Ignite in Path of Exile 2: What Does It Mean?

In Path of Exile 2, Ignite is a critical element of the game’s damage-over-time mechanics, often associated with fire-based skills and strategies. Understanding how Ignite works can significantly enhance your gameplay, especially for builds that focus on maximizing damage over time effects.

Mechanics of Ignite

Ignite is a status ailment that inflicts fire damage over time to affected enemies. It is triggered by landing a critical hit with a skill that deals fire damage or by using specific skills or items that guarantee an Ignite effect. Key mechanics include:

• Duration: The base duration of an Ignite effect is typically four seconds, although this can be modified by various skill gems, items, and passive skill tree nodes.
• Damage Calculation: Ignite damage is calculated from the base fire damage of the hit that caused it, typically dealing a percentage of that damage over the duration.
• Stacking: Unlike some other status ailments, multiple Ignite effects cannot stack on a single target. Instead, only the strongest Ignite in terms of damage per second will apply.

Building Around Ignite

Players can construct powerful builds around Ignite by focusing on increasing fire damage, critical strike chance, and status ailment effectiveness. Here are some strategies to consider:

1. Skill Gems: Use skills like Fireball or Flameblast that have innate fire damage and can trigger Ignite. Support gems such as Elemental Proliferation can spread Ignite to other nearby enemies.
2. Passive Skill Tree: Invest in nodes that enhance fire damage, critical strike chance, or Ignite effectiveness. Look for nodes that specifically mention increased Ignite duration or damage.
3. Unique Items: Equip items that enhance Ignite effects, such as Emberwake or Dyadian Dawn, which provide bonuses to Ignite damage or allow for multiple Ignites on a single target.

Synergies and Combos

Creating synergies with Ignite can lead to devastating results. Consider combining Ignite with other damage-over-time effects or elemental ailments to maximize your overall damage output:

• Elemental Equilibrium: A keystone passive that can be used to lower an enemy’s fire resistance, thereby increasing the effectiveness of your Ignite.
• Combustion Support: A support gem that lowers enemy fire resistance when they are burning, increasing Ignite damage.
• Vaal Skills: Utilize Vaal versions of fire skills for massive bursts of damage that can apply potent Ignite effects across large areas.

For more comprehensive insights into building around Ignite and optimizing your character's performance, explore community forums and guides dedicated to Path of Exile 2 strategies.