In Path of Exile 2, few weapons manage to strike the perfect balance between raw physical might and devastating critical strike potential. Hoghunt, a unique two-handed mace, is one of those rare finds that can completely redefine the pace and impact of your melee build. Whether you're lucky enough to loot it in the wild, trade for it through Wraeclast's ever-shifting economy, or use it as inspiration to craft your own high-tier weapon, Hoghunt remains a standout choice for any crit-focused bruiser.

In this guide, we'll explore what makes Hoghunt so special, how to acquire it, and how you can build around it for maximum efficiency. We'll also touch on ways to farm Path of Exile 2 Currency to either buy it outright or create something equally deadly.

Why Hoghunt Stands Out

While many two-handed maces in PoE 2 excel purely in raw physical damage, Hoghunt combines:

High Base Physical Damage - Making every swing impactful and ideal for one-shotting weaker enemies.

Strong Critical Strike Chance - Unusual for two-handed maces, which often lean toward raw damage over crits.

Critical Strike Multiplier Bonuses - Increasing the damage ceiling for those perfectly timed critical hits.

Solid Attack Speed for Its Class - Allowing for smoother gameplay without feeling sluggish.

This makes Hoghunt ideal for melee builds that rely on scaling both base physical damage and critical strike multipliers, such as Earthquake, Heavy Strike, or the upcoming Bonebreaker archetype in PoE 2.

Recommended Builds for Hoghunt

Hoghunt's strengths make it particularly potent in crit-focused melee builds. Here are some archetypes that benefit the most:

Earthquake Crit Juggernaut

Leverages the raw physical damage for massive initial hits.

The crit multiplier ensures aftershocks land with devastating force.

Defensive Juggernaut passives keep you alive while you're in close range.

Critical Slam Chieftain

Focuses on high-impact Slam skills that benefit from both raw damage and crit multipliers.

Chieftain's fire conversion options can be layered in for extra ignite damage.

Cyclone Slayer

While Cyclone often pairs with axes, Hoghunt's crit potential makes for an interesting alternative.

The constant spinning increases the number of crit rolls, maximizing DPS output.

Boneshatter Berserker

Berserkers thrive on risk and reward, and Hoghunt's high damage ceiling complements this playstyle.

Critical strikes trigger massive self-damage via Boneshatter, which in turn stacks higher damage over time.

How to Acquire Hoghunt

Like many unique items in Path of Exile 2, Hoghunt can be acquired in multiple ways:

1. Loot Drops

Hoghunt is tied to high-level map bosses and rare elite mobs in late Acts and early mapping.

Farming unique-heavy zones or running maps with increased item rarity modifiers boosts your odds.

2. Target Farming

If PoE 2 retains league-specific mechanics like Betrayal, Incursion, or Bestiary, some NPCs or temple rooms may offer targeted unique drops.

Expect Hoghunt to be tied to a physical/crit-focused drop pool.

3. Trading

The fastest route is to simply buy Hoghunt from another player.

Prices will vary based on early-league hype, critical strike meta shifts, and drop rarity.

Always check multiple trade listings to ensure you're getting a fair deal.

Farming Currency for Hoghunt

If you plan to trade for Hoghunt, you'll need a healthy stash of Path of Exile 2 Currency. Here are efficient methods to generate wealth:

Map Sustain Farming - Focus on layouts with high monster density and currency shard drops.

Boss Rushing - If you can quickly clear bosses, their loot tables often include valuable uniques and currency.

Vendor Flipping - Buy underpriced items from players and resell them for profit. Works best if you track early-league demand.

Crafting for Sale - Craft high-demand rare gear (resists, life, movement speed) and sell them to fund your Hoghunt purchase.

Crafting Alternatives to Hoghunt

If Hoghunt proves too rare or too expensive early on, crafting a rare two-handed mace with comparable stats is a viable alternative.

Look for:

High % Increased Physical Damage (T1 rolls are priority)

Added Flat Physical Damage

Increased Critical Strike Chance

Increased Critical Strike Multiplier

Attack Speed (to offset the natural sluggishness of two-handers)

With PoE 2's new crafting systems, combining multiple targeted mods is more achievable than in PoE 1, meaning you could make a weapon rivaling Hoghunt's raw damage potential.

Tips for Using Hoghunt Effectively

Stack Critical Strike Chance Early - Even with Hoghunt's innate bonuses, your passive tree and gear should aim for a minimum 50-60% crit chance for consistent procs.

Don't Neglect Attack Speed - Critical hits are less impactful if your swing timer feels like an eternity. Supplement with attack speed jewels, gloves, and passives.

Synergize with Auras - Pride, Precision, and Herald of Purity all boost physical and crit damage.

Mitigate the Drawbacks - Two-handed builds often lack a shield's defensive layer. Stack life, armor, and leech to survive heavy hits.

The Long-Term Value of Hoghunt

One of Hoghunt's greatest strengths is versatility over time. Unlike some uniques that fall off in the endgame, Hoghunt's scaling potential allows it to remain viable well into red maps and high-tier bosses. With proper passive allocation and investment into supporting gear, it can serve as your primary weapon deep into the league.

Furthermore, as PoE 2 introduces more crit-focused melee nodes and mechanics, Hoghunt's value in both gameplay and trade is likely to remain high. Even if you replace it with a mirror-tier crafted weapon later, it's a great transitional piece that carries you from leveling into serious endgame mapping.

Final Thoughts

Hoghunt isn't just a weapon—it's a statement piece for crit-based melee builds in Path of Exile 2. Its combination of heavy-hitting physical damage and high crit potential makes it a dream weapon for Juggernauts, Slayers, Chieftains, and Berserkers alike.

Whether you loot it after an epic boss battle, buy it from a savvy trader, or use it as a benchmark for your own crafted masterpiece, Hoghunt will reward your investment and skill.

Farming POE2 Currency efficiently, keeping up with trade trends, and building around Hoghunt's strengths will ensure you get the most out of this legendary mace. In the end, whether it's in your stash or in your hands, Hoghunt is one of those items that reminds you why Wraeclast's grind is so worth it.

Happy hunting.