The Sunder Totem Titan is a devastating, safe, and scalable warrior build in Path of Exile 2. It combines the raw area damage of Sunder with totem mechanics, allowing you to crush enemies from a distance while staying mobile and out of harm's way. This makes it perfect for newcomers and veterans alike, excelling at crowd control and late-game content.

Build Overview

At the heart of this build is Ancestral Warrior Totem + Sunder. Your totems slam shockwaves into enemies with huge AoE, while you remain a safe distance away, focusing on positioning and survivability.

Why it works:

Sunder's shockwaves scale exceptionally well with attack speed, physical damage, and AoE. Since your totems inherit your weapon stats, stacking physical damage on your weapon hugely impacts your DPS without exposing you to direct attacks.

Recommended Gear

Weapon

Early & Late Game: Elder-Influenced Karui Maul or Ezomyte Staff

Mods to prioritize:

+% Increased Physical Damage

Gain Physical Damage as Extra Fire or Cold

Attacks have a % Chance to maim

Why: Totems use your weapon stats, so high flat physical damage and beneficial elemental conversion boosts your totem damage massively.

Helmet

Rare with +2 to AoE Gems

Enchantments like "Sunder creates additional shockwaves" stack multiplicatively with AoE, improving clear speed significantly.

Body Armor

Kaom's Heart (Best for raw survivability with massive life)

Alternatively, a rare chest with "% Physical Damage Taken as Elemental" to mitigate physical damage better, since your totems handle most offense.

Gloves

Spiked Gloves with:

Added Physical Damage to Attacks

Increased Attack Speed

Life and Resistance

Boots

Rare boots with:

30-35% Movement Speed

Life

Chaos Resistance (important early for chaos damage mitigation)

Bonus: Mods like "Unaffected by Burning Ground" or "Avoid Elemental Ailments" improve boss fights.

Amulet

Turquoise amulet with:

+1 to Melee Skills

Increased Totem Damage

Strength (boosts life and damage)

Hunter-influenced amulets with mods like "% Increased Totem Placement Speed" or "Skills Cost Life Instead of Mana" greatly improve quality of life.

Rings

Rare with:

Mana Leech or Mana Regeneration

Added Physical Damage

Strength and Life/Resistances for survivability

Key Skills & Support Gems

For Clearing Mobs:

Sunder (main attack)

Martial Tempo (boost attack speed)

Upheaval (adds fissures for AoE)

Inspiration (mana efficiency)

Magnified Effect (increase AoE size)

For Boss Fights:

Sunder (primary damage)

Martial Tempo (attack speed)

Overpower (boost damage vs tougher enemies)

Brutality (amplifies physical damage)

Close Combat (extra damage to nearby enemies)

Passive Skill Tree Highlights

Giant's Blood - enables dual-wielding two-handed maces, boosting melee power.

Polymathy Cluster - covers attribute requirements.

Resolute Technique - ensures attacks never miss, improving reliability.

Prioritize melee damage, totem effectiveness, life, and defenses balanced for survivability and damage output.

Progression Tips

Early game: Focus on life and melee damage nodes for survivability and output.

Mid to late game: Push toward key keystones like Giant's Blood and attribute nodes to meet gear requirements.

Balance offense and defense as you level to maintain smooth progression.

Flasks Setup

Life Flask: At least one with bleed or curse removal

Quicksilver Flask: For movement speed

Granite or Jade Flask: For armor or evasion boosts

Lion's Roar: Huge physical damage boost and knockback, excellent for crowd control

Playstyle Tips

Always mind your totem placement to maximize damage coverage and keep yourself safe.

Manage your mana carefully; use Inspiration and gear/passives to reduce costs or convert them to life cost.

Stay mobile and use the totems as your frontline, letting them absorb aggro while you reposition.

Endgame Optimization

Focus on upgrading to the highest-tier physical scaling weapons available.

Use jewels that boost totem life, AoE, and physical damage.

Optimize flasks for maximum sustain and damage.

Adapt your passive tree and gear for specific content (mapping, bosses, league mechanics).

Prefer open maps like Dunes or Tropical Island for smooth clears; avoid harsh mods like "No mana regen."

Switch gem links and gear for burst damage in boss fights or tankier setups for tougher encounters.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring attribute requirements (Strength, Intelligence) can cripple your build's effectiveness.

Poor totem placement reduces damage and risks aggro. Totems too far from enemies lose DPS; those too close risk being overwhelmed.

Neglecting mana management leaves you vulnerable mid-fight - ensure you have enough regen, leech, or conversion.

Conclusion

The Sunder Totem Titan is a masterclass in blending power, safety, and strategic gameplay. With excellent damage scaling, survivability, and control, it's capable of carrying you deep into Path of Exile 2's endgame. Focus on mastering the rhythm of totem placement, efficient mana use, and gear scaling - then watch your totems do the smashing.

If you want, I can help you craft a shopping list based on your current Path of Exile 2 currency and Path of Exile 2 items, or suggest specific crafting recipes to maximize your gear upgrades efficiently.