Beyond the explicitly announced changes introduced by Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, the update also passively impacts various related mechanics, and Spell Totem is one such example.
Spell Totem is, in fact, a Support Gem that has existed since the launch of Path of Exile 2’s Early Access; however, it only began to gain widespread familiarity and usage among players following the release of Patch 0.4.0.
So, what exactly does this gem do? And how will its functionality be altered by the arrival of Patch 0.5.0? If you’re looking for the answers, look no further, POECURRENCY is here to explain it all!
Spell Totem basic functionality overview
This Support Gem modifies the linked spell, preventing it from being cast directly by the player. Instead, it summons a totem that casts the linked spell on your behalf.
While this effect applies to any spell socketed into the gem, it does come with a charge consumption, typically requiring three Power Charges or three Endurance Charges.
Furthermore, if you pair this gem with a spell that requires frequent casting, you will find yourself constantly needing to reposition the totem. Consequently, Spell Totem can feel rather clunky to use, unless, that is, you pair it with Redflare Conduit Anchorite Garb.
This is because this specific body armor features an affix that passively generates Power Charges. Additionally, if you wish to further enhance the potency of this affix, you can buy PoE 2 currency via POECURRENCY.com! Sufficient orbs are the foundation for continuously refining your equipment stats!
Changes introduced in Patch 0.5.0
The first directly relevant adjustment arriving with Patch 0.5.0 is that Spell Totem can now be deployed while moving; previously, you were required to stand still to place the skill. This change will significantly boost farming efficiency.
A more indirect change manifests through Ancestral Bond Keystone Passive Skill. Patch 0.5.0 allows this Keystone to increase your maximum active Totem limit by one; however, as a trade-off, it prevents you from dealing damage directly yourself.
In addition to this, you gain two extra benefits: you no longer need to expend charges to summon the totem, and the summoning process incurs no resource consumption. This means you can freely deploy a multitude of totems during combat.
So, how do these two changes combine to further impact Spell Totem experience within Return of the Ancients update?
To begin, the first thing you need to understand is that the maximum number of totems provided by Spell Totem skill increases as it at Level 23, it even grants an additional +3 to your totem limit.
Building upon this, if you incorporate the doubled totem limit granted by Ancestral Bond passive, you can theoretically field a maximum of six totems.
However, in actual gameplay, the limiting factor for your totem count is typically your spirit reserves, rather than the hard cap imposed by your maximum totem limit.
Consequently, taking the reworked Soul Mantle (now Sacrificial Mantle) as an example, it actually proves to be a somewhat misleading choice.
One of this armor’s affixes grants +1 to Maximum Totems; however, this provides absolutely no practical benefit for builds centered around Spell Totem.
Although the revamped Soul Mantle does provide an additional 75 points to your maximum spirit capacity, in the heat of battle, it is simply impossible to possess a spirit pool large enough to sustain the consumption of summoning that many additional totems.
How to acquire more spirit?
As the analysis above suggests, the key to maximizing the effectiveness of Spell Totems in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 lies in securing a sufficient supply of spirit.
It is worth noting that if you select Invoker as your Ascendancy Class, you can unlock a specific passive skill that grants a 50% increase in spirit reservation efficiency.
This means that during combat, the spirit consumption for each totem you summon plummets from 63 points down to just 44 points, a truly massive improvement.
As for more direct methods of acquiring spirit, the primary approach is to equip a Sceptre as your weapon.
While sceptres may not offer particularly outstanding offensive benefits, those featuring specific compound modifiers can provide not only a substantial boost to your maximum mana (typically around 200 points) but also an additional 200+ points of spirit.
Although this requires you to sacrifice your Focus, the trade-off grants you access to a range of highly beneficial affixes.
Furthermore, if you equip a Sceptre that features Malice auto-cast Aura skill, you will also gain a significant boost to your base Critical Strike Chance.
Alternatively, you can utilize fast PoE2 currency trading to acquire Purity Sceptres; these items can provide the additional benefit of helping you address any deficiencies in your elemental resistances.
The next advanced option to consider is The Soul Springs Eternal passive skill, available through Invoker Ascendancy; this skill serves to indirectly reduce your spirit consumption.
Furthermore, Lead Me Through Grace node provides approximately 100 to 120 spirit; however, it imposes a significant restriction: it prevents you from acquiring spirit through any other means. This is indeed a rather tricky limitation to navigate.
Consequently, aside from the indispensable Scepter, your choice of Ascendancy Class is the pivotal factor in determining whether you can acquire a sufficient amount of spirit.
If you decide to play as an Invoker specifically for a Spell Totem build, a viable strategy to consider is to start as a Druid during the early game, then respec into an Invoker once you reach the late game.
The reason for this is that, as a Druid, every empty Charm slot you possess grants you a bonus of 40 spirit.
Once you clear Valley of the Titans zone in Act 2, this ability becomes immediately active; additionally, your belt gains an extra affix that allows you to equip two additional Charms.
Another viable Ascendancy Class option is Infernalist. Its passive tree features a key node that grants you 1 point of maximum spirit for every 25 points of maximum life you possess.
This means that once your maximum Life reaches 2,500 points, you will instantly gain an additional 100 spirit!
However, this mechanic effectively consumes a portion of your Life pool, potentially forcing you to adopt a low life playstyle. Therefore, the true viability of this approach remains to be determined through actual in-game testing.
If you are interested in a Totem-centric combat style in Path of Exile 2, this guide from POECURRENCY should prove helpful. Best of luck in the 0.5.0 league!
