In Path of Exile 2 (POE 2), the ability to create and customize powerful character builds is one of the main attractions of the game. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, the depth and flexibility of the game's skill system offer endless possibilities for creating unique and devastating combinations. One of the most exciting features for experienced players is the inclusion of Awakened Support Gems. These gems take support gems to the next level, offering enhancements that can dramatically improve the power of your character's abilities.

Awakened Support Gems are a special class of support gems introduced in Path of Exile 2 that can be used to further augment your skill gems. These support gems are designed to unlock additional potential in your build, offering stronger bonuses and, in some cases, entirely new effects. In this article, we will explore how Awakened Support Gems work, how to obtain them, and why they are essential to achieving the most powerful builds in POE 2.

Understanding Support Gems in Path of Exile 2

Before diving into the mechanics of Awakened Support Gems, it's important to understand how regular Support Gems function in Path of Exile 2. Support Gems are linked to Skill Gems in your character's gear and are used to enhance or modify the behavior of the linked skill. These gems add effects such as increased damage, area of effect, critical strike chance, or even entirely new behaviors like causing your skill to hit multiple enemies or trigger additional effects.

Support Gems in POE 2 are typically a vital component of most builds, as they allow players to optimize their abilities for different playstyles. However, while regular Support Gems are powerful, Awakened Support Gems push the boundaries of what can be achieved in terms of damage output, utility, and overall build performance.

The Power of Awakened Support Gems

Awakened Support Gems represent an advanced tier of support gems with significantly improved effects over their regular counterparts. Each Awakened Support Gem can be used in place of a regular support gem but provides enhanced benefits that can drastically improve your build's effectiveness. These gems are often harder to obtain but reward the player with tremendous power, making them a cornerstone for top-tier builds.

Key Features of Awakened Support Gems:

Increased Power: The most obvious benefit of Awakened Support Gems is their increased power compared to regular support gems. For example, an Awakened version of a gem like Awakened Added Fire Damage Support offers a significantly greater increase in fire damage compared to the regular version. This increase can be the difference between a build that deals decent damage and one that obliterates enemies with ease.

Additional Effects: Some Awakened Support Gems introduce entirely new effects that go beyond the capabilities of their non-Awakened counterparts. For example, the Awakened Vicious Projectiles Support not only increases the damage of projectiles but may also add a secondary effect like an increased critical strike chance or cause the projectiles to pierce through additional targets. This allows players to fine-tune their builds with greater precision.

Extended Gem Level Cap: Awakened Support Gems have a higher maximum level compared to regular support gems, meaning they can provide even stronger bonuses. This is a huge advantage for high-level players seeking to optimize every aspect of their build. Achieving the highest level possible for these gems is key to maximizing damage and overall build effectiveness.

Synergy with Unique Items: In Path of Exile 2, certain unique items and gear pieces may offer special interactions or bonus effects when used with Awakened Support Gems. These synergies can further elevate your build's power, offering new strategies for players to explore.

Rarity and Difficulty of Acquisition: Awakened Support Gems are typically harder to obtain than regular gems. They are often dropped by specific bosses, crafted through complex systems, or purchased through special vendors. This rarity means that players need to invest significant time and resources to acquire them, but the payoff is often well worth the effort.

How to Obtain Awakened Support Gems

Obtaining Awakened Support Gems is not an easy task, and this difficulty adds to their prestige and value in Path of Exile 2. There are several ways to acquire these powerful gems:

Endgame Bosses: Awakened Support Gems can be dropped by certain endgame bosses or encounters. These bosses are typically much harder than regular bosses and may require a highly optimized build and strategy to defeat. The harder the boss, the higher the chance of obtaining a rare Awakened Support Gem.

Crafting: Some Awakened Support Gems can be crafted through the game's crafting system. This method requires the player to gather specific materials and components to create the desired gem. The crafting system allows for greater control over the attributes of the gem but can be a lengthy and costly process.

Vendors and Trade: For players looking to get their hands on a specific Awakened Support Gem, trading with other players can be a viable option. Some players may choose to sell their extra or unwanted Awakened Support Gems through the in-game market. This is where POE 2 Currency plays a crucial role, as it is the primary form of exchange in the game.

League Events and Special Drops: In some cases, Awakened Support Gems may be available as rewards for special league events or limited-time activities. These events often come with unique challenges and rewards, and they can be an exciting way for players to earn rare gems or other powerful items.

Which Builds Benefit the Most from Awakened Support Gems?

While Awakened Support Gems can be used in virtually any build, certain types of builds benefit more from these powerful gems due to their ability to amplify specific aspects of the gameplay.

High-Damage Builds: Characters that focus on maximizing damage output, such as those using powerful skill gems like Fireball, Lightning Strike, or Spectral Throw, will find Awakened Support Gems essential for taking their damage to the next level. The increased damage and additional effects make these gems perfect for players who are aiming to clear endgame content quickly and efficiently.

Projectile Builds: For builds that rely on projectiles, such as Tornado Shot or Flameblast, Awakened Support Gems like Awakened Vicious Projectiles Support can significantly enhance both the damage and utility of the projectiles. Additional effects like piercing and increased critical strike chance can make a massive difference in how effectively these builds perform.

Crit-Based Builds: Builds that focus on critical strikes and high burst damage can also benefit from Awakened Support Gems. Gems like Awakened Critical Damage Support or Awakened Multistrike Support can provide massive damage boosts, allowing these builds to deal devastating hits on enemies.

Elemental and Chaos Damage Builds: Awakened Support Gems can help fine-tune elemental or chaos damage builds by providing additional elemental resistances, increased damage for specific elements, and more efficient resource management. These gems are crucial for maintaining powerful damage outputs while keeping enemies at bay.

The Importance of Awakened Support Gems in the Meta

As Path of Exile 2 continues to evolve, the role of Awakened Support Gems in the game's meta cannot be understated. These gems are not just an enhancement; they are a game-changer for players seeking to optimize their builds for both solo play and group content. The enhanced effects and synergy with high-end gear make Awakened Support Gems a cornerstone for any serious player looking to compete at the highest level.

The importance of these gems in the meta is further amplified by the competitive nature of Path of Exile 2, where the most powerful builds often dominate in terms of speed, efficiency, and damage output. As such, obtaining the best Awakened Support Gems and integrating them into your build is essential for achieving success in the endgame and beyond.

Conclusion

Awakened Support Gems are one of the most exciting features of Path of Exile 2. Their ability to significantly enhance and modify the effects of support gems allows players to create powerful, high-performance builds that can tackle the toughest challenges in the game. Whether you are a casual player or a hardcore min-maxer, Awakened Support Gems offer an unparalleled opportunity to fine-tune your character's abilities.

To fully realize the potential of these gems, players will need to invest time and resources into acquiring them, whether through endgame content, crafting, or trading with other players. As you progress through Path of Exile 2, don't forget to explore the potential of Awakened Support Gems, as they are crucial for achieving the most powerful and efficient builds.

And remember, if you're looking to give your character the best possible chance to succeed, you can always buy POE 2 Orbs to invest in your journey and optimize your character's abilities.