In Path of Exile 2, keystone passive skills redefine how characters can approach their builds, often enabling transformative gameplay mechanics. Among these, Giant’s Blood is a keystone that brings an incredible new dimension to melee builds. By allowing players to wield two-handed axes, maces, and swords in one hand, Giant’s Blood offers the potential for unparalleled offensive and defensive power. However, it comes with a trade-off: doubling the attribute requirements of your weapons.
In this article, we’ll dive into what makes Giant’s Blood a game-changing keystone, how to overcome its challenges, and how to create builds that maximize its potential.
The Giant’s Blood keystone provides the following effects:
You Can Wield Two-Handed Axes, Maces, and Swords in One Hand
This allows you to equip previously unwieldy two-handed weapons in a single hand, effectively doubling your weaponry or pairing them with shields or additional weapons.
Double Attribute Requirements of Weapons
As a trade-off, the strength, dexterity, or intelligence requirements of your weapons are doubled, making it essential to carefully plan your build to meet these demands.
Giant’s Blood is ideal for players who want to achieve unmatched melee power and flexibility. Here’s why this keystone is worth considering:
Two-handed weapons typically deal more damage than their one-handed counterparts. Giant’s Blood lets you access this raw power while still keeping one hand free for additional utility or defense.
The ability to wield two-handed weapons in one hand opens up new combinations, letting you mix powerful attacks with utility skills or defensive strategies.
Giant’s Blood allows you to take advantage of a broader range of powerful two-handed weapon mods while simultaneously leveraging the benefits of additional gear slots.
While the benefits of Giant’s Blood are immense, it does come with significant challenges:
High Attribute Requirements
Doubling the attribute requirements of your weapons can create a steep barrier to entry, especially for hybrid builds that rely on multiple attributes (e.g., strength and dexterity).
Increased Gear Dependency
Meeting the attribute requirements often requires investment in attribute-boosting gear, passive nodes, or jewels, limiting your flexibility in itemization.
Skill Investment
To fully utilize Giant’s Blood, you’ll need to carefully plan your passive skill tree and gear to ensure you can wield your chosen weapons effectively.
To maximize the potential of Giant’s Blood, pair it with passive skills and support gems that amplify your strengths:
Two-Handed Weapons:
Choose weapons with high base damage, critical strike chance, or elemental damage modifiers to maximize your output.
Amulets and Rings:
Look for items with “+X to Strength/Dexterity/Intelligence” or attributes that reduce weapon requirements.
Chest Armor:
High-defense armor with energy shield or evasion modifiers can complement hybrid builds, while strength-based armor offers raw defense.
Jewels:
Equip jewels that boost attributes or provide additional bonuses to two-handed weapons.
Flasks:
Use utility flasks that boost attack speed, critical strike chance, or damage to improve your efficiency in combat.
Plan Your Attributes:
Meeting the doubled requirements for two-handed weapons is critical. Allocate points to attributes carefully and prioritize gear with high attribute rolls.
Utilize Your Free Hand:
Pairing a two-handed weapon with a shield or second weapon allows for incredible versatility. Experiment with combinations to find what suits your playstyle.
Positioning and Timing:
With the massive power of two-handed weapons, positioning is crucial. Time your attacks to hit as many enemies as possible in one swing for maximum impact.
Giant’s Blood is a transformative keystone that brings unparalleled power and versatility to melee builds in Path of Exile 2. By wielding two-handed weapons in one hand, you can unleash devastating attacks while maintaining flexibility in your gear and skills. While the doubled attribute requirements demand careful planning, the rewards of mastering this keystone are immense.