It is a Skill Gem.
Attack
AoE, Projectile, Channelling, Detonator
Tier: 9 (Ranger)
Level: 9
Cost: 19.9 Mana per second
Attack Speed: 40% of base
Attack Damage: 55%
Requires: Level 31, Dex 72, Bow
Channel to build up power before firing off a burning arrow. The arrow will detonate on impact at maximum charge, causing an explosion in an area around it.
Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
Detonating Arrow is a powerful channelling skill in Path of Exile 2, designed for Rangers who enjoy playing with projectile attacks and explosions. With a unique mechanic that builds up stages of power, this skill allows you to charge an arrow that, when released, explodes on impact with devastating Fire damage to all enemies in the area. It’s an ideal skill for Bow-focused builds, providing both single-target and AoE (Area of Effect) damage capabilities.
Detonating Arrow revolves around charging an arrow to its maximum power, after which it is fired with devastating effects. The longer you channel the skill, the more damage the arrow accumulates, with each stage increasing the power of the explosion that occurs when the arrow hits its target. This unique mechanic allows for a scalable damage output, depending on how long you choose to charge the arrow.
Channelling to Build Power:
Detonating Arrow requires the player to channel the skill. As you hold the skill, the arrow becomes more powerful, accumulating stages of charge. You can release the arrow at any time, but the longer you channel, the more damage the arrow will deal.
Explosive Impact:
Upon releasing the arrow at maximum charge, the arrow detonates on impact, causing a large explosion in the area around it. This explosion deals Fire damage, making Detonating Arrow an excellent skill for area damage and clearing groups of enemies.
Damage Scaling with Stages:
For every stage of charge, Detonating Arrow gains 120% of damage as extra Fire damage. With a maximum of 4 stages, this can significantly increase the damage of the skill, especially in longer fights where you have the time to build up the charge.
AoE Explosion:
The explosion caused by the detonated arrow has an AoE radius, allowing you to hit multiple enemies at once. The explosion radius is particularly useful when dealing with clusters of enemies, ensuring you don’t just deal damage to the target but also to all enemies within range.
Mana Cost:
Detonating Arrow costs 19.9 Mana per second to channel, which is relatively high. Therefore, you will need to manage your Mana effectively to avoid running out during prolonged channelling phases. However, the damage scaling can make this cost worthwhile for powerful bursts of damage when fully charged.
Attack Speed:
The attack speed of Detonating Arrow is 40% of base, which is slower compared to other skills. This slower attack speed is compensated by the ability to charge the arrow, making the skill more powerful the longer it’s held. As a result, this skill requires careful timing and positioning to get the most out of it.
Detonating Arrow is a versatile skill that can fit well in many different Ranger-based builds, particularly those focusing on Fire damage or Projectile attacks. Below are some synergies and recommendations to enhance your Detonating Arrow setup:
Projectile Damage and Fire Scaling:
As Detonating Arrow deals Fire damage on detonation, using Fire damage support gems and Projectile damage modifiers can significantly increase its effectiveness. Additionally, any gear or passive skills that boost Fire damage or Projectile damage will further amplify the skill’s damage output.
Channelling Synergies:
Detonating Arrow relies on channelling, so pairing it with channelling-focused support gems like Channelling Damage or Faster Channelling can help you reach the maximum stages more quickly, leading to a more efficient use of the skill. Mana regeneration or mana cost reduction is also important for sustaining long channelling phases.
AoE Damage:
To improve the explosive radius of the Detonating Arrow, you can combine it with AoE scaling support gems or passive tree nodes. Increasing the explosion radius will allow you to hit more enemies in a larger area, enhancing your crowd control and map clearing capabilities.
Critical Strike Builds:
If your build focuses on Critical Strikes, Detonating Arrow can also benefit from increased critical strike chance and crit damage. Since the skill deals a lot of Fire damage, critical strikes can lead to even more devastating explosions, especially when combined with Fire penetration or Elemental damage modifiers.
Elemental Proliferation:
You can enhance the Fire damage from Detonating Arrow by using Elemental Proliferation or similar effects. This will cause the Fire damage from the explosion to spread to nearby enemies, making it highly effective for crowd control in large groups of enemies.
Detonating Arrow is a highly effective Fire-based channelling skill that allows you to deal massive AoE Fire damage through an explosive arrow. With its unique mechanic of building up charge stages, it rewards players for channelling longer, enabling a huge damage boost upon detonation. It’s a great skill for map clearing, crowd control, and boss damage, especially when combined with Fire damage and Projectile scaling. However, the slower attack speed and high Mana cost mean that proper Mana management and channelling timing are key to getting the most out of this powerful skill.
Whether you’re aiming for burst damage or area clearing, Detonating Arrow is a versatile choice for any Ranger who wants to harness the explosive potential of charged projectiles.