It is a Support Gem.
Support
Tier: 1
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Dex
Supports any skill, causing inflicted Slows to be more powerful.
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 Encumbrance Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 is an excellent addition for players who focus on slowing down enemies through debuffs. This gem enhances your abilities by making your Slows more potent, allowing you to control enemy movement more effectively and manage large groups of foes. If you’re looking to bolster your crowd control capabilities and make your slowing effects more impactful, the Encumbrance Support Gem is a must-have.
The Encumbrance Support Gem significantly enhances any skill that applies slow debuffs to enemies. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how the gem works:
Increased Slow Effect:
The key feature of Encumbrance is the 30% increased effect on any slow debuffs caused by the supported skill. This makes it a fantastic gem for builds that rely on slowing enemies, whether through spells, attacks, or minions. The increased slow effect ensures that enemies are significantly impaired, reducing their movement and attack speed for a longer duration.
Synergy with Slowing Effects:
If your build relies on slowing enemies, such as using Cold Damage, Chill, or Freeze, the Encumbrance gem enhances those abilities by making them more powerful. For example, a Chill debuff will apply more significantly, reducing the enemy’s movement speed even further. It is also useful for Slowing skills that are part of your strategy for crowd control or mobility reduction.
Versatile Application:
The Encumbrance gem can be used in a variety of builds, whether you focus on elemental damage, physical damage, or even minion builds. As long as the skill inflicts a slow on enemies, the Encumbrance gem will amplify the effectiveness of that slow, giving you a stronger grip on the battlefield.
Crowd Control:
Slowing enemies becomes a very powerful tool, especially in high-density encounters or against tough bosses. This gem helps you slow large groups of enemies, making them easier to deal with. When used strategically, Encumbrance increases your ability to manage crowds and significantly reduce the damage and speed of enemies, providing you with greater control over the encounter.
Cold Damage Builds:
The Encumbrance gem works wonderfully with cold damage builds, particularly those that rely on Chill or Freeze effects. By increasing the potency of these debuffs, your Chill effects will slow enemies more effectively, which can be particularly useful in keeping enemies at a distance or reducing the threat they pose.
Mobility Control Builds:
If your strategy involves controlling the battlefield by slowing enemies, this gem is a perfect addition. This is especially true for builds that prioritize slowing or immobilizing enemies for defensive purposes. Whether you’re using Cold-based skills, Traps, or Totems, the Encumbrance gem enhances your ability to control enemy movement, giving you more time to deal damage or avoid incoming attacks.
Boss Fight and Mapping Builds:
Whether in boss fights or high-level maps, being able to slow down enemies can be a game-changer. Encumbrance helps you control enemy movement and attacks, giving you a significant edge in boss encounters where mobility and positioning are key. In mapping, where swarms of enemies are common, this gem makes clearing packs of monsters easier and more efficient.
Physical Damage and Bleed Builds:
If your build focuses on Physical Damage and uses Bleeding effects or Physical Slows, Encumbrance can be extremely effective. For example, using a Slower Attacks debuff with Encumbrance will amplify the slowing effects, giving you a better handle on enemy movements, making it easier to apply damage over time effects like Bleed.
Improved Slows:
The primary benefit of Encumbrance is the 30% increased effect of slowing debuffs. This is especially useful for players who rely on Chill, Freeze, or other methods of slowing enemies. The increased effect ensures enemies move slower, giving you more time to react and attack.
Crowd Control Power:
Encumbrance makes it easier to manage large groups of enemies. Whether you’re running a map with hordes of monsters or facing down multiple boss adds, the enhanced slow effect ensures that your enemies are less mobile and easier to deal with.
Versatility in Builds:
The Encumbrance gem is a versatile tool for many different builds. If you focus on slowing effects as part of your overall strategy, this gem fits naturally into a wide variety of skill sets, from Cold Damage builds to Physical Damage builds.
Great for Defensive Playstyles:
If you’re a player who enjoys a more defensive playstyle, Encumbrance can provide you with valuable tools to reduce incoming damage and prevent enemies from getting too close. By slowing enemies, you give yourself more space to dodge attacks and take control of the fight.
Only Affects Slow Debuffs:
The Encumbrance gem only benefits skills that apply slow debuffs. If your build doesn’t rely on slowing effects, this gem won’t offer much utility. It’s a specialized gem that excels in builds focused on crowd control and debuffing enemies but is of limited use to builds that don’t prioritize slowing effects.
Requires Investment in Slowing Mechanics:
To make the most of the Encumbrance gem, your build needs to include slowing effects as part of its design. You’ll need to focus on skills or passive tree nodes that inflict Chill, Freeze, or other types of slowing debuffs in order to fully capitalize on the gem’s benefits.
Combine with Cold Damage:
Encumbrance is especially effective for Cold Damage builds, particularly those that utilize Chill or Freeze. Combining Chill with the increased slow effect of Encumbrance will leave enemies sluggish and vulnerable, providing an edge in crowd control situations.
Use with Crowd Control Abilities:
If you rely on crowd control as part of your gameplay strategy, Encumbrance should be a core part of your build. Pair it with slowing skills like Ice Nova, Frost Bomb, or Tempest Shield to keep enemies at bay and prevent them from overwhelming you.
Extend Slow Duration:
Look for ways to extend the duration of your slow debuffs. Skills that naturally apply Chill or Freeze for extended periods will benefit even more from the increased slow effect provided by Encumbrance.
The Encumbrance Support Gem is a must-have for players looking to enhance their crowd control and slowing abilities in Path of Exile 2. With its 30% increased effect of slowing debuffs, this gem is perfect for builds that prioritize Chill, Freeze, or any other type of slow debuff. It offers powerful synergy with Cold Damage builds and enhances your ability to control enemies on the battlefield, making it a valuable tool for defensive playstyles and crowd control-focused builds. For players who want to manage enemy movement and gain more time to deal damage or avoid danger, the Encumbrance gem is a perfect fit.