When diving into the world of Path of Exile 2, many players prioritize weapons, jewelry, and armor as their main gear choices. However, one often overlooked item is the Charm, which can play a pivotal role in your character’s survival, especially during challenging boss encounters.
Though the benefits provided by Charms may seem minor at first glance, they can greatly enhance your performance when used in conjunction with other pieces of gear. The subtle buffs they offer can indeed make a significant difference in your gameplay experience.
One common frustration among players is the limited equipping capacity for Charms during the early to mid-game stages, with access to only one Charm slot initially. In total, there are three Charm slots available, but before unlocking the latter two, players must go through a specific process. This guide will detail the steps you need to follow to maximize your Charm usage.
Unlocking Charm Slots in Path of Exile 2
In Path of Exile 2, players will find three Charm slots to utilize. The usable slots are represented by an empty gray box, while the inaccessible slots have a shield icon. You can observe these slots on your gear screen or at the bottom left of your HUD when using a keyboard and mouse.
To unlock the unavailable Charm slots, you will need to equip a higher-quality belt. The number of slots you can access correlates directly with the belt’s quality. Under normal circumstances, every belt allows for only one Charm slot, which is how most players will progress through the Normal difficulty phase.
While belts might not seem like the most glamorous gear option—since they are rarely sold by vendors and often yield only one random choice at the gambling vendor—you will discover that the quality of your belt plays a crucial role in maximizing Charm slots.
To effectively increase your bonuses, seek belts providing additional charm slots. Players typically gain access to the second slot upon reaching approximately level 50. At this stage, you should begin to encounter belts that feature the “+1 Charm Slots”affix. Generally, these belts will have an item level around 70, suggesting that you’ll be well on your way through Act 3 or even progressing into Cruel difficulty.
Be proactive in checking with vendors for belts that include the “+1 Charm Slots”bonus. Additionally, make sure to loot every belt that drops from enemies and chests, as they may also contain this desirable affix.
The final and third Charm slot becomes accessible when you find a belt featuring the “+2 Charm Slots”affix. These belts generally begin to drop once you reach level 80, placing you firmly in the endgame territory.
It’s crucial to note that the belts offering three Charm slots are quite rare. Most of these high-tier belts are categorized as Unique items, which not only have low drop rates but also do not all guarantee the “+2 Charm Slots”affix. Therefore, players must be prepared for an extensive search for belts that meet these criteria—a challenging yet enjoyable aspect of gameplay in Path of Exile 2.
Utilizing Charm Slots in Path of Exile 2
If you’re unfamiliar with how Charms function, rest assured that this mechanic is relatively straightforward. Charms are items that drop from enemies and bosses, occupying a single slot in your inventory. If you have a belt equipped, access your inventory and move the desired Charm into the empty space below the belt slot to activate the associated bonuses.
Some Charms have specific activation thresholds. For instance, a Charm may only activate after you’ve sustained lightning damage, while another might require you to endure fire damage before it kicks in, providing useful buffs such as damage reduction or recovery speed enhancements.
In the early stages of the game, Charms typically offer damage mitigation or improvements to specific attributes, such as enhancing movement speed when hindered. Certain Charms remain perpetually active, which allows you to reap their benefits as soon as combat begins. It’s essential to note that each Charm has a limited number of charges; once depleted, the Charm becomes unusable.
Thoroughly examining the effects of each Charm and equipping the appropriate one for your current battle scenario is vital. For example, during the encounter with Count Geonor, players will face substantial ice damage. Having a Charm that reduces ice damage during this fight will be beneficial. Following the battle, you can switch to a different Charm based on the next challenge you face.
Once you unlock superior belts with expanded Charm slots, the ability to mix and match buffs becomes invaluable, preparing your character for any combat challenge that lies ahead.
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