Marauder Leveling Build Guide

Settlers of Kalguur 3.25

Last Updated:March 23, 2025|Changelog|FAQ

This Sunder Marauder Leveling Build Guide teaches you the most efficient way to complete the Path of Exile Campaign; with All Skill Points and All Labs. Sunder Marauder is a classic and proven League Start Leveling Build; making it a great choice for leveling a new character, or when completing a fresh start speedrun.

All Ascendancy Viable

This Leveling Guide has been tested and verified without Ascending. Thus in practice, your in-game power level will exceed that of the showcased video.

Pros

SSF Fresh Start Leaguestart Viable
Sub 3H Campaign
Top Leveling Build

Cons

Socket Intensive

Class Leveling Guides

Ascendancy Overview

PoE 3.25

Marauder Leveling Build

This leveling guide is Class agnostic, however, Ascendancies offer a crucial early-game power spike. Use the tabs below for more information on which Ascendancy nodes to specialize in for a smoother leveling experience. Note that if you plan on respeccing in endgame you need a bunch of Gold or 5 Orbs of Regret per node.

Juggernaut

Berserker

Chieftain

Ancestral Commander

Behemoth

Antiquarian

Marauder Leveling Build Juggernaut Ascendancy

Marauder Leveling Build Berserker Ascendancy

Marauder Leveling Build Chieftain Ascendancy

Marauder Leveling Build Ancestral Commander Ascendancy

Marauder Leveling Build Behemoth Ascendancy

Marauder Leveling Build Antiquarian Ascendancy

Passive Tree Progression

PoE 3.25

Marauder Leveling Build

Marauder Leveling Build Passive Tree Progression

There are 2 Sunder Marauder Passive Tree Variants
Resolute Technique Rush:
- Rushes Resolute Technique to solve Accuracy
- Requires a Jade Amulet or Dexterity on Gear to equip Blood Rage at Level 16
Attack Speed Rush:
- Prioritises Early Game Attack Speed, by rushing Lust for Carnage & Slaughter
- Has access to a 10 Dexterity Node to equip Blood Rage at Level 16 without a Jade Amulet or Dexterity on Gear
- Requires Precision to solve Accuracy before allocating Resolute Technique. If you do not purchase Precision, allocate RT before Slaughter.
- Utilises more respec points to min-max leveling progression

Leveling Progression

PoE 3.25

Marauder Leveling Build

Gem Swaps

Use the Skill Embed on the right for Step-by-Step Skill Gem Progression.

For a more in-depth Step-by-Step explanation of when each gem is acquired and socketed refer to the leveling progression section below.

Playstyle

Sunder is both your primary clear and single target ability.

Haste or Determination is used during zone progression and is swapped to Pride on bosses. For even more single target damage, Intimidating Cry is cast before attacking, & enemies are debuffed with Vulnerability.

Marauder Leveling Build Skill Gem Progression

Regex

A regex is a code that can be copied to a vendor's search bar in Path of Exile to filter the results. It highlights specific bases with links, and colours appropriate to this build: Make sure to use it at the vendors whenever you are in town.

-[rgb]-.-|r-r-|-r-r|r-.-r|r-r|g-r|r-g|nne|g-g-r

Marauder Leveling Build Act Progression

Act 1

Level 2: After Hillock
- Ground Slam - Ruthless
- Check the vendor for a Stone Axe or Driftwood Maul
Level 4: After Hailrake
- Ground Slam - Chance to Bleed - Ruthless or Momentum depending on Links
- Blood and Sand
- War Banner
- Shield Charge - Momentum to progress quickly (Optional)
- Check the Vendor for Iron Rings & a Rustic Sash if necessary
- Check the Vendor for a GR or GGR Linked Item for Leap Slam if necessary
Level 8: After Lower Prison & Completing Dweller
- Ground Slam - Chance to Bleed - Ruthless or Momentum depending on Links
- Blood and Sand
- War Banner
- Frostblink
- Shield Charge - Momentum to progress quickly (Optional)
- Check the Vendor for Iron Rings & a Rustic Sash if necessary
- Check the Vendor for a GR or GGR Linked Item for Leap Slam if necessary
- Optional: Check the Vendor for a Jade Amulet to equip Blood Rage at Level 16.
Level 10: After Brutus
- Add Leap Slam - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum to the above setup
- Add Intimidating Cry to the above setup
- Optional: Add Precision to the above setup
- Optional: Check the Vendor for a Jade Amulet to equip Blood Rage at Level 16.
Level 12: After Reaching Cavern of Wrath and Completing Fairgraves
- Sunder - Chance to Bleed - Ruthless or Momentum depending on Links
- Blood and Sand
- War Banner
- Frostblink
- Intimidating Cry
- Leap Slam - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum

Act 2

Level 16: After Fidelitas
- Add Herald of Ash
- Add Blood Rage
- Optional: Add Herald of Purity
Level 18: After Weaver
- Free Melee Physical Damage or Close Combat -- Purchase the Other One
- Optimal Links: Sunder - Melee Physical Damage - Close Combat (Use Ruthless if 3R instead of 2R1G)
Bandits: Help Alira
After The Way Forward - Travel back to Act 1

Act 3

Level 24: After Tolman
- Free Vulnerability from Maramoa
- Optional: Purchase Pride
- Optional: Purchase Determination and use Determination when traveling between zones, aura swap to Pride on Bosses
Solaris 2
- Rare Jade Amulet
Sewers
- Important: After opening the Undying Blockage acquire the Physical Damage craft in the passage to The Ebony Barracks.
Level 28: After Lunaris Piety
- Craft a Gilded Axe if necessary
Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
- Sunder - Melee Physical Damage - Close Combat or Ruthless depending on Links
- Blood and Sand, War Banner, Herald of Ash, Pride
- Frostblink
- Intimidating Cry
- Leap Slam - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum
- Blood Rage
- Vulnerability
Optional: Complete Library
- Optional: Free Urgent Orders to link with Intimidating Cry
- Optional: Purchase Haste -- To use during Zone Progression

Act 4

Level 38: After Malachai
- Optional: Free Fist of War Support or Brutality from Dialla --> Add to Sunder 4Link
- Optional: Free Berserk from Oyun
- Optional: Purchase Cast when Damage Taken (1 Alchemy) --> To link with Immortal Call

Act 5

After completing The Key to Freedom
- Free Granite Flask
After completing Death to Purity
- Free Rare Viridian Jewel
- Note: Viridian Jewels can roll % of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana; which improves mana sustain during combat.
Ossuary
- Important: After acquiring the Sign of Purity, click the Lever above to access and acquire the next Physical Damage craft
Ravaged Square (Optional)
- Speak to Bannon in the Chamber of Innocence then Defeat Utula, return to Bannon in town to receive a Rare 4 Link Headsman Axe

Act 6

After Lily Roth
- Optional: Purchase Urgent Orders to link with Intimidating Cry
- Optional: Purchase Haste -- To use during Zone Progression
- Optional: Purchase Immortal Call
Example Setup at this Point (Colours and Link Dependent)
- Sunder - Melee Physical Damage - Close Combat - Ruthless
- Leap Slam - Faster Attacks Support - Momentum - Rage
- Blood and Sand, War Banner, Herald of Ash, Blood Rage
- Haste or Determination or Pride | Vulnerability
- Frostblink - Intimidating Cry - Urgent Orders - Lifetap
- Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call
Major Pantheon: Brine King
Minor Pantheon: Ryslatha

Act 7

After completing The Silver Locket
- Granite Flask

Act 8

Use a Hallowed Life Flask with Freeze Immunity in zones with Cold Damage
- Alternatively: Roll Freeze Immunity on your Item Level 4 Quicksilver Flask from Hailrake in Act 1

Act 9

After completing The Storm Blade
- Free Rare Sundering Axe
Quarry
- Important: Acquire the Physical Damage craft near the Waypoint.

Act 10

After completing Safe Passage
- Silver Flask
After completing Death and Rebirth
- Free Rare Gladiator Plate or Rare General's Brigandine

Important Leveling Tips

PoE 3.25

Marauder Leveling Build

With experience, the Leveling Progression outlined above is all you need. However, if you're looking for additional guidance, then review the Important Leveling Tips listed below.

General Progression Tips

Weapon Progression

Level 2 Driftwood Club x2
- This is your starting weapon!
- In most scenarios, it's not worth crafting whatsoever.

Level 2+ Stone Axe or Driftwood Maul
- Quickly replace your Driftwood Clubs with a 2H Weapon for a large damage upgrade

Level 8+ Tribal Maul or Jade Chopper
- Keep an eye out for the next tier of 2H Maces or 2H Axes for another large damage upgrade
- Consider checking the vendor to potentially purchase a base for 1 Transmute
- Consider using any Alchemy & Essence for more damage

End of Act 1 High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele Weapon
- Any Normal, Magic or Rare Mallet or Woodsplitter

Act 2 High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Poleaxe

Act 3 High Phys Dmg or Phys/Ele Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Double Axe or Gilded Axe

Act 4 to Act 5+ High Phys Dmg Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Shadow Axe, Dagger Axe, Timber Axe, Headsman Axe

Act 6 to Act 8+ High Phys Dmg Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Labrys, Noble Axe, Abyssal Axe, Karui Chopper

Act 9 to Act 10+ High Phys Dmg Axe
- Any Magic or Rare Sundering Axe, Ezomyte Axe, Vaal Axe, Despot Axe

Listed above are the ideal 2H Weapon breakpoints. That said, the general rule of thumb is to equip the 2H Weapon with the Highest amount of Increased Physical Damage. Meaning in some scenarios, a Weapon from a previous Act with tons of Increased Physical Damage might be better than a Weapon from the current Act, that lacks good rolls.

It's worth noting that in Act 2 & beyond, 2H Axes are prioritised due to their higher base damage & to make use of Axe specific passive tree nodes.

Woodsplitter In A 1 430 X 506 — A Flat Ele Woodsplitter in Act 1

There are two main methods for acquiring Axe bases: Checking Vendors & Monster Drops. However, a special mention needs to be made for the Rogue Exiles in the Broken Bridge. Rogue Exiles drop a full set of gear, ranging from Normal to Magic to Rare; making them a consistent method for acquiring bases, gear upgrades, or items to vendor.

Broken Bridge Exiles 556 X 506 — The Broken Bridge Exiles

Broken Bridge Exiles Location — Search the Ruins beside the Waypoint

The Increased Physical Damage Vendor Recipe

In Path of Exile you can create a Magic Weapon with Increased Physical Damage using the Vendor Recipe tabled below.

Input	Output
Any Weapon Magic Rustic Sash Blacksmith's Whetstone	(40 - 49%) Increased Physical Damage Weapon
Any Weapon Rare Rustic Sash Blacksmith's Whetstone	(50 - 64%) Increased Physical Damage Weapon
Any Weapon Unique Rustic Sash Blacksmith's Whetstone	(65 - 84%) Increased Physical Damage Weapon

Note how the Rarity of the Rustic Sash impacts the Increased Physical Damage Roll. Typically, most weapons are crafted with a Magic Rustic Sash in Acts 2/3, and with a Rare Rustic Sash in Acts 4 & onward.

Furthermore, at Weapon & Armour Vendors, 3 Armourer's Scrap can be exchanged for 1 Blacksmith's Whetstone.

Physical Damage Crafts

During progression you may find a Rare Axe with:

An Increased Physical Damage or Flat Physical Damage to Attacks roll
& an Open Prefix Slot.

In such situations, consider crafting the other Physical Damage modifier to create a strong leveling weapon. Tabled below are the craft locations.

Zone	Modifier Tier	Cost	Notes
Act 3: Sewers	% IPD T1	4 Alterations	Found in the passage to the Ebony Barracks
Act 3: Sewers	Flat Phys T1	4 Transmutes	Found in the passage to the Ebony Barracks
Act 5: Ossuary	% IPD T2	8 Alterations	Accessed by Clicking the Lever above the Sign of Purity
Act 5: Ossuary	Flat Phys T2	2 Alchemy	Accessed by Clicking the Lever above the Sign of Purity
Act 9: Quarry	% IPD T3	4 Chaos Orbs	Found near the Waypoint
Act 9: Quarry	Flat Phys T3	4 Chaos Orbs	Found near the Waypoint

Shadow Axe With IPD Crafted Flat Phys 342 X 506 — A Shadow Axe with IPD & Crafted Flat Phys

Intimidating Cry & Exerted Attacks

Intimidating Cry Exerts your next 2 Attacks (3 with Measured Fury) to deal Double Damage. Maximise your DPS by attacking with Sunder until you consume all of the Exert charges. This is important to emphasise, because until you acquire the Warcries cannot Exert Travel Skills Mastery, other skills, such as Leap Slam can consume your Exert Charges.