Support
Tier: 2
Requires: Level 1
Support Reqirements: +5 Str
Supports any skill that Hits enemies, causing it to Knock Back enemies.
Knocks Enemies Back on Hit
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.
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The Knockback Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 provides an exciting and tactical addition to many builds, particularly those focused on melee combat or projectile attacks. This support gem introduces the ability to Knock Back enemies when they are hit by your skills, adding both crowd control and strategic positioning to your combat style. If you’re looking to manipulate enemy movement or create space between you and your foes, Knockback is a gem worth considering for your build.
Gem Details
Category: Support
Type: Melee, Attack
Tier: 2
Required Level: 1
Support Requirements: +5 Strength
Effect:
Supports any skill that hits enemies, causing it to Knock Back enemies on hit.
Knocks Enemies Back when the supported skill hits.
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.
How Knockback Works
Knockback is a straightforward, yet powerful mechanic that forces enemies to be pushed away when they are hit by an attack supported by this gem. Here’s how it functions in Path of Exile 2:
Knockback Effect:
When a skill hits an enemy and is supported by Knockback, the enemy will be pushed away from the point of impact. This effect applies to any skill that hits enemies, making it extremely versatile.
The distance of the knockback and how far the enemy is pushed depends on the skill’s base mechanics and the specific Knockback effect, but it generally moves enemies away from you or other targets in the area.
Crowd Control:
Knockback serves as a useful crowd control tool, allowing you to disrupt enemy positioning and prevent them from clustering together. This can be especially beneficial in high-density combat scenarios, where you may want to separate groups of enemies or create space between you and dangerous mobs or bosses.
For melee builds, Knockback helps push enemies away, allowing you to focus on individual targets while keeping yourself safe from swarming enemies.
Synergy with Certain Builds:
Knockback works well with any build that requires controlling enemy movement or positioning. It is especially valuable for builds using close-range melee attacks, as it allows you to push enemies back, thus creating more room to maneuver and reducing the risk of being surrounded.
It also works great with projectile-based builds, as it helps disrupt enemy movement while allowing you to continue dealing damage from a safe distance.
Versatility:
Knockback can be applied to a variety of skills, including attacks, spells, and even projectiles. This makes it an ideal gem for a wide range of builds, from melee-heavy builds to ranged projectile builds that want to maintain distance from their enemies.
Advantages of Knockback
Effective for Positioning:
One of the primary benefits of Knockback is its ability to influence enemy positioning. If you’re surrounded by enemies or facing off against a dangerous boss, Knockback can help create much-needed space, giving you room to dodge or reposition.
In certain encounters, especially with fast-moving enemies or bosses, Knockback allows you to keep enemies at a distance, preventing them from overwhelming you.
Crowd Control:
Knockback is an essential tool for crowd control, particularly when facing groups of enemies. By knocking enemies back, you prevent them from clustering together and can effectively separate enemies, making them easier to deal with individually.
This also helps in dealing with large waves of enemies, allowing you to manage the battlefield and focus your damage on one enemy at a time.
Tactical Advantages:
For ranged and projectile-based builds, Knockback can help you keep enemies from closing in on you while you deal damage. As enemies are pushed back, you have more time to react, avoid incoming damage, and continue to attack from a distance.
For melee builds, Knockback provides an opportunity to push enemies into advantageous positions, like into traps or environmental hazards, making them easier to defeat.
Interrupts Enemy Actions:
Knockback can interrupt certain enemy abilities or spells that rely on the enemies staying in close range. By pushing them away, you disrupt their attack patterns, potentially preventing some harmful abilities from landing.
Disadvantages and Considerations
Mana Cost and Scaling:
As a support gem, Knockback increases the mana cost of the supported skill. While this is typically not too significant, it’s worth considering for mana-intensive builds that may already struggle with resource management.
Some melee builds or skills may also struggle to fully benefit from Knockback, especially if they rely on tightly clustered enemies for maximum damage. Knockback could push enemies too far apart for efficient AoE (Area of Effect) damage.
Limited to Certain Skill Types:
Knockback only affects skills that hit enemies. It won’t work with skills that don’t directly hit, such as minion-based abilities or summons.
Some players may prefer alternative support gems that provide more damage, utility, or effects that better align with their build, such as more damage over time or increased critical strike chance.
Unintended Disruption:
Knockback can sometimes be a double-edged sword. While it’s great for pushing enemies away from you, it can also disrupt the positioning of enemies that you might want to keep in place for specific combat strategies. For example, when fighting bosses or unique enemies, pushing them too far away could cause you to lose your opportunity for damage windows or attack combos.
Ideal Skills and Builds for Knockback
Melee Attacks:
Knockback works particularly well with Slam-based melee skills, as it allows you to control the space around you while dealing high-damage AoE attacks. Skills like Earthquake, Ground Slam, or Molten Strike can be enhanced by the Knockback gem to create greater control over the battlefield.
Sunder and Cyclone builds will also benefit from Knockback, as it allows for better positioning and additional breathing room in close-quarters combat.
Projectile-Based Builds:
Projectile skills, such as Bow Attacks or Spells that use projectiles, can benefit greatly from Knockback. By knocking enemies back as you hit them, you can create distance between yourself and incoming melee enemies or minions.
Elemental Attack builds that use Fire, Cold, or Lightning projectiles will find Knockback to be an effective means of controlling enemy movement while maintaining ranged damage.
Tank and Control Builds:
Tanky builds or those focused on crowd control will find Knockback particularly useful. Juggernaut or Gladiator builds can use this gem to separate and deal with large groups of enemies while maintaining their defensive capabilities.
Conclusion
The Knockback Support Gem in Path of Exile 2 provides a valuable tactical advantage to many builds, especially those focused on melee combat and crowd control. By knocking enemies back on hit, it allows for greater space control and can help you manage large groups of enemies more effectively. Whether you’re using it in a melee or ranged projectile build, Knockback offers both defensive and offensive benefits, ensuring you can handle tough encounters with ease. Although it may disrupt your attacks in some situations, the gem’s ability to interrupt enemy actions and displace enemies makes it a fantastic tool for players looking to control the flow of combat and maintain their position on the battlefield.