menu
MobalyticsUse your favourite features in-game with our Desktop App
PoE 2 Build

[Patch 0.4] HulkSmash - Armour Stacking Titan

Updated on Dec 12, 2025
Dec 12, 2025

Build Overview

0.4 UPDATE

- Build is basically the same as before, the only difference is that Garukhan's Resolve, Atalui's Bloodletting and Undying Hate with Tecrod got nerfed incredibly hard, which means that we can get rid of all of them. This will decrease the overall damage by a lot, but still enough to comfortably map and kills bosses, you're not going to be hitting bosses for 10m+ per Shield Wall, but instead something like 3-4m on a similar budget. The tankiness is still incredible, possibly even higher depending on the new passives that they added to the tree.





DISCLAIMER - build will continue on receiving updates over the course of upcoming weeks. Feel free to check it out regularly as it will develop and get stronger over time.
For even more information, you can find me on youtube and twitch streaming daily
https://www.youtube.com/@Carnarius_v2
https://www.twitch.tv/carnarius_v2


HulkSmash is a character that utilizes new defensive mechanic introduced in patch 0.3, armour applies to elemental damage taken. While being mediocre at low investment, it turns out that at high investment it can dramatically decrease damage taken from physical and elemental sources, making you very tanky even without using a shield.

This allows us to dual wield to solve potential damage issues, since dual wielding by itself was not nerfed in 0.3 and will still massively increase your damage output, especially once you get to better weapons with + melee skill modifiers.

On the other hand choosing Titan as our ascendancy solves the problem of a big nerf of aoe in patch 0.3. With Hulking Form not only we have easier time getting lots of armour, it benefits the amount of aoe and damage we can get from the passive tree as well.


Strengths and Weaknesses

  • - Capable of getting very tanky against physical and elemental damage with enough investment in armour

    - Decent movement and clear speed thanks to Leap Slam + Boneshatter

    - Quite easy to reach good single target damage

    - Very chill gameplay, borderline unkillable if you decide to play with a shield
  • - Armour doesn't do anything against damage over time, meaning you still need to cap your resistances, especially chaos resistance

    - Requires the right equipment to truly shine

Build Variants

This is the equipment, gem setup and passive skill tree i've had soon after i finished the campaign. For more details and what you're supposed to do during the campaign, scroll below

Of course this section will get updated with new, stronger variants as i'm gonna progress further with the character

Equipment

item
1
item
8
item
6
item
3
item
7
item
9
item
2
item
4
item
10
item
5
item
item
item
item
item
Equipment Priority
+10

1. Weapons - I didn't bother with a shield and pretty much immediately started dual wielding in the beggining of act I. Early on you can also use a 2h weapon, depending on what you're gonna find, but overall i think that dual wielding 2 1h weapons is going to be the best since you are much faster, making your animations way less clunky. It's just gonna feel better.

As for what stats you're looking for - you basically want to get as much damage as possible on your weapons (elemental is fine too). Later on you can start looking for + level of all melee skills modifier as well

2. Body armour - Amount of armour here is important, as this will be your main source of armour early on thanks to Sturdy Metal. This is important, because in the campaign majority of your deaths will come from physical damage, being overwhelmed by fast monsters. Getting decent amount of armour will completely negate that.

Apart from that you're looking for additional life and resistances, if you can get them.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ARMOUR APPLIES TO ELEMENTAL DAMAGE MODIFIER UNTIL AT LEAST LEVEL ~40-50, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT USEFUL AT LOW INVESTMENT

3. Helmet, boots and gloves - I'm going to put them together since they are basically identical. You are looking for armour, life and resistances here (strength is fine), once again, do not bother with armour applies to elemental damage stat until later on

Additionally you should try to get movement speed on your boots early on, you are going to Leap Slam a lot so it's going to lose some efficiency but it's still useful during the campaign

4. Belt, rings and amulet - Ring slots are insanely good for capping your resistances, focus on that. If you can get life and/or some flat damage on top of that, that's even better.
Amulet is similar, but you can find some other useful stats here like % increased armour or + to level of melee skills
As for belts once again, life and resistances, you can also find some armour there that will help early on, especially if you use Plate Belt

5. Charms - Grounding Charm and Thawing Charm are the most important ones in my opinion, after that you can get for example Silver Charm or Antidote Charm

Skill Gems

Support Gem Requirements:

Str 85

Dex 30

Int 5

1

Mace Strike

supportrageplayerthree
supportrapidattacksplayertwo
supportclosecombatplayer
supportaddedfiredamageplayer
2

Perfect Strike

supportwindowofopportunityplayer
supportelementalarmamentplayertwo
supportaddedfiredamageplayer
3

Leap Slam

supportbloodmagicplayer
supportbrinkplayer
supportstunplayerthree
4

Boneshatter

impactshockwavesupportplayer
supportmagnifiedareaplayertwo
supportaddedfiredamageplayer
5

Hammer of the Gods

supportaftershockchanceplayertwo
fistofwarsupportplayerthree
supportclosecombatplayertwo
6

Armour Breaker

supportrageplayerthree
supportarmourdemolisherplayertwo
supportrapidattacksplayertwo
7

Infernal Cry

supportragingcryplayer
supporttirelessplayer
supportcooldownrecoveryplayertwo
8

Berserk

supportvitalityplayertwo
9

Scavenged Plating

prolongeddurationsupportplayer
Gem Priority
+2

The most important aspect of your gem setup is setting up the Leap Slam and Boneshatter correctly. You want to put Brink II support in your Leap Slam in order to prevent it from stunning enemies and after that explode them with Boneshatter. Impact Shockwave and Magnified Area I are great supports to use with boneshatter, since it will make the explosions bigger and give you additional aftershocks.

As for Perfect Strike and Hammer of the Gods, you just want to maximize their damage, very simple

You can also use Herald of Ash instead of Berserk early on

Passive Tree

main:
123
123
set 1:
20
20
set 2:
20
20

Quest Rewards

Check which quests you’ve completed on your character
Clearfell — Beira of the Rotten Pack
Not Specified1 choice
Hunting Grounds — The Crowbell
Not Specified1 choice
Freythorn — The King in the Mists
Not Specified1 choice
Ogham Farmlands — Una's Hut
Not Specified1 choice
Ogham Manor — Candlemass, the Living Rite
Not Specified1 choice
Keth — Kabala, Constrictor Queen
Not Specified1 choice
Valley of the Titans — Medallion
Not Specified2 choices
Deshar — Final Letter
Not Specified1 choice
The Spires of Deshar — Sisters of Garukhan
Not Specified1 choice
Jungle Ruins — Mighty Silverfist
Not Specified1 choice
The Venom Crypts — Venom Draught
Not Specified3 choices
Jiquani's Machinarium — Blackjaw, the Remnant
Not Specified1 choice
The Azak Bog — Ignagduk, the Bog Witch
Not Specified1 choice
The Molten Vault — The Molten Vault
Not Specified1 choice
Aggorat — Blood Sacrifice
Not Specified1 choice
Journey's End — Captain Hartlin
Not Specified1 choice
Eye of Hinekora — Navali's Rest
Not Specified1 choice
Halls of the Dead — Yama The White
Not Specified1 choice
Halls of the Dead — Tawhoa's Test
Not Specified2 choices
Abandoned Prison — Goddess of Justice
Not Specified2 choices
Halls of the Dead — Tasalio's Test
Not Specified2 choices
Halls of the Dead — Ngamahu's Test
Not Specified2 choices
Wolvenhold — Oswin, the Dread Warden
Not Specified1 choice
The Khari Crossing — Akthi and Anundr
Not Specified1 choice
The Khari Crossing — Molten Shrine
Not Specified1 choice
Qimah — Tabana's Pillar
Not Specified7 choices
Kriar Village — Lythara, the Wayward Spear
Not Specified1 choice
Howling Caves — The Abominable Yeti
Not Specified1 choice

Changelog

31.08.2025

First version

02.09.2025

Added Mid Endgame Setup

05.09.2025

Added Endgame Setup

14.09.2025

Added Super Endgame Setup

25.09.2025

Added The Final Version

12.12.2025

Updated for patch 0.4

Build Planner Export

Export this build variant directly to your game.

Path of Building Code

Video Guide

Table of Contents

Featured Builds

[0.5] Immortal AFK Ritualist Simulacrum Farmer
Updated on Jul 3, 2026
[0.5] HOLLOW PETALS - MasterT's Hollow Palm Monk (League Start To Endgame)
Updated on Jul 3, 2026
0.5 - Eventide Shatter Chain Martial Artist
Updated on Jul 3, 2026
[0.5] 100% Crit Cold Chronomancer
Updated on Jul 3, 2026
[FUN] Fire Spell on Hit Builds
Updated on Jul 3, 2026

Become a Creator

Want to earn rewards by sharing your builds with your community?