Overview
Scorpius’s Martial Artist league starter is built around the brand-new Martial Artist ascendancy arriving in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5 Return of the Ancients. The centrepiece is the Hollow Palm Technique keystone, available at level 22, which removes the damage penalty for fighting without a weapon in the main-hand and transforms unarmed scaling into a powerful offensive platform. Four tested leveling variants — Glacial, Grenade, Twister, and Lightning Assault — let players pick the path that suits their early-game drops.
The Glacial variant is recommended for most players. Acts 1 through 21 use Glacial Cascade as the primary AoE skill, pairing it with Frozen Locus crystal detonations for burst damage and Frost Bomb to apply exposure to bosses. At level 14 a Tempest Flurry and Tempest Bell combo joins the rotation for single-target encounters. A solid Quarterstaff is the biggest early investment — damage scales dramatically with weapon quality in this pre-Hollow Palm phase.
At level 22 the build pivots: acquire Hollow Palm Technique via the passive tree (refunding the Dizzying Sweep node, pathing toward Wild Storm), then transition gear toward Evasion/Energy Shield bases. Storm Wave replaces Glacial Cascade as the primary clear skill, and the Martial Artist ascendancy nodes kick in to sustain the unarmed damage loop into the endgame.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Brand-new ascendancy with dedicated 0.5 design
- Four tested leveling paths for flexibility
- Clear gear and skill transition milestones at level 22
- Responsive Frost Bomb + Tempest Flurry boss rotation
Cons
- Monk early game is widely considered the roughest start in the game
- Hollow Palm effectiveness depends on finding quality EV/ES gear
- Multiple skills required simultaneously in acts 1-21
- Endgame section pending May 21 patch-notes release
Key Skills
- Glacial Cascade — Primary AoE clear in acts 1-21
- Frozen Locus — Ice crystal placement for spike burst
- Frost Bomb — Applies exposure debuff on bosses
- Tempest Flurry + Tempest Bell — Boss rotation combo from level 14
- Storm Wave — Replaces Glacial Cascade after level 22 transition
Gear & Anointments
Act 1: Prioritise Armor-based gear. A quality Quarterstaff is the single biggest damage upgrade before Hollow Palm. Flat damage and movement speed on boots are high priority.
Act 2+: Swap to Evasion/Energy Shield bases to scale Hollow Palm. Target a Body Armour with high ES/EV. New gear tiers unlock at levels 16 and 20.
Key supports: Rapid Attacks I (Glacial Cascade), Rage Support, Elemental Armament on Herald of Thunder, Upheaval Support for Storm Wave post-22.
Leveling / Campaign Notes
Spam Glacial Cascade for spike hits, place Frozen Locus crystals and detonate them for burst. For bosses: Frost Bomb first for exposure, then maintain Glacial Cascade spikes with Frozen Locus uptime. At level 22 refund Dizzying Sweep, path toward Wild Storm, transition to unarmed scaling with Storm Wave as primary clear and Tempest Flurry + Bell for bosses.
Credits & Source
- Creator: Scorpius
- Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9g7Vo_PTXtXUO6Q1GCxKXA
- Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3XCi8KUTDo
- Companion Guide: https://mobalytics.gg/poe-2/builds/martial-artist-league-starter-scorpius