Mastering the Double Herald Strategy in Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2's Double Herald setup combines Herald of Ice and Herald of Thunder for devastating screen-clearing potential. This guide details how to implement and understand this powerful technique. While not essential knowledge, it's invaluable for build optimization.

Implementing the Double Herald Setup

Four key components are needed:

1. Herald of Ice Skill Gem with Lightning Infusion Support Gem
2. Herald of Thunder Skill Gem with Cold Infusion Support Gem (and ideally Glaciation).
3. 60 Spirit
4. A source of Cold damage.

Remember to activate both Heralds via right-clicking their icons in the skill menu.

Effective Herald of Ice procs, crucial for initiating the chain reaction, are best achieved through skills like the Monk's Ice Strike. Alternatives include:

• Passive skills boosting Freeze buildup.
• Weapons/gloves with flat cold damage.
• Against the Darkness Time-Lost Diamond Jewel (+Cold damage).

Understanding the Synergistic Mechanics

Herald of Ice activates upon shattering a frozen enemy, causing an AoE cold damage burst. Crucially, its cold damage cannot freeze, preventing self-sustaining chains.

Herald of Thunder activates upon killing a shocked enemy, unleashing damaging lightning bolts. Similarly, it cannot independently inflict shock.

The synergy lies in their damage conversion: Lightning Infusion on Herald of Ice converts some damage to lightning (which can shock), and Cold Infusion on Herald of Thunder converts some damage to cold (which can freeze).

Ideally, this creates a continuous chain reaction: Herald of Ice shocks, triggering Herald of Thunder, which then freezes, triggering Herald of Ice again. In practice, the chain usually ends after one or two cycles due to the need for a constant supply of enemies. Breaches, with their high enemy density, are where this setup excels.

To initiate the chain, first freeze and shatter an enemy using a cold skill (like Ice Strike). This procs Herald of Ice, creating the initial shock for the chain reaction. Prioritizing Herald of Ice is strategic because Freeze is easier to inflict than Shock, and Herald of Thunder's lightning bolts have better range.