It is a Support Gem.
Support
Cold
Requires: Level 24
Support Reqirements: +5 Int
Supports any skill that hits enemies, causing enemies to become brittle instead of frozen.
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 Fragility Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 introduces a new and intriguing mechanic for Cold-based attack skills, replacing traditional Freeze effects with the Brittle status. This gem offers players a fresh strategic approach to controlling enemies and enhancing damage, shifting the focus away from Freeze-based crowd control and instead embracing the concept of increasing enemy vulnerability to physical damage.
In this article, we will explore the mechanics of the Fragility Support Gem, how it works, and how it can be used to create powerful builds that capitalize on Brittle status.
Category: Support
Type: Cold
Required Level: 24
Support Requirements: +5 Intelligence
Effect:
Place into a Skill’s Support Gem socket in the Skills menu to apply its effects to that Skill.
The Fragility Support Gem alters the effect of Cold-based hits in a unique way. Here’s how it functions:
Replacing Freeze with Brittle:
Normally, Cold attacks have the potential to Freeze enemies, dramatically reducing their movement and action speed. However, with Fragility, this Freeze effect is replaced by Brittle. Brittle is a new debuff that significantly increases the damage enemies take from Physical and Cold damage, allowing you to deal far more damage to enemies who are affected by this status.
Brittle Mechanics:
When an enemy is made Brittle by an attack from a Supported Skill, they suffer a 50% increased damage taken from all sources of damage, including Physical, Cold, and other forms of damage. This makes it a highly effective debuff for increasing the overall damage output against enemies, especially those who are susceptible to physical or cold-based damage.
Immunity to Freeze and Chill:
A key consideration when using Fragility is that enemies made Brittle by this gem are immune to Freeze and Chill effects. While this might seem like a drawback for those who rely on freezing enemies to control the battlefield, it can be seen as a trade-off. Instead of freezing, you gain a significant damage boost to enemies, allowing you to kill them faster rather than simply immobilizing them.
Synergy with Cold and Physical Damage:
The Fragility Support Gem works best with builds that utilize Cold and Physical damage. It’s an excellent gem for Cold-based attack builds that focus on damage output over crowd control. Additionally, Physical damage dealers can capitalize on the increased vulnerability to Physical damage that Brittle inflicts, enhancing overall DPS in both single-target and AoE situations.
Here are some of the key benefits of using the Fragility gem in your build:
Increased Damage Output:
The most significant advantage of Fragility is the 50% increased damage that enemies take while affected by Brittle. This boosts both your Cold and Physical damage output, making it a great choice for hybrid builds or those that rely on dealing substantial damage in a short amount of time.
Alternative to Freeze for Crowd Control:
While Freeze is a strong crowd control mechanic, it can sometimes be unreliable or ineffective against bosses and certain high-level enemies that are resistant or immune to it. Fragility, on the other hand, provides a consistent damage buff without relying on status ailments, making it a valuable tool for increasing damage in both normal and boss fights.
Synergy with Physical and Cold Damage Builds:
Fragility supports a variety of builds, particularly those that focus on Cold-based damage (such as Elementalists or Elemental Cold spellcasters) and Physical damage (such as Warcry-based melee or Strike-based builds). The combination of Brittle’s vulnerability and Cold/Physical damage makes it an ideal gem for hybrid damage builds.
Enhanced Burst Damage:
By increasing the damage taken by Brittle enemies, this gem allows for increased burst potential, particularly when paired with other high-damage abilities or Critical Strikes. Enemies affected by Brittle become prime targets for devastating, high-damage hits from all sources.
While Fragility offers numerous advantages, it’s important to understand its limitations and considerations before adding it to your build:
No Freeze or Chill Control:
The primary drawback of using Fragility is the loss of Freeze and Chill effects. Since Brittle makes enemies immune to these two status effects, you lose the ability to freeze enemies in place or chill them to slow them down. This could impact your crowd control potential, especially against groups of enemies where Freeze can help with survival and escape.
Requires Cold Damage or Hybrid Builds:
Fragility is most effective when used with Cold-based skills or hybrid Cold/Physical damage builds. If your build is focused purely on Fire or Lightning damage, this gem won’t provide significant benefits. As such, it’s a niche gem best suited for specific types of builds.
Enemy Immunity to Freeze:
In certain scenarios, some enemies or bosses that are immune to Freeze or Chill might be affected by Brittle in a different way. While Brittle does provide increased damage output, it may not be as useful in certain situations where freezing or chilling enemies is crucial for controlling or evading damage.
To maximize the effectiveness of the Fragility gem, consider pairing it with the following skills and mechanics:
Cold Damage Skills:
Since Fragility is tied to Cold-based hits, it works incredibly well with skills such as Ice Nova, Frostbolt, Glacial Hammer, or Icicle Spear. These skills will trigger Brittle on hit, ensuring that the enemy suffers from increased damage taken and allowing you to capitalize on the Cold damage boost.
Physical Damage Dealers:
If you are focusing on Physical damage, the Fragility gem is a perfect complement, as Brittle increases the damage taken by enemies from all sources, including Physical damage. Pairing it with Melee Attacks, Warcry Skills, or Elemental Hit builds can further increase your damage output.
Critical Strike Builds:
Fragility pairs well with Critical Strike builds, as the increased damage taken by enemies will make your critical hits even more devastating. It also synergizes well with Power Charges, Frenzy Charges, or other crit-boosting mechanics, ensuring that your critical strikes hit harder than ever.
Hybrid Cold/Physical Builds:
If you’re running a hybrid Cold/Physical damage build, the Fragility Support Gem can amplify both types of damage. Whether you’re using Cold-based spells or Physical-based melee skills, Brittle will boost your overall damage output, making it ideal for these hybrid builds.
The Fragility Support Gem is a powerful tool for Cold and Hybrid Cold/Physical builds, offering a unique alternative to traditional Freeze effects. By replacing Freeze with Brittle, it increases the damage enemies take from all sources, providing a substantial damage boost for your build. While it sacrifices Freeze and Chill control, the trade-off for increased damage can be worth it, especially against tougher, more resistant enemies.
If your build relies on Cold damage, Physical damage, or hybrid damage strategies, Fragility is an excellent support gem to enhance your effectiveness in combat. Just be mindful of its limitations and plan your build accordingly to make the most of its benefits.