In the expansive and intricately designed world of Path of Exile 2 (POE 2), weapon choices are one of the most crucial elements for determining a character's playstyle. Among the vast array of weapon base types, the Strife Pick stands out as a one-handed mace base type that offers unique possibilities for players looking to wield heavy power in their hands while maintaining flexibility in combat. This article delves into the POE 2 Currency Strife Pick, its characteristics, and how it can fit into different build strategies.

What is the Strife Pick?

The Strife Pick is a one-handed mace base type found in Path of Exile 2, which is designed for those who prefer a more strategic approach to both offense and defense. Maces, in general, are known for their high damage output and ability to stun enemies with brute force, and the Strife Pick continues this tradition but with a few nuanced twists.

What makes the Strife Pick unique is its combination of moderate attack speed and high base physical damage. As a one-handed weapon, it allows players to equip a shield in the off-hand, providing them with the best of both worlds: powerful single-handed attacks and the defensive utility of a shield. This makes it a versatile weapon for a variety of different builds, particularly for those who rely on physical damage output, crowd control, or a hybrid of both.

Strife Pick Stats and Modifiers

The Strife Pick comes with its own set of inherent stats that can be enhanced further by crafting or through the game's mod system. While the exact stats may vary depending on the item’s level and item rarity, here are some of the typical characteristics that define the Strife Pick:

Base Physical Damage: The Strife Pick typically has a solid physical damage range, making it a powerful weapon in melee combat. The base damage is especially helpful when scaling physical damage bonuses from other gear, passive skill tree nodes, or ascendancy abilities.

Attack Speed: One of the key characteristics of the Strife Pick is its moderate attack speed. While not as fast as daggers or claws, it strikes a balance between speed and power, allowing players to land hard-hitting blows without sacrificing too much in terms of attack frequency.

Stun Potential: Like most maces in POE 2, the Strife Pick has the potential to stun enemies on hit. This adds a layer of crowd control to the weapon, making it particularly effective against tougher enemies or bosses, where keeping foes incapacitated for a few moments can be a game-changer.

Critical Strike Chance: While Strife Picks may not have the highest base critical strike chance compared to other weapon types, the combination of physical damage and the potential for critical hits makes it a viable choice for those looking to integrate critical-based mechanics into their builds.

Best Builds for the Strife Pick

The Strife Pick is a versatile weapon that can work with many different character builds, but it excels in certain scenarios. Some of the most common and effective builds that benefit from the Strife Pick include:

Block Physical Damage Builds: Players who want to maximize both offense and defense will find the Strife Pick particularly appealing. Combining it with a shield opens up the possibility for block-based defenses, making it ideal for builds focused on surviving in melee combat while dealing high physical damage. This is especially useful for characters like the Juggernaut or Chieftain ascendancies, which emphasize physical damage mitigation and strength-based attacks.

Stun Builds: Since the Strife Pick is naturally inclined to stun enemies, it fits perfectly into builds that rely on stuns to control the battlefield. The Gladiator ascendancy, which offers enhanced stun mechanics, benefits significantly from the Strife Pick, as it enables both high damage output and reliable crowd control.

Elemental Hybrid Builds: While the Strife Pick itself focuses on physical damage, hybrid builds that utilize elemental damage (such as Elemental Hit or Static Strike) can also make good use of the mace. When coupled with elemental scaling and physical-to-elemental conversion mechanics, the Strife Pick can serve as a formidable weapon for both physical and elemental hybrid characters.

Crafting and Modding the Strife Pick

As with any high-end weapon in Path of Exile 2, crafting plays a crucial role in unlocking the true potential of the Strife Pick. The weapon’s physical damage can be scaled using various modifiers, such as increased physical damage, attack speed, or elemental damage conversion. Additionally, players can seek out affixes that increase stun duration or critical strike modifiers to further enhance the weapon’s performance.

Unique mods on Strife Pick bases are highly sought after, as they can provide additional utility like increased life leech or enhanced damage against specific enemy types, such as bosses or rare monsters.

Conclusion

The Strife Pick is a powerful and versatile one-handed mace base type that offers both offensive and defensive benefits. Its blend of physical damage, moderate attack speed, and stun potential makes it a prime choice for a variety of builds in Path of Exile 2. Whether you’re focusing on a block and physical damage setup, crafting a stun-focused build, or aiming for an elemental hybrid approach, the Strife Pick has the potential to enhance your character’s combat capabilities significantly.

With the right mods and a fitting build, the Strife Pick can become a POE 2 Exalted Orbs for sale central piece of your arsenal, delivering both powerful attacks and reliable crowd control for all of your adventures in Wraeclast.