In Path of Exile 2, one of the most important aspects of building a character and optimizing your gameplay revolves around Support Gems. These gems allow players to modify the behavior of their skill gems, adding powerful effects like increased damage, elemental boosts, or defensive bonuses. Acquiring the right support gems is key to creating effective and powerful builds that can take on the toughest enemies and bosses the game has to offer.

But where do you find these gems, and how do you acquire more of them as you progress through the game? This guide will delve into the various methods of obtaining Support Gems in Poe 2 trade, along with strategies for getting the most out of these valuable items.

What Are Support Gems in Path of Exile 2?

Support Gems are a class of gems that do not directly deal damage but instead augment the behavior of a linked Skill Gem. They can modify the damage type, increase or decrease damage, add elemental effects, or improve the overall functionality of the skill. The effectiveness of a Support Gem depends on the level of both the Skill Gem and the Support Gem, as well as the specific synergies between them.

For example, linking a Fireball Skill Gem with a Flame Totem Support Gem can cause the Fireball to deal additional fire damage or transform its effects to suit different playstyles. Some Support Gems even add completely new mechanics, like Increased Area of Effect, Critical Strike Chance, or Added Elemental Damage.

Methods to Acquire More Support Gems in Path of Exile 2

1. Quest Rewards

One of the most common and reliable methods for acquiring Support Gems is through quest rewards. As you progress through the game, you will unlock various quests that offer gems as part of the reward pool. Many of these quests provide Support Gems for free, giving you a good selection of powerful options right from the start.

Early Act Quests:

In the early stages of Path of Exile 2, quest rewards will introduce you to a variety of basic Support Gems. Completing early acts, such as Act 1 and Act 2, will provide access to gems like Added Fire Damage, Increased Area of Effect, or Blood Magic, which can be used in combination with your chosen skill gem to create more powerful builds.

For example:

Act 1 Reward: Upon completing quests like The Twilight Strand or The Dweller's Demise, you will often be offered basic support gems like Elemental Damage with Attacks or Added Cold Damage.

Act 2 Reward: Later on, you'll unlock more specialized Support Gems, like Life Leech or Faster Attacks, depending on your playstyle.

Quest rewards provide a simple and effective way to fill out your Support Gem inventory without much additional effort.

2. Vendor Purchases

Support Gems can also be purchased directly from in-game vendors, who sell a variety of gems in exchange for currency or items. Each vendor has a unique set of Support Gems for sale, which can be bought at various points throughout the game.

Vendors:

Nessa: Early vendors, like Nessa in Act 1, offer a selection of basic Support Gems like Faster Casting, Added Lightning Damage, and Multistrike.

Greed's Embrace and other vendors in later Acts will provide more advanced gems such as Cast on Crit, Increased Critical Damage, or Empower for high-level characters.

The best part about purchasing from vendors is that they typically restock after you level up or progress through specific story milestones. As you reach higher levels, more powerful Support Gems become available for purchase, allowing you to experiment and optimize your build with gems that fit your needs.

Currency and Crafting Vendors:

Some vendors may offer gems in exchange for specific currency like Orbs of Fusing, Chaos Orbs, or other rarer items. Be sure to keep an eye out for vendors that offer gem exchanges as you progress.

3. Gem Vendors and NPCs in High-Level Areas

Once you've passed the early game, you'll start encountering specialized gem vendors in higher-level zones such as The Atlas, The Forbidden Woods, or the cheap POE 2 Currency Tunnels of the Beast. These NPCs typically sell high-tier Support Gems that can help you complete endgame content more efficiently.

These NPCs often have rare gems that may be difficult to find through other means, and their stock changes depending on your progress in the game. The gems from these vendors can significantly enhance your build by offering unique combinations or high-end supports like Minion Damage, Spell Echo, Conduit, or Greater Multiple Projectiles.