PoE2 Bleed Spear Smith League Starter Theorycraft

Patch 0.2.0 Dawn of the Hunt drops tomorrow, the 4th of April 2025, and if you're looking for a tough as nails, bleed your enemies dry starter, Smith of Kitava is your man. With spear skills getting love and Herald of Blood packs popping, this bleed spear build is a tanky dream for lazy exiles who want to hit hard without sweating mechanics. Like the vibe? Keep this page handy for your league start, and check out our store for gear ideas to spice up your early grind. Let's forge this damn beast!  

Why Smith of Kitava Shines

Smith’s a mitigation god—Fortune of Flame turns fire res into cold/lightning coverage, stacking up to 90% all res with ease. Offence? Clumsy as hell - Tempered Weapon and Manifest Weapon need to be tested - but Bleed scales it up. Combine that with Rake's 100% bleed chance and Herald of Blood's explosions, and you've got a beefy starter that can shrug off hits while mobs bleed out.  

Core Skills: Your Bleed Forge

Rake (Tier 3): Leap forward, slash, 100% bleed chance with 100% more size - your bread and butter. Patch 0.2.0 makes it a movement skill, so it's mobility and damage in one. Stack distance for up to 100% more damage - hit and run, bleed 'em dry.  Spear Field (Tier 2): Plant spears, sprout spikes - bonus damage on contact. Bloodlust (30% more vs. Bleeding) boosts after raking. Clear feed while bleeding tick.  Explosive Spear (Tier 1): Throw it, wait 5s, or pop it with Frenzy Charges. Overabundance doubles it - extra chaos for packs. Spear buffs make this patch a must.  Herald of Blood (Spirit Aura): Kills explode for 15% residual blood loss, chaining to exacerbate bleeds (100% more damage). Magnified Effect (30% more AoE) turns it into a Gore Fest-clear speed is covered.  Stomping Ground (Support): Adds shockwaves per step, scaled with Strength, not weapon damage. Early game gem for free AoE; late game fades unless you stack Strength hard.

Early Game Flow

Start with spear basics (Marshall Tempo for speed), then grab Rake with Brutality (25% more physical). Add Explosive Spear (Overabundance) and Spearfield (Bloodlust) by Act 2. Stomping Ground boosts Smith's early clear-leverage power nodes. Herald of Blood joins later - rake in, spear up, watch for explosions. Bosses? Rake, spear, repeat bleed does the job.  

Smith of Kitava Ascendancy: Tanky Core

Smith’s all about survival—start with Fortune of Flame:  90% fire res spreads to cold/lightning—near-immune to elements.  5% Max Res and 20% Strength to Life Nodes - stack Strength, get beefy.  Later, tempered weapon (if numbers hit hard) or fire spell on hit (utility)-TBD, test on day one.Skip Flowing Metal - Cloak of Flame (cheap, converts phys to fire), beat it with Smith's Res cap.  

Patch Boosts to Exploit

Crimson Assault Keystone: Exacerbates Bleeding (100% more damage), duration drops to 1s - 1000 damage lands instantly. Huge if unhealed - hunt it down.  Trusted Kinship: Two companions-grab a bleed buddy or aura bot (resurrects itself, no hassle).  Pillar of the Caged God: Nerfed (10% damage per 10 Power, was 5), but Smith's Power stacks keep it viable early - swap later.

Gear and gems: Beef on a Budget

Grab a spear with physical damage—accuracy’s nice but secondary. Armour is your friend - stack Strength and Res. Ingenuity has been nerfed (20-30% per ring), so skip it unless it's cheap. Gems: Brutality, Bloodlust, Magnified Effect-safe picks. Over 100 new supports drop this patch - Stomping Ground is a leveling star, tweak endgame later.  

Playstyle: Lazy Tank Slayer

Leap with Rake (it’s your dodge too), drop Spearfield, toss Explosive Spears—let Herald pop packs. Stomping Ground adds passive AoE while you stroll. Bosses? Rake, Spearfield, Tank Hits - Bleed and Res does the rest. It's slow but unstoppable - perfect for chilling through the grind.  

Why it's a league starter Win

Smith's tankiness laughs at early game poverty - 90% res and strength scaling need minimal gear. Bleed with Rake and Herald clears smoothly, and single-target holds up with patience. It's not flashy, but it's a beefy, lazy way to dominate April 4th and push towards the endgame.  

Thanks for Reading

This Bleed Spear Smith is forged for Dawn of the Hunt—gear up for April 4th and keep an eye on MMOJUGG for more brutal builds!