Cruel Mode and Path of Exile 2 Currency Endgame Mapping

When Cruel difficulty begins, your build fully blooms.

New Skill Synergies

Hammer of the Gods with Lacerate, Fist of War, and Heavy Swing provides massive cleaving damage.
Rolling Slam with Rage, Brink, and Unbreakable boosts survivability and burst.
Infernal Cry, upgraded to Raging Cry, increases your offensive buffs.
Herald of Ash, combined with Vitality Support, enhances life regen and damage.
Leap Slam supplemented by Martial Tempo for rapid attacks and mobility.

5. Passive Skill Tree Priorities

Prioritize melee damage, Strength, and survivability.

Core Passives:

Reverberating Impact: Increases attack damage and critical strike chance.
Relentless: Enhances stamina and movement speed.
Blood Rush: Boosts life leech and regeneration.
Singular Purpose: Improves attack damage and chance to stun.
Shockwave: Adds a chance to knock back enemies, great for crowd control.
Devastation: Huge damage amplifier.
Overwhelm: Increases armor penetration and physical damage.
Colossal Weapon: Focuses on great hammer mastery for added damage.
Admonisher: Boosts Warcry effectiveness.
Burning Strikes: Amplifies fire damage, great synergy with Perfect Strike.

6. Gear and Itemization

Weapons

Greathammer with:

High physical damage
Added fire damage
Increased attack speed

Armor

Focus on:

Strength to boost damage and survivability
High elemental resistances
Bonuses to life and armor for tankiness

Jewelry

Rings and amulets with:

Physical damage increases
Life and mana regeneration

Resistances

Recommended Unique Items

Thrillsteel Helmet: Fantastic for buy POE 2 Currency early and midgame phases, granting great physical damage boosts and life.