Path of Exile 2 is a highly anticipated sequel to the popular action RPG, Path of Exile (PoE), developed by Grinding Gear Games. While the game has evolved in many ways, one key feature that continues to be central to character progression is the Passive Skill Tree, which provides players with a vast array of customization options. Anointing Passive Skill Tree nodes via the Oil and Anointing mechanic allows you to add additional, powerful bonuses to your build. With an ever-growing list of anointable nodes and numerous new skill and passive node options introduced in Path of Exile 2, players will want to carefully consider which nodes to prioritize for optimal character development.

In this article, we'll break down the best nodes to anoint in Path of Exile 2, focusing on their synergy with various builds and playstyles. Whether you're a fan of high-damage builds, tanky defensive strategies, or utility-focused playstyles, knowing which nodes to anoint can significantly enhance your character's performance. MMOexp's POE 2 Currency services and guides can help players level up quickly.

What Is Anointing in Path of Exile 2?

Anointing is a mechanic in Path of Exile where players use oils to anoint specific nodes on the Passive Skill Tree. Each oil can be used to unlock passive nodes that are normally unavailable, effectively providing players with additional bonuses and abilities beyond what they can achieve through regular leveling.

In PoE 2, anointing remains an essential part of progression, especially for endgame builds where players aim to optimize their damage output, survivability, or utility. Anointing can be done through the Labyrinth mechanic or by using a special Anointing Station to apply oils to the desired nodes.

Best Nodes to Anoint for Offensive Builds

For those who focus on offensive builds, whether it's damage over time (DoT), elemental damage, or physical damage, the right anointing choices can take your DPS to the next level. Here are some of the best nodes to anoint for maximizing offensive potential:

1. Heart of Oak

Location: Near the Templar or Witch areas.

Effect: +20% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier, +30% to Fire Resistance, and an increase to overall Fire Damage.

Why it's Good: Heart of Oak is excellent for Fire-based builds, particularly DoT-based fire builds like Ignite or Fire Trap. The increased Fire Damage over Time Multiplier directly boosts your ability to apply fire damage consistently, while the extra Fire Resistance provides added defense, making it a highly synergistic node.

2. Forbidden Flame

Location: Near the Witch and Shadow areas.

Effect: +20% to Chaos Damage over Time Multiplier, additional Chaos Resistance, and increased Life Leech for Chaos-based attacks.

Why it's Good: This node is a top-tier pick for Chaos DoT builds, including Chaos Inquisitor or Chaos DOT-based Necromancer builds. It significantly increases the potential damage output for Chaos-based skills and enhances your leeching capabilities, helping you sustain your health while dishing out damage over time.

3. Aspect of the Cat

Location: Near the Ranger and Duelist area.

Effect: Grants 20% chance to avoid being stunned, 10% increased attack speed, and +15% increased Critical Strike Chance.

Why it's Good: This node is ideal for builds that rely on speed and evasion, especially those focused on attacks like Bow builds or Dual-Wielding strategies. The critical strike chance and attack speed boost work together to provide significant DPS improvements, while the chance to avoid being stunned is a great defensive layer for fast-paced combat.

4. Fangs of the Viper

Location: Near the Shadow area.

Effect: Adds 30% increased damage with poison, plus more poison duration.

Why it's Good: For poison-based builds, Fangs of the Viper is an essential anointing option. It increases your poison damage and duration, making it highly effective for scaling DoT poison builds or those using poison-based attacks like Poisonous Concoction. This node works well with the Assassin ascendancy or other poison-oriented classes.

5. Divine Rebirth

Location: Close to the Witch area.

Effect: Provides +15% increased Elemental Damage, and a 20% increase to Elemental Crit Chance.

Why it's Good: For Elemental Crit-based builds, Divine Rebirth offers strong synergy. The added elemental damage and crit chance boosts significantly improve the efficiency of elemental skills like Fireball or Arc, which are typically centered around critical hits and high elemental damage. This is perfect for Elementalists or Elemental Crit builds looking to focus on scaling damage output.

Best Nodes to Anoint for Defensive Builds

Defensive nodes can be crucial to keeping your character alive during tough fights. Whether you're focused on mitigating damage or increasing your life pool, these anointable nodes will give you the edge you need to survive high-tier content.

1. Bastion of Elements

Location: Near the Templar area.

Effect: +20% to Maximum Energy Shield and a flat reduction to elemental damage taken.

Why it's Good: If you're building an Energy Shield-based character, this node is an essential anoint. The maximum Energy Shield increase directly improves your overall tankiness, while the reduction to elemental damage taken is invaluable for reducing incoming damage from elemental sources.

2. Nature's Resilience

Location: Near the Ranger area.

Effect: +30% to Evasion Rating and increased Life Regeneration.

Why it's Good: For builds that rely on evasion and life regeneration, Nature's Resilience provides a robust defensive strategy. This node is particularly good for builds that focus on dodging attacks, like those based on the Duelist or Ranger ascendancies, while the increased life regeneration helps sustain your health passively.

3. Eternal Bond

Location: Near the Witch and Shadow areas.

Effect: +25% to Maximum Life, +10% to Life Leech Rate, and +30% to Life Recovery Speed.

Why it's Good: This is an excellent defensive anoint for tanky builds that need to rely on their life pool. The increased Life, life leech, and recovery speed ensure that you can regenerate health quickly in high-damage scenarios, making it ideal for those who want to survive longer boss encounters or endgame content.

4. Unflinching Resolve

Location: Close to the Marauder area.

Effect: +15% to Physical Damage Reduction, +10% increased Armour, and increased Chance to Block.

Why it's Good: This node provides a combination of physical damage mitigation, armour, and block chance, making it perfect for builds that rely on tanking physical damage. It's particularly effective for Marauder-based builds like Juggernaut or Berserker, where raw physical damage reduction is crucial for surviving large hits.

5. Defender of the Light

Location: Near the Templar area.

Effect: +20% to Maximum Energy Shield and +10% increased Block Chance.

Why it's Good: Defender of the Light is perfect for hybrid defensive builds. The increase to Energy Shield and Block Chance makes it great for builds that focus on balancing between Energy Shield and Block-based defenses. It's especially effective in late-game scenarios where defense can be just as important as offense.

Best Nodes to Anoint for Utility Builds

Utility nodes enhance your character's overall versatility, boosting mobility, defensive support, or resource regeneration. These are ideal for builds focused on supporting other players or improving their own survivability.

1. Arcane Will

Location: Close to the Witch area.

Effect: Increases Mana Regeneration, along with added Energy Shield when not taking damage.

Why it's Good: For Mana-based builds or Energy Shield builds that rely on high sustainability, Arcane Will ensures that you're able to regenerate your resources at a rapid pace. This is especially useful for caster builds that need to manage their Mana pool effectively.

2. Warding Light

Location: Near the Ranger and Duelist areas.

Effect: +15% to Movement Speed, and grants immunity to elemental status effects.

Why it's Good: This node is crucial for mobility-oriented builds, allowing you to avoid status effects like Ignite and Freeze, while also increasing your movement speed. It's a strong choice for builds that prioritize speed and evasion, such as Bow or Dual-Wielding builds.

3. Elder's Resilience

Location: Near the Witch and Shadow area.

Effect: Grants additional Curse resistance and boosts the effectiveness of your aura skills.

Why it's Good: Elder's Resilience works well in builds that use auras for defense or utility. The curse resistance combined with aura effectiveness boosts the utility of your auras, making it an excellent choice for support-oriented builds.

Conclusion

In Path of Exile 2, anointing the right nodes on your Passive Skill Tree can dramatically enhance the effectiveness of your character. Whether you're focused on high DPS, tanking damage, or providing utility for your team, understanding the best nodes to anoint will help you create a powerful and synergistic build. Similarly, you can enhance your gaming experience through poe2 trade.

Remember, each build is unique, so it's important to consider how each node works with your specific skill set and playstyle. Experiment with different anoint combinations to find what best suits your build and helps you achieve your goals in the game. With the right combination of anoints, your character will be primed for success in the treacherous world of Path of Exile 2.