When you first dive into the world of Path of Exile 2, you'll quickly notice the sheer variety of weapons available. Among them, maces hold a distinct place, offering a particular kind of impact. They're not just simple clubs; they're a whole category of melee weapons, split into one-handed and two-handed varieties. What's interesting is that they all share a common thread: they require Strength to wield effectively, and they come with an inherent bonus that increases the duration of stuns on enemies. It’s like they’re designed to really make an impression, not just with damage, but with control.
Looking at the breakdown, there are quite a few different base types for both one-handed and two-handed maces – the reference material mentions 27 base types for one-handed alone, and a good number of unique ones too. This suggests a lot of potential for customization and finding that perfect fit for your character's build. The same goes for the two-handed maces; there's a whole list of base types to explore.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing for maces in the current landscape of Path of Exile 2. I’ve seen discussions suggesting that maces, as a weapon class, might be in a bit of a tough spot right now. Some players feel that while the warrior archetype might seem like the issue, it’s actually the maces themselves that need some attention. The sentiment is that perhaps other weapon types, like axes, might offer a faster gameplay experience, which is often a big draw for players.
From what I gather, the default attack seems to be the go-to skill for many mace users because it's the fastest available and can be effectively supported for area-of-effect damage. The issue, apparently, lies with other mace-specific skills, which can have lengthy cast times or cooldowns, or simply don't offer the best damage percentages. This can lead to a gameplay loop where you're relying on the basic attack for most encounters, only switching to other skills like 'fist' or 'sunder' when facing tougher enemies or bosses, and then repeating the process. It sounds like a call for some significant rebalancing to make the full suite of mace skills more viable and engaging.
It’s also worth remembering how damage types work in Path of Exile 2. There are five main types: Physical, Fire, Cold, Lightning, and Chaos. Maces, by their nature, often deal Physical Damage. This type doesn't have a resistance like the elemental or chaos damage types do; instead, it's mitigated by Armour and additional Physical Damage Reduction. This makes them a reliable choice for dealing with enemies that might have high elemental resistances. Physical damage can also be associated with ailments like Bleeding, which adds another layer of damage over time. While maces are often associated with Strength, and Fire damage is explicitly linked to it, the core of mace gameplay seems to revolve around that raw, unadulterated physical impact and the control it offers through stuns.
