It is a Support Gem.
Support
Tier: 1
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Dex
Supports skills which can have a limited number of effects active at once, increasing that limit at the cost of their duration. Only applies to restrictions that use the word "limit".
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 Increase Limit Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 is a unique gem designed to modify skills that have a limited number of active effects. It allows you to increase the limit of these effects at the cost of reducing their duration. This gem can be a powerful tool for builds that rely on effects that are restricted by the number of times they can be active at once, giving you more flexibility in applying buffs, debuffs, or other temporary effects in combat.
The Increase Limit gem is specifically designed to interact with skills that have a restriction on the number of active effects that can be applied at any given time. This type of restriction is common in certain mechanics within Path of Exile 2, such as skills that apply buffs, debuffs, or status effects with a cap on how many times they can be applied or stacked.
Increasing Active Effects Limit:
The core function of the Increase Limit gem is to increase the limit of effects that a skill can apply at once. For example, if a skill can apply three stacks of a particular debuff (such as Chilled or Poison) on an enemy, the gem increases that limit to four stacks. This means you can apply more effects to the target, potentially increasing your damage output or debuff effectiveness.
Reduced Duration:
In exchange for increasing the limit, the gem reduces the duration of the effects. So while you can have more active effects, each individual effect will last for 50% less time than normal. This requires a more active playstyle to ensure the effects stay on the target long enough to be effective.
Applicable to Specific Skills:
The gem only works with skills that have a "limit" in their mechanics, specifically those that restrict the number of active effects at once. For example, some skills might limit the number of debuffs that can be placed on an enemy or the number of buffs that can be active on a character. The Increase Limit gem directly addresses this restriction, allowing you to go beyond the usual cap.
Example Use Cases:
Imagine a Curse-focused build where you use Curses that have a limit on how many times they can be applied to enemies. With Increase Limit, you could increase that limit, applying more curses at once, while still balancing the reduced duration. Similarly, this gem could be used on skills that apply Poison, Bleed, or any other effect with a cap on active instances.
Here are the main benefits of using the Increase Limit Support Gem:
Greater Flexibility with Effect Limits:
The primary advantage of the Increase Limit gem is that it increases the number of active effects that can be applied at once. This can greatly enhance your damage potential and support capabilities, particularly if you are using buffs or debuffs with limits. You can apply more of the same effect, which can lead to stronger buffs or more intense debuffs.
Increased Scaling for Certain Builds:
For stacking effects that depend on the number of active instances (such as Poison, Bleed, or Curse stacking builds), this gem allows for faster scaling of your damage output. With an increased cap, you can stack more debuffs on enemies, causing them to take more damage over time or suffer more debilitating effects.
Synergy with Duration Builds:
If you’re building around duration-based effects or persistent debuffs, the ability to stack more effects can be synergistic with other duration-modifying mechanics in your build. Even though the duration of individual effects is reduced, the ability to stack more effects can offset this reduction and allow for greater overall impact.
Unique Utility:
The Increase Limit gem fills a niche role for specific builds that want to maximize the number of active effects on enemies or allies, such as Totem builds or minion builds. It is particularly useful for players who want to fine-tune their builds and push the boundaries of effect limits in certain mechanics.
While the Increase Limit gem offers valuable benefits, it also comes with some limitations and considerations:
Reduced Effect Duration:
One of the main drawbacks of the Increase Limit gem is that it comes with a 50% reduction in effect duration. While this can be mitigated with other duration-enhancing modifiers, it still forces you to think about how to balance effect duration with the ability to stack more effects. If you’re relying heavily on long-lasting debuffs or buffs, this gem may not always be the best choice unless you’re prepared to compensate for the shorter durations.
Limited to Skills with "Limit" Mechanics:
The gem is only useful for skills that have a limit on the number of active effects that can be applied. If your skill doesn’t have a "limit" mechanic built in, this gem will not provide any benefits. This limits its versatility, as it cannot be used with all skill types.
Increased Complexity:
Because this gem modifies the limit of effects, it can add a level of complexity to your build. You’ll need to manage both the duration of the effects and the number of instances of those effects that are active. For newer players or those who prefer simpler builds, the added complexity might be a challenge.
Requires Specific Skill Builds:
Since this gem only works with certain types of skills, it is highly build-dependent. If your character doesn’t rely on skills with a limit mechanic, you won’t get much use out of this gem. As such, its appeal is limited to specific playstyles.
The Increase Limit gem is best suited for effect stacking builds, particularly those that rely on effects with a limited number of active instances. Here are some examples of skills and builds that could benefit from this gem:
Curse Builds:
If you’re using Curse skills that apply debuffs with a limit on how many can be active at once, such as Despair or Temporal Chains, Increase Limit will allow you to apply more curses at once, making it easier to debuff multiple enemies simultaneously.
Poison or Bleed Builds:
For Poison or Bleed stacking builds, this gem increases the number of Poison or Bleed stacks that can be applied to an enemy, allowing you to deal more damage over time in a shorter period.
Totem Builds:
If you’re using Totems that apply buffs or debuffs with a limit on how many can be active, the Increase Limit gem will allow you to apply more buffs or debuffs through Totems, further enhancing their effectiveness.
Minion Builds:
Minions that use limited effects (such as minion buffs or debuffs) can also benefit from this gem. By increasing the limit of these effects, you can boost the overall effectiveness of your minion army.
The Increase Limit Support Gem offers a unique and powerful tool for builds that rely on effect limits, allowing you to increase the number of active effects that can be applied at once. While it comes at the cost of reducing effect duration, it provides substantial benefits for effect stacking builds, such as Curse, Poison, Bleed, and Totem builds.
If your build focuses on applying multiple instances of the same effect or debuff, the Increase Limit gem can significantly boost your damage potential or debuff effectiveness. However, its limitations and the need to manage duration alongside the increased limit make it a more specialized gem that fits best in builds that specifically focus on effect stacking.
For those who enjoy complex mechanics and want to push the boundaries of what their effects can achieve, Increase Limit can be an invaluable addition to your arsenal in Path of Exile 2.