It is a Support Gem.
Support
Tier: 1
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Str
Supports Crossbow Ammunition Skills, causing them to load an extra bolt at the cost of reload speed.
Place into a Skill’s Support Gem socket in the Skills menu to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple copies of the same Support Gem socketed at the same time.
The Double Barrel Support Gem is a Tier 1 support gem in Path of Exile 2 that enhances Crossbow Ammunition Skills. This support gem allows your skills to load an additional bolt, increasing your damage potential, but at the cost of slower reload speed. If you’re using a crossbow-based build and want to increase the burst damage of your attacks, the Double Barrel Support Gem is a must-have.
The Double Barrel Support Gem offers a unique mechanic for crossbow users. It allows you to fire an additional bolt with your crossbow ammunition skills, which directly increases your damage output. The key benefit is that you will fire two bolts instead of one, which can significantly enhance your damage in situations where every shot counts, such as boss fights or single-target encounters.
However, this benefit comes at a cost: the reload speed of your crossbow skills is reduced by 30%. This means you will take longer to reload between shots, which could be a drawback in fast-paced combat scenarios. It’s important to consider this trade-off and adjust your gameplay accordingly.
Crossbow-Based Builds:
The Double Barrel gem is explicitly designed for crossbow users. If you’re building a character around crossbow ammunition skills, this gem will allow you to double your damage potential by loading an extra bolt into each attack. Pair this with skills like Piercing Shot, Blast Bolt, or Ricochet to maximize your damage output.
Single-Target Damage Builds:
The ability to fire an additional bolt makes Double Barrel an excellent choice for single-target damage builds, particularly in boss fights. While the slower reload speed is a factor to consider, the increased damage output from the second bolt can make up for this by significantly boosting your damage per hit.
Burst Damage and High DPS Builds:
If you’re focused on burst damage or high DPS in short bursts, the Double Barrel gem offers a strong advantage. By firing an additional bolt, you can quickly deal a large amount of physical or elemental damage to a target, especially if you have built around crossbow damage and critical hits.
Hybrid Crossbow and Speed Builds:
If you prefer a hybrid approach where you focus on both damage output and attack speed, you might need to counterbalance the slower reload speed from Double Barrel by stacking reload speed modifiers through passives or items. This would allow you to retain a high damage potential while mitigating the negative impact of slower reloading.
Increased Damage Output:
The most obvious benefit of Double Barrel is the additional bolt fired with each attack. This means you are effectively doubling the damage dealt with each use of a crossbow skill, making this gem invaluable for maximizing your damage potential, especially against tougher enemies or bosses.
Great for Boss Fights:
Against high-health enemies or bosses, the ability to fire two bolts allows you to output more damage in each cycle. This can be a game-changer when you need to deal sustained damage to a boss, especially if the fight lasts for an extended period.
Synergy with Critical Hits:
If your build is focused on critical hits, the Double Barrel gem works well in synergy with any crossbow skill that has critical strike potential. You’ll increase your chances of landing multiple critical hits by firing an additional bolt, leading to significantly higher damage in a shorter period of time.
Versatility with Various Crossbow Skills:
The gem works with any crossbow ammunition skill, which gives you a lot of flexibility in building your character. Whether you’re using a rapid-fire style skill or a more powerful single-shot ability, Double Barrel enhances your potential in different ways.
Reduced Reload Speed:
The most significant drawback of the Double Barrel gem is the 30% slower reload speed. This can make your attacks feel less fluid, especially in fast-paced fights where you need to reload quickly to maintain constant damage. If your build relies on quick reloads or rapid attacks, this downside might be hard to overcome.
Not Ideal for Fast-Firing Builds:
For builds that focus on high attack speed and rapid-fire skills, the reload speed penalty from Double Barrel can significantly hinder your performance. In such cases, you might want to consider alternative support gems that don’t affect your reload speed negatively.
Requires Strong Crossbow Setup:
To make the most of the Double Barrel gem, you need to have a solid crossbow-based build. If your character isn’t geared for crossbows or if you’re using a different weapon type, this gem won’t be of much use. As a result, it’s essential to build around this gem, making sure your crossbow skills are the focus of your character’s setup.
Counteract Reload Speed Penalty:
To mitigate the 30% reload speed penalty, consider stacking reload speed modifiers from passives, items, or flasks. This will help you maintain a steady pace of attacks while benefiting from the extra bolt fired per shot.
Use in Single-Target Situations:
The Double Barrel gem shines in single-target situations. Focus on using this gem against bosses or elite enemies that have high health pools, as the additional bolt will significantly increase your damage per shot.
Pair with Piercing or Ricochet:
If you’re using a crossbow skill like Piercing Shot or Ricochet, the additional bolt fired by Double Barrel can hit multiple enemies or cover a larger area, making it even more effective. This synergy increases your damage and allows you to hit more targets with each reload.
Adapt to Your Playstyle:
Depending on your playstyle, you may need to adjust your approach to combat when using Double Barrel. If you prefer quick attacks, focus on reloading and firing your crossbow as quickly as possible while factoring in the reload speed penalty. For more powerful shots, rely on carefully timed reloads to maximize the damage of each shot.
The Double Barrel Support Gem is an excellent choice for crossbow-based builds focused on increasing damage and burst potential. By allowing you to fire an extra bolt, it enhances your damage output while adding an extra layer of versatility to your arsenal. However, the reload speed penalty is a significant consideration, and it requires careful management to ensure smooth and effective gameplay. If you’re looking to optimize your crossbow skills for maximum damage, the Double Barrel gem is a powerful tool that can help you achieve that goal.