Herald of Agony in Path of Exile 2: What Does It Mean?
The Herald of Agony is a skill in Path of Exile 2 that summons an Agony Crawler minion, providing both offensive capabilities and defensive benefits. This skill is a popular choice among players due to its unique mechanics and effectiveness in various builds.
Mechanics of Herald of Agony
When you use the Herald of Agony skill, it reserves a portion of your mana and summons the Agony Crawler. The Crawler's power grows as you poison enemies, gaining Virulence stacks that increase its damage output.
- The Agony Crawler is summoned when Herald of Agony is active and gains Virulence stacks as you poison enemies.
- Each Virulence stack increases the Crawler's damage and attack speed.
- The Crawler's attacks are considered physical, but they can be scaled with gem supports and passives that affect minions.
Strategies for Effective Use
Utilizing the Herald of Agony effectively requires understanding its synergy with poison mechanics and minion damage. Here are some strategies:
- Maximize Virulence Stacks: Ensure that you maintain high Virulence stacks by consistently applying poison to enemies. This can be achieved through skills that have high attack rates or multiple hits.
- Minion Support Gems: Support your Agony Crawler with minion damage support gems to enhance its performance. Popular choices include Minion Damage, Melee Physical Damage, and Vicious Projectiles.
- Defensive Benefits: Use gear and passive skills that bolster your defenses, as the Herald of Agony skill can be resource-intensive.
Notable Interactions
The Herald of Agony skill interacts with various game mechanics and items:
- Poison Skills: Pairing Herald of Agony with skills that inflict poison is essential for maintaining high Virulence stacks.
- Passive Tree: Invest in minion-related nodes and poison-enhancing nodes on the passive skill tree to maximize the Crawler's potential.
- Unique Items: Consider using unique items that enhance poison application or minion damage to further boost your build's effectiveness.
For more detailed information about the Herald of Agony skill, check out the official Path of Exile website.