Path of Exile 2: Ranking the Best Tier 2 Support Gems for Maximum Power
In Path of Exile 2, the new skill gem system completely changes how players approach character builds. Instead of socketing support gems into gear, skill gems now come with their own support slots, meaning players must carefully choose which support gems to pair with each ability.
One key limitation is that each support gem can only be used once across all equipped skills, forcing players to think strategically about which gems provide the best synergies. With over 50 Tier 2 support gems available, picking the right ones can be overwhelming.
To help you make the best choices, we’ve ranked some of the strongest Tier 2 support gems in Path of Exile 2, focusing on damage, utility, and synergy potential.
Table of Contents
- 1 Best Tier 2 Support Gems in Path of Exile 2
- 1.1 10. Splinter (Armor Breaker Support)
- 1.2 9. Spell Echo (Repeating Spells for Increased AoE)
- 1.3 8. Armor Explosion (Melee AoE Damage Boost)
- 1.4 7. Ricochet (Projectile Bouncing for More Hits)
- 1.5 6. Elemental Penetration (Fire, Lightning, or Cold Penetration)
- 1.6 5. Potential (Power Charge Critical Boost)
- 1.7 4. Heavy Swing (Melee Damage Boost)
- 1.8 3. Considered Casting (Boosted Spell Damage)
- 1.9 2. Practiced Combo (Melee Combo Builder)
- 1.10 1. Ingenuity (Cooldown Reduction Mastery)
- 2 Level Up Faster with PoE 2 Boosting at GladiatorBoost
- 3 Final Thoughts
Best Tier 2 Support Gems in Path of Exile 2
10. Splinter (Armor Breaker Support)
✔ Category: Strength
✔ Effect: Skills break enemy armor for 15% of physical damage dealt
Melee-focused builds rely heavily on physical damage, but enemy armor can reduce overall DPS significantly. Splinter makes it easier to shred through armored foes, ensuring consistent damage scaling throughout the game. It’s a fantastic early-to-mid-game gem for physical melee builds.
Best for:
- Duelist, Berserker, and Gladiator builds focused on high physical DPS
- Two-Handed Weapon Builds that rely on hard-hitting melee strikes
9. Spell Echo (Repeating Spells for Increased AoE)
✔ Category: Intelligence
✔ Effect: Spells repeat once, with 30% more AoE but 30% longer cast time
Spellcasters who rely on AoE skills benefit immensely from Spell Echo. The ability to repeat spells automatically doubles their effectiveness in clearing mobs, making it a must-have for area-based builds.
However, it comes with a trade-off: longer cast time. This means it’s best suited for high-mana builds with good sustain.
Best for:
- Elemental Casters (Lightning, Fire, Cold)
- Minion Masters (Skeletal Mages, Golems, etc.)
8. Armor Explosion (Melee AoE Damage Boost)
✔ Category: Strength
✔ Effect: Fully breaking armor causes an explosion of fire damage
Melee characters often struggle with AoE damage, especially in early-game leveling. Armor Explosion solves this problem by turning armor breaks into mini fire explosions, making it easier to clear enemy packs efficiently.
Pairing it with Splinter creates a devastating combo for melee builds, ensuring enemies explode with every strike.
Best for:
- Melee Crit Builds that frequently break armor
- Warriors who struggle with AoE damage
7. Ricochet (Projectile Bouncing for More Hits)
✔ Category: Dexterity
✔ Effect: Projectiles have a 40% chance to chain off terrain
Bow builds and spellcasters using projectiles benefit greatly from Ricochet. This support gem allows projectiles to bounce off walls and obstacles, effectively hitting multiple enemies with a single shot.
Ricochet significantly increases area coverage, making it one of the best gems for archers and projectile mages.
Best for:
- Bow Builds (Ranger, Trickster, Sniper)
- Projectile Spells (Ice Spear, Fireball, etc.)
6. Elemental Penetration (Fire, Lightning, or Cold Penetration)
✔ Category: Strength / Dexterity / Intelligence
✔ Effect: Skills penetrate 30% of enemy resistances
Elemental resistance is one of the biggest obstacles for spellcasters in late-game maps and bosses. This gem significantly boosts elemental damage output by bypassing enemy defenses, making it a staple for elemental damage dealers.
Choose the penetration gem that matches your build’s primary element.
Best for:
- Fire Sorcerers, Lightning Casters, and Cold Mages
- Bow Builds using Elemental Damage (Lightning Arrow, Fire Arrow, etc.)
5. Potential (Power Charge Critical Boost)
✔ Category: Intelligence
✔ Effect: Skills consume power charges for +30% critical strike chance
Critical strike builds heavily rely on power charges for damage boosts. Potential ensures that every attack has a high crit chance, making it a must-have for any crit-focused caster or melee character.
Pair it with Inevitable Critical for even higher guaranteed crit rates.
Best for:
- Crit Casters (Storm Call, Fireball, etc.)
- Crit Melee Builds using Power Charges
4. Heavy Swing (Melee Damage Boost)
✔ Category: Strength
✔ Effect: Skills deal 35% increased melee damage but have 10% less attack speed
For slow but hard-hitting melee weapons, Heavy Swing is a fantastic choice. The damage boost outweighs the attack speed reduction, making it an excellent pick for bruiser-style characters.
Best for:
- Two-Handed Weapon Builds (Maces, Axes, Hammers)
- Slower Melee Classes (Juggernaut, Guardian, Slayer)
3. Considered Casting (Boosted Spell Damage)
✔ Category: Intelligence
✔ Effect: 40% more spell damage but 15% less cast speed
If you prioritize high burst damage, Considered Casting is an excellent choice for pure casters. The trade-off in cast speed is minor, considering the massive spell damage boost.
Best for:
- Bossing Casters who rely on strong single-target hits
- Lightning Casters (Ball Lightning, Arc, etc.)
2. Practiced Combo (Melee Combo Builder)
✔ Category: Dexterity
✔ Effect: 40% chance to add extra combo hits
Combo-based melee classes thrive with Practiced Combo, as it increases final combo execution speed, leading to higher burst damage.
Pair it with Extended Combo for insane late-game scaling.
Best for:
- Monk & Martial Artist Builds
- Any class using Combo mechanics
1. Ingenuity (Cooldown Reduction Mastery)
✔ Category: Dexterity
✔ Effect: 30% reduced cooldown time
While not flashy, Ingenuity is one of the best utility support gems. Faster cooldowns mean more frequent spell casts, mobility skills, and burst windows, making it an excellent pick for every build that relies on cooldown-based abilities.
Best for:
- Cooldown-Based Skills (Warcries, Movement Abilities, Summons, etc.)
- Casters and Tanks who rely on frequent skill usage
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Final Thoughts
Choosing the right Tier 2 support gems in Path of Exile 2 can greatly enhance your build’s performance. Whether you specialize in melee combat, spellcasting, or ranged attacks, selecting the best support gems for your skills will maximize your damage output and survivability.
Experiment with different combinations, adapt to your playstyle, and optimize your gem setup for the best results!
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