PoE Perfect Agony Keystone
The Perfect Agony Keystone Passive Skill no longer causes Modifiers to Critical Strike Multiplier to also apply to Damage over Time Multiplier for Ailments from Critical Strikes at 50% of their Value, or provides 30% less Damage with Hits. Instead, it now causes Damage over Time Multiplier for Ailments to be equal to Critical Strike Multiplier, causes Critical Strikes to not deal extra damage, and makes it so Non-Critical Strikes cannot inflict Ailments.
Does the new Perfect Agony prevent effects that spread ailments (e.g. Ignite Proliferation, Pathfinder’s Master Toxicist) from functioning?
No, they still function as normal as they are not inflicted by hits at all.
What happens if you allocate both Perfect Agony and Elemental Overload?
Elemental Overload states that your ailments never count as being from critical strikes, and Perfect Agony states that your non-critical strikes cannot inflict ailments. So you cannot inflict ailments.
Do sources of damage over time multiplier still apply when you have Perfect Agony?
No, Perfect Agony overrides your damage over time multiplier so ignores all your damage over time multiplier stats.
What sources of critical strike multiplier work with the reworked Perfect Agony Keystone?
All of them! It copies the critical strike multiplier from the hit that’s applying the ailment, so any critical strike multiplier that applied to that hit will also apply to your damage over time multiplier, including weapon specific or highly conditional sources.
AI Guides
In Path of Exile’s latest update, the Perfect Agony Keystone Passive Skill has undergone significant changes. This rework shifts the mechanics of how critical strikes and ailments interact, providing new opportunities and challenges for players. This article will explore the new functionality of Perfect Agony, how it affects gameplay, and address common questions about its interactions with other skills and mechanics.
New Functionality of Perfect Agony
The reworked Perfect Agony Keystone now has the following effects:
- Damage over Time Multiplier for Ailments Equals Critical Strike Multiplier: This means that your critical strike multiplier directly influences the damage over time (DoT) for ailments caused by your critical strikes.
- Critical Strikes Do Not Deal Extra Damage: Critical strikes will no longer inflict increased damage from the hit itself.
- Non-Critical Strikes Cannot Inflict Ailments: Only critical strikes can apply ailments, such as poison or ignite.
These changes fundamentally alter how ailments and critical strikes work together, requiring players to adjust their builds and strategies accordingly.
Key Interactions and Mechanics
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Ailment Spread Effects:
- Effects that spread ailments, such as Ignite Proliferation and Pathfinder’s Master Toxicist, are not affected by the new Perfect Agony. These effects do not rely on the initial hit to spread ailments, so they continue to function as normal.
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Perfect Agony and Elemental Overload:
- Allocating both Perfect Agony and Elemental Overload results in a conflict. Elemental Overload states that ailments never count as being from critical strikes, while Perfect Agony requires critical strikes to inflict ailments. Consequently, you would be unable to inflict ailments if both are allocated.
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Damage Over Time Multiplier:
- Perfect Agony overrides your damage over time multiplier. This means all existing DoT multiplier stats on your gear and passive tree are ignored, and only the critical strike multiplier will apply to your ailments.
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Sources of Critical Strike Multiplier:
- All sources of critical strike multiplier work with the reworked Perfect Agony. It copies the critical strike multiplier from the hit that’s applying the ailment, so any critical strike multiplier that applies to that hit will also apply to your damage over time multiplier. This includes weapon-specific or highly conditional sources.
Strategic Considerations
The reworked Perfect Agony Keystone opens up new possibilities for build optimization but also requires careful planning:
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Critical Strike Focus:
- Since non-critical strikes cannot inflict ailments, maximizing your critical strike chance becomes crucial. Investing in critical strike chance and multiplier will enhance your ability to inflict powerful DoT ailments.
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Gear and Passive Tree Adjustments:
- With Perfect Agony overriding your DoT multiplier, gear and passives that increase critical strike multiplier become more valuable. Focus on items and nodes that enhance critical strike capabilities.
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Synergy with Other Skills:
- Evaluate how Perfect Agony interacts with other skills and mechanics in your build. Skills that heavily rely on critical strikes will benefit the most from this Keystone.
Example Build Adjustments
To make the most of the reworked Perfect Agony, consider the following adjustments:
- Critical Strike Gear: Equip weapons and accessories that boost your critical strike chance and multiplier.
- Passive Tree Focus: Prioritize nodes that increase critical strike stats rather than traditional DoT multipliers.
- Skill Synergies: Use skills that have high critical strike potential and benefit from increased DoT effects, such as poison or ignite builds.
Conclusion
The rework of the Perfect Agony Keystone in Path of Exile introduces a unique mechanic that ties critical strikes directly to ailment damage over time. By understanding how this new interaction works and adjusting your build accordingly, you can leverage the power of critical strikes to inflict devastating ailments. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, the updated Perfect Agony offers exciting opportunities to refine your strategy and dominate the world of Wraeclast.