In Path of Exile 2, the mechanics of summoning and managing minions are intricately tied to the Spirit stat, which governs your ability to summon and maintain your minion army. Here’s a breakdown of the core mechanics and strategies you can employ to maximize your minions’ effectiveness in combat.

Summoning Minions

To start summoning your minions, follow these steps:

1. Access the Skills Tab:
– Open your inventory and navigate to the Skills tab, where you’ll find your summoning skills.

2. Select a Summon Skill:
– Choose from available minion summoning skills, such as Raise Skeletons, Summon Spectres, or others tailored to your character’s class and build.

3. Manage Minion Count:
– Utilize the “Set Minion Count” option to specify the number of each type of minion you’d like to summon. Be mindful of your total Spirit cost budget to ensure you don’t exceed your Spirit pool, thus effectively managing your available minions.

4. Diversify Your Army:
– Experiment with a mix of different minion types to create a balanced and effective fighting force. Each minion type offers unique strengths and abilities.

5. Minion Revivals:
– Your summoned minions generally remain in play until they are defeated, at which point there are revival cooldowns before they can be summoned again.

Managing Minions

Once you’ve summoned your minions, efficient management is key:

– Adjust Minion Composition:
– You can change the number and types of minions summoned at any time through the Set Minion Count feature without incurring penalties. This flexibility allows you to adapt your strategy based on the challenges you face.

– Spirit Management:
– Your total Spirit stat dictates how many minions you can sustain at once. Monitor your Spirit consumption to ensure you maintain an optimal number of minions.

– Optimize Equipment and Passives:
– Equip gear and invest in passive skills that enhance your Spirit, as well as minion stats such as life, damage output, attack and cast speed. This enhancement will greatly improve both the effectiveness and durability of your minions.

– Utilize Command Skills:
– Incorporate command skills into your skill bar to direct your minions effectively during combat. Keep in mind that these commands also require Spirit to activate, so plan accordingly.

Additional Tips for Success

– Class Choices:
– While the Witch class boasts the most extensive range of minion skills, other classes can also access minion summoning through specific skills and sufficient Spirit investment.

– Boost Minion Attributes:
– Focus on passive skill nodes that enhance minion resilience (e.g., life, damage, resistances) and speed to create a powerful and hard-hitting minion army.

– Supportive Auras and Buffs:
– Certain builds benefit from using auras or buffs that not only enhance your defense but also bolster your minions’ performance. For instance, auras like Convolescence can provide energy shield recharge benefits for both the player and their minions.

Conclusion

In summary, summoning and managing minions in Path of Exile 2 revolves around effectively utilizing your Spirit resource and skill selection. By carefully balancing your total Spirit pool with efficient gear and passive skills, along with strategic command over your minions, you can create a formidable army to aid you in battle, significantly enhancing your gameplay experience in the dark world of Wraeclast.