Gemcutter's Prisms are a vital currency item in Path of Exile 2, used to enhance the quality of skill gems and significantly boost their effectiveness. Mastering their use can greatly improve your build’s power, whether by increasing damage, extending skill duration, or enhancing utility.
Each Gemcutter's Prism increases a skill gem’s quality by 1%, up to a maximum of 20%. Quality on skill gems is important because it unlocks stronger effects that vary depending on the gem type. For example, offensive gems might deal more damage, area-of-effect skills might cover a larger radius, and utility gems might last longer or provide stronger buffs. This makes investing in quality a crucial step for optimizing your character’s performance, especially when you're also managing other resources like poe 2 currency to round out your upgrades.
To use a Gemcutter’s Prism, simply right-click the prism in your inventory, then left-click the skill gem you want to improve. The gem’s quality will increase by 1% with each prism applied, and you can see the benefits immediately reflected in the gem’s stats. Holding the appropriate key while hovering over the gem reveals detailed information about what quality bonuses it gains, helping you decide which gems to prioritize.
Acquiring Gemcutter's Prisms can be challenging due to their rarity. They drop from monsters at a low rate, appear in special containers like Artisan’s Strongboxes, and can be obtained through vendor recipes by selling gems with a combined quality of 20% or more. Trading with other players is another way to quickly gather prisms if farming proves slow. In Path of Exile 2, the gem system has been streamlined, making it easier to manage gems and apply prisms, but the rarity of prisms still means careful resource management is essential. Many players turn to cheap poe 2 currency sources to fund upgrades and supplement their crafting resources.
When deciding which gems to enhance, focus on those that benefit most from quality increases. Gems like Flame Wall, which gains increased fire damage and area coverage, or Freezing Pulse, which improves damage and crowd control, are excellent candidates. Support gems that boost damage or utility can also be worth upgrading if their quality bonuses align with your build’s needs. Avoid spending prisms on gems that don’t gain significant benefits from quality, as this wastes valuable resources.
A good strategy is to apply prisms early in your leveling process to gain the benefits throughout your gameplay. Also, consider leveling multiple copies of the same gem to sell for prisms later, helping you replenish your supply. Vendor recipes for gems with high combined quality are a reliable way to farm prisms without relying solely on drops.
Gemcutter’s Prisms are indispensable for maximizing the potential of your skill gems. By understanding how to acquire them, strategically choosing which gems to upgrade, and applying prisms efficiently, you can significantly enhance your build’s power and tackle tougher content with greater ease. Mastery of Gemcutter’s Prisms is a key aspect of refining your character and achieving success in Path of Exile 2.