its duration. This skill is excellent for area control and elemental damage over time, ideal for players who want to balance direct attacks with elemental AoE damage.

Best for: Area control and elemental damage across large zones.

4. Barrage: Ranged Attack Duplicator

Skill Gem Level: 5

Mana Cost: 16

Base Attack Damage: N/A

Barrage is a unique skill that applies to both spears and bows. When used with a ranged skill, it causes that skill to repeat its attack multiple times. The damage of each subsequent attack is lower, but it allows players to fire extra projectiles for increased damage output, making it a powerful tool for ranged Spear Throw builds.

Best for: Increasing ranged damage output with multiple projectiles.

3. Bloodhunt: Bloody Lunge

Skill Gem Level: 7

Mana Cost: 10

Base Attack Damage: 85%

Bloodhunt is a crucial skill for bleed-based builds. It performs a lunging stab that deals decent damage but excels when hitting enemies that have already bled, triggering a blood explosion for bonus damage. This skill shines when used to spread bleed damage across multiple targets, making it an essential part of any bleed-focused Huntress build.

Best for: Spreading bleed damage and triggering blood explosions.

2. Thunderous Leap: Movement and Damage

Skill Gem Level: 9

Mana Cost: 26

Base Attack Damage: 212%

Thunderous Leap is a versatile skill that serves both as a movement and a damage tool. The Huntress vaults through the air with this attack, dealing substantial lightning damage and stunning enemies. The high base attack damage and elemental damage conversion make this an attractive option for elemental builds, while the mobility aspect helps with positioning.

Best for Mobility and damage in elemental builds.

1. Spear ofSolaris: Sun Strike

Skill Gem Level: 13

Mana Cost: 47

Base Attack Damage: 523%

Spear of Solaris is the highest damage skill in the Spear category, designed for end-game content. It becomes available after the player builds up glory through heavy stuns, typically from parrying. Once the glory bar is full, the Spear of Solaris becomes a devastating nuke that can annihilate bosses and elite enemies. This makes it the ultimate finishing move for boss fights and heavy-stun strategies.

Best for: Endgame damage and boss-fighting with a heavy-stun mechanic.

Conclusion

Building a powerful Spear Huntress in requires a mix of the right skills, Path of Exile 2 items, and Path of Exile 2 currency. Whether you're farming mobs, bosses, or crafting your gear, optimizing your build with Spear skills will make you a formidable force on the battlefield. Always stay flexible with your build choices, experiment with synergies, and ensure you're equipped with the best gear to enhance your damage, mobility, and overall playstyle.