Path of Exile 2 New Skill Gems System And How To Get Them

The Path of Exile 2 was released recently with a lot of new features and all-new gameplay with polished graphics. One of the salient and groundbreaking features of the game is its New Skill Gem System. This newly introduced feature is different from the original game, The Path of Exile, with more focus on the customization aspect of the game. Your way of building characters and gameplay strategies changes completely with this gem system. Let’s have a look at what Path of Exile 2 New Skill Gems System is all about. We will also share the ways to get gems in the game.

What’s New in the Path of Exile 2 Skill Gem System?

The skill gems in the Path of Exile 2 don’t rely on gear for sockets anymore. Instead, they have their own dedicated interface for viewing. Developers added this clean interface to make gear upgrades easy. You can do it without reshuffling gems constantly. The best part is that you don’t have to deal with the frustration of inventory management. You can focus on crafting your builds with the new interface.

Let’s see what are the changes this new dedicated interface brings to the table.

Skill Gem New Dedicated Interface

Your gems will not appear in the gear, instead you can locate them in the gem panel. This relocation makes upgrading a breeze. Every character in Path of Exile 2 will start with nine active skill slots. Moreover, the gems can be upgraded and modify their effects with up to five support sockets.

Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems are also a part of this new system. You can find them and convert them into any skill or support gem. However, this should be within the respective uncut gem tier. The addition of uncut gems will reduce the randomness of getting specific abilities.

Support Gems Embedded in Skills

In this new feature, your support gems are now tied directly to the skill gems. Players who complain a lot about difficulties related to ability customization in the first game will love this feature. You now don’t have to deal with the gear compatibility issues.

Upgrading Gems

Your skill gems are now upgradeable with specialized in-game currencies like Jeweler’s Orbs for additional support sockets. Path of Exile 2’s new skill gem system mimics the six-link system from the original game so you can have a maximum of five support sockets.

How the New Skill Gem System Works

The Path of Exile 2 skill gem system revolves around two types of gems:

• Active Skills Gems
• Support Gems

Active Skill Gems

Path of Exile players are aware that Active skill gems are like the backbone of any character’s abilities. You can earn them with uncut gems. These gems drop depending on different levels. 

For example: A level 10 uncut gem will provide access to skills usable at level 10 or below.

Weapon-Specific Skills

Some skills in the game are tied to specific weapon types. 

For example: Bow skills like Split Arrow require a bow.

Class-Specific Gems

Every class in POE 2 has a set of default skills. However, all gems are available universally. 

For example: A Witch can wield a Marauder’s skill gem if it aligns with her build.

Support Gems

Support gems are the type of gems that activate skills by altering their mechanics. You can also mix and match support gems to find synergies.

For example:

• Multiple Projectiles add additional projectiles to attacks or spells.
• Faster Casting reduces the cast time for spells.
• Elemental Focus which boosts elemental damage but prevents status effects like burning or freezing.

Each support gem is color-coded in the following pattern.

Upgrading Gems

Upgrading skill gems are:

• Jeweler’s Orbs

It is used to add support sockets to gems.

• Chromatic Orbs

It can change the socket color on gems deterministically.

• Crafting Materials

This material improves gem quality or increases the number of support sockets.

How to Get Gems in Path of Exile 2

Grinding Gear Games has reduced frustration in the Path of Exile 2, while also preserving gameplay depth. With so many options, you can think of any customization. You can combine an explosive Fireball with support gems that split it into multiple projectiles and boost its critical damage. Or you can wield the Nebula Camo staff to summon frost waves which is upgraded by faster casting and more area damage.

It’s also important to choose gems based on your game style as they can operate differently for AoE damage, single-target burst, or hybrid support. Moreover, getting gems in the game is also easy.

Here are the easy ways to get gems in Path of Exile 2.  

Way 1. Uncut Gem Drops

You can collect Uncut gem drops from several bosses and after key fights throughout the game. Collecting uncut gems will help you in planning builds and let you choose your desired skills.

Way 2. Quest Rewards

You can also get Uncut gems by completing quests and challenges. The number and tier of gems also depend on the class and quest type. However, you can choose them freely from the gemcutting interface.

Way 3. Merchant Purchases

Vendors may sell uncut gems or provide opportunities to craft higher-tier gems as you progress.

Way 4. Area-Appropriate Levels

Gem levels scale with the area. A level 20 zone will drop higher-tier uncut gems compared to early-game zones. So, the higher the level, the greater the tier of the uncut gems.

Builds with the New Skill Tree

The connection of gems and skill trees in the Path of Exile 2 also undergoes some changes:

Passive Skill Synergies

Passive skills upgrade your active and support gems. You are now able to select nodes that increase elemental damage will boost the effectiveness of skills like Fireball or Ice Nova.

Weapon-Specific Passives

With the new weapon sets feature, you can allocate passives to specific weapons. You can tailor builds based on the situation. Now that one set can focus on frost spells and the other increases physical damage, it becomes easy to customize builds according to your liking.

Ascendancy Classes

Ascendancy choices are not removed in Path of Exile 2. They offer specialized, passive boosts, such as increased critical damage or elemental resistance, which synergize with a specific gem setup.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, there aren’t many entirely new changes but we have a clean and organized gem system now. For players, it becomes easy for players to manage and adjust their gems. Building characters is now easy with the better new skill gem system of Path of Exile 2.

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