PoE2 Dawn of the Hunt: Crossbows Huge Buffed

Path of Exile 2's latest patch, 0.2.0, has unleashed a whirlwind of changes, and while many players were busy dissecting the nerfs, something massive slipped under the radar: crossbows are now absolutely bonkers. If you're gearing up for the Dawn of the Hunt league and looking for a build that packs a punch, you might want to take a serious look at these bad boys. Oh, and while you're here, be sure to bookmark our site for more PoE 2 insights - our Poe2 Currency & Item Shop is also worth a look for your gearing needs!  

A Buff That’s Hard to Ignore

Let’s break it down. The base damage of all crossbows has been buffed, giving them a solid foundation on which to shine. But the real kicker? Crossbows now use two-handed versions of added damage modifiers (think Physical, Fire, Cold, and Lightning) instead of their old one-handed counterparts. This isn't just a tweak - it's a game changer. In addition, a sneaky bug fix means that local attack speed modifiers on crossbows now actually increase reload speed properly. Translation? Faster firing, meatier hits, and a whole lot of fun.  To put this into perspective, consider the numbers. One-handed weapon mods, such as those on a brigand's mace, can max out at around 97 DPS without quality. Compare that to a two-handed beast like the Auric Great Hammer, which sits pretty at 154 DPS - a jump of around 58%. Crossbows get a similar buff, with estimates ranging from a 40-50% damage increase depending on the roll and runes. A perfectly rolled crossbow with top-tier physical damage mods could easily hit 1,560 DPS or more. That's not just strong - it's borderline absurd.  

Skills That Seal the Deal

You’d think the devs might balance this out by nerfing crossbow skills, right? Nope - they doubled down. Take Explosive Grenade, for example. Its cooldown jumped from 3 seconds to 7 seconds, which sounds harsh, but its base damage more than doubled and its attack damage scaling skyrocketed from 135% to 421%. You're trading frequency for devastating bursts, and with a more powerful weapon behind it, the payoff is huge.  Then there's Gas Grenades, a skill that was already a league favourite before it was patched early last time around. Now? It's back and better, with attack damage jumping from 40-125 to 40-163 and explosion damage jumping from 150-468 to 150-612. No cooldown nerfs here - just pure, unadulterated power. Galvanic Shards and Artillery Ballista also got some love, with tighter damage ranges and better scaling options. Even Siege Cascade, a skill that's been flying under the radar, got a nice bump. Crossbows aren't just viable - they're begging to be played.  

Why Crossbows Might Dominate Dawn of the Hunt

Picture this: you’re an Amazon, standing tall with a crossbow that’s pumping out elemental chaos or raw physical devastation. The synergy is unreal. Higher level runes are also in the mix in this league, pushing those damage ceilings even higher. Whether you lean towards hybrid physical builds or go full elemental, the flexibility is there and the damage is off the charts. Sure, spears may tempt you with their flashy range, but can they compete with this kind of raw power? I'm not so sure.  I'll admit, I'm half tempted to ditch my spear plans and go for the crossbow. There's something about unleashing a barrage of explosive death that just feels right. But I'm curious: what do you think? Are crossbows calling your name, or are you sticking with another weapon for Dawn of the Hunt?  

Tips to Get Started

If you’re sold on crossbows, here’s a quick heads-up: prioritize mods like added physical or elemental damage and attack speed on your gear. Socketed runes will boost your output even more, so don't sleep on crafting or trading for the good stuff. Combine this with skills like Gas Grenade or Explosive Grenade and you've got a recipe for destroying bosses and clearing maps like a pro. Experiment, tweak and watch the mayhem unfold.  

Thanks for Reading

Crossbows in PoE 2 are shaping up to be a force of nature this league, and I’m hyped to see how they shake up the meta. Keep an eye on MMOJUGG for more updates, builds and gear tips as Dawn of the Hunt gets underway. Happy hunting, exiles!