Alright Exiles, let's talk about one of the most exciting (and potentially game-changing) reveals for Path of Exile 2: Elemental Infusions. This isn't just a minor tweak; it feels like a fundamental re-imagining of how elemental damage works, and honestly, I'm pretty hyped. For those looking to get ahead in the new economy, keeping an eye on PoE 2 Currency will be crucial to fuel those early build experiments.
So, what exactly are Elemental Infusions? From what we've seen and heard, GGG is moving away from the "choose one element and stack it" philosophy that often dominates current PoE. Instead, Infusions seem to be a dynamic system where skills can cycle through or be modified by different elemental types – fire, cold, and lightning – potentially on the fly. This could mean your "Fireball" isn't just a Fireball anymore; it might have a Cold or Lightning variant depending on what infusion state you're in or what weapon you're wielding. It's about flexibility and tactical choice rather than static damage types.
The core mechanic, as I understand it, involves weapon skills. Instead of support gems dictating your elemental conversion, your weapon itself seems to imbue your skills with an elemental type. Imagine a staff that grants a fire infusion to your projectile spell, or an axe that gives a cold infusion to your melee slam. This system fundamentally changes how we approach gearing and skill selection. It pushes weapon choice to the forefront, making rare weapon rolls even more impactful beyond just raw damage numbers.
This has massive implications for build diversity, IMO. We might see fewer "pure" elemental builds and a lot more hybrid approaches, perhaps even builds that swap elements mid-combat to counter specific enemy resistances or exploit weaknesses. Think about it: a boss is immune to fire? Just switch to your cold-infused weapon or skill set. This dynamic element swapping could introduce a whole new layer of strategic combat that current PoE, with its relatively fixed damage types, largely lacks.
One of the more subtle benefits I foresee is a potential reduction in gem bloat. If weapon skills inherently come with elemental characteristics, we might not need as many "Added Fire Damage" or "Cold to Fire" support gems. This frees up gem slots for more interesting utility, defensive, or unique damage-modifying supports, allowing for deeper customization and less "mandatory" gem links just to get your damage type right. It's a quality-of-life improvement masquerading as a core combat mechanic.
What are your thoughts on this system? Do you think it'll make elemental builds more engaging, or just add another layer of complexity? I'm genuinely excited to theorycraft around these new mechanics and see what wild combinations the community comes up with. It feels like GGG is pushing the envelope on combat design, and I'm here for it. As always, getting an early start with resources like PoE 2 Currency buy will give you the edge to try out all these new build ideas.