In Path of Exile 2, finding a strong weapon early in the game is crucial for progressing efficiently, and Hrimnor's Hymn is an excellent choice for those using a two-handed mace. This unique item offers a balance of power, survivability, and utility, making it ideal for melee builds at the start of your journey through Wraeclast. However, like most early-game gear, it has limitations that will require you to transition to other items as you progress. In this guide, we’ll dive into the POE 2 Currency benefits of Hrimnor's Hymn and how to best utilize it for your character's early progression.

What Makes Hrimnor's Hymn Special?

Hrimnor's Hymn is a two-handed mace that stands out for several reasons, particularly when it comes to boosting your Physical Damage output and survivability. Here's a breakdown of its key attributes:

Increased Physical Damage: The primary benefit of Hrimnor's Hymn is the large increase to Physical Damage. This gives a substantial boost to your overall damage, which is crucial in dealing with the waves of enemies that you’ll face in the early Acts. Physical Damage scaling is especially effective in Path of Exile when combined with powerful melee skills, making Hrimnor’s Hymn a valuable asset for your character.
Bonus Strength: Strength is an important attribute for melee characters, as it not only boosts your damage but also your life. Hrimnor’s Hymn provides an additional chunk of Strength, making your character more resilient and capable of tanking hits. This is especially helpful in early-game content, where you may not have access to many defensive options yet.
Life Gain on Kill: One of the unique and powerful features of Hrimnor’s Hymn is that it grants Life on Kill. This affix gives you sustainability, allowing you to heal every time you defeat an enemy. In the early stages of the game, you will often be surrounded by mobs, and this mechanic will keep you alive during large-scale encounters. It’s an essential attribute for staying in the fight longer without constantly needing to rely on potions or other forms of healing.
Aftershocks from Slam Skills: The standout feature of Hrimnor’s Hymn is the affix that causes Slam Skills to trigger Aftershocks. This mechanic essentially casts your Slam skill twice, doubling the impact of each hit. Slam skills like Leap Slam or Earthquake benefit greatly from this, as it significantly increases your burst damage and helps you clear groups of enemies faster. This affix also prevents your character from becoming overwhelmed by large packs of enemies, as you can quickly decimate them with your powerful Slam-based attacks.
How to Use Hrimnor's Hymn Effectively

While Hrimnor’s Hymn offers great early-game utility, it’s important to make the most out of its key features. The following skills are recommended for maximizing the effectiveness of this unique weapon:

Leap Slam: This skill allows you to leap across the battlefield, landing a powerful blow to enemies in the area of impact. Thanks to Hrimnor's Aftershock mechanic, Leap Slam becomes even more devastating, letting you clear enemies faster and reposition with ease.
Earthquake: One of the most powerful Slam skills in the game, Earthquake deals huge Physical Damage in a large area. Hrimnor's Aftershock effect enhances this skill by doubling its impact, allowing you to deal massive damage to groups of enemies in one go.
Falling Thunder: This skill creates a powerful shockwave that can hit multiple enemies at once. It's especially useful for larger packs of enemies, where Hrimnor’s increased damage output and life sustain from kills can be the difference between life and death.
Supercharged Slam: An enhanced version of the classic Slam skill, Supercharged Slam offers higher damage and an additional stun effect. When paired with Hrimnor's unique ability to trigger Aftershocks, this skill becomes an incredibly effective tool for controlling large groups of enemies while dealing substantial damage.
Rolling Slam: Rolling Slam is another Slam skill that benefits from Hrimnor’s Aftershocks. It creates a rolling projectile that hits enemies in its path, delivering devastating blows while giving you additional mobility. This skill can be particularly useful for hitting enemies at a distance while maintaining aggressive pressure.
When to Switch Out Hrimnor's Hymn

While Hrimnor’s Hymn is a strong weapon early on in Path of Exile 2, it has its limits. Around Act 2 or 3, you’ll likely encounter stronger enemies that require more specialized gear. Hrimnor’s Hymn, while effective in the early stages, will start to fall behind as you progress through the game’s content. At this point, you’ll want to transition to a more powerful weapon that offers better scaling with your character’s abilities and the new challenges ahead.

Conclusion

Hrimnor's Hymn is a fantastic early-game weapon for those using a two-handed mace in Path of Exile 2. Its combination of Physical Damage, Strength, Life on Kill, and the powerful Aftershock affix makes it an excellent choice for melee builds that rely on Slam skills. It provides solid damage output, sustainability, and crowd control, helping you clear through enemies with ease. However, as with all early-game gear, it’s important to cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency upgrade as you progress past Acts 1 and 2 to stay competitive and ready for tougher challenges.