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With the 0.3.0 update in Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict, melee-focused Warriors received a noticeable buff thanks to improvements to Boneshatter and Earthquake. These changes, alongside the introduction of Forge Hammer, have pushed Slam builds into a much stronger position than before. While the build starts slow, the Boneshatter Titan offers a straightforward playstyle, tanky defenses, and enough damage to crush bosses and waves of enemies alike.

If you're looking for a beginner-friendly build that doesn't rely on complex mechanics but still performs well in endgame Echoes, the Boneshatter Titan is one of your best options. This guide covers everything you need to know about the skill setup, passive tree, ascendancy choices, and ideal gear to dominate Wraeclast. And remember-optimizing your loadout with the right Path of Exile 2 Items and gearing strategies can make all the difference.

Skill Gem Setup for Boneshatter Titan

The Boneshatter skill gem is the backbone of this build. It scales extremely well throughout the campaign and remains relevant into the late game, thanks to its synergy with Slam mechanics and Stun interactions. Pairing it with support gems and additional skills gives the Titan excellent AoE clear and boss damage.

Early Game Setup

Your focus in the campaign is on clearing packs quickly while building up stun potential.

·Boneshatter: Magnified Area - Impact Shockwave - Close Combat

·Infernal Cry: Premeditation - Enraged Warcry

·Leap Slam: Rapid Attacks - Brink

·Herald of Ash: Cannibalism

·Shockwave Totem: Overabundance - Urgent Totems

Boneshatter and Leap Slam work hand in hand for crowd control. Leap Slam builds up the stun bar, while Boneshatter detonates groups with massive AoE shockwaves. Pairing Infernal Cry with Herald of Ash ensures enemies combust on death, chaining explosions across the pack.

The Shockwave Totem is helpful in the early acts to thin out mobs, but becomes less essential around Act 3 or 4 once your damage ramps up.

Mid to Late Game Setup

As you progress into maps and Echoes, you'll want to introduce heavier-hitting skills to round out the rotation.

·Forge Hammer: Cooldown Recovery - Fire Attunement - Elemental Armament

·Earthshatter: Aftershock - Reverberate - Upheaval

·Hammer of the Gods: Fist of War - Rageforged - Close Combat - Heavy Swing

·Seismic Cry: Dazing Cry - Raging Cry

Here, the synergy becomes clear. Earthshatter and Seismic Cry build stun pressure, while Hammer of the Gods provides devastating bursts when Glory stacks are maxed out. The loop is straightforward but rewarding: set up stuns, unleash Boneshatter shockwaves, and finish with Hammer of the Gods for boss phases.

Boss Rotation Explained

Against bosses, this build shines by layering stuns and high-impact slams:

1. Use Leap Slam and Earthshatter to progress the stun bar.

2. Activate Seismic Cry to amplify Slam damage and push towards a stun threshold.

3. When the boss nears stun, unleash Infernal Cry to prime combustions.

4. Drop Hammer of the Gods at peak Glory for maximum burst.

5. Continue weaving in Boneshatter for sustained AoE damage.

This rhythm keeps your uptime high while making every slam meaningful.

Passive Tree Setup for Boneshatter Titan

The passive tree for this build prioritizes melee damage and stun efficiency early on, then transitions into survivability as encounters scale in difficulty.

·Start with melee damage nodes to reach Smash, providing early power spikes.

·Progress towards Resolute Technique, ensuring reliable hits without worrying about critical strike investment.

·If survivability feels low, allocate defensive nodes like Polished Iron and Blade Catcher.

·The Vocal Empowerment Notable is excellent for boosting Warcry effectiveness.

A popular option for advanced gearing is the Giant's Blood Keystone, which allows you to dual-wield two-handed melee weapons in one hand. However, this comes with drawbacks: attribute requirements are tripled, and Strength provides less Life. Only take this Keystone once you have strong weapons and gear to support it-something made easier if you buy POE2 Currency to secure high-tier equipment.

Ascendancy Choices for Titan

The Titan ascendancy fits perfectly with this build, offering durability and extra Slam power. The following passives are the strongest options for Boneshatter Titan:

·Colossal Capacity: +20 inventory slots. Not only convenient for loot runs, but also a quality-of-life boost for long mapping sessions.

·Hulking Form: Improves all small passive skills by 50%, giving a massive overall boost to damage, armor, and survivability.

·Mysterious Lineage: +15% maximum health. Essential for wading into hordes without fear.

·Earthbreaker: Grants a 25% chance for Slam skills to create aftershocks, increasing stun buildup and overall AoE pressure.

These passives emphasize tankiness while adding consistent offensive scaling.

Ideal Gear for Boneshatter Titan

Survivability comes first for this build. Your body armor should prioritize resistances, maximum life, and armor. While added damage modifiers are helpful, the Titan's natural scaling ensures you'll deal enough damage as long as you're alive to swing.

For weapons, focus on high Physical damage two-handed maces or hammers. Attack speed and flat physical rolls drastically improve Boneshatter and Hammer of the Gods' output. In the late game, prioritize stun effectiveness and cooldown recovery to streamline your skill loop.

Accessories and rings should lean into life, resistances, and increased Slam damage. Flask choices can fill gaps in movement speed, stun recovery, and bleed immunity.

Gameplay Feel

The Boneshatter Titan won't feel as fast-paced as certain projectile or spell builds. Instead, it rewards deliberate timing, animation canceling, and stacking attack speed to minimize downtime between Slams. Once you're comfortable with the skill rotation, you'll find the build strikes a balance between tankiness, consistent mob clearing, and explosive boss damage.

Conclusion

The Boneshatter Titan build in Path of Exile 2 (0.3.0) is an excellent choice for players who want a simple yet effective melee playstyle. With its Slam-focused toolkit, tanky Titan ascendancy, and reliable scaling from start to finish, this build thrives in both campaign leveling and endgame content.

Whether you're new to Path of Exile 2 or looking for a solid build to farm Echoes, the Boneshatter Titan delivers a satisfying blend of raw power and survivability. Slam your way through hordes, shatter bosses, and enjoy one of the strongest melee setups the game has to offer in the current patch.