POE2's combat system combines fast-paced action with deep strategic elements. Success requires mastering both moment-to-moment gameplay and long-term tactical planning.
Combat revolves around skill usage, positioning, and resource management. Each build has unique rhythms and patterns that emerge from their core mechanics.
Understanding enemy behaviors, damage types, and defensive mechanics is crucial for survival in increasingly challenging content.
Skills form the core of your offensive capabilities. Main skills are typically supported by multiple support gems to maximize effectiveness.
Attack and cast speed affect your ability to deal damage consistently. Finding the right balance between speed and power is crucial.
Critical strikes provide burst damage potential but require investment in accuracy and critical strike chance/multiplier.
Area of Effect (AoE) versus single target damage creates important build considerations for different content types.
Multiple defensive layers work together to keep you alive. Relying on a single defense is usually insufficient for harder content.
Active defenses like guard skills and counterattacks require proper timing and management of cooldowns.
Passive defenses such as block, dodge, and damage reduction provide consistent protection but need investment.
Recovery mechanics determine how quickly you can bounce back from damage taken.
Advanced combat involves managing multiple systems simultaneously while reacting to various threats and opportunities.
Understanding monster mechanics and attack patterns becomes increasingly important in endgame content.
Resource management between offensive and defensive abilities creates dynamic decision-making during combat.
Movement and positioning are crucial for both offense and defense. Learn to use movement skills effectively.
Curse and aura management can dramatically affect combat effectiveness. Prioritize the most impactful effects for your build.
Flask timing and management provide crucial buffs and survival tools. Develop muscle memory for efficient flask usage.
Crowd control and area management become vital in high-density situations.
Skills and support gems should work together to create powerful combinations. Look for synergies that multiply rather than just add damage.
Defensive layers should complement each other and cover different types of threats.
Utility skills can provide crucial advantages in specific situations. Keep situational tools available.
Party play introduces new considerations for skill and aura synergies between players.