Path of Exile 2: Introduction to the Charm System

Dec-26-2024

 

In Path of Exile 2, players are introduced to a new and exciting system: Charms. These equipment items function similarly to Utility Flasks from the original Path of Exile, granting powerful passive effects that activate automatically under certain conditions.

 

 

What Are Charms?

Charms are small accessories that are equipped next to your Life and Mana flasks. They provide a variety of utility effects, each triggering when specific conditions are met. For instance, the Ruby Charm grants you additional fire resistance when you take fire damage, while the Thawing Charm gives you immunity to Freeze when you're frozen. These automatic, situational boosts can make a huge difference, especially early in the game when powerful armor might be in short supply.

 

Much like flasks, Charms are governed by a charge system. Charms come with a maximum of 80 charges, and using a Charm will consume a certain number of charges. These charges can be replenished by killing monsters. However, be cautious—charms won't always be available when you need them most, especially if you've been using them heavily in combat. Keeping track of your charges and playing more defensively while they are depleted adds an extra layer of strategic depth to your gameplay.

 

Charms can also be crafted and enhanced into magic or rare items, which allows you to add modifiers like increased charges gained, reduced charges used, and more.

 

Available Charms and Their Effects

Here's a quick breakdown of the charms you can find in Path of Exile 2:

- Ruby Charm: +25% Fire Resistance. Activated when taking fire damage from a hit.

- Sapphire Charm: +25% Cold Resistance. Activated when taking cold damage from a hit.

- Topaz Charm: +25% Lightning Resistance. Activated when taking lightning damage from a hit.

- Amethyst Charm: +18% Chaos Resistance. Activated when taking chaos damage from a hit.

- Thawing Charm: Grants immunity to Freeze. Activated when frozen.

- Staunching Charm: Grants immunity to Bleeding. Activated when bleeding.

- Antidote Charm: Grants immunity to Poison. Activated when poisoned.

- Dousing Charm: Grants immunity to Ignite. Activated when ignited.

- Grounding Charm: Grants immunity to Shock. Activated when shocked.

- Stone Charm: Cannot be stunned. Activated when stunned.

- Silver Charm: Player speed is unaffected by slows. Activated when slowed.

- Golden Charm: +20% Increased Rarity of Items Found. Activated when killing a rare or unique enemy.

 

Each Charm has 80 charges, but depending on the effect, it uses a different amount of charges per activation. This means some charms might only have one or two uses before running out of charges. Keep in mind that certain modifiers can reduce the charge consumption of a Charm, making them more efficient.

 

Where to Equip and Use Charms

Charms are equipped via your Belt slot. However, belts are not just for carrying additional equipment—they also determine how many charms you can equip. At the beginning, players will only have access to one charm slot, but as you level up and acquire better belts, you'll unlock additional charm slots (up to three).

 

To equip a charm, simply wear a belt, and you'll notice charm slots appearing beneath your Life and Mana flasks. You can check the effects and charges of your equipped charms easily from your inventory screen.

 

How to Get Charms in Path of Exile 2

Charms, like most items in Path of Exile 2, are randomly dropped by monsters throughout the game. You can find them during your regular adventures, or they may also be granted as rewards for completing specific quests. The first charms that players are guaranteed access to are rewarded after completing the quest Ominous Altars.

 

Given that charms are a limited resource, it's a good idea to hang on to every one you find. If you have extra charms, you can store them in your stash for future use or trading.

 

Increasing Charm Slots

The number of charm slots available is tied to the belt you are wearing. At first, you may only be able to equip one charm, but as you acquire higher-tier belts, more charm slots will unlock. You can find belts from monster drops, vendors, or even by gambling with Finn in the Clearfell Encampment.

 

Crafting and Enhancing Charms

Like many items in Path of Exile 2, Charms can be crafted and enhanced using various materials. You can increase their rarity by using an Orb of Transmutation, turning a basic charm into a magic item with additional modifiers. Some of these modifiers can increase the number of charges gained from kills, reduce the amount of charges used per activation, or even grant additional effects. For example, adding a modifier to a Sapphire Charm might cause it to recover some mana each time it's used. This crafting system gives you plenty of room to experiment and fine-tune your charm setup to suit your character's needs.

 

With random drops, crafting, and the ability to equip multiple charms on your belt, there's a lot of depth to explore with this new system. So keep an eye out for charms during your adventures, and be sure to experiment with different combinations to find the perfect charm setup for your playstyle.