The 0.3.0 update in Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict introduced several major adjustments for melee Warriors, making Slam skills far more competitive. Boneshatter in particular benefits from new synergies with Earthquake and the addition of Forge Hammer, giving the archetype improved scaling and a smoother endgame transition.

The Boneshatter Titan is one of the most beginner-friendly melee builds in Path of Exile 2. It emphasizes durability, straightforward Slam mechanics, and powerful stun interactions. While it starts a little slow in the campaign, the build grows into a tanky powerhouse capable of clearing Echoes and crushing bosses with consistent, high-impact slams.

If you're looking for a league starter that feels reliable, scales well into maps, and doesn't demand complicated mechanics, this guide will cover everything you need: skill setups, passive tree routes, ascendancy, and choosing the Path of Exile 2 items to maximize your Titan's potential.

Skill Gem Setup for Boneshatter Titan

At its core, the build revolves around Boneshatter, a Slam skill that generates shockwaves and scales naturally with Stun mechanics. The skill remains relevant from Act 1 through the endgame, and when paired with Titan ascendancy bonuses, it becomes both deadly and resilient.

Early Game Setup

During the campaign, your priority is AoE clearing and building stun pressure:

·Boneshatter: Magnified Area - Impact Shockwave - Close Combat

·Infernal Cry: Premeditation - Enraged Warcry

·Leap Slam: Rapid Attacks - Brink

·Herald of Ash: Cannibalism

·Shockwave Totem: Overabundance - Urgent Totems

Leap Slam helps build stun pressure while Boneshatter detonates packs. Pairing Infernal Cry with Herald of Ash ensures a combustion chain across mobs, creating an explosive clear. Shockwave Totem provides extra damage in the early acts, but becomes less critical by Act 3-4 once your gear and damage improve.

Mid to Late Game Setup

As you enter mapping and Echoes, the rotation evolves with more impactful slams:

·Forge Hammer: Cooldown Recovery - Fire Attunement - Elemental Armament

·Earthshatter: Aftershock - Reverberate - Upheaval

·Hammer of the Gods: Fist of War - Rageforged - Close Combat - Heavy Swing

·Seismic Cry: Dazing Cry - Raging Cry

Here, the gameplay loop becomes clearer: Earthshatter and Seismic Cry build stun momentum, Boneshatter maintains AoE consistency, and Hammer of the Gods delivers devastating single-target bursts when Glory stacks are maxed.

Boss Rotation Explained

Boss fights showcase this build's strength. The rhythm is deliberate but rewarding:

1. Leap Slam and Earthshatter to build stun bar progress.

2. Trigger Seismic Cry to amplify Slam damage.

3. Prime the boss with Infernal Cry for combustion explosions.

4. Drop Hammer of the Gods at peak Glory stacks.

5. Maintain consistent Boneshatter slams for AoE and sustain.

This cycle ensures you deal consistent damage while stacking stuns for explosive bursts.

Passive Tree Setup

The Titan's passive tree prioritizes melee damage, stun efficiency, and later survivability.

·Start with melee damage nodes leading to Smash for early power spikes.

·Progress toward Resolute Technique, guaranteeing reliable hits without investing in critical strikes.

·If defenses feel weak, branch into nodes like Polished Iron and Blade Catcher.

·Take Vocal Empowerment for increased Warcry effectiveness.

For advanced gearing, consider the Giant's Blood Keystone, which allows dual-wielding two-handed weapons. However, this comes with steep stat requirements and reduced Strength benefits, so it's best reserved for well-geared characters-something more manageable if you leverage the PoE2 trade economy or buy PoE2 currency to optimize gear.

Ascendancy Choices for Titan

The Titan ascendancy is tailor-made for this build, bolstering tankiness and Slam mechanics. The best options for a Boneshatter Titan are:

·Colossal Capacity: Adds +20 inventory slots, a surprisingly valuable QoL boost for mapping and farming.

·Hulking Form: Increases the power of all small passives by 50%, translating to huge gains in life, damage, and armor.

·Mysterious Lineage: Grants +15% maximum health, ensuring you can wade into hordes without fear.

·Earthbreaker: Gives Slam skills a 25% chance to create aftershocks, adding damage and stun consistency.

Together, these passives reinforce the Titan's identity as an immovable juggernaut.

Ideal Gear Setup

For gear, survivability comes first. The Titan's damage naturally scales well, so focus on staying alive.

Weapons

·Two-handed maces or hammers with high physical DPS.

·Prioritize attack speed and flat physical rolls.

·Late-game: aim for stun effectiveness and cooldown recovery to streamline rotations.

Armor

·Stack maximum life, resistances, and armor.

·Unique modifiers like added Slam damage are helpful but secondary to survivability.

Accessories

·Rings and amulets should boost life, resistances, Strength, and Slam damage.

·Belts can fill defensive gaps while offering flask bonuses.

Flasks

·Prioritize movement speed, bleed immunity, and stun recovery.

Gameplay Feel

The Boneshatter Titan plays differently from fast-paced projectile or spell builds. Instead, it's about deliberate timing and meaningful slams. Each attack feels weighty, and once you learn to animation-cancel and chain attacks, the build flows smoothly.

In combat, you'll feel tanky enough to stand your ground while unleashing devastating AoE shockwaves. Clearing Echoes is consistent, and bosses fall quickly once you stack stuns and unleash your burst rotation.

Conclusion

The Boneshatter Titan build in Path of Exile 2 (Patch 0.3.0) is a fantastic option for players seeking a straightforward but powerful melee archetype. With its Slam-focused toolkit, resilient Titan ascendancy, and excellent scaling from start to finish, it excels as both a league starter and a reliable endgame farmer.

If you're new to PoE2 or simply want a build that balances raw power, durability, and ease of play, the Boneshatter Titan is hard to beat. Grab your hammer, leap into the fray, and crush Wraeclast underfoot-because in Patch 0.3.0, Slam builds are stronger than ever.