PoE 2 How to Anoint: Mastering the Art of Amulet Enhancement in Path of Exile 2
Anointing in Path of Exile has always been one of those mechanics that separates casual players from those who truly understand the game's intricate systems. With Path of Exile 2 on the horizon, the anointing system promises to evolve in ways that both honor its predecessor and introduce fresh complexity. Having spent countless hours experimenting with oil combinations in the original game, I've noticed patterns and strategies that most players overlook—insights that will likely carry forward into the sequel.
Understanding the Foundation of Anointing
When I first discovered anointing back in Blight league, it felt like stumbling upon a secret language. You take oils, combine them in specific patterns, and suddenly your amulet gains properties that would otherwise be impossible to obtain. It's elegant in its simplicity yet profound in its implications for character building.
The basic premise remains straightforward: oils extracted from Blight encounters serve as the primary currency for anointing. Each oil possesses a tier—from the common Clear Oil to the coveted Golden Oil. The rarity hierarchy creates an economy within an economy, where understanding market fluctuations becomes as important as knowing which notables to target.
What many players miss is that anointing isn't just about slapping the most expensive notable onto your amulet. It's about understanding opportunity cost. Sometimes a cheaper anointment that perfectly complements your build outperforms an expensive one that looks impressive on paper but doesn't synergize with your setup.
The Mechanics Behind Oil Combinations
Here's where things get interesting. Each notable passive on the skill tree corresponds to a specific combination of three oils. The system uses a deterministic formula—there's no randomness involved once you input your oils. This predictability allows for strategic planning, but it also means prices can spike dramatically when popular builds emerge.
I've watched the market for years, and certain patterns emerge. Defensive notables requiring multiple Silver or Golden oils tend to maintain stable high prices throughout a league. Meanwhile, offensive notables can fluctuate wildly based on which streamers are promoting which builds. Last league, I made a fortune stockpiling Violet oils before a popular content creator showcased a build using Corruption—the price tripled overnight.
The actual process involves visiting Cassia or using the anointing interface at your hideout. You'll need your amulet, three oils, and a clear understanding of what you're trying to achieve. The interface shows you all possible outcomes based on your oil combination, removing any guesswork from the equation.
Strategic Considerations for Path of Exile 2
With PoE 2's announcement of a revamped passive tree system featuring separate trees for each class, anointing strategies will need complete reevaluation. The dual-class system introduces fascinating possibilities—imagine anointing a Marauder notable onto a Witch's amulet, accessing synergies previously impossible.
Based on developer interviews and gameplay footage, it seems the oil tiers might expand beyond the current nine. This expansion could democratize access to powerful notables while creating new chase items at the highest tiers. I'm particularly intrigued by hints of "corrupted oils" that might allow anointing of ascendancy notables—though this remains speculation.
The economic implications are staggering. If each class has unique notables only accessible through anointing, we're looking at a market where certain oil combinations become class-specific commodities. Traders who understand these nuances early will dominate the economy.
Practical Application and Build Integration
Let me share something that took me three leagues to fully appreciate: the best anointment isn't always the most obvious one. I once spent 5 exalts anointing Tranquility on my ES-based caster, only to realize later that a 30-chaos anointment of Arcane Capacitor would have provided better overall performance due to my specific gear setup.
The key lies in understanding breakpoints and diminishing returns. If your build already has 75% spell block, anointing Glancing Blows might seem redundant. But if you're sitting at 60%, that same anointment transforms your survivability. These nuances matter more than raw numbers.
For new players, I recommend starting with quality-of-life anointments. Notables like Expeditious Munitions for trap builds or Tribal Fury for strike skills fundamentally change how your build feels to play. Once you've accumulated wealth, you can always upgrade to damage or defense-focused options.
Market Dynamics and Trading Strategies
The oil market operates on predictable cycles. League start sees Clear and Sepia oils flooding the market as everyone runs white maps. By week two, Amber and Verdant oils become the bottleneck as players push into yellow maps. Understanding these cycles lets you buy low and sell high with remarkable consistency.
I've developed a personal strategy of buying Golden oils during the third week of a league when supply peaks but demand hasn't caught up. Most players are still perfecting their builds and haven't committed to expensive anointments. By week five, when everyone's finalizing their characters, those same oils sell for double or triple the purchase price.
But here's a controversial opinion: hoarding oils is often a trap. Unless you're actively trading, the opportunity cost of sitting on 50 Silver oils while your build suffers usually outweighs potential profits. Use what you need, sell the excess, and reinvest in your character's progression.
Advanced Techniques and Hidden Interactions
Few players realize that certain anointments interact with unique item properties in unexpected ways. Vengeant Cascade, for instance, doesn't just affect projectile skills—it fundamentally alters how certain unique items function. I discovered this interaction with Sire of Shards, creating a build that shouldn't have worked according to conventional wisdom.
Another overlooked aspect: defensive anointments often provide more effective HP than offensive ones provide damage. Crystal Skin might seem boring compared to Throatseeker, but for many builds, the elemental resistance and status ailment avoidance translate to thousands of effective hit points.
The real mastery comes from recognizing when to break conventional rules. Everyone anoints Charisma on aura-stacking builds, but I've found success with Influence for certain configurations where the mana reservation efficiency isn't the limiting factor.
Preparing for Path of Exile 2's Evolution
As we approach PoE 2's release, I'm stockpiling knowledge more than currency. The fundamental principles of anointing—understanding opportunity cost, recognizing market patterns, and integrating choices with your overall build—will remain relevant regardless of mechanical changes.
What excites me most is the potential for anointing to interact with PoE 2's weapon-swapping system. Imagine anointments that activate differently based on your active weapon set, or oils that can enhance weapons directly. The design space is enormous, and GGG has shown they're not afraid to experiment.
My advice? Master the current system thoroughly. Understand not just what each notable does, but why certain combinations are valued. This foundational knowledge will translate directly into PoE 2, giving you a significant advantage when everyone else is still learning basics.
The beauty of anointing lies in its accessibility—anyone can participate—while maintaining enough depth to reward expertise. It's a system that grows with you, revealing new layers of complexity as your understanding deepens. Whether you're anointing your first amulet with Clear oils or crafting perfect combinations with Golden oils, remember that the best choice is always the one that makes your specific build stronger, not the one that looks most impressive on paper.
Authoritative Sources:
"Path of Exile: Blight." Grinding Gear Games, 2019. pathofexile.com/blight
Wilson, Chris. "ExileCon 2023 Path of Exile 2 Keynote." Grinding Gear Games, 28 July 2023. youtube.com/watch?v=C7LR0Rxc4SY
"Game Mechanics: Anointing." Path of Exile Wiki, Fandom, 2023. pathofexile.fandom.com/wiki/Anointing
Rogers, Jonathan. "Path of Exile 2: Character Classes and Ascendancies." PC Gamer, 30 July 2023. pcgamer.com/path-of-exile-2-classes
"Blight Oil Market Analysis." PoE Antiquary, 2023. poe-antiquary.xyz/Sanctum/Currency