Support Gems: Supercharging Skills in Path of Exile 2
Ever feel like your skills in Path of Exile 2 just aren't up to scratch? Maybe your Fireball isn't hitting enough enemies, or your Ground Slam lacks that earth-shattering punch. If this sounds familiar, you're in luck - Support Gems are here to supercharge your gameplay! These little powerhouses can transform your abilities and make your character a force to be reckoned with in the brutal world of Wraeclast. In this article, we'll break down what support gems are, how they work, and why they can make or break your build. We'll also give you some tips on how to get them without spending all day grinding.
What are Support Gems?
Let's start with the basics. In Path of Exile 2, support gems are special items that you can combine with your skill gems to enhance their effects. Unlike skill gems, which give you active abilities like spells or attacks, support gems don't do anything on their own. Instead, they're like the ultimate sidekick, enhancing and improving the skills you're already using.
Imagine throwing a fireball at a crowd of enemies, but it only hits one target. Add the Greater Multiple Projectiles support gem, and suddenly your fireball splits into a fiery barrage, scorching everything in its path. Or maybe you're swinging away with Ground Slam as a powerful marauder's blows on the Increased Physical Damage support gem, and every hit feels like a sledgehammer. That's the magic of Support Gems!
How do Support Gems work?
So how do you use these bad boys? It's all about the Skill Grid. Every skill gem in Path of Exile 2 has sockets, and you can plug support gems into these sockets to link them together. Once linked, the effect of the support gem is applied directly to that skill. The more sockets you unlock as you level up, the more support gems you can stack on a single skill.
There's a catch, though. Support gems come with attribute requirements, such as Strength, Dexterity or Intelligence, so you'll need to make sure your character's stats are up to scratch. Also, you can only use one of each type of support gem in your entire build - no doubling for the same effect. But with so many options to choose from, you can mix and match to create combos that suit the way you want to play.
Popular Support Gems and their effects
With dozens of support gems in Path of Exile 2, the possibilities are endless. Here's a rundown of some fan-favourites and what they bring to the table:
Increased area of effect: Got an area-of-effect skill like Explosive Arrow or Ice Nova? This gem increases its radius, allowing you to wipe out larger crowds with a single shot.
Multistrike: Love melee combat? Multistrike makes your attacks hit multiple times in a flash, shredding enemies before they can blink.
Chain: For projectile skills, Chain lets your shots bounce between enemies, turning you into a one-man firing squad.
Life Drain: This gem siphons health from your enemies with every hit, allowing you to stay in the fight longer.
Mana Leech: Spellcasters, rejoice - Mana Leech replenishes your mana pool so you can keep those spells flying.
These are just a taste of what's out there. The real fun comes from experimenting to see what works with your build.
Tweaking your build with support gems
Here's where support gems really shine: they allow you to customise your character to suit your style. Want to be a damage machine? Stack gems that boost your output. Prefer to tank hits and outlast your enemies? Look for defensive boosts or life-stealing effects. Playing with friends and want to support the team? There are gems for that too.
Say you're a Ranger who likes to keep enemies at bay. Pair your favourite bow skill with support gems like Chain or Greater Multiple Projectiles, and you'll be able to pick off mobs from a safe distance. Or if you're a tanky Marauder, combine Ground Slam with Multistrike and Increased Physical Damage to crush anything that gets too close. The flexibility is endless - you can tweak and swap gems as you go, adapting to whatever Wraeclast throws at you.
Acquiring Support Gems
OK, so you're keen on support gems - how do you get them? In Path of Exile 2, there are a few ways to get your hands on these goodies:
Drops from Enemies: Kill monsters and bosses and you may be able to drop a support gem. The tougher the enemy, the better your chances of getting something rare.
Quest Rewards: Some quests, especially side quests, give out support gems that match your class - perfect for early-game boosts.
Vendors: Check with vendors while exploring; they often have support gems for sale.
Trade with players: Got a particular gem in mind? Trade with other exiles using in-game currency.
If you're like me and don't always have the patience to farm for hours on end, there's another option. Sites like flarejoy.com let you buy POE2 currency, which you can use to trade for the support gems you need - or to pick up other gear to round out your build. It's a handy shortcut when you want to get back into the action.
The Bottom Line
Support gems are your ticket to supercharging skills in Path of Exile 2. They're the secret sauce that turns a good build into a great one, allowing you to tailor your abilities to dominate the battlefield. Whether you want to blast enemies with enhanced spells, crush opponents with boosted attacks, or keep your team alive, there's a Support Gem combo waiting for you.
Ready to step up your game? Start crafting Support Gems today. And if you need a little extra currency to get your hands on the perfect gems, head over to flarejoy.com for a quick boost. With the right setup, you'll be tearing through Wraeclast like a pro in no time!