With the launch of Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, players have been diving into its exciting new systems and mechanics. One standout addition is the companion's system, offering incredible buffs and strategic advantages to elevate gameplay. This guide explores how to find the best companions, prioritize the most impactful modifiers, and master the mechanics behind capturing and optimizing these valuable allies. From boosting movement and attack speed with Haste Aura to enhancing elemental resistance or increasing physical damage output, companions provide transformative abilities that can redefine your build. Let's uncover the best ways to capture and utilize companions to master PoE 2.
What is the Tame Beast Gem
The Tame Beast Gem is a level 9 skill gem, typically obtained during Act 3 as part of the spear-related task (Under Spear). This gem unlocks the mechanics of taming beasts, enabling you to enhance your gameplay by capturing companions with valuable modifiers.
How to Capture Companions with the Tame Beast Gem
The Tame Beast Gem is integral to capturing powerful companions. Here’s how the system works:
Modifier Capacity
1. Modifier Limits:
• The gem retains up to four modifiers on a captured beast.
• In Normal Mode, captured beasts usually have 1-2 modifiers.
• In Cruel Mode, beasts with all four modifiers are more common, offering stronger options.
2. Selection Recommendations:
• In Cruel Mode, aim to capture beasts with ideal modifiers due to the higher modifier capacity.
• In Normal Mode, it’s best to capture simpler beasts for early-game builds.
How to Capture a Companion
1. Marking the Beast:
• Use the capture skill to mark the beast, activating a Wisp Duration. This is the window of time during which you must kill the beast to capture it.
• Timing Tips:
♢ For high-damage builds, mark the beast at the beginning of the fight.
♢ For lower-damage builds, wait until the beast’s health drops to about half.
• Think of it as throwing a Pokéball—reduce its health, then capture it!
2. Successful Capture:
• Example: A beast with Haste Aura, Hasted, Periodic Fire Explosions, and Cold Explosions is an excellent "speedy" companion.
3. Activation and Spirit Cost:
• Activating a companion requires Spirit, and the amount varies based on its modifiers.
• Use Reservation Reduction nodes on your skill tree to minimize Spirit costs.
To ensure companions are effective and durable, equip them with the following support gems:
1. Last Gasp: Extends the companion's duration.
2. Meat Shield: Enhances its defenses.
3. Elemental Army: Improves elemental resistance. Setup Recommendation: Start with Last Gasp and Meat Shield, then add Elemental Army as your build develops.
Where to Farm Companion Beasts
Key Farming Location: Jungle Ruins
The easiest way to find companion beasts is in Act 3 at Jungle Ruins, specifically near the Troubled Camp, which typically spawns near the edges or corners of the map. This area guarantees a rare beast spawn, which can be refreshed by respawning the checkpoint. Once you’ve located the Troubled Camp, identify the rare beast’s fixed spawn point and begin capturing to find companions with ideal modifiers.
Beast Farm Method
The best companion is Quadrilla, the one with four arms. If you can't find Quadrilla, you can refresh the instance to try again. After locating the target, you'll need to check its modifiers. For example, some Quadrillas have modifiers like "Armored" or "Periodic Lightning Explosions," which are not ideal. You can return to the checkpoint to respawn the instance without killing the current monster, you can refresh the instance and search for another Quadrilla until you find one with the desired modifiers.
Optimal Companion Modifiers
Primary Modifiers
• These modifiers have the most significant impact on gameplay:
• Haste Aura: Increases attack and cast speed by 20%, and movement speed by 10%. Late-game higher-tier versions may provide even greater benefits.
• Temporal Bubble: Slows down nearby enemies and prolongs their negative effects.
• Invulnerability Aura: Grants 5 seconds of invulnerability every 10 seconds in the beast’s presence.
• Elemental Trail (Fire/Cold/Lightning): Creates elemental paths, perfect for Twister Builds.
• Elemental Resistance Aura: Adds +20 to all elemental resistances.
• Physical Aura and Energy Shield Aura: Respectively boost physical damage and energy shield.
Secondary Modifiers and Synergy
Secondary modifiers can enhance your build by complementing primary effects:
• Damage Shocks or Ignites: Amplifies damage, particularly for elemental builds.
• Lightning Storm: Combines crowd control and utility by applying Shock, healing allies, and suppressing enemy recovery.
Modifier Evaluations and Examples
1. Modifiers to Avoid
• Stuns and Takes Damage from Minions First: Weak and not worth capturing.
2. Modifiers to Consider
• Elemental Resistance Aura: Provides basic elemental resistance boosts.
• Hasted: Speeds up the monster itself but has no effect on the player.
• Extra Fire Damage & Periodically Unleashes Lightning: Works well in elemental builds as secondary modifiers.
• Extra Physical Damage Aura: Boosts global physical damage by 20%-30%, ideal for physical builds.
• Hinder Aura: Reduces enemy movement speed by 24%, offering utility.
3. Build-Specific Modifiers
• Flame Wall: Enhances projectile path builds, dependent on its level.
• Trail of Lightning: Creates lightning paths, excellent for Twister Builds.
• Temporal Bubble: Slows enemy action speed and extends negative effects, making it a powerful secondary modifier.
4. High-Priority Modifier Combinations
1. Haste Aura + Periodic Cold Explosions + Extra Crit + Extra Cold Damage:
• Increases attack speed, freezes enemies, and boosts cold damage and critical hit rates.
2. Haste Aura + Hasted + Periodically Unleashes Fire + Cold Explosions:
• Combines speed, fire, and cold effects for balanced utility.
How to Reset Instances
If you kill a captured monster, it won’t respawn at the checkpoint. Here’s how to create a new instance:
1. Leave the area and go to the doorway (e.g., Jungle Ruins).
2. Press Ctrl + Click to create a new instance.
3. Re-enter the area, find the same spot (e.g., Troubled Camp), and resume farming. Tip: Don’t be overly greedy—capture beasts with decent modifiers and return later for better ones if needed.
Other Farming Locations
1. Infested Barons: Features two guaranteed rare beasts (Rolly Armadillos) near the Troubled Camp, though they may not be as effective as Quadrilla.
2. Sandswept Marsh: May contain bug monsters that spawn smaller bugs, useful for farming flash charges. However, this could be patched in future updates.
Conclusion
Capturing and utilizing companions with strong modifiers, like Haste Aura (20% attack speed and 10% movement speed), can significantly enhance your build. Continue farming and experimenting to unlock higher-tier modifiers in late-game maps, optimizing your gameplay experience.
