After the Hunter Crossbow Buff, My Crit Rate Went Through the Roof!

When Path of Exile 2 introduced the recent Hunter Crossbow buff, I didn’t expect my entire build to feel brand new again. But after testing it out in a few maps and pushing some Delve depths, the results were insane—my critical strike chance skyrocketed beyond expectations. This single change transformed the Hunter Crossbow from a decent leveling tool into a core item for any crit-based ranged build.

The buff increased both the base attack speed and crit multiplier scaling, making it much easier to reach that juicy 100% crit rate breakpoint with proper gear. I used to rely heavily on flasks and temporary buffs to get my crit chance high enough. Now, with the new Hunter Crossbow, I'm sitting comfortably at 97–100% most of the time, even without flasks. This change not only improved my clear speed, but it also made bosses feel significantly easier, as consistent crits mean more damage and more procs of effects like Poison or Ignite.

If you're looking to maximize this setup, here's what worked for me:

Prioritize Crit Mods on Gear:

I started by purchasing base crit gear from U4GM. It's super convenient and safe to buy PoE 2 items there, especially when you’re trying to fine-tune a build quickly. I looked for rings and amulets with global critical strike chance and multiplier. It’s surprisingly affordable early league.

Hunter Crossbow Enchantments:

If you can afford to craft or buy PoE 2 items like enchanted crossbows, look for increased crit chance or extra chaos damage on crit. With my setup, I used a Divine Orb to reroll the implicit on the bow, and it gave me a huge boost. Divine Orbs, Chaos Orbs, and Exalted Orbs were my top-used currencies in the process.

Jewels and Passive Tree Optimization:

I slotted in two large cluster jewels focused on crit multi and attack speed. If you don’t have these, you can also buy PoE 2 items like well-rolled rare jewels from U4GM. I used Alteration Orbs and Regal Orbs to roll a few decent ones myself, but the premade ones saved me a lot of time.

Flask Setup:

Although I don’t rely on flasks for crit anymore, I still use a Diamond Flask with increased duration. It guarantees crit consistency during hectic fights. Also, using an Onslaught Flask helps maintain mobility and extra DPS.

Don’t Skip the Helmet:

Another underrated piece is the helmet. I grabbed a rare helmet with increased projectile damage and crit multi for projectiles. I bought it directly from U4GM to avoid the RNG of crafting. It cost me a few Chaos Orbs, but the performance upgrade was well worth it.

In summary, this buff brought the Hunter Crossbow into the spotlight for crit-based builds. If you’re playing a Deadeye, Raider, or any bow-based character, don’t overlook this weapon. With the right PoE 2 items and a few smart purchases—especially from trusted sources like U4GM—you can take your character from solid to unstoppable.

Remember, gear is everything in PoE 2, and with the right strategy and currency management, your crit-based build can dominate the game with ease.