PoE 2 Charms Guide - How Charms Work, Use, Best Charms and Mechanics

Charms are one of the most intriguing additions to Path of Exile 2. They function like a hybrid between utility flasks from the original game and gear-based perks, offering unique effects that can address your character's biggest weaknesses. Whether it’s negating ailments, boosting resistance, or even increasing loot rarity, charms provide flexibility and utility in ways that were previously unavailable. Here's our PoE 2 Charms Guide, where we will discuss everything you need to know about how charms work, mechanics, the Best Charms in PoE 2, and how to use them to your advantage.

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What Are Charms in PoE 2?

Charms are an exciting addition to Path of Exile 2, offering players a new way to customize their builds with unique, situational effects.

Unlike traditional gear, charms don’t take up standard equipment slots like weapons or armor.

Instead, they occupy dedicated charm slots, making them an entirely separate layer of utility for your character.

PoE 2 Charm Slots: A Valuable Resource

By default, your character starts with one charm slot, but don’t worry—this can be expanded to a maximum of three slots.

You’ll need to seek out belts with +Charm modifiers or invest in specific passive tree nodes to unlock the extra slots.

This gives you room to experiment and adapt to various challenges as you progress through the game.

Unmatched Flexibility

The true strength of charms lies in their ability to address specific problems or enhance key aspects of your PoE 2 Build.

• Counter Weaknesses: Struggling with freezing enemies or chaotic damage? Equip a charm to mitigate these threats.

• Boost Strengths: Already dominating in loot farming? Equip a charm to increase magic find or improve resistance, giving you an edge in treasure-rich areas.

• Adaptability: Charms let you switch up your strategy for specific encounters, whether it’s a challenging boss or a loot-heavy map.

Charms are not just items—they’re game-changers.

Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned min-maxer, these little trinkets offer a ton of utility to shape your gameplay and overcome the unique challenges of PoE 2.

How to Unlock Additional Charm Slots in PoE 2

Expanding your charm capacity can significantly enhance your build’s versatility.

Here’s how you can unlock more charm slots in PoE 2:

1. Charm Belts: Some belts come with modifiers like “+1 or +2 Charm Slots.” These modifiers can be game-changers if you find a belt with complementary stats.

2. Passive Tree: A specific node in the passive skill tree provides +1 Charm Slot for a relatively low cost. While this might not always be the best option to anoint, it’s worth considering if you already have a charm-focused setup.

3. Maximizing Slots: With a great charm belt and the passive skill tree node, you can achieve a maximum of three charm slots. This allows for more strategic customization of your character.

How Do Charms Work in PoE 2?

Charms operate on a charge-based system, where each activation consumes a certain number of charges.

The effectiveness of charms often depends on their specific modifiers and the type of content you’re tackling.

• Charge Consumption: Most charms consume between 60 to 80 charges per use, meaning you’ll want to manage charges carefully during extended fights.

• Charge Recovery: Some charms come with passive recharge modifiers, allowing them to regain charges over time. These are particularly useful for prolonged boss encounters.

• Hit-Based Mechanics: Be aware that many charms activate only when you’re hit by specific damage types (e.g., chaos or fire). They won’t trigger damage-over-time effects like burning ground or poison unless explicitly stated.

Best PoE 2 Charms to Use

Not all charms are created equal, and their effectiveness can vary depending on your build and playstyle.

Here’s a breakdown of Best Charms in PoE 2 and when to use them:

Resistance Charms

• Amethyst Charm: Grants +18% Chaos Resistance, ideal for capping chaos resist on energy shield builds. However, it only triggers on chaos damage hits, making it less effective against damage-over-time effects.

• Fire Resistance Charm: Similar to the Amethyst Charm but counters fire damage. It struggles against fire-based DoTs like ignite or burning ground.

• Verdict: Resistance charms are best used as temporary fixes until your gear or passive tree adequately covers your resistances.

Ailment Charms

• Thawing Charm: Provides immunity to freeze, which is invaluable for energy shield builds with low life pools.

• Dousing Charm: Removes ignite effects, preventing long delays in energy shield recharge.

• Shock Charm: Reduces shock damage, but its utility is limited compared to other ailment charms.

• Verdict: Ailment charms are crucial for builds with specific weaknesses. Prioritize these if your build struggles against ailments like freeze or ignite.

Utility Charms

• Golden Charm: Grants +20% Rarity when killing rare or unique enemies. While it consumes all charges, it’s excellent for loot-focused farming sessions.

• Silver Charm: Reduces the effects of slows, useful for specific encounters like the Trial of Sekimas boss.

• Verdict: Utility charms are situational but can provide a significant edge in specific scenarios like farming or navigating challenging boss mechanics.

When to Use Charms in PoE 2

Charms shine in moments where your build has a noticeable weakness or when you want to enhance your farming potential.

Here’s how to use them effectively:

1. Overcome Weaknesses: If your build struggles with ailments like freeze or poison, equip the corresponding charm to cover that gap.

2. Boss Fights: Use charms with passive charge recovery or high charges to stay effective during prolonged encounters.

3. Loot Runs: Equip rarity-boosting charms like the Golden Charm when running breach maps or other loot-heavy content.

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Tips for Managing PoE 2 Charms

Charms can be the ultimate tool to complement your build, but using them effectively requires careful planning.

Here’s how to make the most of your charm slots without wasting their potential.

1. Prioritize Your Needs

Your charm slots are precious, so don’t waste them on effects you’ll rarely use.

• Address Weaknesses First: Focus on charms that counter your build’s vulnerabilities, like freeze immunity for bosses with heavy cold damage or poison resistance for DoT-heavy encounters.

• Build Synergy: If your character relies on energy shields, for instance, prioritize charms that mitigate ailments disrupting recharge, like ignite or stun immunity.

2. Evaluate Belts Carefully

Charm-focused belts may seem lackluster on their own, but they become game-changers when paired with the right charms.

• Consider Complementary Stats: Look for belts with additional useful modifiers, like life regeneration, resistance boosts, or increased elemental damage, alongside charm slots.

• Plan Around Your Setup: A belt offering +2 charm slots is invaluable if your build can benefit from stacking multiple charm effects.

3. Manage Charge Limits Wisely

Each charm consumes charges when activated, and running out mid-combat can leave you vulnerable.

• Choose Sustainable Charms: Select charms with manageable charge costs that align with the frequency of activation. For example, avoid high-consumption charms in encounters with prolonged fights.

• Optimize Recharge Mechanics: Look for modifiers that increase maximum charges or allow passive charge regeneration. These can significantly improve charm uptime in intense situations.

By prioritizing, planning, and managing resources effectively, your charms will feel like an essential part of your build rather than a forgotten afterthought.

Mastering these tips ensures you’re always ready for whatever Path of Exile 2 throws your way!

Conclusion

Charms in Path of Exile 2 are a fantastic addition, offering both flexibility and situational power. By understanding how they work and selecting the right ones for your build, you can cover weaknesses, enhance strengths, and even boost your farming efficiency. Whether you’re a veteran looking to min-max or a new player tackling early-game challenges, charms are a valuable tool in your arsenal. Equip wisely, manage charges carefully, and let your build’s potential shine!