Path of Exile 2: Synergies of Herald of Ice and Thunder

Mastering the Double Herald Strategy in Path of Exile 2

The Double Herald setup in Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) combines Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder for devastating area-of-effect (AoE) damage. This guide explains how to implement this powerful technique and the mechanics behind it.

Implementing the Double Herald Setup

To utilize the Double Herald strategy, you'll need the following:

1. A Herald of Ice Skill Gem supported by a Lightning Infusion Support Gem.
2. A Herald of Thunder Skill Gem supported by a Cold Infusion Support Gem (Glaciation is highly recommended).
3. 60 Spirit.
4. A method of inflicting Cold damage.

Remember to activate both Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder in your skill menu.

Effective ways to initially trigger Herald of Ice include:

• Monk's Ice Strike (highly effective).
• Passive skills boosting Freeze buildup.
• Weapons or gloves with flat cold damage.
• Against the Darkness Time-Lost Diamond Jewel (+Cold damage percentage).

How the Heralds Interact

Herald of Ice activates when an enemy is Shattered (attacking a frozen enemy). Crucially, Herald of Ice's cold damage cannot Freeze, preventing self-sustaining chain reactions.

Herald of Thunder activates upon killing a Shocked enemy, unleashing electrical damage. Similarly, Herald of Thunder cannot inflict Shock independently.

The synergy lies in the Support Gems: Lightning Infusion converts a portion of Herald of Ice's damage to Lightning (which can Shock), while Cold Infusion converts a portion of Herald of Thunder's damage to Cold (which can Freeze).

This creates a chain reaction: Herald of Ice (via Lightning) Shocks, triggering Herald of Thunder; Herald of Thunder (via Cold) Freezes, triggering Herald of Ice, and so on. While theoretically infinite, in practice, the chain usually lasts for one or two cycles due to the need for continuous enemy presence. Breaches, with their high enemy density, are ideal for maximizing this effect.

To initiate the chain, Freeze and Shatter an enemy using a cold damage skill (like Ice Strike). This triggers Herald of Ice, which then Shocks, activating Herald of Thunder. Prioritizing Herald of Ice is recommended because Freeze is easier to inflict than Shock, and Herald of Thunder's lightning bolts have better range.