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 strictly necessary to use the strategy, understanding the mechanics enhances build customization.

Implementing the Double Herald Setup

Four key elements are required:

1. Herald of Ice Skill Gem with Lightning Infusion Support Gem
2. Herald of Thunder Skill Gem with Cold Infusion Support Gem (Glaciation recommended)
3. 60 Spirit
4. A method to inflict Cold damage.

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

Effective Cold damage procs for initiating Herald of Ice include:

• Monk's Ice Strike (highly effective)
• Passive skills boosting Freeze buildup.
• Weapons/gloves with flat cold damage.
• Against the Darkness Time-Lost Diamond Jewel (+Cold damage percentage)

Understanding the Synergy

The core interaction relies on the Heralds' unique properties:

• Herald of Ice: Triggers on Shattering (attacking a frozen enemy), creating an AoE cold damage explosion. Crucially, its cold damage cannot Freeze, preventing self-perpetuating chains.

• Herald of Thunder: Triggers on killing a Shocked enemy, unleashing damaging lightning bolts. Similarly, it cannot inflict Shock independently.

The synergy arises from the Support Gems: Lightning Infusion converts a portion of Herald of Ice's damage to Lightning (which can Shock), while Cold Infusion converts a portion of Herald of Thunder's damage to Cold (which can Freeze).

This creates a chain reaction: Herald of Ice (via Lightning) Shocks, triggering Herald of Thunder; Herald of Thunder (via Cold) Freezes, triggering Herald of Ice, and so on. While ideally infinite, the chain usually lasts one or two cycles due to enemy density. Breaches are optimal due to their high enemy concentration.

Initiation involves first proccing Herald of Ice by Freezing and Shattering an enemy with a cold skill (like Ice Strike). The resulting icy explosion also Shocks, starting 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.