Path of Exile 2 continues the franchise's tradition of deep customization, and the Smith of Kitava Ascendancy for the Warrior class perfectly embodies the brutal melee power fantasy. Designed for players who want to dominate the battlefield with overwhelming strength, high survivability, and devastating AoE, this build blends tank-like durability with ferocious offense. Whether you're smashing packs of enemies or shredding bosses, the Smith of Kitava stands out as a reliable and thrilling choice.

This guide will cover everything: Ascendancy details, POE 2 Orbs, leveling path, passive skill priorities, gear recommendations, playstyle tips, and how to scale your character to endgame power.

1. Smith of Kitava Build Overview

What Makes Smith of Kitava Unique?

The Smith of Kitava Ascendancy enhances your Warcries and melee attacks with massive damage buffs and defensive bonuses. Its design encourages aggressive play-buff yourself with Warcries, charge into battle, and lay waste with heavy-hitting skills.

Build Strengths

·High burst and sustained melee damage: Perfect for slicing through single targets and groups alike.

·Strong survivability: The build boasts solid defensive layers, including armor, life, and Warcry buffs.

·Good mobility: Skills like Leap Slam and Shield Charge, combined with attack speed support, ensure fluid movement.

·Boss-killing prowess: The combination of stunning, burning, and high raw damage makes boss fights manageable.

·Scales well into late game: Endgame mapping, Delve, and boss encounters remain comfortable.

Potential Weaknesses

·Early-game vulnerability: Before you unlock tanky tools, mana and survivability can be tight.

·Resource management: Mana can run low quickly without proper gear or regen, so buy POE2 Currency to buy gear.

·Skill diversity: While powerful, the build focuses on a few core skills, limiting customization flexibility.

2. Unlocking the Smith of Kitava Ascendancy

To unlock the Smith of Kitava:

·Start as a Warrior class.

·Defeat Geonor, the Destroyer, in Act 1.

·Complete the Trial of Sekhemas in Act 2.

·Choose Smith of Kitava when presented with the Ascendancy selection.

3. Leveling Guide (Acts 1-3)

Act 1: Establish Your Core

Focus on learning your melee basics and Warcry mechanics.

Key Skills & Supports:

·Boneshatter with Brutality and Impact Shockwave for powerful AoE damage and knockback.

·Rolling Slam is supported by Overpower for mobility and burst.

·Mace Strike with Concentrated Effect for precise single-target damage.

·Infernal Cry with Premeditation to buff damage and provoke enemies.

·Perfect Strike is linked with Window of Opportunity and Fire Infusion for critical hits and fire damage.

·Herald of Ash is unlocked after defeating King of the Mists to add elemental damage on hit.

Tip: Use Mace Strike when mana is low to conserve resources.

Act 2: Momentum and Ascendancy Unlock

·Add Shield Charge for fast repositioning.

·Upgrade Leap Slam with Overpower and Rage supports for enhanced mobility and damage.

·Attach Fist of War and Unbreakable supports to Rolling Slam for crowd control and survivability.

·Complete the Trial of Sekhemas to unlock the Smith of Kitava Ascendancy.

Allocate your first Ascendancy points:

·Smith's Masterwork: Boosts your Warcries and adds significant melee damage.

·Kitavan Engraving: Increases defensive capabilities and damage output.

Act 3: Refinement and Expansion

·Enhance Boneshatter with Magnified Effect to boost AoE.

·Perfect Perfect Strike with Concentrated Effect to maximize single-target damage.

·Keep Leap Slam for mobility, now supported by Brink for increased attack speed.

·Add Time of Need with Fast Forward for improved defensive cooldowns and survivability.

·Remove early-game skills like Mace Strike and Shield Charge as you gain stronger options.

·Complete Trial of Chaos for Support Straps and Leather Bindings, unlocking more gem sockets and crafting options.

4. Cruel Mode and Endgame Mapping

When Cruel difficulty begins, your build fully blooms.

New Skill Synergies

·Hammer of the Gods with Lacerate, Fist of War, and Heavy Swing provides massive cleaving damage.

·Rolling Slam with Rage, Brink, and Unbreakable boosts survivability and burst.

·Infernal Cry, upgraded to Raging Cry, increases your offensive buffs.

·Herald of Ash, combined with Vitality Support, enhances life regen and damage.

·Leap Slam supplemented by Martial Tempo for rapid attacks and mobility.

5. Passive Skill Tree Priorities

Prioritize melee damage, Strength, and survivability.

Core Passives:

·Reverberating Impact: Increases attack damage and critical strike chance.

·Relentless: Enhances stamina and movement speed.

·Blood Rush: Boosts life leech and regeneration.

·Singular Purpose: Improves attack damage and chance to stun.

·Shockwave: Adds a chance to knock back enemies, great for crowd control.

·Devastation: Huge damage amplifier.

·Overwhelm: Increases armor penetration and physical damage.

·Colossal Weapon: Focuses on great hammer mastery for added damage.

·Admonisher: Boosts Warcry effectiveness.

·Burning Strikes: Amplifies fire damage, great synergy with Perfect Strike.

6. Gear and Itemization

Weapons

Greathammer with:

·High physical damage

·Added fire damage

·Increased attack speed

Armor

Focus on:

·Strength to boost damage and survivability

·High elemental resistances

·Bonuses to life and armor for tankiness

Jewelry

Rings and amulets with:

·Physical damage increases

·Life and mana regeneration

Resistances

Recommended Unique Items

·Thrillsteel Helmet: Fantastic for early and midgame phases, granting great physical damage boosts and life.

7. Gameplay Tips

·Animation Canceling: After Rolling Slam, immediately cast Boneshatter to cancel the long slam animation and chain attacks smoothly.

·Boss Strategy: Start with Perfect Strike to stun the boss, follow with Infernal Cry for buffs, then unleash Hammer of the Gods to finish the fight quickly.

·Mob Clearing: Combine Rolling Slam and Boneshatter to clear packs efficiently with large AoE damage.

·Mana Management: Early game may challenge your mana pool-use gear with mana regeneration or kite enemies during cooldowns.

8. Final Thoughts

The Smith of Kitava build offers an exhilarating melee experience blending raw power and durability. It shines in both single-target and group combat, giving you the tools to push through Path of Exile 2's toughest encounters with style and strength.