MMOEXP-Path of Exile 2: Secret Trick to Get the Zealot Greathammer Early!

[paleyShelie]

The Zealot Greathammer is one of the most coveted two-handed weapons in Path of Exile 2, especially among players who specialize in Strength-based characters or physical-heavy builds like Juggernaut, Smith of Kitava, or the new Paladin class. With its devastating base damage and high stun potential, the Zealot Greathammer is not just a brute-force weapon—it’s a statement piece for players looking to dominate in both solo and party-based PvE content, particularly boss encounters POE2 Currency  and elite mob packs.



In this guide, we’ll break down how to acquire the Zealot Greathammer, the best farming methods, its ideal use cases, and how to craft or scale it with runes, support gems, and passives for maximum destruction.



What Is the Zealot Greathammer?

The Zealot Greathammer is a two-handed melee weapon that deals high base physical damage and comes with inherent properties such as:



Massive base damage



High chance to stun enemies



Reduced attack speed, balanced by heavy blows



Often modifiers related to religion, crusading themes, or smite-type mechanics



In Path of Exile 2, this weapon class is often associated with religious fanatics or templar zealots in lore, thus the name. It synergizes incredibly well with Thorns builds, shockwave slam skills, warcries, and Earthquake-type AoEs, making it a staple in many Strength-based melee builds.



Where to Find the Zealot Greathammer

There are several viable methods to obtain the Zealot Greathammer in PoE 2. Here are the main routes:



1. Act 4/5 Campaign Drop Locations

The Zealot Greathammer first appears as a possible drop starting around Act 4 or Act 5, particularly from:



Zealous Cultists and Fanatic Templars in cathedral zones



Holy-themed dungeons or areas related to the Church of Innocence



Rare elite enemies that are part of relic-hunting expeditions



These enemies have a slightly higher drop rate for thematic weapons like the Zealot Greathammer. Keep an eye on zones like:



Sanctum of Purity



Inner Cathedral Depths



Temple of the Shattered Faith



You may also find it in Act 5 boss chests, especially if your loot filter is set to highlight rare or unique two-handed weapons.



2. Vendor Recipes

PoE 2 expands on the vendor recipe system, and there’s an updated crafting recipe that can produce the Zealot Greathammer:



Recipe:



1x Magic Two-Handed Maul



1x Blacksmith’s Whetstone



1x Weapon Essence (War-themed)



1x Silver Relic Fragment



The result is often a Greathammer with zeal-themed modifiers. While not guaranteed to give the Zealot Greathammer, this method has a chance to roll it, especially if the affix pool aligns.



Tip: You can increase chances by pre-scouring the weapon or using a high-ilevel base.



3. Target Farming with Expeditions and Passive Trees

The Expedition Tree introduced in PoE 2 allows targeting specific gear drops. By unlocking nodes in the Weapon Specialist and Fanatic Zealot branches, you increase the drop rate of thematic weapons including:



Zealot Greathammer



Crusader Flail



Martyr’s Mace



Choose expedition modifiers like:



“+X% chance for rare weapons to drop with zeal affixes”



“Enemies drop double zeal-themed equipment”



You can also interact with Dannig or Tujen in Expedition currency trading to reroll loot caches, potentially yielding the Zealot Greathammer.



4. Crafting and Rune Merging

If you haven’t found one naturally, you can craft a powerful version of the Zealot Greathammer using:



Hammer Base with 5+ Links



Crafted Suffixes like “of Faith”, “of Holy Wrath”, or “of Conviction”



Tempered Runes that enhance physical damage or Smite-type skills



Best rune combos for Greathammer synergy:



Zar + Fel + Noh: Bonus damage when enemies are stunned



Kal + Ral + Nor: Converts physical to lightning with smite effect



Tor + Feh: Adds “Zeal’s Echo” passive effect (PoE 2 specific)



With a few exiles' worth of crafting materials, you can create a version that outshines many base Unique weapons.



5. Unique and Legendary Versions

In endgame maps and through Echo of Ancients bosses, players have a chance to find unique versions of the Zealot Greathammer such as:



Hammer of Penitence – High phys, chance to blind on slam



Faithbreaker – Deals bonus damage to corrupted enemies



Innocent’s Judgement – Applies smite effect on critical hit



These often drop in tier 3+ Echoes, particularly in Divine Reliquary Maps or Holy War Monoliths.



Ideal Builds for Zealot Greathammer

Here’s where the Greathammer shines:



1. Smith of Kitava – Earthquake Thorns Build

Uses Warcry into Shockwave Slam



Thorns returns damage and synergizes with heavy hits



Greathammer helps proc AoE tremors



2. Juggernaut – Stun Lock Crusher

Stacks endurance and stun chance



Greathammer’s high base stun chance pairs well with slow, powerful attacks



3. Paladin – Righteous Zeal Crit Build

Converts phys to lightning



Uses Smite of Innocence, Sanctified Ground, and Wrath Auras



Zealot Greathammer fits the thematic and gameplay synergy perfectly



Final Tips

Upgrade the weapon base to the highest item level possible for the most impactful affixes.



Use Weapon Quality Orbs to increase base damage and stun effectiveness.



Consider dual wielding with Faith-based relics or totem supports for enhanced DPS.



Pair with aura gems like Hatred or Wrath for elemental conversion.



Conclusion

The Zealot Greathammer in Path of Exile 2 is more than just a big stick—it’s a tool of holy destruction tailored for players who enjoy crushing their foes under divine fury. Whether you're farming it through thematic boss drops, crafting it from powerful runes, or earning it through expeditions and relic hunts, the weapon is a powerful addition to buy Path of Exile 2 Currency  any Strength-based build. If you’re chasing thunderous slam builds or righteous judgment-style gameplay, the  Zealot Greathammer is a weapon worth wielding.