How to get the Headhunter in Path of Exile 2?

The joy of an ARPG where you create and build up your own character has to be getting new weapons and armor sets for them, and the same rings true for Path of Exile 2 ^[1]. The game has multiple different pieces of equipment players can get their hands on, and all of them have something unique to offer players, whether in the form of stat bonuses or armor/weapon buffs.

Today, we want to focus on a specific belt gamers who played Path of Exile 1 will be all too familiar with. We are, of course, talking about the Headhunter. We’ll highlight how you can get the Headhunter in Path of Exile 2 while also telling you what the item does in this game compared to the first game. Naturally, we’ll wrap things up by telling you some meta builds for the belt.

So, if you want to get your hands on the Headhunter, then keep reading because we have you covered. Of course, if you’re finding yourself low on currencies, then you can always check out Eloking’s Path of Exile 2 marketplace, where buyers and sellers meet in a safe and regulated environment.

What is a Headhunter in Path of Exile 2?

Headhunter is a powerful heavy belt in Path of Exile 2, known for its boosts and unique gameplay mechanics. This item provides players with these three partially randomized stat bonuses:

• +40-60 to maximum life
• +20-40 to strength
• +20-40 to dexterity

Alongside these states, Headhunter gives players a 20-30% increase to their Sun Threshold and comes with one charm slot. Players must be level 50 to equip it.

The key thing that makes Headhunter loved in the community is its ability to grant the modifiers of rare monsters for a short period. Whenever the player kills a rare monster with Headhunter equipped, they absorb their monster’s modifiers for 20 seconds. These modifiers can be anything a rare monster possesses, making their experience dynamic and unpredictable. This mechanic results in a change in playstyle where players are gaining and utilizing temporary buffs. While modifiers are random, the variety and power of potential bonuses make it one of the best belts for mapping and endgame progression.

How to get the Headhunter in Path of Exile 2?

With the details about the actual belt out of the way, it’s time to go through all of the ways players can potentially get their hands on it.

Random drop mechanics

Players cannot get the Headhunter by farming or targeting a specific enemy. It’s a random drop, making it difficult to obtain through regular methods. Players might find it after defeating a boss or by chance during late-game exploration, especially on the cruel difficulty level. Since it requires level 50 to equip, it’s unlikely to drop from enemies below that level.

Due to the random nature of loot drops in Path of Exile 2, getting Headhunter depends on perseverance and luck. The best approach is to continuously play high-level maps and defeat powerful enemies to increase their chances of a random drop. Players might get it without realizing its value, so they must inspect their loot.

Farming with orbs of chance

Another method to get Headhunter is by using orbs of chance. These orbs upgrade regular items into random rare items, including unique gear like Headhunter. However, there is no guaranteed outcome when using these orbs, and converting a regular heavy belt into a Headhunter is rare and requires a large amount of orbs for even a little chance.

Players can deconstruct duplicate or less useful unique items to receive chance shards, which they can combine into orbs of chance. Another way to get orbs of chance is to play through maps, but the drop rate may still be low. Farming high-level maps consistently are the best strategy to increase the chances of generating these orbs.

Ultimatum and trials of chaos

A high-risk, high-reward strategy to get a Headhunter is through the Trials of Chaos, which are unlocked using Inscribed Ultimatums. These dungeons are tough and feature multi-stage gauntlets, but they have a higher chance of rewarding rare loot, including potentially Headhunter.

Loot from Trials of Chaos usually comes corrupted. Corrupted items may have unusual and powerful modifiers, but can have drawbacks. Once an item is corrupted, it cannot be altered or uncorrupted. This downside means that even if a player finds a Headhunter through this method, they might get a version that’s not ideal or completely unusable, depending on the corruption effect. Some players find this method worthwhile despite the risks for the potential of getting rare items.

Buying Headhunter on the trade marketplace

If players can’t obtain Headhunter through gameplay, they can purchase it from the official Path of Exile 2 trade marketplace. Prices vary depending on the item’s stats and the market conditions.

Due to its wide range of prices, players should research and check multiple listings before purchasing it. If players are trading for it, they must be ready to leave a lot of wealth in-game. Buying a Headhunter might be the most reliable option for some players, especially if they are building a specific endgame setup.

Headhunter meta builds in PoE 2

Players regard Headhunter as an ideal item for mapping and high-speed builds. Its ability to adopt modifiers from rare enemies makes it effective in builds that prioritize kill speed and mobility. Instead of being limited to a fixed set of bonuses, players can enjoy a diverse and evolving array of buffs, giving them an edge in fast-paced content.

Although Headhunter is weaker than its Path of Exile 1 version, it’s still highly valuable. Thanks to this, a lot of players either go for this belt because of nostalgic reasons since it was also available in the first game, or to just get a good belt that gives the player character some nice buffs, even if it isn’t the best.

FAQs

What does the Headhunter belt do in Path of Exile 2?

The Headhunter is a unique Heavy Belt that grants your character the ability to temporarily inherit the modifiers of defeated rare monsters for 20 seconds. This effect can significantly boost your character's damage, speed, and survivability, making it especially effective for clearing maps and engaging in endgame content. The belt also provides bonuses to maximum life, strength, and dexterity.

Is the Headhunter belt worth using in Path of Exile 2?

Headhunter is highly sought after for builds that focus on rapidly defeating rare enemies, as it allows players to gain powerful temporary buffs that can greatly enhance performance in mapping and other content with frequent rare monsters. However, it may not be as effective in boss encounters where rare enemies are scarce. Additionally, Headhunter does not provide resistance modifiers, so players need to balance their gear accordingly.

References

1. [1] "Official PoE 2 website". pathofexile2.com. Retrieved April 19, 2025