It is a Support Gem.
Support
Spell, Chaos
Tier: 2
Cost Multiplier: 110%
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Int
Supports Spells that deal non-Ailment Chaos damage over time, causing damage over time they inflict to also Hinder enemies.
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 Hinder Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 brings a potent combination of Chaos damage over time and debuffing effects to your character. This gem enhances your Chaos-based DOT (damage over time) skills by adding the Hinder debuff, which slows enemies and makes them more vulnerable to your attacks. Whether you’re building around Chaos DoTs, poison, or chaos-based ailments, Hinder can be an excellent support gem to enhance both your damage output and crowd control.
The Hinder Support Gem enhances Chaos damage over time skills by adding the Hinder debuff to enemies. Here’s what this means in practice:
Hindering Enemies:
When you deal Chaos damage over time with a supported skill, it applies the Hinder debuff to enemies. This slows the affected enemies, making them less likely to escape or counterattack while they’re suffering from your Chaos DOTs. The Hinder debuff is particularly useful for slowing down enemies during high-density battles or boss fights.
Cost Multiplier:
The gem has a 110% cost multiplier, meaning it slightly increases the mana cost of the skill it supports. While this is a relatively modest increase, it’s worth considering if your build is mana-intensive or if you have mana sustain issues. However, the benefits of Hinder—such as slowing enemies and enhancing your Chaos DOT damage—often outweigh the slight increase in cost.
Synergy with Chaos DoTs:
The Hinder Support Gem is tailored for Chaos damage over time builds. If your build revolves around Chaos-based DoTs (like Poison, Essence Drain, Contagion, or Malice), Hinder adds an extra layer of crowd control by making enemies slower and easier to manage. The slower movement and attack speed of affected enemies also provide more time for your DoT effects to deal damage, thus boosting your overall effectiveness.
How Hinder Debuff Works:
The Hinder debuff reduces an enemy’s movement speed and action speed by 20% (a standard value for Hinder in the game). This slow-down effect can be extremely beneficial in both boss fights and crowd control scenarios, making enemies more predictable and easier to kite. Additionally, Hinder synergizes with other slow and debilitating effects like Chill or Freeze, amplifying the difficulty of the enemy’s movements and actions.
The Hinder Support Gem is especially useful for Chaos-focused builds, where DoT and damage over time mechanics are central to the gameplay. Here are some examples of builds and skills that can benefit from Hinder:
Poison Chaos Builds:
If your build revolves around Poison, Hinder can be a great addition to increase your ability to control enemies. Poison builds typically focus on chaos damage and damage over time, and the Hinder debuff will make it even harder for enemies to avoid or escape your attacks, especially during the Poison DOT duration. For example, using Bane or Poisonous Concoction alongside Hinder will make your chaos-infused poisons even more deadly.
Essence Drain/Contagion Builds:
The Essence Drain and Contagion combination is one of the most common Chaos DoT setups in Path of Exile. These skills benefit immensely from Hinder, as it slows down enemies while they are affected by your Essence Drain or Contagion DoTs, giving your damage more time to tick. This is especially effective in high-density content where you need to control groups of enemies while maximizing your chaos damage output.
Malice Builds:
The Malice skill, which is another chaos DOT skill, can also benefit from the Hinder debuff. Since Malice has a built-in chaos damage over time component, combining it with Hinder will allow you to slow down enemies while they suffer from your DOT effects, giving your Malice build better control and more damage uptime.
Chaos-based Ailment Builds:
Hinder also synergizes with builds that apply chaos-based ailments such as Decay or Wither. These ailments often focus on inflicting a specific condition on enemies while they are affected by Chaos DOTs, and the Hinder debuff helps ensure those enemies stay in range of your attacks and take full advantage of the ailments’ effects.
Here are some of the key benefits of using the Hinder Support Gem:
Crowd Control:
The Hinder debuff applies a 20% slow to enemies, which significantly improves your ability to control groups of enemies. This makes it easier to kite enemies, avoid damage, and keep enemies in the area of effect of your Chaos DOTs.
Boosts Damage Over Time:
By slowing enemies, Hinder effectively gives your Chaos DOTs more time to inflict damage. This is especially important in high-density areas or against bosses where you need to maximize the damage uptime of your chaos damage over time skills.
Synergizes with Other Debuffs:
Hinder works well with other debilitating effects such as Chill, Freeze, or even Shock. Combining Hinder with these effects can slow down enemies even further, making them easier to manage in both single-target and group fights.
Versatile for Multiple Chaos Builds:
Hinder works with a variety of Chaos DOT skills like Poison, Contagion, Essence Drain, and Malice, giving you flexibility in your build. Whether you’re focused on poison damage, chaos damage over time, or chaos-based ailments, this gem can enhance your effectiveness.
While the Hinder gem has many advantages, there are some downsides to consider:
Mana Cost Increase:
The 110% cost multiplier increases the mana cost of supported skills, which can become a concern if your build is already mana-hungry. You may need to invest in mana regeneration or efficiency to ensure that your skills don’t drain your mana pool too quickly.
Limited to Chaos DoTs:
The gem specifically enhances Chaos damage over time skills, so if your build doesn’t focus on Chaos DOTs, this gem may not be beneficial for you. If you’re using other damage types, such as fire or lightning, this gem won’t be effective.
Hinder Effectiveness:
While Hinder is a solid debuff, the 20% slow it applies may not always be enough for extremely fast enemies or bosses with high mobility. You may need to combine Hinder with other forms of crowd control, like Chill or Freeze, to keep enemies under control.
The Hinder Support Gem is an excellent tool for Chaos DoT builds, especially those focused on Poison, Essence Drain, or Contagion. By adding the Hinder debuff to enemies, it provides crowd control and damage amplification, giving you more time to deal damage and ensuring enemies remain under your control. The 110% cost multiplier is a small price to pay for the additional utility it brings, especially when combined with other debuffs and Chaos DOTs.
If you’re building around Chaos damage over time and need extra control over your enemies, the Hinder gem is a must-have support gem that can significantly improve your effectiveness in both single-target and multi-target situations.