PoE 2 Herald of Plague
It is a Spirit Gem.
Buff
Persistent, Chaos, Herald
Tier: 8
Level: 8
Reservation: 30 Spirit
Requires: Level 26, 61 Dex
While active, killing a Poisoned enemy spreads its Poison to other nearby enemies, and has a chance to also Hinder them.
- Spreads the most Damaging Poison on enemies you kill in a 1.6 metre radius
- 17% chance to Hinder enemies on spreading Poison to them
Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
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Herald of Plague is a potent Spirit Gem in Path of Exile 2 designed for those who wield the deadly power of Poison and Chaos damage. As a Herald skill, it enhances your ability to spread Poison from enemies you kill, creating a toxic cloud that spreads Poison to nearby enemies and has the potential to Hinder them. This skill is perfect for builds focused on Poison and Chaos damage, amplifying your damage output and control over enemies.
Key Details of Herald of Plague
- Gem Type: Spirit Gem
- Skill Type: Buff, Persistent, Chaos, Herald
- Tier: 8
- Reservation: 30 Spirit
- Level Requirement: 26, 61 Dex
- Effect: While active, killing a Poisoned enemy causes its Poison to spread to nearby enemies, with a chance to also Hinder them.
- Radius: Spreads the most damaging Poison within a 1.6 metre radius of enemies you kill.
- Chance to Hinder: 17% chance to Hinder enemies when spreading Poison.
How Does Herald of Plague Work?
Herald of Plague empowers your character with a unique synergy between Poison, Chaos damage, and crowd control. When you kill a Poisoned enemy, the skill causes the Poison to spread to nearby enemies, causing additional Poison damage to them. This mechanic not only increases your overall damage but also adds a layer of control with the Hinder effect, which reduces enemies’ movement speed, making them easier to manage.
Core Features:
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Poison Spread:
- Upon killing a Poisoned enemy, the skill spreads the most damaging Poison to nearby enemies within a 1.6 metre radius. This can potentially chain Poison damage across large groups of enemies, creating a cascading effect that devastates swathes of foes.
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Chance to Hinder:
- The Poison spread also has a 17% chance to Hinder enemies, which reduces their movement speed. This is especially useful for slowing down fast-moving enemies, preventing them from escaping or reaching you in combat.
How to Maximize Herald of Plague
- Stacking Poison Damage:
- Herald of Plague works best with Poison-focused builds. Enhancing your Poison damage through Chaos or Poison damage multipliers will increase the potency of the Poison you spread. Consider using Poison-related passives, gear that boosts Poison damage, or Chaos damage amplifiers to make the spread more deadly.
- Amplifying Poison Spread:
- Herald of Plague spreads the most damaging Poison from the enemy you kill. Therefore, stacking Poison damage or damage over time effects on enemies before you kill them can result in massive Poison spread. Look for ways to inflict high damage or high Poison stacks on your enemies to increase the effectiveness of this gem.
- Hinder Effect:
- The 17% chance to Hinder provides an additional crowd control tool, especially useful for slowing down enemies that might otherwise be difficult to keep in check. If you’re facing fast-moving enemies or packs of monsters, the Hinder effect can keep them at a distance, allowing you to control the pace of the battle more easily.
- Synergy with Minions:
- Herald of Plague can also synergize well with Minion builds. When your Poisoned enemies are killed by your minions, the Poison will spread to nearby enemies. This makes it easier to manage large groups of enemies and further increases your overall Poison damage output.
How to Use Herald of Plague Effectively
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Poison Application:
- Ensure that you have a reliable method for Poisoning enemies consistently. This could be through direct Poison damage, Chaos damage, or Poison support gems like Unleash or Viper Strike. Spreading Poison effectively is key to utilizing Herald of Plague to its full potential.
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Killing Poisoned Enemies:
- Once enemies are Poisoned, killing them triggers the Poison spread to nearby enemies. Focus on applying Poison to multiple enemies at once and then eliminating those targets to set off a chain reaction of Poison spread.
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Dealing with High-Tier Enemies:
- The spread mechanic works best on large groups of enemies. However, against bosses or single high-health enemies, it might be beneficial to focus on amplifying Poison damage directly rather than relying on the spread mechanic. Using Herald of Plague alongside powerful Poison-over-time skills can maximize your damage output.
Pros and Cons of Herald of Plague
Pros:
- Spreads Poison to nearby enemies, increasing your Poison damage output and creating cascading damage effects.
- Hinders enemies with a 17% chance to slow their movement, making it easier to manage groups of enemies.
- Great synergy with Poison and Chaos damage builds, amplifying the effectiveness of your elemental damage.
- Persistent effect, allowing for continuous Poison spread as long as enemies are killed.
Cons:
- The chance to Hinder enemies is relatively low (17%), so it may not always provide the desired effect.
- The skill is dependent on Poison damage to trigger its effects, meaning it’s less effective for non-Poison-focused builds.
- Limited in effectiveness against single-target bosses unless paired with other Poison-enhancing skills.
Conclusion
Herald of Plague is a versatile and potent Spirit Gem that boosts your Poison and Chaos damage while providing crowd control through the Hinder effect. Perfect for builds that focus on Poison or Chaos damage, this gem enhances your ability to spread Poison across enemies, causing cascading damage and reducing their mobility. Whether you’re clearing groups of enemies or weakening foes with Hinder, Herald of Plague offers a unique and powerful tool for any Poison-based build.
To maximize its potential, focus on increasing your Poison damage, applying Poison consistently, and leveraging the Hinder effect to slow down enemies. With its ability to trigger Poison spread and Hinder, Herald of Plague can help you dominate the battlefield in Path of Exile 2.