Best Uniques Melee Weapons and Shields in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt

Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt brings a powerful wave of new Unique melee weapons and shields designed to strengthen heavy-hitting, close-combat builds.

Whether you are seeking to shatter enemies with brutal strikes, unleash devastating lightning attacks, or tank incoming damage with superior block mechanics, these new One-Handed Maces, Two-Handed Maces, and Shields offer exciting new possibilities. In this guide, we dive deep into the standout options for melee-focused characters, explore their synergies, and recommend powerful combinations to dominate both the campaign and endgame.

Path of Exile 2: Unique Two-Handed Maces from Dawn of the Hunt

The Dawn of the Hunt expansion for Path of Exile 2 has introduced a variety of unique Two-Handed Maces. These heavy hitters aren’t just about raw power – they each bring distinct mechanics that could define or limit their roles in endgame farming. Let’s break down each mace, its notable mods, build synergies, and whether it’s worth the hype for your character progression.

The Hammer of Faith (Giant Maul)

Key Mods:
- +(200–250)% increased Physical Damage
- 10% reduced Attack Speed
- +10% to all Elemental Resistances
- 50% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
- Gain a random Shrine buff every 10 seconds
Analysis: Despite a slower attack rate, The Hammer of Faith compensates with an enormous Physical Damage boost and surprisingly strong defensive layering through Shrine buffs and Mana regeneration. In fast-paced mapping or Shrine-hunting builds, the random shrine effects can lead to absurd temporary power spikes.

Endgame Viability:
Excellent for Warrior builds. It’s not a meta boss-killer but a very strong farming choice especially when stacking Shrine interactions.

The Empty Roar (Cultist Greathammer)

Key Mods:
- Adds (25–35) to (40–50) Physical Damage
- 10% of Physical Damage Leeched as Life
- (10–20)% chance to cause Bleeding on Hit
- All Attacks count as Empowered Attacks
- Cannot use Warcries

Analysis: Empowered Attacks dramatically increase the effectiveness of certain melee supports. This weapon is geared toward sustain-heavy builds that exploit Leech and Bleed mechanics. However, disabling Warcries is a significant downside for modern melee setups.
Endgame Viability:
More suited for midgame leveling and niche melee builds. Likely not endgame viable unless Empowered synergy gets a major boost.

Tidebreaker (Pointed Maul)

Key Mods:
- +(120–150)% increased Physical Damage
- +(2–3) to Level of all Melee Skills
- +(20–30) to Intelligence
- Causes (150–200)% increased Stun Buildup
- All Damage from Hits contributes to Chill Magnitude
Analysis: This weapon buffs melee gems directly, offering an incredibly valuable +2/+3 levels to skills — a major DPS scaling factor. Combined with massive Stun potential and Chill contribution, it’s a dream come true for Stun-lock builds, or cold hybrid melee builds.
Endgame Viability:
One of the strongest Unique Maces for stun-based endgame builds, cold conversion melee, or shockwave strategies. Definitely chase-worthy for certain niche meta builds.

Shyaba (Temple Maul)

Key Mods:
- +50 Dexterity Requirement
- -15 Strength Requirement
- (80–120)% increased Physical Damage
- 50% increased Attack Speed
- (15–25)% increased Light Radius
- Always Hits

Analysis: Shyaba is extremely fast for a two-hander and offers a strange requirement flip (favoring Dexterity). The Always Hits mechanic removes the need to stack Accuracy, making it a good pick for on-hit builds like Bleed or Elemental Overload setups that don’t want to invest in Precision.
Endgame Viability:
Fast clear mapping weapon, great for early to midgame farming. However, it falls off when compared to rare-crafted maces in serious endgame content.

Which Two-Handed Mace Should You Chase?

Best Endgame Potential: Tidebreaker (Top-tier for Stun/Cold Melee builds)

Best Farming/Midgame Weapon: The Hammer of Faith (Shrine-based powerhouse)
Best Niche Bleed Weapon: The Empty Roar (but beware of the no-Warcry downside)
Best Fast Leveling: Shyaba (speedy and consistent early mapping)

While Two-Handed Maces still remain slower compared to other weapon types, Tidebreaker and The Hammer of Faith stand out as legitimate tools for both farming and boss killing in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt.

New Unique One Handed Maces in Path of Exile 2

The Dawn of the Hunt expansion introduces several powerful One Handed Maces, each pushing players toward very specific build archetypes.

Mjölner (Torment Club)

Key Mods:
- +200 Intelligence Requirement
- +100 Strength Requirement
- (150–200)% increased Physical Damage
- (10–20)% increased Attack Speed
- +1 to Level of all Lightning Skills
- Grants Level 15 Lightning Spell on Hit

Analysis: Mjölner is a returning iconic item from Path of Exile 1, famous for its Cast on Hit mechanics. This time it grants a new Lightning Spell on Hit, allowing you to trigger high-damage lightning spells automatically when attacking.

The high stat requirements make equipping Mjölner a notable build challenge, requiring significant gear or passive tree investment into both Strength and Intelligence.

Build Synergies:
- Lightning Strike hybrid melee/spell builds.
- Shock-stacking or Overload builds looking to consistently trigger lightning damage.
- Any Attack-focused caster hybrid who benefits from spell auto-trigger mechanics.
Endgame Potential: Very high. Mjölner has always been a centerpiece for specific meta builds, and its new version in Path of Exile 2 seems poised to continue that tradition for players willing to handle its steep gearing requirements (Looking at you Mr. Gemling Legionnaire)

Sculpted Suffering (Warpick)

Key Mods:
- Adds (21–26) to (25–31) Physical Damage
- (10–15)% increased Attack Speed
- Breaks Armour equal to 40% of damage from Hits with this weapon
- Fully Armour Broken enemies you kill Shatter
- +11% to Critical Damage Bonus (implicit)

Analysis: Sculpted Suffering revolves around the powerful new mechanic of Armour Break, making it incredibly effective at punching through high-armour targets. The weapon’s ability to Shatter fully Armour Broken enemies is a flavorful and mechanically satisfying effect, helping clear packs efficiently.
Build Synergies:
- Critical Strike melee builds focusing on fast attacks and high burst.
- Bleed or Physical hit builds needing reliable armour penetration.
- Works best when paired with additional sources of Armour Break or on characters naturally attacking quickly.
Endgame Potential: Strong for early to midgame but may eventually be outscaled by crafted rare maces. However, for any armour-penetrating melee builds, it remains a solid and stylish option.

Nebuloch (Brigand Mace)

Key Mods:
- Adds (39–48) to (69–79) Physical Damage
- +(20–30)% to Critical Damage Bonus
- Adds (25–36) to (44–55) Chaos Damage
- Attacks consume an Endurance Charge to Critically Hit
- Take 100 Chaos damage per second per Endurance Charge
Analysis: Nebuloch is a true high-risk, high-reward item. By consuming Endurance Charges to guarantee Critical Hits, it offers insane offensive bursts, but at the cost of taking constant Chaos damage based on your number of charges.

This effectively forces you to use passive like Chaos Inoculation – which would requires a very careful planning as it just force you to use Energy Shieldd.
Build Synergies:
- Crit-heavy melee builds using Endurance charges aggressively.
- Chaos-based tanky builds that naturally have massive Chaos resistance and regen.
Endgame Potential: Meh, very high risk, but the reward is barely worth it – If the damage is updated in future patches, it could become more viable

Are the New Unique One Handed Maces Worth it?

Each new mace covers a different gameplay fantasy:

Mjölner reintroduces the classic Spell Strike archetype with a Lightning twist.
Sculpted Suffering offers armor-breaking brutality for early melee builds.
Nebuloch dares players to manage chaos, quite literally, for supreme critical power.

New Unique Shields in Path of Exile 2 Dawn of The Hunt

Shields in Dawn of the Hunt offer more than just defense — several come with powerful active effects and build-defining bonuses.

Window to Paradise (Barricade Tower Shield)

Key Mods:
- (60–120)% increased Armour
- +(60–100) to maximum Mana
- +(10–15)% to all Elemental Resistances
- Apply Elemental Exposure to enemies 3 metres in front while Shield is raised
- Grants Raise Shield skill
Analysis: Window to Paradise offers powerful defensive layering while enabling an offensive debuff. Applying Elemental Exposure through blocking gives even tanks a meaningful way to contribute damage-wise, especially in group content.
Build Synergies:
- Aura support characters that want to help apply debuffs.
- Elemental builds that benefit from self-applied Exposure without using sockets.
- High block archetypes in need of additional mana and resistances.
Endgame Potential: Solid midgame and niche late-game for support builds or defensive playstyle.

Redblade Banner (Heraldric Tower Shield)

Key Mods:
- (20–30)% increased Block chance
- (60–100)% increased Armour
- +(20–30) to Strength
- +(100–150) to Stun Threshold
- Enemies in Presence count as having double Power
- Grants Raise Shield skill

Build Synergies:
- A lot of calculation is needed for this “Monster Power” Is it affecting loot drop?

Chernobog’s Pillar (Blacksteel Tower Shield)

Key Mods:
- (100–150)% increased Armour
- +(30–40)% to Fire Resistance
- +(23–29)% to Chaos Resistance
- +(150–200) to Stun Threshold
- Gain 1% of damage as Fire Damage per 1% Chance to Block
- Grants Raise Shield skill
Analysis: Chernobog’s Pillar is a defensive-offensive hybrid shield that rewards stacking block chance. By converting block investment into bonus Fire damage, it allows tanky characters to also contribute respectable DPS without compromising defense.
Build Synergies:
- High block melee builds with Fire scaling. (Smith of Kitava, Warbringer..)
- Fire Elemental Melee Fighter with Herald of Ash builds.
Endgame Potential: Very strong, particularly for Fire-themed melee or block-tank builds. One of the more versatile new shields due to its damage conversion mechanic.

Prism Guardian (Sectarian Crest Shield)

Key Mods:
- (80–150)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
- +(20–30) to Dexterity
- +(10–20)% to all Elemental Resistances
- +1 to Maximum Spirit per 50 Maximum Life
- Grants Raise Shield skill
Analysis: Prism Guardian returns with an emphasis on Spirit, making it’s a great option during melee build leveling where Spirit is needed for some Auras.

Its balanced Armour and Energy Shield scaling make it excellent for hybrid defenses, while the bonus to Elemental Resistances makes gearing easier.
Build Synergies:
- Leveling Melee Build – More Spirit enable more auras and can gain some more boosts
- Tanky hybrid casters valuing life/energy shield synergy.
- Support builds enhancing their survivability and utility simultaneously.
Endgame Potential: Not much as there are not so many useful mods

Dawn of The Hunt Unique Shields

The new shields aren’t just walls — they’re build enablers:

Window to Paradise adds offensive debuffs to tanks.
Redblade Banner introduces Presence-based interactions.
Chernobog’s Pillar turns block into firepower.
Prism Guardian elevates Spirit and hybrid defenses.

Conclusion: Some new Options for Melee Builds

Dawn of the Hunt clearly signals a revitalization of melee archetypes in Path of Exile 2 — and the new Unique Maces and Shields are at the heart of this shift. Across both one-handed and two-handed weapon types, players now have access to options that reward aggression, tactical defense, and clever build synergy.

Mjölner empowers high-attribute lightning melee builds that could make some Lightning Builds return, but until the Templars class are introduced – it’s requirements are still pretty high for Warriror or Monk.
Sculpted Suffering and Cursecarver bring unique utility into bleed, stun, and curse setups — giving early- and mid-game melee builds meaningful progression paths.
On the defensive side, shields like Window to Paradise and Chernobog’s Pillar allow tanky characters to maintain high offense through Exposure application or Fire damage scaling, while Prism Guardian and Redblade Banner open doors for Spirit, presence-based control, or stun-tanking hybrids.

Overall, Dawn of the Hunt new melee unqiues have some potential for high-risk, high-reward melee builds while expanding defensive versatility, but still requires some more adjustments/ buff to really make builds more versatile and viable.

ethugamer
Dawn of the Hunt, Dawn of The Hunt Unique Items, Path of Exile 2
April 26, 2025

Best New Melee Uniques in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt — Maces and Shields for Powerful Builds