Occultist in Path of Exile 2: What Does It Mean?
The Occultist is a specialized subclass in Path of Exile 2, focusing on the dark arts and mastery over chaos and curses. This class is particularly well-suited for players who enjoy manipulating energy shields, dealing chaos damage, and applying potent curses to foes. The Occultist offers a unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities, making it versatile for various playstyles.
Core Mechanics
Occultists excel in managing energy shields, which can mitigate damage, allowing players to sustain longer in battles. They have access to powerful chaos damage modifiers, enabling them to wreak havoc on enemies with poison and other chaos-based effects. This class also specializes in curses, enhancing their ability to debilitate enemies and control the battlefield.
- Energy Shield Mastery: The Occultist can enhance their energy shields, making them a formidable barrier against damage. Abilities like energy shield leech further sustain their defenses.
- Chaos Damage: Utilizing chaos skills, the Occultist can bypass most enemy resistances, ensuring consistent damage output. This makes them effective against a wide range of enemies, including those with high elemental resistances.
- Curses: The Occultist can apply multiple curses simultaneously, increasing their effectiveness in both offensive and defensive maneuvers. Skills such as Despair amplify this capability.
Recommended Skills
Occultists benefit from a range of skills that synergize with their strengths in chaos damage and curses. Some recommended skills include:
- Essence Drain: This skill allows the player to deal significant chaos damage over time, which pairs well with the Occultist’s ability to sustain through energy shield leech.
- Void Sphere: Useful for crowd control, this skill pulls enemies together, making it easier to apply curses and chaos damage.
- Raise Zombie: While not exclusive to the Occultist, summoning minions can provide additional meat shields and distractions for enemies.
Strategic Tips
To maximize the potential of an Occultist, consider the following strategies:
- Energy Shield Management: Invest in gear and passives that bolster your energy shield. Items that grant chaos resistance are particularly valuable to mitigate self-inflicted chaos damage effects.
- Curse Optimization: Utilize multiple curses to amplify damage and weaken enemies. Skills like Temporal Chains can significantly slow enemies, giving you more control over the battlefield.
- Hybrid Builds: Consider combining the Occultist’s abilities with other subclasses such as the Summoner for a hybrid build that uses both curses and minions effectively.