Master Spirit Mechanics in PoE 2: Gain, Reserve, and Use Effectively

PoE 2: What is Spirit and How to Get It

Spirit Overview

Spirit is a brand-new resource introduced in Path of Exile 2. Unlike Mana, Spirit is specifically used to power reservation skills, such as Auras, now referred to as Persistent Buffs. This marks a significant change from Path of Exile 1, as all characters now maintain a full Mana pool by default, regardless of how many reservation abilities they use.

The Spirit bar appears as a small cream-colored border just above your Mana Pool. You can hover over the Mana Pool to see your current Spirit amount and how much is reserved. For easier monitoring, navigate to the Interface settings and enable "Show Life/Mana Levels" to keep your Life, Mana, and Spirit visible at all times.

Spirit is primarily acquired through progression in the campaign and specific items. Before diving into how to obtain Spirit, let’s quickly explore how it’s used.

How to Use Spirit

Spirit is a resource reserved to maintain Persistent effects, which include but are not limited to:

• Defensive/Offensive Buffs (formerly known as Auras in PoE 1)
  • Herald of Thunder
  • Arctic Armour
• Summoning Minions
  • Skeletal Frost Mage
  • Skeletal Warrior
• Meta/Trigger Gems
  • Cast on Shock
  • Cast on Minion Death

To activate these effects, open your Skill Menu (press G by default on PC), then right-click on the skill effect to enable it.

Getting Spirit from the Campaign

By the end of the campaign, every character should have a total of 100 Spirit. You’ll need to complete specific quests to earn Spirit. Here’s a breakdown of how it’s acquired:

• Act 1: 30 Spirit (Reward from The King in the Mists in Freythorn).
• Act 3: 30 Spirit (Reward from defeating Ignagduk, The Bog Witch in The Azak Bog).
• Act 6: 40 Spirit (Reward from defeating Ignagduk, The Bog Witch again in The Azak Bog).

For more details on other permanent buffs you can obtain during the campaign, check out our Permanent Buffs Guide.

How to Get Spirit on Items

While every character starts with 100 Spirit, many builds will require additional Spirit to sustain more Persistent effects. Spirit can be obtained on gear through either Implicit Modifiers (intrinsic to the item) or Explicit Modifiers (random stats on Magic or Rare items).

Implicit and Explicit Modifiers

Examples of Spirit Sources on Items:

• Solar Amulet:
  • Implicit Modifier: Provides 10–15 Spirit.
• Rattling Sceptre:
  • Implicit Modifier: Grants 100 Spirit by default.
  • Can be increased further with Explicit Modifiers on the sceptre.
  • The highest-tier modifiers can boost Spirit to over 200+.
• Amulet (any type):
  • Explicit Modifier: Adds 30–50 Spirit.
• Body Armour (any type):
  • Explicit Modifier: Adds approximately 10–50 Spirit (exact range unknown).

Rare Sources of Spirit (Trial of Chaos)

Additional Spirit can also be acquired from items found in the Trial of Chaos.

• Some Corrupted items, primarily Helmets, grant +20–30 Spirit.
  • Note: Corrupted items cannot be modified further (e.g., no crafting).
  • These items may feel similar to Enchanted gear from PoE 1.
• Soul Core of Azcapa:
  • Functions similarly to Runes.
  • Grants +15 Spirit when socketed into a Martial Weapon.

Other Sources of Spirit

While the most common ways to gain Spirit include the campaign, Sceptres, Body Armours, and Amulets, there are also special cases that can provide additional Spirit:

Ascendancy Skills

• Beidat’s Will
  • An Infernalist Ascendancy Passive Skill that increases Spirit.

Unique Items with Spirit

• Alpha’s Howl: Adds +100 Spirit.
• Oaksworn: Adds +50 Spirit.
• Enfolding Dawn: Adds +100 Spirit.
• Ventor’s Gamble: Adds +0–20 Spirit (variable).
• Ligurium Talisman: Adds +25–35 Spirit.
• Pariah’s Embrace: Adds +50 Spirit.