The Amazon class in Path of Exile 2's Dawn of the Hunt expansion sits at an interesting crossroads. With options for melee and ranged combat, and weapons including bows, crossbows, and spears, it offers unparalleled versatility. But that same flexibility has left many players wondering: what's the best way to level an Amazon? The answer isn’t simple, as multiple viable paths exist. However, after extensive playtesting, we've settled on two top-tier leveling setups that transition beautifully into strong endgame builds.

This guide will walk you through a hybrid Rake spear build and a ranged Gas Arrow/Flame Wall setup, helping you scale through PoE 2’s brutally long campaign and into endgame content.

Best Huntress-to-Amazon Leveling Build

Option 1: Melee-Ranged Hybrid Rake Spear Build

The early game for the Huntress can feel sluggish due to underwhelming starting skills. However, once you unlock Rake and Disengage, the pace accelerates dramatically. Rake offers powerful cone-shaped AoE damage, while Disengage provides critical repositioning and defense.

Core Setup:

Main Skill: Rake

Supports: Stomping Ground, Brutality, Concentrated Effect, Rage

Mobility Skill: Disengage (linked with Martial Tempo)

Utility: Herald of Blood (with Magnified Effect and Brutality), Bloodhound’s Mark

Secondary DPS: Blood Hunt (with Bloodlust and Execute)

Stomping Ground enhances Rake significantly, adding 100% to 150% of your Strength as bonus physical damage. Investing in Strength-based passives like Maiming Strike and Precise Point will help this scale well.

Passive Tree Priority:

Precision Salvo

Escape Velocity

Acceleration

Maiming Strike

Javelin

Roll and Strike

Precise Point

Gear Tips:

Spear with high physical damage

Iron Rings (boosts physical damage)

Boots with movement speed

Prioritize Life and Resistances on all gear

Optional Upgrades:

Venopuncture Rings: Apply powerful bleeds; expect them to rise in price depending on meta popularity.

Horns of Bynden (Unique Helm): Grants early Strength and Rage generation, synergizing perfectly with your melee setup.

Ascendancy Order:

Critical Strike

Predatory Instinct

This hybrid setup gives you strong melee capabilities with mobility, AoE, and single-target burst potential. It remains viable into red maps, provided you keep your spear upgraded and continue scaling bleed and Strength.

Option 2: Lightning Arrow to Gas Arrow Ranged Build

If you prefer a smoother leveling experience, especially through PoE 2's rough campaign zones, switching to a bow build is ideal. While you start with spear skills, you can easily transition into ranged combat once you find a good bow.

Phase 1: Spear and Rake/Thunder Spear

Phase 2: Switch to Lightning Arrow as soon as you find a bow

Phase 3 (Level 14+): Use Stormcaller Arrow

Phase 4 (Level 28+): Upgrade to Gas Arrow + Flame Wall combo

Main Skills:

Gas Arrow (linked with Martial Tempo, Concentrated Effect, and Execute)

Flame Wall (linked with Arcane Tempo)

Freezing Salvo (linked with Hourglass, Close Combat, and Glaciation)

Voltaic Mark (linked with Persistence)

Herald of Thunder (linked with Innervate and Lightning Infusion)

Freezing Salvo provides elite burst damage, particularly when enhanced by Hourglass and Glaciation. Use it on cooldown against packs and bosses.

Passive Tree Priority:

Honed Instincts

Vile Wounds

Primal Sundering

Acceleration

Maiming Strike

Frazzled

Catalysis

Exploit

Falcon Technique

Gear Tips:

Dualstring Bow (extra projectile, drops at level 28)

Flat elemental damage on bow, rings, quiver, gloves

Use Artificer’s Orbs to roll elemental damage rune slots on your Dualstring Bow

Aim for 5-6 affix bows with flat damage

Mana Issues: Expect mana problems as your damage and skill usage scales. Make sure to:

Use quest rewards to gain permanent mana regen bonuses

Seek mana regen mods or mana leech

Ascendancy Order:

Predatory Instinct

Azmeri Brew

Critical Strike

This ranged setup is easier to manage and safer to play, especially for new players or those not looking to micro melee parries early on. Once you reach late campaign, your Gas Arrow + Flame Wall combo can carry you into endgame mapping.

Leveling Tips for All Amazon Builds

Whether you opt for spear or bow, these general tips can make your leveling process far smoother:

Loot Everything With Quality and Rune Slots: Disenchant these items for Artificer’s Orbs and crafting resources

Use Gold Wisely: Don’t hoard currency. A good rare item with the right stats can massively spike your power.

Don’t Save Cooldowns: Especially for skills like Freezing Salvo, using them frequently clears content faster.

Movement is Key: Always plan escape routes when using Disengage. Don’t back yourself into corners.

Quest for Passive Points Early: These are crucial for scaling your build and should not be delayed until maps.

Skip Trials Until You're Ready: The Trials of the Sekhemas are often too difficult when underpowered. Come back later.

Final Thoughts & Endgame Transition

Once you hit endgame, you can pivot to one of the emerging meta builds if you prefer. Currently trending setups include:

Tornado Amazon (ds_lily)

Lightning Spear Amazon (Jungroan, Fubgun)

These builds offer massive DPS, scaling off critical strikes or high flat elemental values, and have already proven themselves in the early Dawn of the Hunt meta.

Your build doesn't have to be set in stone. PoE 2 is flexible, and with smart use of POE2 Currency like Artificer's Orbs, you can adapt and optimize as you go. Check community hubs and trading platforms often to buy key uniques, fill gaps in your resistances, and scale damage through clever upgrades.

Whether you're stabbing enemies up close or bombarding them from afar, the Amazon class can be one of the most satisfying and powerful leveling experiences in Path of Exile 2.

Stay sharp, stay agile, and good hunting!