How to Anoint in Path of Exile 2: A Complete Guide

Path of Exile 2 has no shortage of interesting mechanics for you to learn and master as you min-max your character. While veterans returning from other Action RPGs might find them exciting, for a beginner, things can seem a bit too complicated, especially when starting out. Anointing Items and Amulets is one such mechanic, which, although not new to the series, can have some players scratching their heads for hours.

However, Anointing your items is an absolute must when you're working towards a specific end-game build in the game. Without understanding how this mechanic works, you won't be able to reach the full potential of your build in Path of Exile 2. In this guide, we'll break down how Anoint works in Path of Exile 2 for players having trouble with this mechanic.
 

What is Anoint in Path of Exile 2

Before we head into how to anoint in PoE 2, let's talk a bit about the mechanic itself. Anoint is a returning mechanic in Path of Exile 2. It works pretty much the same way it did in the previous iteration of the game. 

In Path of Exile 2, you can Anoint your Amulets to gain the effects of Notable Passive Skill (the node with strong bonuses) even when your build doesn't connect to it. Considering the size of the total Skill Tree in the game, this feature lets you gain passive effects that you wouldn't otherwise be able to unlock for your build.

For example, the Titanic Skill Node gives you increased Stun Buildup and Threshold along with a nice little bonus in Strength, making it a great choice for Warrior builds. You could start leveling up towards the Skill Node, which will take a lot of time and might also force you to pick up skills you wouldn't otherwise use. 

By anointing an Amulet with the Skill Node and equipping the Amulet, you'll be able to gain the complete effect from the Skill Node without unlocking it. While some players can beat the main campaign without using the Anoint feature at all, it can certainly make the end-game grind a lot more fun. 

Anointing Waystones/Maps, on the other hand, works a bit differently. When you Anoint a map, you essentially add a bonus modifier to the specific map. It can range from something as simple as adding more rare monsters to things like boosting Simulacrum Splinter's stack size or Whetstone drops. 

When you're farming for specific item drops, Anointing Waystones can make the farm go faster. Alternatively, you can buy PoE 2 items from the IGZ store quickly and easily if you'd rather skip the grind altogether. 

Regardless of which Anointment you choose to go for, you'll need to use Distilled Emotions which we'll talk about in the next section.

Distilled Emotions is a special type of currency that's used for anointing Waystones or Amulets in Path of Exile 2. From Jeweler's Orbs to Arcanist's Etcher, the game features thousands of different currency items that you'll be able to farm throughout your adventure. 

Path of Exile 2 currently contains ten different variants of Distilled Emotions: 

• Distilled Despair
• Distilled Disgust
• Distilled Greed
• Distilled Ire
• Distilled Suffering
• Distilled Paranoia
• Distilled Guilt
• Distilled Envy
• Distilled Fear
• Distilled Isolation

When anointing Amulets, you'll need to use a specific combination of Distilled Emotions to unlock the passive skill you want. As for map anointment, different Distilled Emotions add different modifiers to the map. 

As of right now, you can farm Distilled Emotions in Path of Exile 2 using the following methods: 

Farm Delirium Maps

The best way to find Distilled emotions is to farm active Delirium maps. These maps show up as white icons and have Delirium Fogs when you enter them. Your goal is to keep defeating the enemies before the fog disappears. After the event ends, you have a chance to obtain random Distilled Emotions along with other valuable loot. 

Reforging Bench

When you've already got a bunch of Distilled Emotions, but you want a specific variant, the Reforging Bench at your encampment can come in handy. You can use three Distilled Emotions of the same type to forge one of a higher tier in the bench.

Completing Simulacrum Waves

If you're in the end-game stage of Path of Exile 2, completing waves of Simulacrum can net you a decent quantity of Distilled Emotions for your efforts. However, you will need a strong character with a solid build to farm the currency using this method. 

Currency Exchange or Trading

A quick and easy way to get the Distilled Emotion you need in Path of Exile 2 is to use the in-game currency exchange. You can also use the official trading website to see if anyone is willing to trade with you. If all else fails, you can use the IGZ store to buy PoE 2 currencies ranging from Jeweler's Orbs to Distilled Emotions or anything in between.

PoE 2 How to Anoint Amulets

Now that you've got a decent idea of how the mechanic works, here's what you'll have to do to anoint your Amulets in Path of Exile 2: 

• Open your Skill Tree and find the Notable Passive Skill you want to unlock.
• Hold Alt on your keyboard to see the required combination of Distilled Emotions.
• Right-click the Distilled Emotions in your inventory to open the Instiling Screen.
• Drag and drop the Amulet you want to Anoint to the Top box and place the three required Distilled Emotions on the bottom three boxes.
• Check the effect of the Anointment and click Instil to apply the effect.

Best Skills to Anoint

Anoints are only good when they complement your build and make your character stronger in Path of Exile 2. So whether an Anointment is good or not depends largely on the build you're going for. That being said, there are certainly a few Notable Passive Skills that offer excellent value for multiple builds in the game. Here are a few that are worth looking out for: 

PoE 2 How to Anoint Waystones

Anointing Waystones works the same way as anointing Amulets. You'll need three Distilled Emotions and place them in the appropriate sockets, with the Waystone placed in the top socket of the Instilling window. Once you apply the Instil, your Waystone will gain bonus effects based on the Distilled Emotions that you used.

Here's how the different Distilled Emotions affect your Waystones in Path of Exile 2: 

• Distilled Despair: Simulacrum Splinters have a 30% Increased stack size. Players get 20% Delirious. 
• Distilled Disgust: 30% higher chance of finding Precursor Tablets. Players get 18% Delirious.
• Distilled Greed: 8% chance to find items of a higher rarity. Players get 10% Delirious.
• Distilled Ire: 20% increased chance of spawning Magic Monsters. Players get 7% Delirious.
• Distilled Suffering: Unique Monsters gain additional modifiers. Players get 25% Delirious.
• Distilled Paranoia:  20% increased chance of spawning Rare Monsters. Players get 12% Delirious.
• Distilled Guilt: +8% Increased monster pack size. Players get 9% Delirious.
• Distilled Envy: 30% increased Waystones found. Players get 15% Delirious.
• Distilled Fear: Rare Monsters have a 25% chance to gain additional modifiers. Players get 22% Delirious.
• Distilled Isolation: Players in the area are 50% Delirious

For those new to Path of Exile 2, the Anoint mechanics can seem tricky to crack. However, once you fully master the system, you'll be able to add a new layer of strategy to how you build your character. Consider checking out our PoE 2 boosting services to make your early grind in the game easier.