It is a Skill Gem.
Attack
Melee, Strike, Shapeshift, Bear
Level: 3
Cost: 3 Mana
Attack Time: 1.00 sec
Attack Damage: 165%
Requires: Level 6
Shapeshift into a bear and swipe with your claws.
Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
Maul in Path of Exile 2 is a powerful Shapeshift skill that allows you to transform into a Bear and deal massive Melee damage with your claws. This skill is designed for players who want to combine the raw strength of a Bear form with devastating physical damage, making it a core ability for Shapeshifting builds.
The Maul skill is all about shapeshifting into a Bear and using your Bear claws to deal significant Melee damage. Here’s a breakdown of how it functions:
Shapeshift into Bear Form: Upon activation, you transform into a Bear, gaining access to a powerful set of claw attacks. The skill lets you swipe with your claws, dealing 165% attack damage and additional physical damage with each strike.
Swipe with Claws: Once in Bear form, you unleash a claw swipe with 165% attack damage, and the skill adds 8 to 11 Added Attack Physical Damage, boosting your overall damage output.
Increased Melee Strike Range: Maul provides +9 Melee Strike Range, making it easier to hit enemies from a safer distance. This allows you to deal damage without getting too close to your targets, which can be crucial for survival in tougher fights.
Critical Strike Chance: The skill comes with a +7% to Critical Strike Chance, significantly increasing your chance to land critical hits. If you’re focusing on Critical Damage or Crit builds, this boost can significantly enhance your overall damage output.
Bleeding: The skill has a 25% chance to cause Bleeding, meaning that every successful swipe has the potential to inflict damage over time. This is especially useful for sustained damage against tougher enemies or in long boss fights.
Shapeshift Requirement: The +0.6 seconds to Total Attack Time applies only if you’re not already in Bear form. Once you’ve transformed, the attack time becomes faster, allowing you to strike harder and faster while in Bear form.
Bear Damage Scaling: As a Shapeshift skill, Maul scales well with Bear form modifiers, which can enhance both the duration and damage of your Bear attacks. Look for items and passive skills that improve your shapeshift abilities for the best results.
Maul is best used in Shapeshift builds focused on Bear form. The synergy between Shapeshift and Melee builds makes Maul a core part of these strategies. Here’s how you can make the most of this powerful skill:
Maximize Bear Form Duration: Since Maul relies on Bear form, use passives or gear that extend the duration of shapeshifting or reduce the cooldown for quicker transformations.
Enhance Physical Damage: Focus on boosting Physical Damage in your gear and passive tree to maximize the effectiveness of Maul‘s 165% attack damage and added physical damage.
Critical Strike and Bleed Synergies: Combine Critical Damage modifiers and Bleed bonuses with Maul to boost your damage output. Critical Hits and Bleed are both great ways to apply high burst damage and sustained pressure.
Shapeshift Enhancements: Look for Shapeshift-specific gear or passive skills that improve your Bear form abilities. The more you can enhance your Bear form, the more powerful Maul becomes.
Maul is a fantastic skill for those who want to harness the power of Bear form and unleash devastating Melee strikes. With its high attack damage, Bleeding potential, and Critical Strike bonuses, Maul offers strong offensive power for Shapeshift and Physical Damage builds. If you’re building around the Bear form and looking for a way to dish out heavy damage with each swipe, Maul is the perfect skill to take your Melee build to the next level.