Path of Exile 2 Gems Guide

Welcome, Exiles! Gems in Path of Exile 2 have undergone one of the most significant reworks in the game’s history. If you’re familiar with the original Path of Exile, you’ll find that the way gems function in PoE 2 is fundamentally different. This PoE 2 gem guide will break down everything you need to know about the new gem system – covering the different types, their unique mechanics, and how to use them effectively in your builds. Whether you're looking to optimize your skills or just understand what’s changed, this guide will help you navigate the new gem landscape in Path of Exile 2.

Speaking of, you can always Get Gems at SkyCoach if you need a couple of extras. SkyCoach is the best place to quickly get more gems. The process of buying and getting them is super streamlined and fast, so if you’re looking to spice up your build, get your gems at SkyCoach!

Read our other PoE 2 guides:

• PoE 2 Best Builds
• Trials of Chaos Guide
• Gearing Guide
• Endgame Guide
• Leveling Guide

 

 

How Gems Work in PoE 2

Path of Exile 2 gems are central to character customization, granting abilities, and enhancing skills. The primary gem types and their functions are:

1. Skill Gems: These provide active abilities, such as attacks, spells, or summons. Equipping a Skill Gem grants access to a specific skill usable in combat.
2. Support Gems: These modify or enhance the effects of Skill Gems, offering bonuses like increased damage, added projectiles, or altered behavior. To activate their effects, Support Gems must be socketed next to a Skill Gem in your Skill Window.
3. Spirit Gems: These provide ongoing buffs to your character, nearby allies, or minions. The buffs remain active indefinitely and only deactivate if turned off manually. They can enhance damage, boost defenses, or grant other beneficial effects.
4. Meta Gems: These advanced gems trigger unique effects under specific conditions and can be enhanced by Support Gems. They offer complex interactions and can significantly alter gameplay mechanics.
5. Uncut Gems: These are found throughout the game, and they allow you to create or level up Active, Support, or Buff Skill Gems. Uncut Gems can be crafted into specific Skill Gems via the Gemcutting menu, providing flexibility in skill customization.

If you played the first game, then you know that you would slot gems and support gems into sockets present on gear. And this is where PoE 2 changes things pretty significantly. There is now a dedicated window for skills with about a dozen slots for PoE 2 Skill Gems. BLOG20

Moving on, each Skill gem has its own sockets for Support Gems. Usually, 2-3 sockets are available right away, and it is possible to unlock up to 5 by using a special item.

Spirit Gems work like Auras from the first game. This means you can activate them, and they’ll give you an effect when some conditions are met. Spirit Gems require an additional resource called Spirit to be activated. More on that later.

Meta Gems also consume Spirit and are also triggered on condition. However, the difference between them and Spirit Gems is that PoE 2 Meta Gems have sockets where you can insert Skill Gems. So, when the condition is met, a meta gem will use any or all slotted Skill Gems automatically.

Lastly, Uncut Gems are a type of item drop in Path of Exile 2. Instead of receiving fully-formed skill gems as drops or quest rewards, you’ll find Uncut Gems. These items allow you to select the specific gem you want by using the Gemcutting window. This system offers more freedom and flexibility, giving you the power to choose the exact gem you need for your build rather than relying on random drops.

Skill Gems

Skill Gems are the key to unlocking active abilities in Path of Exile 2. When equipped, these gems grant your character powerful combat skills, ranging from offensive attacks and defensive maneuvers to utility-based abilities. As you progress, Skill Gems can be leveled up to increase their effectiveness, such as boosting damage, widening area-of-effect, or enhancing skill-specific features.

How Skill Gems Work

In Path of Exile 2, Skill Gems are no longer socketed into gear. Instead, they are directly equipped by your character, allowing you to use up to 9 active skills at once. Each Skill Gem can be augmented by up to 5 PoE 2 Support Gems, which modify how the skill behaves and offer extensive customization for your build.

To equip a Skill Gem, use the Skill Window and slot it into the leftmost section. The skill will then appear in your Skill Bar, located between the Mana Orb and Health Orb, depending on the UI settings. From here, you can assign the skill to any available slot. 

How do you use Skill Gems in PoE 2? Skill Gems are accessible to all classes, some skills are weapon-specific, meaning they require certain equipment to be used effectively.

Obtaining Skill Gems

You acquire Skill Gems through Uncut Gems, which drop from monsters and scale with the area's level. Uncut Gems let you choose the specific skill you want, providing flexibility as you build your character. Each Skill Gem has level and attribute requirements that must be met before you can use it.

Leveling Up Skill Gems

In Path of Exile 2, Skill Gems can be leveled by using Uncut Gems. These Uncut Gems PoE 2 drop with varying levels, so you might obtain a high-level Uncut Gem even early in the campaign. If you don’t need the gem for a new skill, you can use it to upgrade an existing skill instead.

Enhancing Skill Gems with Support Gems

Support Gems allow you to modify and enhance your Skill Gems, tailoring their effects to suit your playstyle. Each active Skill Gem can be linked to up to 5 Support Gems, with each Support Gem offering different types of enhancements, such as:

• Adding projectiles
• Increasing damage
• Adding status effects like Freeze or Burn
• Improving utility, such as reducing skill cooldowns

You can swap Support Gems at any time to adapt your build as you progress.

Key Differences from PoE 1

• Gems are equipped directly rather than socketed in gear.
• No color-based sockets — any Skill Gem can be enhanced with any Support Gem.
• Magic weapons have innate skills, offering more versatility during leveling.
• Movement is integrated into many skills, making combat fluid and dynamic.

Now you know everything about Skill Gems, including how to level up Skill Gems in PoE 2, how to modify them, etc.

 

Support Gems

Support Gems are a crucial part of character customization in Path of Exile 2. They modify and enhance the effects of your Skill Gems, allowing you to tailor your abilities to your preferred playstyle. Unlike Skill Gems, Support Gems do not grant active abilities; instead, they provide enhancements such as increased damage, range, or unique situational bonuses.

How Support Gems Work

• Modifying Skills: Support Gems link to your active Skill Gems to alter their properties. Each Skill Gem can be enhanced by up to 5 Support Gems.
• No Levels: Support Gems in Path of Exile 2 do not level up. Instead, they remain effective based on their inherent modifiers and your character’s attributes.
• Attribute Requirements: Support Gems add additional attribute requirements to the Skill Gems they modify, depending on the support’s attribute type (Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence). BLOG20
• Cost Multiplier: Support Gems have a Cost Multiplier instead of the traditional "Cost & Reservation Multiplier." This influences the skill’s mana cost but not reservation-based abilities.

Restrictions on Support Gems

• Unique Use: Each Support Gem can only be used once per build — you cannot socket multiple copies of the same Support Gem into different skills simultaneously.
• Compatibility: If a Support Gem is incompatible with a Skill Gem, it cannot be socketed into that skill.
• Attribute Limits: You can use one Support Gem per 5 points in the corresponding attribute (Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence).

Customizing Your Build

Support Gems allow for significant skill customization by adding enhancements like:

• Increased Damage: Boosts the damage output of the linked skill.
• Increased Range: Extends the reach of ranged or AoE skills.
• Utility Effects: Adds unique effects such as projectiles, status ailments, or cooldown reductions.

Simplified Naming

In Path of Exile 2, Support Gems no longer use the word "Support" in their names. This streamlined approach makes identifying and managing your Support Gems more intuitive.

Mastering the use of Support Gems is key to maximizing the potential of your Skill Gems, enabling powerful combinations, and optimizing your build for combat efficiency.

Spirit Gems

PoE 2 Spirit Gems are a special type of gem that provides various buffs by reserving Spirit instead of Mana. These buffs can be categorized into Persistent Buffs and Temporary Buffs, each serving different functions in your build. Some Spirit Gems also have conditional triggers, allowing for situational enhancements.

You can acquire Spirit Gems through Uncut Spirit Gems, which can drop with specific levels (4/8/14). These levels determine which Spirit Gems you can unlock or upgrade.

Types of Spirit Gems

Let’s have these PoE 2 Spirit Gems explained even more because there’s a lot more than meets the eye.

Persistent Buffs (Auras)

Persistent Buffs, commonly known as Auras in Path of Exile 1, are constant buffs that remain active until manually disabled. These buffs typically enhance your damage defenses or provide utility effects. They reserve a portion of your Spirit while active. Examples of Persistent Buffs include:

• Herald of Ash (Level 4) – Buffs your fire damage and causes enemies to ignite when killed.
• Arctic Armour (Level 4) – Creates an icy barrier that absorbs fire and physical damage.
• Blasphemy (Level 8) – Turns linked curses into auras that affect nearby enemies.

Note: In PoE 2, some gems still retain the “Aura” tag, but they function as Persistent Buffs.

Temporary Buffs

Temporary Buffs provide short-term, powerful effects and usually have a cooldown or activation condition. These buffs offer situational power boosts or defensive benefits. Examples include:

• Magma Barrier (Level 4) – Creates a protective fiery shield for a limited duration.
• Elemental Conflux (Level 14) – Temporarily infuses your attacks with all elemental damage types.

While Temporary Buffs are less common, they add flexibility and burst potential to your gameplay.

Trigger-Based Spirit Gems

Some Spirit Gems have Trigger and Meta tags, allowing them to activate under specific conditions. These conditional buffs are useful for automating effects during combat. Examples of Trigger-Based Spirit Gems include:

• Cast on Freeze (Level 8) – Triggers linked skills when you freeze an enemy.
• Cast on Critical (Level 14) – Activates linked skills when you land a critical strike.
• Reaper’s Invocation (Level 14) – Triggers effects when a specific condition is met, like a minion’s death.

These gems enhance your build by automating skill use, making your gameplay more fluid and reactive.

How to Use Spirit Gems Effectively

1. Choosing the Right Buffs: Mix Persistent Buffs for constant enhancements and Temporary Buffs for situational power boosts to create a balanced setup.
2. Spirit Management: Since Spirit Gems reserve Spirit, be mindful of how much you reserve. Optimize your Spirit usage to maximize your buffs without hindering your active skills.
3. Trigger Gems: Use Trigger-Based Spirit Gems to automate buffs and reactions, allowing you to focus on combat while maintaining effective buffs.
4. Uncut Spirit Gems: Use Uncut Spirit Gems to unlock or upgrade Spirit Gems according to their level tiers (4/8/14), offering flexibility in how you develop your build.

Spirit Gems in Path of Exile 2 provide a wide range of options to customize your character's buffs and playstyle. Understanding the differences between Persistent Buffs, Temporary Buffs, and Trigger-Based Buffs will help you maximize your build’s potential. Use your Spirit wisely and experiment with different combinations to create the most effective setup for your needs.

Meta Gems

Meta Gems in Path of Exile 2 is a unique type of Skill Gem that provides advanced functionality by interacting with other Skill Gems and Support Gems. These gems can automate skill activation or offer customizable effects, making them essential for complex and efficient builds. Meta Gems consume Spirit to remain active, similar to Persistent Buffs (Auras), which adds a layer of strategic Spirit management.

Overview of Meta Gems

Meta Gems allow for intricate interactions and skill combinations, offering a wide range of possibilities for creative builds. They typically fall into two main categories: Trigger-based Meta Gems and Manual-use Meta Gems.

1. Trigger-based Meta Gems automate skill execution based on specific conditions, enabling hands-free activation of powerful abilities.
2. Manual-use Meta Gems function like customizable skills, giving players more control over the timing and usage of their abilities.

Both types of Meta Gems can be socketed with Support Gems to further enhance their effects, providing limitless opportunities to fine-tune your playstyle.

Trigger Meta Gems

Trigger Meta Gems are some of the most powerful tools in Path of Exile 2 for automating skill usage. They use a mechanic called Energy to determine when socketed skills are triggered. This automation allows players to focus on positioning and strategy while their abilities fire off automatically under the right conditions.

How Energy Works

Energy acts as a counter that builds up whenever a condition is met. Once enough Energy accumulates, the Meta Gem triggers the linked skills. After activation, the Energy counter resets to 0, and the process begins again.

• Energy Gain: Each Meta Gem has a specific condition for gaining Energy. For example:
  
  • Cast on Ignite: Gains Energy whenever you Ignite an enemy.
  • Cast on Freeze: Gains Energy when you Freeze an enemy.
• Maximum Energy: The maximum Energy is determined by the combined base cast time of the skills socketed into the Meta Gem. The longer the cast time, the more Energy is required to trigger the skill.
• Trigger Activation: When the Energy threshold is reached, all socketed skills are triggered automatically. After this, the energy counter resets, and you must meet the conditions again to build energy.

By using Trigger Meta Gems, you can create builds that streamline combat, allowing your character to unleash devastating spells without constant manual input.

Enemy Power and Trigger Mechanics

In addition to Energy, Trigger Meta Gems interact with the Enemy Power system, which assigns a difficulty value to monsters based on their rarity.

Power Values by Rarity:

• Normal (White): 1 Power
• Magic (Blue): 2 Power
• Rare (Yellow): 5 Power
• Unique (Bosses): 20 Power

For instance, a Rare monster with a base Power of 2 will have its Power multiplied by 5 due to its rarity, resulting in a total of 10 Power. This system helps balance trigger conditions, ensuring that skills trigger more reliably against tougher enemies.

Using Support Gems with Meta Gems

Support Gems play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of Meta Gems and their linked skills. By carefully choosing Support Gems, you can amplify the effects of both the Meta Gem and the socketed skills, creating powerful synergies.

• Dual Application: When you socket a Support Gem into a Meta Gem, it applies to both the Meta Gem itself and any compatible skills socketed within it.
  
  • Example: Persistence Support Gem increases the duration of both an Ancestral Warrior Totem and the skill it uses, such as Earthquake.
• Meta-Specific Supports: Certain Support Gems, like Impetus, are specifically designed for use with Meta Gems, offering unique enhancements that can’t be applied to standard Skill Gems.

By experimenting with different Support Gems, you can unlock new ways to optimize your Meta Gems and enhance your build's performance. BLOG20

Meta Gems provide incredible flexibility and power, allowing you to automate complex skill interactions and customize your character’s abilities to suit any challenge. Mastering these gems will give you a significant edge in Path of Exile 2.

Conclusion

Gems in Path of Exile 2 are at the heart of everything—how your character plays, how powerful they become, and the builds you can create. True to PoE's legacy, the gem system is incredibly customizable, allowing for wild combinations that can sometimes lead to game-breaking results.

If you’re new to this franchise, the streamlined PoE 2 gem system might be easier to grasp, making it simpler to understand how each gem type functions and how they interact. For veterans coming from PoE 1, the changes might seem unusual at first, but they offer fresh opportunities for experimentation and creativity.

We hope this guide has given you the clarity you need to understand each type of gem and how they work together. Whether you’re crafting a straightforward build or pushing the limits with unconventional setups, mastering gems in PoE 2 will set you on the path to ultimate power.

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