The Amazon is one of the new Ascendancy classes for the Huntress introduced in Path of Exile 2 alongside the Dawn of the Hunt expansion. While the Huntress starts with a somewhat punishing early game, the Amazon can evolve into a powerful and versatile endgame build-if you follow the right steps. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to level efficiently and dominate the endgame with the Amazon.

Amazon Overview

The Amazon Ascendancy offers high potential but demands strategic decision-making. Early on, the Huntress class struggles with damage output and survivability, especially if you rely on defensive skills like Parry. A much stronger route is to build around Bleed damage early and transition to a Lightning Spear elemental build later in the campaign.

Early Game Struggles and Bleed Build Advantage

In the first half of the game, a Bleed-oriented setup using Rake and Twister offers strong single-target and area damage. Boss fights become manageable, and mob clearing becomes efficient. This setup is key to surviving Acts 1 and 2, especially with support skills like Stomping Ground and Herald of Blood enhancing your output.

By Act 2, you'll unlock abilities such as Blood Hunt, Bloodlust, and Bloodhound's Mark, which help amplify your Bleed damage. However, Bleed falls off sharply as you move into Act 3 and Cruel Mode, at which point it's optimal to pivot into a Lightning Spear-focused elemental build.

Leveling Guide by Acts

Act 1

Start with Twister and Whirling Slash for initial mob clearing. Around 50% of the time, through the act, unlock Rake, a crucial Bleed skill. Defeating the King of the Mists grants your first Uncut Spirit Gem, allowing you to unlock Herald of Blood-a game-changer for Bleed synergy.

Key skills for Act 1:

Twister

Rake (core Bleed damage)

Herald of Blood (boosts AoE and sustain)

Stomping Ground (powerful support for Rake)

Stick to spamming Rake and Twister for all encounters, and you'll breeze through most of the act.

Act 2

The build remains relatively unchanged, but more enhancements become available. You'll unlock:

Blood Hunt, supported with Bloodlust and Execute

Bloodhound's Mark (optional but useful for damage and debuffs)

Spearfield, a strong setup for area control when paired with Lacerate and Rage

You also unlock the Amazon Ascendancy in the Trial of Sekhemas and gain Skill Speed and Predatory Instinct, improving your offense significantly.

Act 3

This is the turning point. Bleed begins to underperform, and it's time to switch to a Lightning Spear build.

Core Skills:

Lightning Spear with Volt, Perpetual Charge, and Twofold

Storm Lance with Lightning Infusion, Primal Armament, and Blindside

Sniper's Mark supported with Arcane Tempo and Inspiration.

Infuse Weapon (Amazon-exclusive Ascendancy skill), linked with Lightning Exposure and Blind.

Also, unlock Herald of Thunder with Reach and Innervate for additional AoE and sustain.

Cruel Mode and Mapping Phase

At this point, you unlock higher-tier support gems and utility tools:

Rhoa Mount, supported by Meat Shield and Loyalty

Combat Frenzy, with Cannibalism and Precision

Barrage, with Permediation and Ingenuity

These provide great mobility, defensive layering, and boss damage as you progress into endgame content.

Passive Skill Tree Overview

Early Game

Prioritize Dexterity and Strength to enable your skills and boost Bleed damage. Focus on passive nodes that increase:

Physical Damage

Attack Speed

Bleed Duration

These choices help you scale through Acts 1 and 2 efficiently.

Mid-to-Late Game

Transition into Elemental Damage, Critical Strike, and Lightning Penetration nodes. This shift supports the Lightning Spear build and ensures your damage keeps scaling. You'll need to respec some nodes, but by Act 3, you'll have collected enough Gold to do this comfortably.

Key Passive Nodes:

Primal Instinct

Escape Velocity

Electrocution

Acceleration

Mindful Awareness

Moment of Truth

Deadly Force

Endgame Amazon Build Summary

Once fully transitioned, your Amazon should look like this:

Key Active Skills

Lightning Spear (main damage dealer)

Storm Lance (burst and AoE)

Infuse Weapon (boosts damage with elemental infusion)

Sniper's Mark (debuff for more crit and elemental damage)

Combat Frenzy (multi-hit and charge generation)

Rhoa Mount (mobility and utility)

Key Gear

Kitoko's Current (Unique Gauntlets for elemental scaling)

High Physical + Lightning Damage Spear

Armor with Evasion, Resistances, and Life/Mana boosts

Tips for Playing Amazon

In early acts, spam Twister + Rake and let Herald of Blood explosions handle mob groups.

Once you pivot to Lightning Spear, take a rotation-based approach:

Cast Lightning Spear → Storm Lance → Sniper's Mark

Use Barrage when needed for sustained DPS.

Avoid spamming skills without purpose-time them to maximize cooldown synergy and support effect triggers.

With the right gear and currency, your Amazon build in Path of Exile 2 will become an unstoppable force. Focus on upgrading your Spear and armor to scale your damage as you transition from Bleed to Lightning Spear, and make sure you are constantly improving your survivability with Evasion Rating and Resistances.

Managing your currency-especially Exalted Orbs, Chaos Orbs, and Divine Orbs-is key to crafting the perfect endgame Amazon build. Keep your eyes on the prize and continue progressing through the campaign, and you'll find that Amazon ascends to become a powerful character that excels in both single-target and AoE damage.

Are you looking to trade for any specific Path of Exile 2 items, or would you prefer tips on how to farm the necessary Path of Exile 2 currency effectively? Let me know!