Path of Exile 2: How to Get the Oak Greathammer
Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be a deeper, darker, and more strategic evolution of the beloved ARPG franchise. With reworked mechanics, new weapon classes, and overhauled systems, every item matters more than ever, especially in the early game. One standout among the early two-handed maces is the Oak Greathammer, a powerful base type weapon designed to deliver devastating stun-heavy attacks.
Whether you're a beginner forging through Act 1 or a seasoned player theorycrafting for optimal builds, understanding how to get the Oak Greathammer, and how it interacts with your progression and POE 2 Currency management, is essential. Let's break down this weapon, its drop mechanics, and how you can use it to smash through your early-game obstacles.
What Is the Oak Greathammer
The Oak Greathammer is a two-handed mace base type in Path of Exile 2. It's built for players who want to focus on high-impact melee combat, especially those aiming to abuse the game's improved stun mechanics.
Item Stats:
Physical Damage: 14–26
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.05
Weapon Range: 1.3 metres
Required Level: 4
Required Strength: 11
Special Modifier: (30–50)% increased Stun Buildup
Drop Level: 4
Weapon DPS Breakdown:
Physical DPS: 21.0
Phys + Chaos DPS: 21.0
Total DPS: 21.0
The increased stun buildup is a key feature here. Combined with the naturally high base damage of maces, this makes the Oak Greathammer a strong choice for players who want to control the battlefield by locking enemies down.
How to Get the Oak Greathammer
The Oak Greathammer begins dropping at level 4, which means you can start seeing it as early as the second or third zone of the campaign. However, since Path of Exile 2 randomizes loot heavily, there's no guarantee you'll find one on your first run through.
Here are a few practical methods to get your hands on this weapon:
1. Natural Monster Drops
As with most base items in Path of Exile, the Oak Greathammer can drop from monsters once you're above level 4. Areas like the Prisoner's Gate or Flooded Depths are solid farming zones. Focus on killing large packs of enemies or mini-bosses who have better drop rates.
2. Vendor Recipes and Random Vendors
Although POE 2's economy system is still evolving, vendors will often carry base-type weapons. Once you reach a town after level 4, check the weapon vendor's inventory. It refreshes regularly, and you might be able to purchase an Oak Greathammer directly using early-game POE 2 Currency like Orbs of Alteration or basic trade shards.
3. Trade With Other Players
If you're playing online and are struggling to find the weapon, consider checking the in-game trade system or community marketplaces. Players often post low-level base items for cheap, especially if they're not using stun builds. Spending a bit of POE 2 Currency could save you hours of grinding.
4. Target Farming and Crafting
Later in the game, you may want a higher-quality version of the Oak Greathammer. Use crafting benches or Essences, Orbs of Alchemy, and Chaos Orbs to boost its stats. Though early-game POE 2 Currency can be limited, saving up for one good item is often more efficient than chasing dozens of poor drops.
Best Uses for Oak Greathammer
This weapon is ideal for builds that prioritize stun mechanics, such as:
Stun Marauder/Warrior Builds
Shockwave Slam or Ground Slam Combos
Crowd Control–Heavy Solo Campaign Builds
Because of its stun scaling, pairing the Oak Greathammer with nodes on the passive skill tree that enhance stun duration or effectiveness can quickly snowball into a crowd-control monster. It also works great with support gems like Pulverize, Melee Physical Damage, or Increased Stun Duration.
Why It Matters in POE 2's Economy
In Path of Exile 2, even base weapons have economic value. During the early campaign, items like the Oak Greathammer can be tradeable for low-tier POE 2 Currency if they drop with desirable modifiers. For example, a rare Oak Greathammer with a +% physical damage mod could be worth a couple of Chaos Orbs to a new melee character.
As the in-game trading system continues to evolve, smart players will use weapons like the Oak Greathammer to fund their progression, either by selling them, crafting them for resale, or using them to crush content faster and more efficiently.
If you're looking to optimize your POE 2 Currency accumulation, farming level 4–10 areas for trade-worthy gear like this mace might be a surprisingly lucrative strategy.
Final Thoughts
The Oak Greathammer is more than just an early-game weapon, it's a statement of power for any melee-focused build in Path of Exile 2. Its blend of raw physical damage and powerful stun potential makes it one of the most desirable two-hand maces available at low levels.
For players who want to dominate enemies early, control the pace of fights, and build a character around crowd control, the Oak Greathammer is a perfect foundation. And with the right planning, it can even become a stepping stone toward greater gear upgrades and a healthier stash of POE 2 Currency.
As you embark on your adventure through Wraeclast once again, remember: in a world where death waits around every corner, sometimes the best defense is an overwhelming offense, delivered with the crushing force of an Oak Greathammer.
MMOexp POE 2 Team