Hand of Wisdom and Action (HoWA) is not just a weapon — it is an entire build ecosystem. Because it scales purely from Intelligence and attack frequency, it opens up a wide range of powerful archetypes that feel completely different to play, yet all revolve around the same core principle: stack Intelligence, hit fast, and let lightning do the rest.

In Path of Exile 2, where skill gems, ascendancies, and combat flow have all been redesigned, HoWA is more flexible and more powerful than ever. Let’s look at the strongest and most popular HoWA builds, why they work, and what makes each one unique.

What Every HoWA Build Needs

Before we dive into specific builds, it’s important to understand what all HoWA builds have in common.

Every HoWA character revolves around five pillars:

  1. High Intelligence

  2. Fast attack speed

  3. Reliable lightning scaling

  4. Critical strikes or shock scaling

  5. Sustainable defenses through Energy Shield or hybrid setups

The specific skill or ascendancy may change, but these five pillars never do.

The best HoWA builds are the ones that apply HoWA’s lightning damage as often as possible, to as many enemies as possible, while staying alive long enough for that scaling to matter.

HoWA Lightning Strike Champion

This is one of the most balanced and powerful HoWA builds in Path of Exile 2.

Lightning Strike is perfect for HoWA because it:

  • Hits in melee

  • Fires lightning projectiles

  • Scales extremely well with flat lightning damage

Each projectile carries the full HoWA lightning bonus. This means a single attack can hit many enemies, each time applying massive lightning damage.

The Champion ascendancy adds:

  • High armor and defenses

  • Accuracy and attack reliability

  • Fortify-style mitigation

This makes Lightning Strike HoWA one of the tankiest versions of the build, ideal for players who want strong bossing and safe mapping.

This version shines in:

  • Endgame bosses

  • Dangerous map mods

  • Hardcore or SSF

It may not be the fastest HoWA build, but it is one of the most reliable.

HoWA Flicker Strike Trickster

This is the build for players who want pure speed and adrenaline.

Flicker Strike teleports you from enemy to enemy, attacking at incredible speed. HoWA’s flat lightning damage is applied on every teleport, meaning:

  • Extremely high hit rate

  • Constant shocks

  • Massive DPS

Trickster is a perfect ascendancy for this because it provides:

  • Evasion and Energy Shield

  • Recovery on kill

  • Damage mitigation while moving

Flicker Strike already hits extremely fast. HoWA turns those hits into lightning bombs.

This build excels at:

  • Mapping

  • Legion, Breach, and dense content

  • Farming currency quickly

It is more dangerous than Champion, but also far faster.

HoWA Spectral Throw Deadeye

Spectral Throw is one of the best HoWA skills because it can hit the same enemy multiple times per throw.

Every hit applies HoWA’s flat lightning damage. This means:

  • Insane single-target DPS

  • Very strong clear

  • Easy shock application

Deadeye adds:

  • Extra projectiles

  • Chain and fork

  • Projectile speed and accuracy

This allows Spectral Throw HoWA to cover entire screens in lightning.

This build is ideal for:

  • Fast mapping

  • Delirium and high-density content

  • Players who like ranged attack builds

HoWA Hybrid Melee in PoE 2

Path of Exile 2 introduces new melee-hybrid skills that:

  • Convert physical to lightning

  • Add extra lightning hits

  • Hit multiple times per attack

These skills are perfect for HoWA.

They allow you to:

  • Play close-range

  • Deal AoE lightning damage

  • Scale both melee and elemental modifiers

Ascendancies like Inquisitor, Trickster, or Champion can all support these builds, depending on whether you want more offense, speed, or defense.

Tanky HoWA ES Stacker

Some players take HoWA to the extreme and build around massive Energy Shield.

By stacking Intelligence and ES, these builds:

  • Reach huge effective HP

  • Still deal enormous lightning damage

  • Can face-tank many bosses

These builds often use:

  • Trickster or Occultist-style ascendancies

  • ES leech or recovery

  • High Intelligence gear

This is one of the best options for players who want to push deep endgame content.

Why HoWA Builds Are So Versatile

What makes HoWA special is that it does not care how you deal damage — only that you hit and that you have Intelligence.

Whether you are:

  • A teleporting assassin

  • A ranged lightning thrower

  • A heavily armored striker

HoWA turns all of those into high-DPS lightning builds.

Final Thoughts

Hand of Wisdom and Action builds in POE 2 Currency EZNPC are not about finding the “one true build.” They are about choosing how you want to deliver lightning.

Fast or tanky. Melee or ranged. Boss killer or mapper.

HoWA supports them all — and with Intelligence stacking, every version only gets stronger the longer you play. ⚡