How to Get Headhunter in POE 2 Dawn of the Hunt

If you’ve spent more than a few hours in Path of Exile 2, you’ve probably heard whispers (or shouts) about one of the game’s most iconic items: the Headhunter Heavy Belt. Whether you're a veteran looking to min-max your build or a newer player wondering why this belt is such a big deal, this guide breaks down everything you need to know—how Headhunter works, where to get it, and why it’s still the king of unique belts in 2025.

Let’s dive in.

What Is the PoE 2 Headhunter Heavy Belt?

Headhunter is a unique Heavy Belt known for its insane power spike potential. It lets you steal mods from rare monsters you kill, turning your character into a temporary godlike version of itself. These stolen modifiers include things like movement speed, extra projectiles, faster casting, additional damage, and other effects—depending entirely on what the rare monster had.

This means that in dense, rare-packed content like Corruption events, Breaches, or Delirium maps, the Headhunter can be absolutely game-breaking.

Headhunter Belt Stats and Effects (Updated for 2025)

Let’s look at the exact stats on the Headhunter Heavy Belt as of Path of Exile 2’s latest version:

✅ Item Type:

• Unique Heavy Belt

• Requires Level 50

• Comes with 1 Charm Slot

✅ Implicit Modifier:

• 20–30% increased Stun Threshold

This implicit comes from the base Heavy Belt item type.

✅ Fixed Modifiers (Always Present):

• +40–60 to maximum Life

• +20–40 to Strength

• +20–40 to Dexterity

• When you kill a Rare monster, you gain its modifiers for 20 seconds

Let’s be clear: the last line is what makes this belt legendary. With this one modifier, you can momentarily turn your character into a rare monster with multiple buffs—stacked on top of your own build.

Why Is PoE 2 Headhunter So Powerful?

In a game like Path of Exile 2, where buffs and status effects can make or break a fight, stealing multiple powerful rare mods lets you scale into wild levels of power. Imagine gaining Onslaught, Increased Attack Speed, Frenzy Charges, or extra Critical Strike Multiplier—without needing to build around them. That’s the magic of Headhunter.

Here’s what makes it special:

• Stacking Power: Effects last 20 seconds, and every new rare kill adds more.

• Momentum: The more you kill, the stronger you get—perfect for fast-paced mapping.

• Combo Potential: Works insanely well with builds that scale speed and mobility.

• Build Agnostic: Usable by almost any build that kills quickly.

How to Get Headhunter in Path of Exile 2 (2025)

Now for the good stuff: how do you actually get this belt? In PoE2, it’s no walk in the park. But with the right methods, patience, and a bit of luck, you can get your hands on one.

1. Farming for Natural Drops

Headhunter can drop randomly from enemies—but only under specific conditions.

• Required Level: Must be level 50 or higher (player and zone)

• Content Type: Higher chances in rare monster-rich areas (Delirium, Breach, Corruption)

• Difficulty Mode: Available in higher difficulties, especially after Act 3

This drop method is by far the most RNG-based. You might go hundreds of maps without a single sighting. Still, for those who love the thrill of natural discovery, it’s an option.

💡 Pro Tip: Use your best Item Quantity and Rarity gear when farming zones especially after Cruel Act 3, or modifiers that spawn extra rare monsters.

2. Using an Orb of Chance on a Heavy Belt

This is the gambler’s route. You take a regular Heavy Belt and use an Orb of Chance on it, hoping it upgrades into the unique version—aka, the Headhunter.

But be warned: this method has extremely low odds. Think lottery ticket levels of luck. That said, it’s cheap to try, and if you’ve got hundreds of Orbs of Chance and nothing to lose, it’s worth a shot.

⚠️ Note: Only works in maps or zones where Headhunter is eligible to drop. Using an Orb of Chance in Act 1 won’t get you anywhere.

3. Trading with Other Players

Let’s be real—this is how most people get their Headhunter. The trade market in PoE2 is robust and makes it possible to buy Headhunter from other players, usually for a steep price.

• How to Trade:

  1. Visit the official PoE2 trade website or in-game trade board.

  2. Search for “Headhunter” under unique belts.

  3. Offer currency (like Chaos Orbs or Divine Orbs) or high-value items in exchange.
     

In 2025, expect to pay a premium—Headhunter is still one of the most sought-after items. But if you’re a currency farmer or high-level player, it might be the most efficient route.

4. Ancient Orbs (TBD in PoE2)

In Path of Exile 1, Ancient Orbs could re-roll a unique belt into another unique belt of the same item type—sometimes turning a different unique Heavy Belt into a Headhunter. As of now, Ancient Orbs aren’t confirmed in PoE2, but if they return, this method will once again be viable.

Keep an eye on future patch notes or announcements for confirmation.

5. Buy Headhunter or Currency from SSEGold

If you’re short on time or just want to skip the grind, another option is using SSEGold, a trusted third-party marketplace where you can buy PoE2 currency or even the Headhunter belt directly (if available).

Best Builds for Headhunter in PoE2

So you’ve got a Headhunter—now what? Not every build makes the most of it. Here are a few that do:

• Lightning Arrow Ranger: Fast attacks, fast clears, and tons of rare kills.

• Spark Sorcerer: Bounces around the screen, stacking stolen mods.

• Flicker Strike Monk: Teleports through enemies, slashing and stacking mods rapidly.

• Corruption Farming Builds: Designed to spawn and destroy rare monsters quickly.

Basically, any build that hits hard, moves fast, and clears large packs will benefit massively.

Is Path of Exile 2 Headhunter Still Worth It in 2025?

Absolutely. In fact, in Path of Exile 2, the Headhunter belt feels more balanced and skill-based than ever. With a slightly higher rarity and the requirement to earn it, it’s become a badge of honor again.

Headhunter still enables:

• Insane clear speed

• Fun and chaotic gameplay

• Massive power scaling in endgame zones

While not every build needs it, for those that do, there’s nothing quite like the rush of stacking 5+ rare mods and steamrolling through mobs.

Final Thoughts

The Headhunter Heavy Belt remains one of the most iconic and powerful unique items in Path of Exile 2. Whether you’re trying to drop one the old-fashioned way, crafting with Orbs of Chance, or trading hard-earned currency for it, this item can change the entire feel of your build.

It’s rare. It’s expensive. It’s flashy. But it’s also one of the most fun and satisfying items to play with in the game.

So if you’re asking, “Is it worth the grind?”—for most players, the answer is a thunderous yes.