Path of Exile 2: How to Utilize Skills – Acquisition, Upgrades & Buffs

Path of Exile 2 launched its early access on December 6 and is expected to remain in this phase for approximately six months. Despite this being an early release, the game already boasts three full acts and six unique classes for players to explore. Additionally, new content, including quests that drop POE 2 currency, will continue to roll out before the official launch.

One of the major overhauls in Path of Exile 2 is its skill system, which has been refined and simplified compared to the original game. In the first Path of Exile, the system often felt restrictive as skills and support gems were socketed directly into equipment. This reliance on gear slots created limitations and required additional steps to modify skills using in-game resources.

In Path of Exile 2, these restrictions have been reduced significantly. The changes aim to provide more freedom and eliminate unnecessary complexity, making skill management smoother. Below, we’ll explore how to acquire skills, upgrade them, and utilize buffs effectively in Path of Exile 2.

 

How to Acquire Skills?

Skills in Path of Exile 2 are still linked to skill gems, but the system has been simplified. Now, skills are managed within a dedicated skill gem tab, where you can equip up to nine unique skills. This tab allows you to customize your skill setup by modifying and assigning gems to the hotbar. You can also hold the ALT key to view detailed descriptions and effects of each skill gem.

Weapon-specific skills are another important addition. Certain skills are tied to specific weapon types, meaning you’ll only have access to them when wielding the appropriate weapon. For instance, a wand comes with its unique set of skills that are exclusive to that weapon. You can further enhance these weapon skills by upgrading gear with resources like POE 2 Exalted Orbs to expand their effects.

Skill gems can be acquired in several ways:

1. Killing bosses

2. Completing quests

Once obtained, these gems can be used to select and upgrade skills. However, keep in mind that skill gems can only match skills of the same or lower levels.

 

How to Upgrade Skills?

Skill upgrades in Path of Exile 2 are handled through support gems. Each skill starts with two slots for support gems, but this can eventually increase to five slots by using Jeweler’s Orbs.

Unlike in the first game, skill slots no longer have any polarity. However, support gems themselves do, and their compatibility depends on your character’s attributes. For every five points in a specific attribute, you unlock additional support gem slots.

Each support gem modifies your skills in unique ways, such as:

1. Increasing damage output

2. Reducing cooldown times

3. Applying debuffs to enemies

It’s important to note that you cannot use the same support gem twice on the same skill. Additionally, some powerful support gems may come with drawbacks, such as increased cooldowns or mana costs, so you’ll need to balance their benefits with potential downsides.

 

Uncut Spirit Gems Provide Skill Buffs

Uncut Spirit Gems are a special feature in Path of Exile 2. While these gems do not provide new skills, they enable persistent skill buffs that can significantly enhance your gameplay. These buffs are powered by spirit, a new in-game resource that allows you to activate permanent effects or summon persistent minions.

To acquire Uncut Spirit Gems, you must complete specific challenges across the game’s acts or defeat rare enemies and bosses. These gems are quite rare, but they become more accessible as you clear higher-level content.

 

Where to Find Uncut Spirit Gems?

While Uncut Spirit Gems are difficult to obtain, there are three key locations in Path of Exile 2 where you are almost guaranteed to find them:

1. Spirit-boosting bosses in Act 1

2. Golden Tomb area in Act 2

3. Boss encounters in Act 3

Each of these locations contains an item that increases your maximum spirit by 30 and rewards you with an Uncut Spirit Gem upon completion.

Beyond these key areas, Uncut Spirit Gems can also drop from rare and boss enemies. Although all enemies have a small chance of dropping them, rare and boss-level enemies provide significantly higher drop rates.

For efficient farming, focus on areas that are two to four levels below your character’s current level. This strategy allows you to clear enemies quickly while maximizing your chances of obtaining Uncut Spirit Gems. Don’t forget to loot chests and containers as you progress, as they may also contain valuable gems.

 

What Makes POE 2’s Skill System Special?

Path of Exile 2’s revamped skill system introduces a refreshing level of flexibility and customization. Players can now equip up to eight skills simultaneously without the burden of managing armor slots. This design choice simplifies skill usage while providing greater freedom for diverse builds.

That said, the system is not without its drawbacks. While support gems are effective, they lack the depth and progression seen in traditional skill trees found in other games. Though functional, the system may feel somewhat underdeveloped in comparison. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall experience, as careful planning and the right gem combinations can still create powerful builds.

Conclusion

The updated skill system in Path of Exile 2 is a testament to the developers’ efforts to improve gameplay and offer more variety. By reducing restrictions and allowing skills to be tied to weapons rather than armor slots, players now have more freedom to experiment with builds. As additional content rolls out, the system will likely evolve further, offering even more options for players.

With the ability to use any skill across all classes (provided you equip the appropriate weapon), Path of Exile 2 opens up countless possibilities for creative character builds. Whether you’re enhancing skills through support gems or unlocking powerful buffs with Uncut Spirit Gems, the new system ensures you’ll always have something to work toward as you progress through the game.