Path of Exile 2 continues to expand its roster of viable and brutally satisfying melee builds, and among the most impactful is the Bone Shatter Smith of Kitava Warrior. This high-risk, high-reward archetype transforms the typically dangerous self-damage mechanic into pure offensive and defensive power. If you're the kind of player who thrives in the chaos of close combat and isn't afraid to trade a bit of health for screen-wide explosions, this build will speak your language-loudly and violently POE 2 Currency Orbs.

We'll break down every aspect of this powerful build: gameplay mechanics, skill setup, ascendancy choices, gear priorities, passive tree pathing, and how it all comes together to dominate both mapping and boss encounters.

Core Concept: Slam to Strength, Pain to Power

At the heart of this build is Bone Shatter, a melee attack that not only deals massive AoE damage but scales exponentially with the self-damage it causes. Unlike traditional setups that try to mitigate or avoid self-harm, this build leans into it-using it as a mechanic to empower further slams.

The key to success here is a feedback loop:

1.Leap Slam into enemies to initiate combat and build stun.

2.Bone Shatter detonates stunned enemies in a massive AoE burst.

3.Every slam increases your damage potential-but you must survive the recoil.

4.High armor, regen, and timing are crucial for sustaining this loop.

5.This is why the Smith of Kitava ascendancy is perfect-it provides passive life regeneration, physical mitigation, and boosts to fire resistance that synergize perfectly with Bone Shatter's mechanics.

The Skill Setup

Each skill and support gem in this build serves a specific purpose, maximizing uptime, survivability, and impact. Here's the breakdown:

Main Damage Dealer

• Bone Shatter + Impact Shockwave, Magnified Effect, Reach
• Bone Shatter is your primary source of damage.
• Supports increase its AoE, shockwave radius, and overall carnage.
• Initiation Movement
• Leap Slam + Marshal Tempo, Holy Descent, Candace
• Enables fast movement and initiates combat by building stun thresholds.
• Buffs Combat Utilities
• Infernal Cry + Premeditation, Raging Cry
• Seismic Cry + Raging Cry, Enraged Cry
• Berserk (no supports)
• These warcries build up rage, increase damage output, and manipulate enemy behavior to your advantage.
• Backup Offense
• Mage Strike + Ruthless, Overpower, Close Combat
• Secondary offensive option for stragglers or enemies that resist AoE.
• Perfect Strike + Window of Opportunity, Firing Infusion, Execute
• Great for burst damage against tanky enemies or bosses.
• Hammer of the Gods + Concentrated Effect, Heavy Swing, Brutality, Fist of War
• The ultimate boss killer in your arsenal.
• Auras and Defense
• Herald of Ash + Cannibalism
• Savage Plating + Persistence
• Adds a layer of fire-based offense and boosts survivability with constant armor uptime.

Passive Tree Ascendancy Strategy

The passive tree focuses on strength stacking, melee damage, stun duration, and life regeneration. Here's a suggested path:

Early Game Progression

• Start with Melee Damage Nodes.
• Prioritize Brutal Smash, Blood Rush, and Unstoppable Barrier.
• Path towards Singular Purpose, and then aim for Resolute Technique to eliminate any chance of missing.
• Endgame Core Nodes
• Giant's Blood and Bruge Janked for survivability.
• Further branches are player-preference, but any additional strength, physical damage, and AoE scaling will enhance the build.
• Attribute Management
• Prioritize Strength.
• Ensure you meet all gear and gem requirements first, then invest the rest into survivability and scaling nodes.

Smith of Kitava Ascendancy Breakdown

This ascendancy is tailor-made for Bone Shatter's brutal mechanics. Prioritize the following:

1.Call Stalker-Immediate resistance boost to hit elemental caps early.

2.Forge in Flames-Pushes elemental resists to 90% for tankiness.

3.Smith's Master Path-Unlock:

4.Leather Bindings

5.Molten Symbol

6.Loving Metal

7.Kitavan Engraving

8.These nodes together offer life regeneration, fire resistance, physical mitigation, and huge increases to armor and max life.

Atlas Tree Choices

Focus on league mechanics that spawn clustered enemy packs for maximum Bone Shatter value:

• Ritual
• Expedition
• Delirium
• Pinnacle Bosses
• Breach
• Path your Atlas tree to increase density and synergy with AoE-heavy builds. Target passives that offer increased pack size and special monster groups.Gear Overview: Slam-Centric, Armor-Heavy

Weapon: Disenrading Maul

• Causes critical strike enemies to explode-perfect for AoE chaining.
• Adds flat physical damage, increased accuracy, and attack speed.
• Shield: Gold Work Tower Shield
• Armor, block chance, resistances, and physical damage reduction.
• Helmet: Great Helm
• Look for life, crit chance, chaos res, and strength.
• Chest: Ornate Plate
• Grants up to 15% increased max life, and life regeneration mechanics.
• Gloves: Empire Grasp
• Optional unique-gain life on kill and increased physical damage.
• Boots: Card Grips
• Movement speed, life, mana, and stun resistance.
• Rings Amulet
• Stack fire resistance, strength, and physical attack bonuses.
• Use Ruby Rings for natural fire resistance.
• Belt: Divide Belt
• Flask charge gain, strength, life, and elemental resistances.

Runes and Charms

Runes

• Early game: Focus on Resistant Runes to cap resistances.
• Mid-to-late game: Switch to Body Runes for life or Soul Cores for high-end customization.
• Example:
• Weapon: 2x Iron Runes
• Shield: 1x Desert Rune
• Helmet Boots: Body Runes
• Gloves Chest: Desert Runes
• Charms

Pick charms based on your biggest threat:

• Stone Charm-Stun resistance.
• Taving Charm-Avoid freeze.
• Metage Charm-Chaos resistance.

Anointments

Top recommendations:

1.Relentless-Enhances mobility and keeps uptime high during extended combat.

2.Relentless Vindicator-Boosts critical hit chance and raw damage.

3.These nodes help you stay active and engaged, especially in burst windows during boss fights.

Gameplay Strategy: Leap, Slam, Detonate

Your playstyle revolves around managing stun thresholds and unleashing devastating AoE bursts.

1.Leap Slam into a mob to build up stun.

2.Once stunned (visualized by orbs above their heads), Bone Shatter detonates them in explosive fashion.

3.Surviving enemies can be cleaned up with Mage Strike or another Leap Slam.

4.Against rares or bosses:

5.Use Perfect Strike and Hammer of the Gods in rotation.

6.Amplify impact with Infernal Cry and Seismic Cry.

7.Use Berserk for burst phases.

8.Master dodge rolling and animation canceling to maintain pressure without sacrificing movement.

Final Thoughts

The Bone Shatter Smith of Kitava Warrior is a relentless juggernaut of chaos and fire, scaling pain into power, and converting aggression into complete battlefield control. While it demands good timing, mechanical awareness, and solid defensive layers, the payoff is massive-enemies disappear in bone-crushing explosions buy POE 2 Exalted Orbs, and bosses evaporate under your perfectly timed slams.

If you're looking for a melee build that plays like a controlled explosion with skill expression and mechanical nuance, this is it.