It is a Skill Gem.
Attack
Melee, Strike, Movement, Travel, Physical, AoE
Level: 6
Cost: 13 Mana
Attack Speed: 85% of base
Attack Damage: 153%
Requires: Level 15, 39 Dex
Requires: Spear
Lunge towards a target, dealing melee damage. This attack is more powerful when used at a distance.
Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
Puncture is a versatile melee skill gem in Path of Exile 2 that allows players to lunge towards a target, dealing physical damage while also applying Bleeding and Knockback effects. The further you travel with the attack, the more damage you deal, making this skill particularly useful for builds focused on mobility, stunning enemies, and bleeding effects.
This Physical and AoE skill is a great choice for players who want to deal high damage at a distance and control the battlefield by knocking enemies back. It also provides utility through the stunning effect and Bleeding infliction, both of which can contribute to your overall damage strategy.
Puncture is a lunge-based attack that lets you close the gap with enemies while dealing substantial physical damage. The skill is designed to reward mobility, as the damage increases based on how far you travel with the attack.
Puncture has a high base attack damage of 153% and scales significantly with distance traveled. Here’s how the damage is affected by the distance of your lunge:
To maximize Puncture’s damage, you’ll want to focus on scaling Physical damage, attack speed, and mobility to increase the distance you can travel and the damage you inflict.
Puncture pairs well with various builds, particularly those that focus on Physical damage, attack speed, and movement. Here are some synergies and recommendations for maximizing its potential:
Physical Damage Scaling: Since Puncture deals Physical damage, you can scale it with Physical damage modifiers from the Passive Tree, gear, and Ascendancy nodes. Consider adding support gems or items that enhance Physical damage or damage with Spears to maximize your overall output.
Bleeding Synergies: Use items or passive nodes that enhance Bleeding damage or damage over time (DoT). Since Puncture causes Bleeding, these modifiers will further increase the damage output from the DoT effect.
Attack Speed: Because Puncture benefits from high attack speed, you should look for gear and passive nodes that increase your attack speed. This will allow you to perform multiple lunges in quick succession, increasing both damage output and Bleeding damage.
Mobility and Travel Distance: The longer your lunge, the more damage you deal. Therefore, movement speed and mobility enhancements, such as Flasks, Boots, or Movement Speed passives, will be valuable in increasing your damage potential.
Stun and Knockback: Puncture has a chance to stun enemies, so you can pair this skill with stun-related passives or items that enhance your ability to stun enemies, making this skill a good fit for crowd control or boss-killing builds.
Maximize Lunge Distance: To get the most damage from Puncture, aim to lunge as far as possible. Consider using movement skills or increased movement speed to position yourself effectively.
Focus on Bleeding and DoT Scaling: Since Puncture applies Bleeding, gear and passives that enhance Bleeding or damage over time will increase your total damage output.
Stun for Control: Puncture‘s ability to stun enemies makes it a great choice for crowd control. Combine it with stun-related passives or items to increase your stunning potential, especially in tough fights or boss encounters.
Combine with Mobility Skills: Puncture works best when you can quickly lunge towards your target. Use mobility skills like Leap Slam or Whirling Blades to close the gap faster and ensure your attacks hit harder.
Puncture is a dynamic melee attack skill that offers high mobility, scalable damage, and crowd control through Knockback and Stun effects. Ideal for builds focused on Physical damage, Bleeding, and movement, Puncture rewards players who can efficiently lunge into combat and utilize its distance-based damage scaling. With the right synergies and gearing, Puncture can be a powerful tool in your melee-focused or ranged strategies, providing both damage and utility in every battle.