Path of Exile support gems are one of two different types of skill gems in the game. They are crucial to making your build as powerful as possible. Here's what you need to know about them.
Me playing path of exile: I'm gonna try a new build and stick to it!
— Dolrick (@DolrickS) June 13, 2018
Game: Here, have a supperior caustic arrow... And a 5L Bow... And 5L dex armor... And all the support gems for a caustic arrow build... Superior gems.
Me: Well... I mean, if the game throws all that at me...
Path of Exile Support Gems
Support gems and active gems are the two skill gems that exist in Path of Exile. Where active gems give players new spells and abilities to use in-game, support gems take a more passive approach.
Both must be equipped in gear sockets, usually on armor, but support gems require a little extra finesse to enable. For one, they must be placed in linked sockets. For another, to have any effect at all, they must be linked to an active gem that shares the right types. For instance, a spell support gem must be linked to a spell active gem to endow its special effects.
Support gems must also be carefully balanced, as most incur mana cost increases even as they make their respective active gems more powerful.
Photo courtesy of Grinding Games
