Path of Exile 2: How to Use Chain Support and Lightning Arc to Dominate Trash Mobs

Path of Exile 2 continues the series’ tradition of deep character customization, with POE2 Currency support gems that fundamentally change the way active skills function. Among these, Chain Support combined with Lightning Arc is one of the most efficient ways to obliterate packs of trash mobs while leveling and mapping. The synergy between chaining lightning projectiles and arc-based shock mechanics makes for both visually satisfying and highly effective crowd control.

This guide will explain how Chain Support interacts with Lightning Arc, how to scale the combo properly, and how to play around its strengths to become a pack-clearing machine.

1. Understanding the Core Skills

Lightning Arc

Type: Lightning spell, AoE + chaining.

Base Effect: Fires an arc of lightning that jumps between multiple enemies.

Damage Profile: Heavy focus on lightning damage, with the added benefit of applying shock (increasing enemy damage taken).

Targeting: Prioritizes jumping to enemies in range, but can also strike the same enemy multiple times if there aren’t enough targets.

Chain Support

Function: Grants linked skills the ability to chain additional times between enemies.

Penalty: Reduced base damage (to balance out the extra chaining potential).

Best With: Projectile or chaining spells that naturally want to spread across groups, like Lightning Arc.

2. Why Chain Support + Lightning Arc Works

The combination is so effective because it takes two already “bouncy” mechanics and stacks them:

Lightning Arc already leaps between enemies.

Chain Support increases the number of leaps, ensuring no enemy is left untouched.

Result: Every cast clears entire screens of trash mobs, often before they can even approach you.

This synergy turns Lightning Arc into one of the best map-clearing skills in Path of Exile 2, especially for players who prefer safe, ranged playstyles.

3. Setting Up the Combo

Early Game (Levels 1–30)

Lightning Arc becomes available fairly early (around Act 2).

Before Chain Support, link Lightning Arc with Added Lightning Damage or Elemental Proliferation for more reliable shocks.

Focus on casting speed and mana sustain to keep zapping packs.

Mid Game (Levels 31–50)

Obtain Chain Support.

Link it directly with Lightning Arc (2-link minimum, ideally 4-link with Added Lightning + Faster Casting).

Your goal here is to balance damage reduction from Chain Support with scaling lightning damage nodes on the passive tree.

Endgame (Level 50+)

Aim for a 5- or 6-link setup:

Lightning Arc

Chain Support

Added Lightning Damage / Controlled Destruction

Lightning Penetration

Faster Casting

Increased Area of Effect (optional for pack spread)

This setup melts trash mobs in maps while maintaining respectable single-target damage.

4. Scaling Damage and Clear Speed

To dominate packs, you’ll need to amplify both your damage output and chain coverage.

Key Damage Stats

Lightning Damage: Scales both initial hit and shocks.

Cast Speed: More arcs per second = faster clearing.

Shock Effect: Increases total damage dealt to enemies.

Elemental Penetration: Essential for high-tier maps with resistant enemies.

Defensive/Utility Stats

Mana Sustain: Lightning Arc + Chain is mana-hungry.

Energy Shield/Evasion: You’ll want survivability since your playstyle relies on standing at range while casting.

5. Best Ascendancies for the Combo

Two ascendancies stand out in Path of Exile 2 for Lightning Arc + Chain Support:

Elementalist (Witch):

High elemental damage scaling.

Increased shock effect and penetration.

Great for pure glass-cannon clearing builds.

Hierophant (Templar):

Strong mana sustain via Arcane Blessing.

Access to totems if you want support-casting style.

Safer and more defensive than Elementalist.

6. Mapping Strategy

Trash Mob Clearing

Cast Lightning Arc into the center of packs.

Let the chains do the work: one or two casts are usually enough to wipe a screen.

Move aggressively from pack to pack; don’t overcast on already dying enemies.

Dealing with Rare Enemies

Chain Support still helps bounce arcs between the rare and nearby mobs, softening everything at once.

Once trash is dead, focus casts directly on the rare until it’s shocked and melted.

Bosses

Lightning Arc isn’t the strongest single-target skill with Chain Support attached. Consider swapping Chain Support for Controlled Destruction or Spell Echo for bosses.

Alternatively, keep Chain Support and supplement single-target damage with a secondary skill (e.g., Storm Burst or Orb of Storms).

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-reliance on Chain for Bosses: While amazing for clearing, Chain Support actually lowers boss DPS. Always swap gems or run a second setup for serious bossing.

Ignoring Mana Costs: Lightning Arc + Chain Support can be expensive. Invest in mana nodes, regen gear, or Clarity aura.

Standing Still Too Long: Trash mobs die quickly, but rares and bosses can punish immobile casters. Keep moving between casts.

8. Advanced Tips for Mastery

Use Elemental Proliferation Early: When linked, your shocks spread to all enemies, further multiplying the effectiveness of Chain.

Projectile Speed Matters: Faster projectiles = smoother chaining behavior, reducing “lost” arcs that fizzle out.

Pack Positioning: Cast into dense clusters first. Chain Support shines brightest when there are many viable targets nearby.

Shock Management: Aim to consistently shock enemies. The higher your shock effect, the more total damage your chains output.

9. Why This Combo Excels in PoE 2

Efficient Pack Clearing: Lightning Arc’s chaining paired with Chain Support makes entire rooms explode with minimal casts.

Safety: Ranged casting lets you kill mobs before they touch you.

Scaling: Both skill and support scale well into endgame with access to lightning damage, cast speed, and shock effect nodes.

Flexibility: Can swap Chain for higher DPS supports when needed, adapting to different encounters.

10. Conclusion

In Path of Exile 2, Lightning Arc linked with Chain Support is one of the most satisfying and effective combos for clearing trash mobs. The interaction guarantees that your lightning arcs bounce across entire packs, shocking and deleting enemies before they pose a threat. While it requires attention to mana sustain and boss-damage supplements, the combo is unmatched for fast mapping and progression.

By prioritizing cast speed, lightning scaling, and buy POE2 Currency smart gem links, you’ll turn Lightning Arc into a devastating screen-wide storm of chaining bolts. When used properly, this synergy will carry you smoothly through campaign content and deep into endgame maps with unrivaled clearing power.

Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt – Maw of the Verdant Tyrant

 

In Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, the jungle shudders beneath the footsteps of a new apex predator—the Verdant Tyrant. Found deep within the primal biome of Virdal’s Maw, this massive boss encounter serves as both a mechanical and POE 2 Currency thematic climax of the Hunt league’s savage ecology. In this guide, we’ll explore how to access this deadly fight, the mechanics of the boss encounter, build considerations, and loot incentives that make facing the Verdant Tyrant worth the risk.

Unlocking the Maw of the Verdant Tyrant

To challenge the Verdant Tyrant, players must:

Complete all 8 Jungle Hunts across the Dawn of the Hunt campaign. These Hunts pit you against elite predator bosses that drop Hunter's Sigils.

Combine 3 Hunter's Sigils with a special map fragment—Fanged Totem of the Alpha—in your Huntwork Station.

This fusion creates a Virdal Offering, which can be used to open a Verdant Lair Portal at the Hunt Obelisk.

Note: You’ll need at least one character capable of handling Tier 10+ encounters before attempting the Maw.

Area Overview: Virdal’s Maw

Upon entering the instance, you’re dropped into a foggy, overgrown canyon filled with vines, poison spores, and residual blood from previous prey. There are no regular mobs—only a winding approach to the Tyrant’s den with scattered traps and growths that shoot spore mines.

Tips:

Movement skills like Flame Dash or Leap Slam help avoid environmental hazards.

Remove ailments quickly. Poison resistance and corruption immunity are vital here.

Boss Fight Mechanics: Verdant Tyrant

The Verdant Tyrant is a titanic plant-beast hybrid with multiple phases, each more dangerous than the last. The fight demands quick reflexes, positional awareness, and high DPS uptime.

Phase 1 – Territorial Onslaught

Root Slam: A slow wind-up slam dealing massive physical and poison damage in a cone. Sidestep this—never tank it.

Feral Charge: Locks onto the player’s location and barrels forward. Use mobility skills to juke or bait into vines to stun the Tyrant briefly.

Thorn Volley: Fires dozens of poison thorns in a radial burst.

Counter: Stand at medium range to avoid overlapping hits.

Phase 2 – The Maw Opens (75% HP)

The Tyrant retreats and summons Verdant Offshoots—mini-boss vines that tether to it for healing.

Focus fire on the tethers first; if three remain active for 10 seconds, the Tyrant fully regenerates 15% HP.

Terrain is now flooded with toxic brambles that cause stacking poison damage.

Bring Flask of Binding Purity (removes poison and grants ailment immunity briefly).

Use area-clearing skills like Fireball or Lightning Arc to kill offshoots quickly.

Phase 3 – Wrath of the Wild (30% HP)

The Tyrant enrages, doubling attack speed and gaining Maw Swallow—a 2-second animation where it devours players in melee range for near-instant death.

Stay at range or kite around rock pillars. Summons and totems can distract the boss.

The arena shifts with periodic spore storms—green clouds that reduce visibility and suppress regeneration.

Build Considerations

Recommended Defenses

75% Poison Resistance (with overcap for exposure effects).

Chaos Damage Reduction (via Pantheon and gear mods).

High Evasion or Block to avoid Root Slam or Thorn Volley.

Optimal Builds

Cold DoT Occultist (Vortex + Creeping Frost): Great for controlling adds and sustaining through poison.

Summon Carrion Golem Necromancer: Excellent at drawing aggro, safe against Maw Swallow, and effective during the add phase.

Ballista Totem Deadeye (Lightning Arrow): High uptime with safe, ranged damage during Phase 3.

Avoid melee-heavy builds unless you have high burst and know how to disengage quickly—Maw Swallow punishes close-range tunnel vision.

Loot and Rewards

Defeating the Verdant Tyrant rewards:

Thorn-Linked Vestige (unique chest with spore-activated defenses and thorns).

Maw-Etched Fang (new dagger with increased poison duration and chaos penetration).

Wild Hunt Remnants (crafting currency used to add “predator” modifiers to gear).

Alpha’s Heart (rare boss-exclusive jewel: +25% damage while affected by poison, but reduces flask duration).

Each clear also drops Verdant Spores, which can be traded for league-unique cosmetics and legacy Hunt recipes.

Final Tips and Strategy Recap

Pre-buff: Load up on poison immunity and chaos mitigation.

Movement: Always be repositioning. Static players die quickly here.

Add Management: Phase 2 is a DPS check—kill the offshoots fast.

Endurance: Phase 3 is chaos—keep distance, use flasks wisely, and don’t get greedy.

Conclusion

The Maw of the Verdant Tyrant is one of the most thrilling and punishing boss encounters in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt. It rewards mastery over jungle-themed hazards, prioritizes smart positioning, and offers some of the best chaos-based loot in the game. Whether you're farming for powerful new uniques or looking to test your mettle, this apex predator fight should not be missed.

Ready your flasks, sharpen your steel, and buy POE 2 Currency enter the Maw—nature does not show mercy.

ELD.gg Path of Exile 2: Tactical Summoning: The Witch’s Advantage

The witch is a typical "summoning mage" who is good at controlling the battlefield through a large army of servants and POE2 Currency long-range spells, exchanging the minimum risk for the maximum benefit. The core of its gameplay lies in resource scheduling and battlefield segmentation, which is suitable for players who like strategic layout and avoid direct conflict. The following is a detailed strategy:

Passive combat core: summon management and positioning art

1. Summon type and division of labor

The witch's summons are divided into two categories, which need to be flexibly matched according to the battle situation:

Continuous servants (such as skeleton warriors and monsters):

Function: front row resistance, attracting hatred, and creating an output environment.

Skills: Prioritize summoning and deploying on the enemy's path, using its high blood volume to delay time and strive for opportunities for spell chanting.

Explosive servants (such as self-destructing spiders and elemental puppets):

Function: range damage, interrupt enemy skills, and clear miscellaneous soldiers.

Tips: Predict the enemy gathering point and release, or summon based on the weak attributes of the boss (such as using ice puppets to restrain fire enemies).

2. Servant formation control

Fan-shaped encirclement: Distribute the servants around yourself to prevent being wiped out by AOE skills.

Step-by-step advancement: First send a meat shield to attract firepower, then release high-damage servants to attack from behind.

Retreat command: Long press the summon key to order the servants to return to defense to avoid meaningless losses.

Skill cycle and spell combo

1. Basic skill cycle

Starting stage: Summon 2-3 continuous servants → Release deceleration/curse spells (such as "Shadow Coil") → Start output after the servants attract hatred.

Outburst stage: Stack 3 layers of "Soul Resonance" (passive gain) → Summon burst servants + range spells (such as "Meteor Shower") → Concentrate firepower to kill elite monsters instantly.

Retreat phase: When the minion is at low health, release "Sacrifice" (sacrifice the minion to restore the shield) → retreat and re-summon.

2. Must-learn combo combination

Control combo:

"Ice Nova" (freeze) → "Corruption" (continuous damage) → summon poison vines (bind) → focus the minion.

Escape combo:

"Mist Escape" (invisibility) → summon phantom clone (bait) → flash back to leave the battlefield.

Equipment and talent selection

1. Core equipment attribute priority

Reduced cooldown (more than 30%): ensure seamless connection between minion and control skills.

Increased damage of summoned creatures (+50% is the best effect): improve minion output efficiency.

Shield/life recovery: make up for the witch's fragile skin defect (such as "Nether Cloak" provides shield recovery when out of battle).

2. Recommended talent tree route

For beginners:

Point out "Minions inherit 20% life steal" + "Explode when summoned creatures die" → Enhance survival and clearing capabilities.

For advanced:

Choose "Double Summon" (summon 2 minions at a time) + "Spell Chain" (Skill hits reduce minions' cooldown) → Implement human wave tactics.

Strategies for dealing with different enemies

1. Highly mobile enemies (assassins, archers)

Countermeasures: Pre-bury "thorn traps" under your feet → Summon fast minions (such as wolves) to chase → Use instant immobilization spells (such as "Earthbind").

Taboo: Avoid long chanting spells, and prioritize saving your life.

2. Group enemies (beast tide, summoning BOSS)

Countermeasures: Summon AOE minions (such as fire demons) at the beginning → Release "Plague Spread" (continuously spread damage) → Keep the flash skill to deal with the breakout

3. BOSS battle

Phase 1 (70% HP or above): Minions resist damage, and the main body remotely stacks "Corrosion Mark" (damage-increasing debuff).

Phase 2 (30%-70%): When the BOSS is enraged, use "Gargoyle" (high-defense minions) to resist, and focus on interrupting its charging skills.

Slaying phase: Summon all burst minions + release "Soul Harvest" (extra damage to low-health enemies) to finish.

Teamwork positioning

Assisted control: Use "Dark Field" (reduce enemy attack speed) to cover teammates, and give priority to killing enemy healing units.

Resource exchange: Minions can block fatal skills for teammates (such as the BOSS's killing attack), but communication is required in advance to avoid misjudgment.

Burst coordination: Before teammates release their ultimate skills, use "Weak Curse" to weaken the enemy's resistance.

Common misunderstandings and advanced skills

Misunderstanding 1: Blindly stack the number of minions.

→ Correction: More than 6 minions will trigger "soul overload" (they will suffer additional damage), so the number needs to be controlled.

Misconception 2: Ignore the main body's position.

→ Correction: Although the witch relies on the minions, she still needs to maintain a "triangle position" (at an angle with the minions and the enemy).

Advanced skills:

Hate transfer: Using "Provocation Potion" on the minions can force the enemy to attack it for 3 seconds.

Environmental utilization: Lead the enemy to terrain such as "poison swamp" and "magma", and the minions will block the road to achieve continuous consumption.

Summary

The essence of the witch is a battlefield commander, who needs to coordinate the three elements of minions, spells, and environment. Master the rhythm of "retreat to advance", and buy POE 2 Currency you can counter through strategy even if your equipment is inferior. Remember: your survival is the guarantee of victory, let the minions become your shield and sword!

ELD.gg Path of Exile 2: Tactical Witchcraft: Commanding the Field

 The witch is a typical "summoning mage" who is good at controlling the battlefield through a large army of servants and POE2 Currency long-range spells, exchanging the minimum risk for the maximum benefit. The core of its gameplay lies in resource scheduling and battlefield segmentation, which is suitable for players who like strategic layout and avoid direct conflict. The following is a detailed strategy:

1. Passive combat core: summon management and positioning art

1. Summon type and division of labor

The witch's summons are divided into two categories, which need to be flexibly matched according to the battle situation:

Continuous servants (such as skeleton warriors and monsters):

Function: front row resistance, attracting hatred, and creating an output environment.

Skills: Prioritize summoning and deploying on the enemy's path, using its high blood volume to delay time and strive for opportunities for spell chanting.

Explosive servants (such as self-destructing spiders and elemental puppets):

Function: range damage, interrupt enemy skills, and clear miscellaneous soldiers.

Tips: Predict the enemy gathering point and release, or summon based on the weak attributes of the boss (such as using ice puppets to restrain fire enemies).

2. Servant formation control

Fan-shaped encirclement: Distribute the servants around yourself to prevent being wiped out by AOE skills.

Step-by-step advancement: First send a meat shield to attract firepower, then release high-damage servants to attack from behind.

Retreat command: Long press the summon key to order the servants to return to defense to avoid meaningless losses.

2. Skill cycle and spell combo

1. Basic skill cycle

Starting stage: Summon 2-3 continuous servants → Release deceleration/curse spells (such as "Shadow Coil") → Start output after the servants attract hatred.

Outburst stage: Stack 3 layers of "Soul Resonance" (passive gain) → Summon burst servants + range spells (such as "Meteor Shower") → Concentrate firepower to kill elite monsters instantly.

Retreat phase: When the minion is at low health, release "Sacrifice" (sacrifice the minion to restore the shield) → retreat and re-summon.

2. Must-learn combo combination

Control combo:

"Ice Nova" (freeze) → "Corruption" (continuous damage) → summon poison vines (bind) → focus the minion.

Escape combo:

"Mist Escape" (invisibility) → summon phantom clone (bait) → flash back to leave the battlefield.

III. Equipment and talent selection

1. Core equipment attribute priority

Reduced cooldown (more than 30%): ensure seamless connection between minion and control skills.

Increased damage of summoned creatures (+50% is the best effect): improve minion output efficiency.

Shield/life recovery: make up for the witch's fragile skin defect (such as "Nether Cloak" provides shield recovery when out of battle).

2. Recommended talent tree route

For beginners:

Point out "Minions inherit 20% life steal" + "Explode when summoned creatures die" → Enhance survival and clearing capabilities.

For advanced:

Choose "Double Summon" (summon 2 minions at a time) + "Spell Chain" (Skill hits reduce minions' cooldown) → Implement human wave tactics.

IV. Strategies for dealing with different enemies

1. Highly mobile enemies (assassins, archers)

Countermeasures: Pre-bury "thorn traps" under your feet → Summon fast minions (such as wolves) to chase → Use instant immobilization spells (such as "Earthbind").

Taboo: Avoid long chanting spells, and prioritize saving your life.

2. Group enemies (beast tide, summoning BOSS)

Countermeasures: Summon AOE minions (such as fire demons) at the beginning → Release "Plague Spread" (continuously spread damage) → Keep the flash skill to deal with the breakout

3. BOSS battle

Phase 1 (70% HP or above): Minions resist damage, and the main body remotely stacks "Corrosion Mark" (damage-increasing debuff).

Phase 2 (30%-70%): When the BOSS is enraged, use "Gargoyle" (high-defense minions) to resist, and focus on interrupting its charging skills.

Slaying phase: Summon all burst minions + release "Soul Harvest" (extra damage to low-health enemies) to finish.

V. Teamwork positioning

Assisted control: Use "Dark Field" (reduce enemy attack speed) to cover teammates, and give priority to killing enemy healing units.

Resource exchange: Minions can block fatal skills for teammates (such as the BOSS's killing attack), but communication is required in advance to avoid misjudgment.

Burst coordination: Before teammates release their ultimate skills, use "Weak Curse" to weaken the enemy's resistance.

VI. Common misunderstandings and advanced skills

Misunderstanding 1: Blindly stack the number of minions.

→ Correction: More than 6 minions will trigger "soul overload" (they will suffer additional damage), so the number needs to be controlled.

Misconception 2: Ignore the main body's position.

→ Correction: Although the witch relies on the minions, she still needs to maintain a "triangle position" (at an angle with the minions and the enemy).

Advanced skills:

Hate transfer: Using "Provocation Potion" on the minions can force the enemy to attack it for 3 seconds.

Environmental utilization: Lead the enemy to terrain such as "poison swamp" and "magma", and the minions will block the road to achieve continuous consumption.

Summary

The essence of the witch is a battlefield commander, who needs to coordinate the three elements of minions, spells, and buy POE 2 Currency environment. Master the rhythm of "retreat to advance", and you can counter through strategy even if your equipment is inferior. Remember: your survival is the guarantee of victory, let the minions become your shield and sword!