Path of Exile 2: All Buff Gems (and Metagems)

Uncut Spirit Gems in Path of Exile 2 can be consumed to engrave Persistent Buff Skill Gems. These create specific buffs or persistent spell effects—usually when set conditions are met. Some of these can alternately be called Metagems, since their use is to trigger the socketed gems linked to them. Some of these buffs are powerful enough to be a turning point in your build, while others pave the road for specific playstyles.

In this guide, we'll go over all of the Persistent Buff Skill Gems that you can get in Path of Exile 2 (Early Access). Note that only Uncut Spirit Gems can unlock and upgrade these skills, and the usual Gem level rules apply to them.

All Persistent Buff Gems and Metagems in Path of Exile 2, explored

Buff Gems can only be engraved with Uncut Spirit Gems (Image via GGG)

In this compendium of Buff Gems, we'll categorize them by class, but note that any Gem can be engraved on any character as long as you meet the lvl and stat requirements.

There are three tiers of Buff Gems and Metagems:

Tier 1 Gems start at Gem Lvl 4, and can be engraved for characters Lvl 10 and above.
Tier 2 Gems start at Gem Lvl 8, and can be engraved for characters Lvl 26 and above.
Tier 3 Gems start at Gem Lvl 14, and can be engraved for characters Lvl 58 and above.

All of the numbers and requirements listed in this article will be at that Gem's base level, i.e. lowest possible Gem lvl. With higher Gem lvl, the numbers affecting various aspects of it will go up, making it stronger overall. However, the stat and lvl requirements also increase accordingly.

How to activate Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2?

Here's how to activate Buff Gems (Image via Path of Exile 2)

Activating Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2 is a bit different than regular Skill Gems. Once you engrave and equip one of these Gems, you have to go and right-click on the spell's icon in the Gem menu (G) to activate them, rather than binding them to a key. This reserves a flat amount of Spirit resource to keep the Metagem/buff up—initially, the cost is 30 Spirit for most tier-1 Buff Gems that we know of. However, this cost goes up instantly once you add Support Gems to the Buff Gems, so you'll need to use a Scepter or wait till you get more base Spirit.

What is Energy in Path of Exile 2?

Metagems (and some Buff Gems) in Path of Exile 2 build up an exclusive resource called Energy in order to trigger. Not to be confused with Energy Shield, Energy is a unique meter that fills up when the Metagem's set conditions are met. For example, Cast on Ignite will fill up Energy when you Ignite enemies.

Some Gem Skills require certain Energy thresholds to be met before they can be triggered, others may need it to fill up fully before they function. The main thing to note here is that Energy is a unified resource across all Buff/Metagem Skills. In other words, if you use two Skills that work with Energy, they won't have separate hidden Energy meters - which is an important thing to keep in mind if you're rocking multiple Buff Gems on your loadout.

All Sorceress Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2

Tier 1 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 10 and 25 INT:

Raging Spirits - While active, your Fire Spells will also summon Raging Spirits, which are short-lived flaming skulls that rush at nearby enemies and rapidly attack them. Enemies phase through these Minions, and will not actively engage them.
Arctic Armour - Conjures an icy barrier that gains stages over time. While the barrier has stages, Melee Attacks that hit you will remove a stage to cause a burst of Ice that deals Cold Damage to the attacker.
Mana Remnants - Conjures surging lightning to restore your Mana. While active, Shocked enemies you kill have a chance to summon a Mana Remnant, and critically hitting a Shocked target spawns a Mana Remnant every few seconds. Picking up a Mana Remnant grants you Mana, which can overflow maximum Mana.

Tier 2 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 8 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 26 and 61 INT:

Cast on Ignite - Gains Energy when you Ignite enemies, and triggers socketed spells on reaching maximum Energy.
Cast on Freeze - Gains Energy when you Freeze enemies, and triggers socketed spells on reaching maximum Energy.
Cast on Shock - Gains Energy when you Shock enemies, and triggers socketed spells on reaching maximum Energy.

Tier 3 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 14 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 53 and 133 INT:

Blink - Replaces your Dodge Roll with an instantenous medium-range blink spell.
Archmage - While active, causes your Non-Channeling spells to cost additional Mana and deal extra Lightning damage, both based on your maximum Mana.
Elemental Conflux - Deal significantly more damage of a randomly chosen Element. The Element affected changes every 8 seconds (at base level Gem), but the system can roll the same Element twice or more in a row.

All Witch Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2

Tier 1 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 10 and 25 INT:

Grim Feast - While active, enemies and reviving minions that die in your presence have a chance to drop Grim Remnants. Picking up a Grim Remnant grants you Energy Shield which can overflow your max Energy Shield amount (from equipment and passives).
Withering Presence - Periodically Wither enemies in your Presence (AoE affected by Presence modifiers, but not Spell Area modifiers).

Tier 2 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 8 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 26 (variable stat requirements):

Barrier Invocation (34 DEX, 34 INT) - Gain Energy when Energy Shield is damaged. Once sufficient Energy is accumulated, you can cast Barrier Invocation to trigger socketed spells. Can trigger multiple times if you have enough Energy.
Cast on Minion Death (61 INT) - Gains Energy when your Minions die from enemy damage, and triggers socketed spells when maximum Energy is reached. Minion-spawning skills cannot be socketed.
Blasphemy (61 INT) - Turns socketed Curse skills into vile Auras that debuff enemies persistently around you. Reserves 60 Spirit per socketed Curse.

Tier 3 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 14 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 53:

Cast on Critical - Gains Energy when you Critically Hit with a skill, and triggers socketed spells when max Energy is reached.
Sacrifice - While active, your Undead Reviving Minions can be used to cast skills that otherwise require corpses. Your Minions take longer to revive.

All Warrior Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2

Tier 1 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 10 and 25 STR:

Herald of Ash - While active, enemies killed with sufficient overkill damage will cause an explosion, Igniting nearby enemies and dealing damage based on the amount of original overkill damage dealt.
Magma Barrier - When your use Raise Shield, the Shield is infused with magma temporarily. Blocking during this time will also spray Magma at your attackers and grant you Endurance Charge. Has an internal cooldown before the effect can trigger again.
Scavenged Plating - Fully Armour-breaking an enemy will grant you a stack of Scavenged Plating, which increases your Armor and Thorns per stack. (Thorns is an effect that passively deals damage to enemies who melee attack you.)

Tier 2 Buff Gems, 61 STR:

Overwhelming Presence - While active, enemies in your Presence are easier to Stun and inflict Ailments on, i.e. they have reduced Stun Threshold and Elemental Ailment Threshold.
Time of Need - Periodically (once every 11 seconds at base level) invokes divine Blessing, which heals you and removes all Curses and Ailments.

Tier 3 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 14 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 53 (variable stat requirements):

Berserk (133 STR) - Your Rage is stronger (43% enhanced effect at base level) and grants you Life Leech based on physical damage. However, you also periodically lose Life when Rage is active.
Dread Banner (73 STR, 73 DEX) - Killing enemies with Attacks or standing near a unique enemy (such as bosses) generates Valour. You can consume Valour to place down a Dread Banner, granting you and nearby allies Flask charges over time, as well as Stun Threshold and Elemental Ailment Threshold. Only one Banner can be active at a time.

All Mercenary Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2

Tier 1 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 10 (variable stat requirements):

Herald of Ash (25 STR) - While active, enemies killed with sufficient overkill damage will cause an explosion, Igniting nearby enemies and dealing damage based on the amount of original overkill damage dealt.
Herald of Thunder (25 DEX) - While active, killing Shocked enemies with attack damage will cause subsequent attacks to release lightning bolts that deals Lightning damage to all surrounding enemies. The damage is based on the original attack damage.
War Banner (15 STR, 15 DEX) - Killing enemies with Attacks or standing near a unique enemy (such as bosses) generates Valour. You can consume Valour to place down a War Banner, granting you and nearby allies Attack Damage and Accuracy. Only one Banner can be active at a time.

Tier 2 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 8 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 26 (variable stat requirements):

Overwhelming Presence (61 STR) - While active, enemies in your Presence are easier to Stun and inflict Ailments on, i.e. they have reduced Stun Threshold and Elemental Ailment Threshold.
Shard Scavenger (34 STR, 34 DEX) - You can consume Elemental Ailments (or full Armor Break) on enemies to automatically reload you Crossbow, no more than once every 9.3 seconds at base.
Defiance Banner (34 STR, 34 DEX) - Killing enemies with Attacks or standing near a unique enemy (such as bosses) generates Valour. You can consume Valour to place down a Defiance Banner, granting you and nearby allies Armour, Evasion, and movement speed. Only one Banner can be active at a time.

Tier 3 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 14 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 53 (variable stat requirements):

Attrition (73 STR, 73 DEX) - Hit damage (i.e. non-DoT) is increased against Rare and Unique enemies based on how longer you've been fighting them. After a total of 34 seconds (at base), you gain Culling Strike against them.
Dread Banner (73 STR, 73 DEX) - Killing enemies with Attacks or standing near a unique enemy (such as bosses) generates Valour. You can consume Valour to place down a Dread Banner, granting you and nearby allies Flask charges over time, as well as Stun Threshold and Elemental Ailment Threshold. Only one Banner can be active at a time.

All Ranger Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2

Tier 1 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 10 and 25 DEX:

Herald of Thunder - While active, killing Shocked enemies with attack damage will cause subsequent attacks to release lightning bolts that deals Lightning damage to all surrounding enemies. The damage is based on the original attack damage.
Plague Bearer - You gain the Plague Nova skill. All damage you deal with Poison Ailment is Stored, which you release as a nuke with Plague Nova.
Wind Dancer - Grants a buff that gives you more Evasion per Stage. Gains a Stage every 1.5 seconds (base level). Once you're hit by a melee attack, consume all Stages to knock back and damage enemies with Gale Force.

Tier 2 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 8 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 26 and 61 DEX:

Combat Frenzy - Grants you a Frenzy Charge when you Freeze, Electrocute, or Pin an enemy, no more than once every 6.3 seconds.
Herald of Plague - While active, killing a Poisoned enemy spreads its Poison to nearby enemies, and has a chance to cause the Hinder Ailment on them (slows enemies).

Tier 3 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 14 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 53 (variable stat requirements):

Attrition (73 STR, 73 DEX) - Hit damage (i.e. non-DoT) is increased against Rare and Unique enemies based on how longer you've been fighting them. After a total of 34 seconds (at base), you gain Culling Strike against them.
Alchemist's Boon (133 DEX) - Grants you Flask charges over time, and Life and Mana recovery from your Flasks also apply to Allies in your presence.

All Monk Buff Gems in Path of Exile 2

Tier 1 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 10 (variable stat requirements):

Ghost Dance (15 DEX, 15 INT) - Periodically Gain Ghost Shrouds. If you are hit while you have Ghost Shrouds, they are consumed to recover Energy Shield based on your Evasion.
Herald of Ice (15 DEX, 15 INT) - When you Shatter frozen enemies with an attack hit, it will cause an icy explosion that deals Cold damage based on your attack damage.
Herald of Thunder (25 DEX) - While active, killing Shocked enemies with attack damage will cause subsequent attacks to release lightning bolts that deals Lightning damage to all surrounding enemies. The damage is based on the original attack damage.

Tier 2 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 8 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 26, 34 DEX, and 34 INT:

Barrier Invocation - Gain Energy when Energy Shield is damaged. Once sufficient Energy is accumulated, you can cast Barrier Invocation to trigger socketed spells. Can trigger multiple times if you have enough Energy.
Elemental Invocation - Gain Energy when you Freeze, Shock, or Ignite an enemy. Once sufficient Energy is gathered, you can consume it to trigger socketed spells. Can be triggered multiple times if you have sufficient Energy.
Lingering Illusion - Create short-lived illusory decoys of yourself when you dodge-roll. The decoy can draw enemy aggro and be attacked by enemies. If an enemy destroys a decoy, you gain a Power Charge.

Tier 3 Buff Gems unlocked by Lvl 14 or higher Uncut Spirit Gems, requiring character Lvl 53, 73 DEX, and 73 INT:

Cast on Dodge - Gains Energy when you dodge-roll, and trigger socketed spells once max Energy is reached.
Charge Infusion - You gain powerful buffs while Charges are active, but one Charge is consumed every few seconds. Power Charge grants critical chance, Endurance Charge increases defences, and Frenzy Charge gives you Skill Speed.
Reaper's Invocation - Gain Energy when you kill an enemy with a Melee Attack. Once sufficient Energy is accumulated, you can cast Barrier Invocation to trigger socketed spells. Can trigger multiple times if you have enough Energy.

Note that this article only covers Gems that are available so far in Path of Exile 2 Early Access. A few more will be introduced in due course, and all-new Buff Gems for new classes will also populate the build possibilities by the time the game hits full release.

Check out our other guides on the game:

Edited by Abu Amjad Khan