The Wylund’s Stake Smithing Hammer has undergone a significant update for Path of Exile 2, with major improvements in physical damage and fire damage output, along with additional strength and fire resistance bonuses. This updated version enhances both offensive capabilities and survivability, making it a great option for melee and fire-based builds.
Original Wylund’s Stake Smithing Hammer
Base Stats:
- Physical Damage: 6-11
- Fire Damage: 7-12
- Critical Hit Chance: 5.00%
- Attacks Per Second: 1.45
- Requires: 11 Strength
Modifiers:
- Adds 2 to 4 Physical Damage
- Adds 3 to 5 Fire Damage
- Hits Break 33 Armour
- Apply Fire Exposure When Fully Breaking Enemy Armour
The original version of Wylund’s Stake Smithing Hammer offered a balanced combination of physical and fire damage with the ability to break enemy armour and apply fire exposure, enhancing damage over time for fire-focused builds. Its attack speed and critical hit chance made it suitable for versatile melee setups, though its overall damage output was more modest compared to the updated version.
Updated Wylund’s Stake Smithing Hammer in Path of Exile 2
Base Stats:
- Physical Damage: 8-16
- Fire Damage: 9-17
- Critical Hit Chance: 5.00%
- Attacks Per Second: 1.45
- Requires: 11 Strength
Modifiers:
- Adds 4 to 9 Physical Damage
- Adds 5 to 10 Fire Damage
- +16 to Strength
- +26% to Fire Resistance
- Hits Break 38 Armour
- Apply Fire Exposure When Fully Breaking Enemy Armour
What’s Changed?
- Increased Physical and Fire Damage
The physical and fire damage ranges have been significantly boosted. Physical damage increased from 6-11 to 8-16, while fire damage grew from 7-12 to 9-17, enhancing overall offensive power. This makes the hammer more potent in both single-target and area-of-effect (AoE) scenarios. - Strength Bonus Added
The updated version grants +16 Strength, which not only boosts your damage scaling but also contributes to life and other defensive stats tied to strength, making this weapon much more beneficial for strength-based builds. - Increased Fire Resistance
The new modifier adds +26% to Fire Resistance, improving survivability for players using this hammer. The increase in fire resistance is a great benefit, especially for builds that rely on fire damage or those who need extra fire resistance to deal with elemental damage in end-game content. - Armor-Breaking and Fire Exposure
The Hits Break 38 Armour modifier has seen an increase from 33 Armour in the original version, improving the hammer’s ability to shred enemy armour and set up fire exposure when enemy armour is fully broken. This ensures enemies are more vulnerable to fire damage, synergizing well with fire-focused builds.
Impact on Builds
1. Fire-Based Builds
The new fire damage scaling and fire resistance make the Wylund’s Stake a top-tier option for fire-based builds, particularly those that use fire skills and rely on fire exposure to deal massive elemental damage. The ability to break armour and apply fire exposure increases the overall damage potential significantly, especially against tanky enemies.
2. Strength-Focused Builds
The addition of +16 Strength makes this hammer an excellent choice for builds that prioritize strength scaling. Players using this weapon will benefit not only from the strength bonus but also from the increased armour-breaking and fire exposure mechanics, making it a great all-around weapon for both offensive and defensive strategies.
3. Armour Breaking and Exposure Synergy
The combination of armour breaking and fire exposure makes this hammer ideal for melee builds that need to break through enemies’ defences. With 38 Armour being broken on hit, the hammer can quickly weaken enemies, allowing the rest of your team or your fire abilities to deal devastating damage.
Tips for Using Wylund’s Stake Smithing Hammer
1. Maximize Fire Damage
Focus on stacking fire damage and fire exposure modifiers, such as those found on passive tree nodes or gear, to maximize your fire damage output. This will amplify the weapon’s already substantial fire damage potential.
2. Leverage Strength Scaling
Take advantage of the +16 Strength by stacking additional strength-based modifiers to further increase your damage output and life pool. Strength scaling also synergizes well with defensive gear that boosts armour.
3. Armour Shred and Exposure
Make sure to take full advantage of the armour-breaking and fire exposure mechanics. Pair this weapon with skills or gear that further enhance armour penetration or fire-based debuffs to increase the effectiveness of Wylund’s Stake.
4. Fire Resistance for Survivability
With the added +26% fire resistance, the hammer provides additional survivability. If you’re facing enemies with high fire damage, this bonus will help you mitigate incoming elemental damage, making the hammer more suitable for prolonged engagements.
The Wylund’s Stake Smithing Hammer in Path of Exile 2 is now a powerhouse weapon for fire-based melee builds, thanks to significant boosts in physical and fire damage, along with added strength and fire resistance bonuses. The combination of armour breaking and fire exposure makes it an excellent choice for players looking to deal both elemental and physical damage while reducing enemies’ defences.
How will you be crafting your build around the updated Wylund’s Stake? Let us know in the comments!
