Warrior – Spear Smith of Kitava Barrage – (0.3)

Introduction

This guide covers the Level 79 Warrior build with Smith of Kitava ascendancy from FragManSaul’s RNG Builds series (Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3 recap), wheel-spun as Warrior/Smith of Kitava/Single-Handed Spear/Barrage. Dubbed “Barry Smith,” it’s a fire/thorns hybrid melee setup using Barrage to empower Spear Throw repeats via frenzy charge consumption, Manifest Weapon for beastly melee-proj hybrids, and shrine sceptres (Fire/Frozen) for massive buffs/explosions. Evolved for “inferno beast” clear with thorns retaliation, armour ignore, and fire conversions. Strong T11+ mapping and bossing with screen-wide AoE via repeats/explosions.

Check the full build in Path of Building here: https://pobb.in/lDe968mwpH7D

Core Concept

Class: Warrior
Ascendancy: Smith of Kitava
Weapon: Spear
Main Skill: Barrage

Key PoB stats: 1,675 life (9% increased), 63 ES, 674 mana, 7,002 eHP, 7,099 armour, capped 75% elemental/chaos resistances. Max hits: Phys 2,985; Ele 8,614; Chaos 9,522 (DPS base 0—scales 20k+ with frenzy/repeats/buffs per video). Infinite sustain via recoup, blood rush (costs to life/speed), and leech

Key Skills & Synergies

Front bar focuses on Spear Throw volleys (Barrage-empowered), Manifest Weapon melee, auras/Heralds for fire/thorns. Back bar alt Spear Throw for flexibility. Supports emphasize multishot/projs, charge sustain, armour break, fire attunement/explosions, thorns.

Front Bar Skills

  • Spear Throw (Main Attack): Arcing projs for clear/bossing. Supports: Inhibitor, Multishot II, Pin II, Caltrops (slow/dmg).
  • Manifest Weapon: “Utter beast” melee-proj hybrid. Supports: Corrosion, Uruk’s Smelting, Poison III, Armour Break III.
  • Barrage (Empower): Volley ready—consumes frenzy for Spear Throw repeats (+2 base +1/frenzy; 45% less dmg/repeat). Supports: Perpetual Charge, Cooldown Recovery II, Heightened Charges.
  • Auras/Heralds: Purity of Ice/Fire, Herald of Ash (fire trails/explosions).
  • Utilities: Magnified Area I, Fire Mastery, Trail of Caltrops, Nova Projectiles I, Rearm II, Lightning Attunement, Living Lightning II, Rapid Casting II, Mobility, Scavenged Plating, Physical Mastery, Prolonged Duration I, Lingering Illusion, Thornskin I, Charge Profusion II, Wind Dancer, Armour Break III, Fire Attunement, Fire Exposure, Charge Regulation, Overwhelming Presence, Enemy Explode.

Back Bar Skills

  • Spear Throw: Variant. Supports: Inhibitor, Nova Projectiles I, Pin III, Caltrops.

Synergies

  • Barrage-Spear Throw Loop: Barrage empowers next Spear Throw to repeat (frenzy-scaled); Perpetual/Heightened sustain charges. “Can’t barrage a stab… Spear Throw works.”
  • Fire/Thorns Hybrid: Herald of Ash/Fire Mastery/Fulmination explosions; Cremating Cries (phys→fire, explode 10% life); Revenge/Thornskin thorns retaliation; armour ignore/break (Corrosion/Scavenged Plating).
  • Shrine Buffs: Sceptre shrines (Fire preferred) → swelling auras, shock ground, 20% more dmg; Frozen alt for CC.
  • Charge/Mobility: Frenzy gen/recovery; Wind Dancer/Rapid Casting reduce MS penalty; Blood Rush converts costs to life/speed.
  • Manifest Beast: Counts melee for Smith of Kitava; Living Lightning chains.
  • Ascendancy/Passives: Smith of Kitava fire/forge boosts; Overheating Blow, relentless/sturdy metal for armour; “made to last” recoup.

Playstyle & Performance

Playstyle

  • Core Loop: Maintain frenzy charges → Barrage (5s buff) → Spear Throw volley (repeats delete packs) → Manifest Weapon melee spikes. Activate auras/Herald; weave Living Lightning chains. Use shrine sceptre for portals/boss buffs (“boss dead, no fight”). Wind Dancer/Mobility for roly-poly movement; caltrops/pin for CC.
  • Bossing: Shrine setup → Barrage-empowered throws + Manifest ramp; explosions/thorns melt.
  • Sustain/Mobility: Recoup/leech; blood rush life gen; no overcaps noted—fix res waste.
  • Tips: “Two attacks then buffs”; prioritize frenzy uptime; Fire shrine > Frozen; Cow Trop’s Drop for 6-links.

Performance

  • Mapping: Excellent—T11 “easy peasy” with repeats/explosions/shock ground; screen clears.
  • Bossing: Strong—shrines make “no fight”; high rolls via thorns/fire.
  • Defenses: Tanky (7k armour/eHP, capped res); thorns/parry shield suggested; armour ignore on enemies.
  • Overall: Fun RNG “rusty but strong” melee proj; budget shrine focus, scales with uniques.

Gear Highlights (from showcase & PoB)

RNG-budget; shrine sceptres core, spear for throws. High armour/res stacking.

  • Weapon: Single-Handed Spear (barrageable attacks).
  • Offhand: Unique Sceptre (shrine effects—Fire/Frozen; “final piece… super strong”).
  • Drop Item: Cow Trop’s Drop (two 6-link weapons, passage bonuses).
  • Shield: Parry shield recommended for melee.
  • Other: Guard’s Palm of the Eye (freezing shrine); belt (20% more dmg, shock ground, 40% phys red); armour bases for 7k+.
  • Flasks/Jewels: Sustain-focused; jewels for thorns/fire/charges.

Progression: Spear/Barrage unlock → shrine sceptre → frenzy/charge nodes → armour/res uniques.

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