While the Witch ascendancies are popular choices for minion builds in Path of Exile 2, the Titan and Smith of Katava offer alternative approaches. These builds, based on the Warrior class, focus on strength stacking, life stacking, and block, providing a straightforward and easy-to-understand play style. However, they may struggle to compete with the evasion and energy shield-based Witch builds in terms of overall effectiveness. Securing "poe 2 currency" will be vital for optimizing these builds and bridging the gap.

The Titan and Smith of Katava builds remain largely unchanged by recent patch notes. Their core mechanics revolve around stacking strength and life, and maximizing block chance. This makes them relatively simple to gear and play, but also limits their potential for scaling damage and defenses compared to more complex builds. The Smith of Katava, in particular, may lack sufficient damage sources to compete with the Witch ascendancies.

Despite their limitations, the Titan and Smith of Katava offer a competitive defensive layer, especially the Smith of Katava, which provides defenses without significant investment. This can be attractive for players who prioritize survivability over raw damage output. However, to truly shine, these builds will require careful optimization and strategic use of "poe 2 currency" to acquire the right gear.

When it comes to gearing, strength-stacking items will be essential for both the Titan and Smith of Katava. Look for items with high strength rolls, as well as those that provide bonuses to life and block chance. Unique items that synergize with strength stacking can also be valuable. As "poe 2 currency" becomes available, focus on acquiring gear with synergistic affixes that boost both offense and defense.

Jewels will also play a crucial role in optimizing these builds. Since the skill tree has had 12 jewel sockets removed, each jewel becomes even more valuable. Look for jewels that provide bonuses to strength, life, minion damage, and block chance. The strategic placement of jewels can significantly enhance the performance of these builds.

In conclusion, the Titan and Smith of Katava offer a solid, if somewhat limited, approach to minion builds in Path of Exile 2. While they may not reach the same heights as the Witch ascendancies, they can still be effective with proper gearing and strategic use of "poe 2 currency." Players who enjoy a straightforward, tanky play style may find these builds to be a viable option.