Arcane Surge is a great support skill for spellcasting builds in Path of Exile 2. Once you link it to a skill and spend some Mana equal to your maximum capacity, you’ll get the most out of the game-changing effects it provides: faster cast times for spells, increased Mana recovery, and even an overall improvement in combat efficiency. The Arcane Surge offers a sort of versatile and effective way of amplifying one’s potential spellcasting. From faster attacks to sustained Mana regeneration, this is one of those support skills essential for players who rely on magical abilities in their play.
Arcane Surge in POE2
To activate Arcane Surge, you need to spend the equivalent of 100% of your total Mana on the skill it is linked to. This doesn’t mean your Mana pool needs to be completely depleted; instead, you must use the same amount of Mana as your maximum capacity on that specific skill. Once activated, Arcane Surge provides several benefits: 10% faster cast time for all spells, 20% increased Mana recovery speed, and it lasts for 8 seconds.
At this point, if Arcane Surge is triggered a small blue orb will orbit the character, while a timer box with the icon of Arcane Surge will show up in the top-left part of your Hotbar, helping you track when it will go off. Its 10 per cent reduction of casting time is indeed a great help, and why Arcane Surge is so vital for spell-type classes like the Witch or the Sorceress.
The boost to Mana recovery is another critical benefit, especially when paired with the faster casting speed. Since you’ll likely be consuming Mana at a quicker rate, the increased recovery helps maintain a steady flow of resources during combat. Altogether, these effects will also boost the efficacy and potency of your spells in casting.
Arcane Surge is the most important support skill for a player using high-magic builds. It grants a well-rounded set of upgrades that enhance not only the spellcasting effectiveness but also the Mana pool sustainability to ensure that high-intensity spellcasting can be maintained for longer.
How to Get Arcane Surge
Arcane Surge is a support skill unlocked through a Support Gem. Located along the top row of intelligence-based skills, this gem can be equipped to enhance any of your currently unlocked abilities. While Support Gems typically apply only to the skill they are attached to, you can see a list of all affected abilities by hovering over the equipped Arcane Surge gem, which will display in the menu to the left.
Tips
- The skill linked to Arcane Surge uses enough Mana to trigger the effect consistently. Match the Mana cost of your ability with your maximum Mana capacity for optimal results.
- Arcane Surge is best suited for spell-heavy classes like Witch or Sorceress due to its faster cast time and Mana recovery boosts. Build around these benefits to enhance your play style.
- Use items or passives that further increase Mana regeneration to fully capitalize on the faster casting speed without running out of resources.
- Pair Arcane Surge with other supportive gems to create synergies that complement your playstyle, such as increasing damage output or area-of-effect range.
- Time your high Mana-cost abilities to trigger Arcane Surge at critical moments during battles, ensuring you get the most out of its limited duration.
- Adjust your Mana management and linked skills as you level up to ensure Arcane Surge remains effective and triggers reliably.
