Gemcutter’s Prism basics
Gemcutter’s Prism increases the quality of a gem by 1% per use, usually up to 20% quality. Higher quality improves a gem’s explicit stats and sometimes hidden bonuses, depending on the gem type and patch rules. Start by understanding which gems in your setup will benefit most from quality increases, such as main damage auras, essential supports, and mobility or defensive gems. Many players even trade or buy poe 2 currency to secure enough prisms for early upgrades.
Choosing when to apply prisms
Apply prisms to key gems early in the build to maximize early power gains. During gearing upgrades, using prisms on the relevant gems can help you hit important breakpoints without changing your links or gear. Before tackling tougher content like endgame mapping or boss encounters, quality boosts can provide noticeable performance improvements.
How to use Gemcutter’s Prism
Open your inventory, select the Prism, and apply it to the target gem. Each application increases the gem’s quality by 1% and consumes one prism. You can repeat this process until you reach the desired quality or run out of prisms. If you’re unsure how much quality matters for a specific gem, check the gem’s tooltip in-game for notes about quality effects.
Prioritizing which gems to upgrade
Focus on gems that directly influence damage, survivability, or cast efficiency. Prioritize main damage auras, primary support gems, and any utility gems that unlock important mechanics for your build. If prisms are scarce, allocate them to the most impactful gems first, then consider additional upgrades as resources allow. You can also supplement your progress by trading or finding poe 2 currency for sale through in-game systems or player markets.
Balancing quality with other upgrades
Quality gains are valuable, but consider opportunity cost. If a different upgrade (like a more powerful gem, a better weapon, or essential gear) offers a larger performance boost, weigh that against the incremental benefit from further quality increases. Keep a running sense of return on investment for each upgrade.
Managing expectations and patch awareness
Quality effects can vary in impact across different gems and patches. Stay aware of current patch notes, as future changes can adjust how much quality improves certain spell or support interactions. When in doubt, test incremental increases in a controlled scenario to gauge real-world impact on your performance.
