PoE 2 Best Smith of Kitava Leveling & Endgame Builds (Dawn of the Hunt)

Smith of Kitava is likely to become the new favorite in the Dawn of the Hunt league, is the third Warrior ascendancy introduced in Path of Exile 2 with the 0.2.0 Patch. This ascendancy stands out for its heavily defensive design, offering access to powerful resistance scaling, unique gear interactions, and offensive tools that support both melee and minion-based builds.

Below is a structured breakdown of the ascendancy, including its best leveling routes, endgame potential, and viable build archetypes.

Why is Smith of Kitava Meta in Path of Exile 2 0.2.0 League?

Smith of Kitava offers unparalleled defensive layering and gear flexibility. With access to 90% elemental resistance early in progression, this ascendancy simplifies gearing and allows players to focus more on offensive scaling. The ascendancy also introduces a crafting-lite system via Smith of Kitava, where players allocate ascendancy points to simulate body armor modifiers while equipping a normal (white) body armor.

This unique approach skews heavily toward solo self-found (SSF) and hardcore playstyles but has value in any environment due to its efficiency and survivability.

Core Defensive Mechanics

Coal Stoker & Forged in Flame

These two nodes form the backbone of the Smith of Kitava's defense:

• Coal Stoker: Fire resistance modifiers also grant 50% of their value to cold and lightning resistance.

• Forged in Flame: Modifiers to maximum fire resistance also apply to cold and lightning maximum resistance.

These interactions allow you to stack only fire resistance while efficiently covering all elemental resistances. When combined with passive tree options like Unnatural Resilience, you can scale well above the typical 75% cap—reaching 90% maximum resistance across all elements.

This is particularly effective early in the game, where resistances are hard to manage. Ruby rings, fire resistance runes, and passive bonuses can carry you well into maps with minimal gear investment.

Smith of Kitava: Build-Your-Own Body Armor

By equipping a normal body armor, you gain access to a set of customizable ascendancy nodes that simulate gear affixes. Each choice costs one ascendancy point and provides a notable defensive or utility stat. Examples include:

• +15% maximum life

• +20% increased strength

• +5% life regeneration

• +5% to maximum fire resistance

• 25% of physical damage taken as fire

• 50% reduced extra damage from critical strikes

You can mix and match based on your build’s needs. For example:

• Early game: Take life, strength, and fire resistance to smooth out progression.

• Endgame: Drop early benefits and switch to molten symbol or life regeneration for bossing or hardcore viability.

This system is especially useful for SSF players, as it removes the need to chase rare or unique body armors while still offering competitive stats.

Ascendancy Offense: Limited But Flexible

Though the Smith of Kitava specializes in defense, it includes several offensive options that can support diverse builds.

1. Temper Weapon

A channeled skill where the character hammers their weapon on an anvil, generating charges that empower subsequent attacks. Each use consumes a charge, granting a massive hit with fiery effects. The skill suits single-target burst combat, but may require patch tuning or support gems to feel smooth in gameplay.

2. Fire Spell on Hit

This grants a meta skill that triggers socketed fire spells on hit. Most likely functions similarly to Cast on Crit or Molner-style triggers. Viable for fire-themed melee builds and potentially useful for hybrid spell + attack setups.

3. Manifest Weapon

Summons a floating animated copy of your main-hand weapon. This functions similarly to Animate Weapon in PoE1 and scales off the weapon’s stats. Could be used in hybrid builds or pure minion setups if the support gems and mechanics align.

Though these skills look promising, their effectiveness will depend on patch notes, support gem synergies, and tuning.

Best Smith of Kitava Builds for Leveling & Mapping in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt

As we progress through the Dawn of the Hunt league, we are now updating the strongest Smith of Kitava builds:

1. Boneshatter Smith of Kitava Warrior

Boneshatter Smith of Kitava Warrior is a top-tier meta pick in Dawn of the Hunt thanks to its incredible synergy between stun-based scaling, rage generation, and max resistance stacking via the Smith Ascendancy. With Giantsblood enabling massive two-handed weapons in one hand, the build maintains high damage output while still using a shield for added survivability. The current meta heavily favors physical builds with conversion layers, and this build’s 25% phys taken as fire combined with 90% max elemental res makes it one of the tankiest melee mappers in the league. Its ability to scale both AoE clear with Bone Shatter and single-target burst with Hammer of the Gods and Bleed makes it ideal for farming T15+ maps, pushing Atlas progression, and even pinnacle bossing with a weapon swap. It’s a budget-friendly, progression-scaling melee powerhouse that thrives in the current environment.

Build Setup

 Core Mechanics

• Skill Scaling: Stun buildup → Bone Shatter Aftershocks & Hammer of the Gods

• Defenses: Max Res Stacking (up to 90%), Scavenged Plating, Phys → Fire Conversion

• Offense: Rage generation, AoE clear, Bleed potential for bossing

• Ascendancy: Smith of Kitava — Fire Res scaling, Armor conversion, Giantsblood

Key Skills

• Main Clear:

• Bone Shatter (Impact, Reach, Devastate, Magnify)

• Leap Slam (Brink, Overpower, optional: Holy Descent / Marshal Tempo)

• Single Target / Boss:

• Hammer of the Gods (Rage Forge, Devastate, Brutality, Bleed)

• Rolling Slam (Brutality or Fist of War, Reverberate optional)

• Warcries:

• Infernal Cry (Empowered, Rage Gain, Lifetap)

• Seismic Cry (Daze for stun ramping)

• Utility:

• Scavenged Plating (Duration, Cannibalism)

• Stampede (Shockwave scaling, in progress)

• Time of Need, Ealism

Passive Tree

• Resolute Technique for always hitting

• Heavy investment in Strength, AoE, and Stun

• Path to Bleed chance and Armor Break

• Max Elemental Res nodes + Fire Res scaling

• Rage Sustain via slower degen nodes + Rage on Hit jewels

Gear Priority

• Weapon: High Phys 2H Mace (used 1H with Giantsblood)

• Shield: Block, Life, Strength, Chaos Res

• Armor: Strength, Life, Fire Res, Chaos Res where possible

• Chest: White Ornate Plate (regen mod, socketed for res stacking)

• Jewels: Rage on Hit, Bleed Chance, AoE, Block Chance

• Flasks: Instant Life, Chaos Res flask, utility (regen, charges gained, etc.)

Budget

• Total Cost: ~8–10 Divine Orbs

• Very league-start viable

• Scales with Atlas progression, gear upgrades, and jewel investment

2. Exploding Spear Smith of Kitava Tank Build

Exploding Spear Smith of Kitava is a high-survivability, screen-clearing build that thrives in Dawn of the Hunt thanks to its synergy between overkill explosions, block-based defense, and flat physical damage scaling. While not a zoomy meta-clear build, it shines in its ability to face tank content safely, leveraging Trample Toes for chain-reaction explosions and Herald of Ash for AoE pop-off. With a max block setup, physical damage reduction stacking via Hollow Mask and shield mods, and blood magic for simplicity, this build is perfect for casual or hardcore players looking for a low APM, high uptime survivability option that still packs a visual punch. It’s an experimental build that scales well into red maps with gear and gem investment and offers a fun and unique way to play a spear build in the current league.

Build Setup

Core Mechanics

• Main Skill: Exploding Spear – flat phys damage + overkill explosions

• Defenses: Max Block (75%), 30%+ phys damage reduction, chaos res stacking, Blood Magic

• Explosions: Trample Toes + Herald of Ash synergize for chain overkill detonations

• Ascendancy: Smith of Kitava – Cole Stoker + Smith's Masterwork (pending more points)

Key Skills

Primary Damage:

• Exploding Spear

• Supports: Primal Armament, Overabundance, Fire Infusion

• ~15k DPS baseline (2 spears), scales with flat phys + AoE

Frenzy Charge Generation:

• Combat Frenzy, Rapid Assault, Marshall Tempo, Pin, Lockdown

• Call the Weak + Behead + Defy for conditional charges and culling

Buffs & Auras:

• Herald of Ash (overkill damage explosions)

• Magnified Effect, Acrimony (for extra AoE, enemy regen denial)

• Companion: Diet Tusk (for bonus phys damage)

Utility / Defense:

• Welling Slash + Unyielding, Unabating (defense filler)

• Blood Magic Keystone, Staunching/Antidote/Thorning Charms

• Dire Strike, Profusion for charge uptime

Passive Tree

• Mass Hysteria → Lay Siege

• Shield Defense Line: Defender’s Resolve → Unstoppable Barrier → Vigilance

• Blood Magic: For mana-free skill use

• Brute Strength: 1% inc dmg per 15 STR (229 STR = ~15% more dmg)

• Crushing Verdict: Flat 50% increased attack damage

• Smoke Inhalation: Fire penetration

• Authority → Sand in the Eye: For utility + AoE

• Shield Expertise + Spike Shield: Scaling damage off shield armor

• Forces of Nature: Elemental Penetration

Gear Priority

• Helmet:n Hollow Mask – 15% phys damage reduction, chaos res, life. Will upgrade later for fire conversion synergy

• Shield: High block chance to cap 75%, phys damage reduction, resists Aim for flat phys DR and chaos/fire res

• Chest: Normal body armor (Smith-compatible), aiming for double sockets. Corrupt for implicit phys reduction if possible

• Weapon (Spear): High flat physical damage. Attack speed, fire damage, +projectile gems if possible. Socketed in Iron Rune for bonus phys

• Boots: Trample Toes – overkill damage scaling for Herald of Ash synergy. Key for screen-wide clear

• Gloves: +1 to melee skills, flat phys, life/res upgrades needed

• Rings: Flat damage, rarity, resists (chaos/fire/strength)

• Amulet: Spirit Amulet with 18% damage recouped as life, life regen, rarity. Will replace for offensive scaling later

• Belt: +2 charm slots (lucky roll), but bad suffixes – will be replaced. Prefer one with life, resists, or recharge modifiers

• Charms: Thorning, Antidote, Staunching – all with charge regen per second Focused on sustain over kill-based regen

• Flasks: Life Flask, No mana flask needed (Blood Magic)

3. Magma Barrier / Rolling Slam Totem Smith of Kitava

Magma Barrier / Rolling Slam Totem Smith of Kitava is a hardcore-viable, SSF-friendly totem build that thrives in the Dawn of the Hunt meta thanks to its ability to reach 90% max elemental resistances, scale block-based damage triggers, and offer massive sustain and mitigation through Smith of Kitava’s powerful ascendancy nodes. Despite recent nerfs in patch 0.2.0, Magma Barrier still outputs competitive damage, especially when paired with Resonating Shield for reactive clear. The Ancestral Warrior Totem benefits from Mace passives and now scales better than ever with support gems and duration buffs. With no reliance on uniques, this build offers an ideal combination of defense, utility, and smooth progression, making it a top-tier choice for players looking to go deep into maps, survive boss fights, or play self-found or hardcore.

Build Setup

Core Mechanics

• Skill Scaling: Totem-based DPS → Ancestral Warrior Totem + Magma Barrier via blocking

• Defenses: Max Elemental Resistances (up to 90%), 5% Life Regen, 25% Phys → Fire Conversion

• Offense: Mace scaling, Fire Damage, Totem uptime and duration

• Ascendancy: Smith of Kitava — Fire Res scaling, Armor conversion, Life Regen, Max Res

Key Skills

Main Clear:

• Magma Barrier (Triggered by Resonating Shield block)

• Leap Slam (Mobility, Holy Descent for regen)

Single Target / Boss:

• Ancestral Warrior Totem (Stun scaling, Melee Skills, Totem duration)

• Solar Orb (Low-level, persistent fire damage support)

Warcries:

• Infernal Cry (Daze, Rage generation)

Utility:

• Resonating Shield (Triggers Magma Barrier with block)

• Herald of Ash (Fire damage boost)

• Shield Charge (Mobility and block engagement)

• Overwhelming Presence, optional defensive aura

Passive Tree

• Blood Magic to remove mana dependency

• Max Elemental Res via Unnatural Resilience, Prism Guard pathing

• Crushing Verdict, Leather Bindings, and Molten Symbol for damage and sustain

• High Strength investment for scaling and gear reqs

• Forces of Nature for elemental penetration

• Defender’s Resolve for survival in Simulacrum

• Jewel sockets focused on +Max Fire Res, Life, and Totem support

Gear Priority

• Weapon Set 1 (Clear): to Melee Skills, + to Elemental Damage with Attacks, Strength, Soul Core of Citaqualotl rune

• Weapon Set 2 (Totems): to Melee Skills: Stun duration and build-up Stone Rune socket

• Shield: High Block Chance, Strength, Physical Damage Reduction, Armor, Avoid using for resists if capped elsewhere

• Armor: Normal rarity Ornate Plate (for Smith of Kitava synergy), Chaos Resistance or 3-socket corruption

• Gloves: +2 to Melee Skills, Life, Resists

• Rings / Amulet / Belt: Life, Strength, Resists, +3 to Melee Skills (Amulet), Spirit threshold for Cannibalism and Vitality, Titanic Anoint on Amulet

• Jewels: +1% Max Fire Res, Prism of Belief (with Rolling Slam or Totem), Against the Darkness (Life on small passives), DPS mods: Stun, Mace Damage, Attack Speed

• Flasks: Life Flask, Chaos Res Flask, Utility Flasks

Budget

• Total Cost: ~5–10 Divine Orbs

• League Start Viable: Yes — no required uniques

• Scales With: Gem levels and duration scaling, Jewel upgrades (Max Res, DPS mods), Atlas progression and Spirit gear

Smith of Kitava Build Leveling Strategy

Smith of Kitava is incredibly smooth during leveling due to early access to resistances and passive skill synergy. A common path would be:

1. First Ascendancy: Take Coal Stoker immediately for resistance coverage.

2. Second Ascendancy: Add Forged in Flame + Smith’s Masterwork with +life or +strength.

3. Third Ascendancy: Add offensive skill (e.g., Manifest Weapon or Temper Weapon).

4. Final Ascendancy: Fill remaining points into Masterwork modifiers or bolster minion/offensive support.

This route provides excellent survivability and leaves room for experimentation in your final build.