The Huntress, Path of Exile 2's dynamic spear-wielding Azmeri warrior, blends melee precision and ranged versatility to create a fast-paced, engaging leveling experience. Exiled for using skill gem power to defend her village, she specializes in hit-and-run tactics, dashing into combat to strike weak points before retreating to rain down ranged attacks. This guide focuses on a beginner-friendly, budget leveling build that emphasizes survivability, clear speed, and smooth progression-perfect for new players and veterans alike looking to Poe 2 trade master the Huntress's unique playstyle.

Unlike complex endgame builds, this leveling setup requires no rare or expensive gear, relying instead on easily obtainable items and synergistic skills to carry you through Acts 1 to 10. We'll break down core skills, gear priorities, passive tree allocation, ascendancy choices, and leveling tips to ensure you level efficiently without unnecessary frustration.

Build Overview: Buckler Parry Huntress (Melee-Ranged Hybrid)

The Buckler Parry Huntress is a well-rounded build designed for consistency during leveling. It leverages the Huntress's natural dexterity to combine spear melee attacks with defensive parries (via a buckler) and ranged spear throws, creating a safe yet aggressive playstyle. This build excels at crowd control, single-target damage, and adaptability-key for navigating Path of Exile 2's varied campaign enemies.

Core strengths include high mobility, reliable defense through parrying, and no reliance on rare gear. Its only minor weakness is a learning curve for mastering hit-and-run timing, but this becomes second nature with a little practice.

Core Skills & Support Gems (Level-by-Level Progression)

Skills are the foundation of any Huntress build, and choosing the right combinations early will make leveling a breeze. We'll focus on a linear progression, updating skills as you unlock more gem slots and higher-level abilities.

Levels 1–10: Early Game Foundation

Start with Spear Strike as your main melee skill-it's fast, deals solid physical damage, and fits the Huntress's spear-wielding identity. Pair it with Quick Attack (support gem) to boost attack speed, letting you clear early mobs quickly.

For defense, equip Parry (a buckler-exclusive skill) to block incoming attacks and counter with a swift strike. This skill is non-negotiable for survival, especially against melee-heavy enemies in Act 1.

Add Spear Throw as your ranged backup-use it to pick off distant enemies or soften up groups before diving in. No support gem is needed yet; focus on mastering the swap between melee and ranged.

Levels 11–20: Scaling Damage & Utility

Upgrade Spear Strike with Elemental Armament (support gem) to add lightning damage-this introduces elemental scaling, which will become more powerful later. The Huntress synergizes well with lightning damage, and this gem is cheap and easy to find.

Replace Quick Attack with Close Combat once you unlock it-this grants more damage against nearby enemies, perfect for crowd clearing. Keep Parry active, and add Fortify (support gem) to it for extra armor after blocking.

Unlock Hit and Run (Huntress-exclusive skill) at level 18-this dash ability lets you dash forward, slash enemies, and jump back, embodying the Huntress's signature playstyle. Use it to engage, disengage, or reposition during fights.

Levels 21–30: Pre-Ascendancy Polish

By level 22, you'll complete the Trial of Sekhem (Act 2) and unlock your ascendancy-we'll cover that next. Before then, add Magnified Area (support gem) to Spear Throw to increase its area of effect (AOE), making it ideal for clearing packs of enemies.

For utility, add Flask Mastery (passive skill) to boost flask effectiveness-health and mana flasks are crucial for surviving tougher fights in Act 3 and beyond. Prioritize flasks with "instant recovery" to heal quickly in emergencies.

Ascendancy Choice: Amazon (Best for Leveling)

The Huntress has two main ascendancy options: Amazon and Ritualist. For leveling, Amazon is the clear choice-it's designed for cheap POE 2 Chaos Orbs combat efficiency and survivability, perfectly complementing our hybrid build.

Amazon's key ascendancy nodes include Elite Guard, which increases spear damage and armor, and Battle Prowess, which grants a damage boost after using a mobility skill (like Hit and Run). These nodes require minimal investment and immediately improve your performance.

If you prefer a more defensive playstyle, Ritualist is an option, but its ritualistic mechanics are more complex and less suited for fast leveling. Stick with Amazon for a smooth campaign run.