Path of Exile 2: How Do Herald Of Ice And Thunder Work Together

Mastering the Double Herald Strategy in Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2's Double Herald setup leverages Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder to create a devastating chain reaction, clearing screens with a single hit. While understanding the intricate interaction isn't mandatory, it enhances build optimization. This guide details the setup and its mechanics.

Implementing the Double Herald Setup

This powerful technique requires four key elements:

1. A Herald of Ice Skill Gem linked with the Lightning Infusion Support Gem.
2. A Herald of Thunder Skill Gem linked with the Cold Infusion Support Gem (Glaciation is highly recommended).
3. 60 Spirit.
4. A method for inflicting Cold damage.

Remember to activate both Herald skills via right-clicking their icons in the skill menu.

Effective Herald of Ice procs, crucial for initiating the chain reaction, are best achieved through inherent skills like the Monk's Ice Strike. Alternatives include:

• Passive skills boosting Freeze buildup.
• Weapons or gloves with flat cold damage.
• The Against the Darkness Time-Lost Diamond Jewel (+Cold damage percentage).

Understanding the Synergistic Mechanics

Herald of Ice activates upon shattering a frozen enemy, creating a cold AoE explosion. Crucially, its cold damage cannot freeze, preventing self-perpetuating chains.

Herald of Thunder activates upon killing a shocked enemy, unleashing damaging lightning bolts. Similarly, it cannot independently inflict shock.

The synergy lies in their damage conversion: Lightning Infusion on Herald of Ice converts some damage to lightning (which can shock), and Cold Infusion on Herald of Thunder converts some damage to cold (which can freeze).

Ideally, this creates a continuous chain: Herald of Ice shocks, triggering Herald of Thunder, which then freezes, triggering Herald of Ice again. In practice, the chain often breaks after one or two cycles due to the need for a constant supply of enemies. Breaches, with their abundant enemy spawns, are ideal for maximizing this strategy.

Initiation involves first proccing Herald of Ice by freezing and shattering an enemy using a cold skill (like Ice Strike). This icy explosion then shocks, starting the chain reaction. Prioritizing Herald of Ice is strategic because Freeze is easier to inflict than Shock, and Herald of Thunder's lightning bolts have better range.