Path of Exile 2 Culling Strikes and Power Charges, explained

Power Charges and Culling Strikes in Path of Exile 2 are both returning mechanics from the first game, although they work slightly differently this time. Simply put, Culling Strikes are a mechanic that confers a specific Skill with the ability to instakill monsters if they are under a specified health percentage threshold and grant you a Power Charge for each such kill.

However, that's not all there is to it. These two interlinked mechanics also have other interactions and benefits you can utilize. In this Path of Exile 2 guide, we explain everything you need to know about Culling Strikes and Power Charges.

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How to trigger Culling Strikes in Path of Exile 2

Culling Strikes will have a glowing indicator when available (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

Culling Strikes are an innate part of some Skill Gems. Specifically, a good number of Monk Skills in Path of Exile 2 count as Culling Strikes, as this is the class that interacts the most with the mechanic.

Nevertheless, you can let any of your Hit (i.e., non-DoT) Skills and even basic attacks count as Culling Strikes with the DEX-based Support Gem of the same name. However, note that this Support Gem only allows you to cull Rare enemies and bosses.

By default, the following are the health thresholds that allow Culling Strike instakills in Path of Exile 2:

• Normal monsters - 30%
• Magic monsters - 20%
• Rare monsters (minibosses) - 10%
• Unique monsters (bosses) - 5%

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How do Power Charges work in Path of Exile 2?

Skill Gem descriptions will mention possible Power Charge interactions outright (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

Power Charges do not innately grant any bonuses. Instead, they are consumed by specific Skills that either need them to be activated or gain big boosts in their effects based on the number of Charges consumed. For example, the Monk Skill Falling Thunder will become a much more damaging spell with a large AoE if cast with Power Charges.

The Lvl 2 Support Gem Potential can be used on Hit-based Skills and Spells to let them consume an active Power Charge when available. For this, they will get a 30% additional chance to Critically hit during that instance.

The Persistent Buff Gem Charge Infusion can also be used to gain an additional 15% Critical chance when a Power Charge is active, but this consumes a Charge every few seconds for its upkeep.

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How to generate Power Charges in Path of Exile 2

There are several ways to get Power Charges in the game (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

While all Culling Strikes give you a Power Charge in Path of Exile 2, this is not the only way to get these Charges. The following are some other ways they can be generated in any class:

• You can get the Resonance Keystone Passive to convert Frenzy Charges into Power Charges. The Combat Frenzy buff can then be used to generate Power Charges by pinning, electrocuting, or freezing enemies.
• The Lingering Infusion Buff grants you a Power Charge when your decoys are destroyed by enemies after dodge-rolling.
• The Profane Ritual skill can grant you Power Charges upon successful casts. This can also be used on triggered Metagems to gain occasional charges Passively.

While Power Charges only stack up to three by default, it's possible to bring the maximum number to seven concurrent charges with the passive nodes The Power Within, Lust for Power, and Overflowing Power.

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Check out our other guides on the game:

• Path of Exile 2 Runes and Sockets guide
• Path of Exile 2 Delirium guide
• Path of Exile 2 Skill Gems and Gemcutting guide
• Path of Exile 2 endgame systems guide
• Path of Exile 2 Defense guide: Energy Shield, Armor, and Evasion explained