Runebinder is a keystone passive skill in Path of Exile that offers a powerful benefit for characters focusing on Brands by allowing an additional Brand to be attached to an enemy. However, this advantage comes with the drawback of reducing the maximum number of Summoned Totems by one.
PoE Runebinder
Mechanics
-1 to Maximum Number of Summoned Totems:
- Runebinder decreases your maximum totem limit by one. This means that if your character’s totem limit is already low, such as one, this keystone will prevent you from summoning any totems at all. However, this reduction can be mitigated by increasing your totem limit through other passive skills or items. For instance, using the Multiple Totems Support gem or equipping certain unique items can raise your totem limit, allowing you to still summon totems despite the penalty imposed by Runebinder.
You can have an additional Brand Attached to an Enemy:
- The primary benefit of Runebinder is that it allows you to attach an extra Brand to an enemy. This significantly boosts the damage output and effectiveness of Brand-based skills, as having more Brands attached to a single target increases the frequency and intensity of the damage they can deal. This makes Runebinder an excellent choice for builds that focus heavily on Brand mechanics, enabling them to apply pressure to single targets more effectively.
Strategic Considerations
Maximizing Brand Damage:
- Runebinder is ideal for builds that use Brands as a primary damage source. By allowing an additional Brand to be attached to enemies, this keystone enhances your ability to deal sustained damage over time. It is particularly useful against tough single targets, like bosses, where maximizing Brand attachment can make a significant difference in damage output.
Mitigating the Totem Penalty:
- Since Runebinder reduces your maximum totem limit, it’s important to consider whether your build relies on totems. If totems are a key part of your strategy, you’ll need to offset this penalty by investing in passive skills or gear that increases your totem limit. However, if your build doesn’t rely on totems, or if you can compensate for the reduction, the downside of this keystone becomes negligible.
Synergies with Brand Skills:
- Runebinder works exceptionally well with skills like Storm Brand, Armageddon Brand, or Penance Brand, which benefit from having multiple instances attached to a target. The ability to stack Brands on a single enemy allows for higher burst damage and more consistent damage output over time. This keystone can be especially effective in builds that utilize Brand Recall, enabling you to reposition multiple Brands and maintain high uptime on your targets.
Balancing Brands and Totems:
- If you choose to use both Brands and Totems in your build, you’ll need to carefully balance the use of both. Runebinder’s totem limit reduction means that you might have fewer totems available, but this can be offset by focusing on increasing your Brand damage and attachment. Alternatively, you can enhance your totem limit through other means if maintaining a totem presence is crucial to your build.