ARPGs are not light on monsters, bosses, and most importantly information that you need to understand the layer of details behind its game mechanics. Path of Exile 2 features numerous techniques all designed to help the player experiment with the game as much as they can, to create the best character that fits their playstyle. One of the best ways to build a character is by expertly using Skill Gems. This guide features everything you need to know about Skill Gems in Path of Exile 2. So let’s get started!
The Ultimate Guide On Skill Gems In Path Of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 can be a difficult game to master and understand the complexity behind each of the systems the game has tucked behind layers of screens. Even the veteran players from the first game might have some difficulties picking up some of the changes in the second one. Here we have listed out every little thing you need to know about Skill Gems, from its usage to the upgrade.
Here is the list of Skill Gems information covered in the article.
- What Are Skill Gems?
- How To Equip Skill Gems
- Uncut Skill Gems
- Skill Gems Categories
- Support Gems
- Buff Gems
- Meta Gems
- Skill Gem Tags Information
- Skill Gems Changes in Path of Exile 2 from PoE1
Skill Gems In Path of Exile 2
Allows you to use a skill for your character.
Before learning about Skill Gems, you have to know what these things are to do in the game. In a normal game, skills are supposed to be learned from experience, but in Path of Exile 2, you do this through Skill Gems. You can insert these Skill Gems into your character’s socket to utilize the skill from the Skill Gem.
There is no class restriction in using any Skill Gem in Path of Exile 2, the only thing to remember is that you must meet the attribute requirement of the Skill Gem before gaining access to the skill it offers to the player.
How To Equip Skill Gems
Head into Skills Tab from the Menu to gain access to the list of Skills available for your character. Here you will see the list of Sockets and Support Gems (more on that later). The left column will show the Skill Gems and the rest of the sockets saved for Support.
The limitation is set to nine but it can be bypassed by using certain weapons, meta gems, and classes. The more experiments you perform on your build, the more benefits you will rip out of the system here.
How To Use Uncut Skill Gems In Path of Exile 2
You will not find Skill Gems in the Wild like in the first game, now in Path of Exile 2, you will get Uncut Gem drops. You must use the Uncut Gems to engrave the skill and support you need for your character.
Gem cutting
When you receive an Uncut Gem, head to the Gemcutting section. The interface will not stay the same for every class, each class has its own variation of the Gemcutting interface in Path of Exile 2. With the interface, the skills listed in the interface also see changes. Each class has its own set of skills and interface layout that is suitable for the class.
In the world of Path of Exile 2, you will counter three different types of Uncut Gems.
- Uncut Skill Gems
- Uncut Support Gems
- Uncut Buff Gem
You will be able to utilize the Uncut Gems by using the Engraving Window.
Note: Uncut Gems are tied to level, meaning, if you are at level 6, then you will encounter uncut gems at your level rather than just seeing the first level Uncut Gems.
While in the first Path of Exile, Skill Gems used to garner XP to level up, here we rely on Uncut Gems. They are easy to find, although completely random like the map in the game. The game hands out so many options to experiment with the Uncut Gems, that you will never get rid of them.
Where to Find: You can’t find the Uncut Gems from Vendors, it acts like a common loot in Path of Exile 2. The best bet here is bosses in the game, defeating them will result in High-Level gems. But mostly, here we are dealing with RNG mechanics.
All Skill Gems Categories In Path Of Exile 2, Explained
To make it simpler, Skill Gems in Path of Exile 2 come in different colors, which help you figure out the difference between the skill gems. So, if you do pick up a skill gem, it could make you happy that you found it or depressed because it’s just another one that you can’t use or don’t want in the game.
Strength (Red)
Here the primary focus in warrior class is bread and butter, the melee attack, and the slam stomps. Red Gem is perfect for a strength-based build. It also comes in handy for Fire-themed auras or buffs.
Dexterity (Green)
If you like your fight far away, then you should be on the watchout for Green Skill Gems. They are primarily focused on ranged skills, grenades, traps, or roguish fast melee attacks. Ice-themed buffs and aura belong to this color skill.
Intelligence (Blue)
Lastly, we have the blue color Skill Gems, perfect for mage class, if your character speaks the language of magic, then blue Skill Gems will be more of your thing. It also comes with Lightning theme buffs and aura.
How To Use Support Gems In Path Of Exile 2
Skill Gems comes with Support Gems. During Act 1, the Skill Gems you will acquire will have two support sockets. A better version of Skill Gems will have more sockets. The basic purpose of Support Gems is to make your Skill Gems more powerful, as they will modify your Skill Gems to perform even better.
Example– If you have a Fireball, you can use the Support Gem Multiple Projectile to have more fireballs shooting out instead of just one. As you can see how enabling one support Gem modified the Skill Gem to behave in a completely different fashion. While you can’t stack two of the same support gems experimenting with the different ones will result in a more powerful version of the original Skill Gem skill.
How To Add More Support Gems Sockets To Skill Gem
As we listed under the differences, Skill Gems can be upgraded and can have more Support Sockets. This is done through Jeweler’s Orbs. Getting these orbs will allow you to add more Support Sockets for your Skill Gems. Different Jewelers Orbs are tied to the number of support sockets.
- Jeweler’s Orb I: Skill Gem can have 3 Support Gems.
- Jeweler’s Orb II: Skill Gem can have 4 Support Gems.
- Jeweler’s Orb III: Skill Gem can have 5 Support Gems.
Finding Jewler Orb can be a difficult task but it’s the only way to add more Support Sockets for your Skill Gems.
Limitations of Support Gems In Path Of Exile 2
In the early part of the game, you will have to rely on the Support Gem to carry out most of the actions. A skill with 2 activated support gems will make your skill appear better and deal a devastating amount of damage on the battlefield. These Support Gems come with their own set of limitations however:
- You can’t stack the same support gems multiple times
- Support Gem must be linked to the Skill Gems for it to work.
- Support Gem can increase the attribute requirement of the Skill Gem.
- Support Gems can be upgraded but need rare material.
- Initially, Support Gems are limited to 2 but it can be increased to 5.
The key drawback of using Support Gems is that they raise the asking attribute to use them. They can raise +5 Dexterity Support for Skill Gems that you have been using all this time. No stacking the support gems enables you to experiment with the support Gems than cheesing it with two of them activated at once.
How Do Buff Gems Work In Path Of Exile 2?
Buff Gems add buffs that activate after garnering spirit or energy,
It is a special type of Gem compared to the Support Gem, this one grants Persistent Buffs or limited temporary buffs to your character. The effect will also reach out to the nearby allies as well.
Adding Buff Gems will result in increasing your damage or defense or any other useful perks for a limited time. Requirements for buff gems will be different.
- Buff Gems at Level 4 can be applied for any character above Level 10.
- Buff Gems at Level 8 are perfect for characters above Level 26.
- Buff Gems at Level 14, can be engraved for character above level 58.
Buff Gems rely on energy. Filling up the energy is the only way to activate these gems in the game. To activate the Buff Gems, Press G on your keyboard to open up the Gem menu. Here right-click on the Skill icon, you will need to spend 30 Spirits for a buff gem to become active.
The requirement for spirit to activate a Buff Gem will rise as you add more support gems. Keep that in mind, when you are shuffling through support gems for your character.
Where to Find: Buff Gems can be found by slaying elite-level monsters and bosses in the game.
Meta Gems
Meta Gems are similar to Buff Gems, but they activate only after a specific condition has been met.
Every Meta Gem in Path of Exile 2 has a condition tied to it. The conditions will always be different, some of them might want you to ignite a target, shock enemies, or land critical hits. These conditions, once they are met, energy will soon begin to accumulate. Once the energy bar is full, only then the Meta Gems will show their real power.
Skill Gem Tags Information
Tags are indicators for Support Gem Type and particular Damage Scaling. If you want to build a stronger character, then you must read the tags behind each skill gem and how it going to affect your overall current build.
The game does a fantastic explanation of teaching the player how the Skill Gems handle Support Gems, Passive Skills, Items, and other systems. All of this information can be seen in the Skill Gem’s tag information.
The tags on the skills will include:
- Projectile: Here you can install Multiple Projectile Support gems to fire more projectiles.
- Spell: It has much more to do with the damage of the Skill rather than anything else. Here we are dealing with Increased Elemental Damage.
- Melee: It will scale with Increased melee damage or attack speed – basically anything that is listed under physical damage or weapon.
- Buff: Increases Skill’s character power, or persistence.
Different Skill Gems will have their own tags to help you figure out how it’s going to play out in the game. Tags such as Slam, Melee, and AOE, are great indicators to help you pick up the Support Gem that is more suitable for the Skill Gem.
Skill Gems Changes In Path Of Exile 2 From PoE1
There are a few differences compared to how the game was played in the first iteration. This section will solely focus on the changes the Skill Gems in Path of Exile 2.
- New Skill Gem Interface: You will not find the Skill Gem under the gear section. Instead, you have the Skill Gem Interface to visualize the skill gem with slots enabled on each one of them.
- No Stacking Support Gems: Multiple copies of the Support Gems are not allowed anymore. This was pushed out to make the player take in every detail of the skill gem to plan their build perfectly.
- Introduction of Meta Gems: Trigger Gems count as Meta Gems.
- Friendlier Attribute Req: A simpler attribute requirement for the Skill Gems.
- Create Skill Gem: Lastly, Path of Exile 2 gives the option for the player to create their own skill or support gem from the uncut gem that drops from monsters.
- Mana: Auras, Minions, and Meta Gems conserve Spirit instead of mana like in the first Path of Exile.
- Uncut Gems and Support Gems: You can upgrade and experiment a lot with the inclusion of these two gems instead of waiting for the perfect gem to drop from the bosses.
And that completes the full guide on Skill Gems in Path of Exile 2. Hopefully, this will have you better prepared for taking on bosses in the game like Candlemass, The Living Rite and Asinia, The Praetor’s Consort.