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In Path of Exile 2, weapon selection can drastically shape the effectiveness of your build, and among the standout choices for players favoring raw strength and devastating melee power is the Forge Maul. This two-handed weapon is a potent option for those who embrace bone-shattering blows and high-Impact playstyles, making it a staple for Earthshatter, Slam, POE2 Currency and bleed-based builds. Whether you're leveling a bruiser or planning a late-game physical damage juggernaut, understanding how to obtain the Forge Maul and utilize it effectively can offer a serious power spike in your progression.

This guide breaks down where to get the Forge Maul in Path of Exile 2, what kind of builds it synergizes with, how to optimize it, and how to farm for the best rolls.

What Is the Forge Maul?

The Forge Maul is a rare and powerful two-handed mace introduced in Path of Exile 2, notable for its high base physical damage and strong synergy with stun, bleed, and Slam mechanics. It is not a unique item, but rather a high-tier base weapon that can roll powerful modifiers and can be further enhanced through crafting and Tempering.

Base Stats (Varies by item level):

Weapon Type: Two-Handed Mace

Base Physical Damage: 145–160

Attack Speed: Slow

Critical Strike Chance: 5%

Weapon Range: Medium

Implicit Modifier: +20–30% Stun Duration on Enemies

Its slow attack speed is offset by the massive single-hit damage potential, making it perfect for players who time their attacks and aim to obliterate enemies in fewer, heavier swings.

How to Get the Forge Maul in Path of Exile 2

There are several ways to obtain the Forge Maul in Path of Exile 2, depending on your current level, progression in the Acts, and access to specific systems.

1. Campaign Drop (Act 4 and Beyond)

The Forge Maul starts appearing as a drop beginning in Act 4, particularly in weapon chests, boss loot tables, or strongbox encounters that feature rare or magic weapons. The monsters in areas like the Sunforge Ruins or Molten Core Depths have an increased chance to drop fire-themed or forge-based weapons, including the Forge Maul.

If you're leveling and looking for a reliable maul-type weapon with high damage, this is a good area to begin farming.

2. Vendor Weapon Recipes

Using a vendor recipe, you can force a magic or rare Forge Maul depending on your level and items provided. If you vend a two-handed mace with a Blacksmith's Whetstone and a rare Rustic Sash, you will receive a weapon with a guaranteed physical damage modifier.

While the base result isn't always a Forge Maul, doing this at item level 45+ increases the chances of the result being a Forge Maul if it's unlocked in the loot table.

3. Forge of the Titans (Endgame Crafting System)

The Forge of the Titans, one of the new crafting systems in Path of Exile 2, allows players to upgrade base weapons using Tempering Runes and Ashen Flame Essences. If you find a Molten Maul or similar precursor weapon, you can upgrade it into a Forge Maul by combining specific materials:

1x Molten Maul (ilvl 50+)

3x Tempering Rune: Blazing Strength

1x Essence of Infernal Might

This process may require some grinding, but it allows you to craft a Forge Maul with strong pre-set affixes like increased melee damage, fire penetration, or stun effectiveness.

Best Places to Farm Forge Maul

To efficiently target farm the Forge Maul or its crafting materials, here are the best zones:

1. Molten Crucible (Endgame Map)

This map zone features fire-based monsters, lava-themed forge enemies, and weapon caches with a high chance to drop fire-themed weapons like the Forge Maul. Bring high fire resistance.

2. The Smelter’s Core

This unique sub-zone in the campaign has been identified as having boosted drop chances for forge-themed gear. You’ll encounter constructs and golems that frequently drop two-handed maces.

3. Corrupted Weapon Strongboxes

Look for maps with modifiers like “contains additional corrupted weapon strongboxes” or modifiers that increase the chance for rare weapons. These can drop a corrupted Forge Maul with interesting implicit modifiers.

Affixes to Look for on Forge Mauls

When hunting for the best Forge Maul for your build, these affixes make a huge difference:

Offensive Mods:

+% Increased Physical Damage (up to 170% on T1)

+% to Fire Damage or Fire Penetration (for Fire Slam builds)

+% Chance to Cause Bleeding or Bleed Duration

+% Increased Stun Duration on Enemies

Utility Mods:

% Increased Attack Speed

+Flat Physical Damage to Attacks

Chance to Intimidate or Crush on Hit

Chance to gain Endurance Charge on Stun

If you're going for a bleed build, prioritize flat physical + bleed bonuses. For a fire-slam build, aim for fire penetration, increased AoE, and fire damage.

Best Builds for Forge Maul

1. Earthshatter Juggernaut

The slow, high-damage weapon type works perfectly with Earthshatter. It allows shockwave-style explosions and can capitalize on the Forge Maul’s raw damage.

2. Bleed Berserker Slam

The Forge Maul’s high base damage and access to strong bleed mods allow Berserkers to devastate enemies while rapidly recovering rage.

3. Stun Warchief Totem Chieftain

Leverage the Forge Maul’s stun duration and hit hard with totems that scale off physical and fire. Great for clearing and boss damage.

How to Upgrade Your Forge Maul

Once you get your hands on a solid Forge Maul, here’s how to upgrade it effectively:

Crafting Options:

Use Tempering Runes to reroll or augment prefixes/suffixes.

Apply Ashen Flame Essences to imbue additional fire-related damage or ignite effects.

Use the Essence Forge to gamble on tier upgrades, especially if your maul is item level 70+.

Corruption:

Corrupting a Forge Maul can unlock powerful implicits like:

+1 to Melee Strike Range

10% chance to deal Double Damage

Enemies you hit are Unnerved

Note: Corruption is risky, so use it only when you have a backup or don’t mind losing the item.

Conclusion

The Forge Maul is a powerhouse weapon in Path of Exile 2, ideal for players who favor slow, deliberate, and brutal playstyles. Whether you’re unleashing seismic slams or inflicting devastating bleeds, this two-handed mace delivers incredible single-hit potential and synergizes with many of the game’s strongest melee builds. By farming intelligently, leveraging the Forge of the Titans system, and crafting with precision, you can turn a basic Forge Maul into a build-defining weapon.

Start your path to power by targeting molten zones, crafting smartly with Runes and Essences, Path of Exile 2 Orbs and selecting the right build that turns each swing into an obliteration.