Is Building Around Ravenous Swarm in Path of Exile 2 Worth It?

• Introduction
• Skill Overview
• Damage and Scaling Challenges
• Effective Usage Strategies
• Conclusion

Introduction

In Path of Exile 2, players are constantly exploring new ways to optimize their builds, and the recently introduced Ravenous Swarm skill gem has sparked interest. This skill gem spawns a swarm of insects that attack enemies while providing a unique combination of physical and poison damage. In this article, we will delve into whether building around this skill gem is a viable option in your gameplay.

Skill Overview

The Ravenous Swarm skill gem is a persistent buff that spawns a swarm of insects every six seconds. This swarm deals damage to enemies within a four-meter radius, which is intriguing since these insects cannot be targeted, rendering them effectively immortal. However, a build can only support a maximum of three swarms at any given time, raising questions about its utility in combat situations.

Damage and Scaling Challenges

Despite its interesting mechanics, the Ravenous Swarm has exhibited a lack of transparency regarding its damage output. Testing at higher levels revealed that even with a level 14 gem, the damage dealt to enemies was underwhelming, especially in more advanced areas of the game. The skill reserves 30 spirit and can be amplified with support gems to increase its duration from the base rate of 8.6 seconds to approximately 12 seconds.

Current data suggests that while the number of swarms is manageable, their effectiveness is questionable, particularly when having a minimal impact on problematic enemies or bosses.

Effective Usage Strategies

Although building a primary damage-centric strategy around Ravenous Swarm may not be advisable, there are alternative methods to integrate this skill effectively into your build:

• Support for Other Builds: Utilize the skill to augment another damage-dealing strategy, where the insects can provide additional utility through armor breaking or poison.
• Armor Breaking: The swarm can deal physical damage, making the Armor Break support gem an excellent pairing. As the insects utilize physical attacks, they can gradually wear down an enemy's armor, facilitating easier kills.
• Poisoning: Gamers can also employ support gems that enhance poison damage, effectively setting up a combined strategy of dishing out physical and poison harm.

Combining Ravenous Swarm with these strategies can enable players to capitalize on its unique mechanics, even if it doesn't outright serve as a main source of damage. However, for optimized play in late-game scenarios, this skill may lag behind dedicated damage skills.

Conclusion

In summary, while the Ravenous Swarm skill gem offers intriguing mechanics, it currently may not fulfill the primary damage-dealing role that many players desire. Instead, consider it as a supportive tool that can enhance your build in specific scenarios. If you’re looking to maximize your currency gain while purchasing or trading for effective skills to complement your strategy, check out buy poe 2 currency options to bolster your game experience.

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