Welcome, Exiles! In this guide, we'll delve into the exciting addition to Path of Exile 3.22 Trial of the Ancestors League: the new Trauma Support Gem. This gem is poised to revolutionize strike-based builds by introducing a unique damage-scaling mechanic. Let's break down the key aspects of this gem and how you can leverage its power effectively.

 

• Trauma Support Gem Overview
• Potential Builds and Skill Synergies
• Optimizing Your Build
• Conclusion

 

 

↖ Trauma Support Gem Overview

The Trauma Support Gem offers a fresh perspective on damage scaling for strike skills. By supporting strike skills with the Trauma gem, you can tap into its unique mechanics to enhance your damage output. Here's a breakdown of its core features:

 

Scaling Damage Like Bone Chatter	The gem enables strike skills to scale their damage similarly to the Bone Chatter skill. As you accumulate Trauma stacks, your damage output increases. However, be cautious—accumulating too many stacks might backfire and lead to self-inflicted damage.
The Trauma Mechanic	Trauma stacks are gained as you strike enemies. Each stack contributes to your overall damage, but it also comes with a trade-off: you'll deal self-physical damage when you gain new stacks. The balance between stacking damage and managing self-damage is key to maximizing the gem's potential.
Gem Level Scaling	Much like Bone Chatter, the Trauma Support Gem's effectiveness scales with its gem level. At higher gem levels, you'll enjoy more damage per stack, but the self-inflicted damage also becomes more significant. Finding the right balance is essential for optimizing your build.

 

↖ Potential Builds and Skill Synergies

The Trauma Support Gem opens up new possibilities for strike-based builds. Here are some potential skill synergies and build ideas to consider:

 

• Double Strike and Heavy Strike: The teaser footage showcased the Trauma Support Gem in action with double strike and heavy strike skills. These skills are likely to benefit greatly from the gem's damage-scaling mechanics. Experiment with different weapon types to find the optimal setup.
• Flicker Strike: Flicker Strike enthusiasts can expect a fun and dynamic experience. While multi-strike might limit your trauma stacking, the gem's potential to enhance damage is still enticing.
• Dominating Blow and Vow Dominance: Consider pairing Trauma Support with Dominating Blow for Sentinels that can accumulate trauma stacks. The synergy between the gem's scaling damage and the Sentinels' prowess could result in a powerful combination.
• Ancestral Protector: While it's uncertain whether totem skills can be supported by Trauma Support, the potential for bonus damage through self-stacks remains intriguing. Pairing this gem with Ancestral Protector could create a devastating setup, as the self-damage component can also trigger various effects.

 

↖ Optimizing Your Build

When incorporating the Trauma Support Gem into your build, remember these key optimization tips:

 

• Gem Level Balance: Finding the right gem level is crucial. While higher levels provide more damage per stack, they also increase self-damage. Strike a balance that maximizes damage without compromising your survivability.
• Synergy with Self-Damage Mechanics: Consider skills, items, or passives that can mitigate or capitalize on self-damage. This might involve leveraging armor, regeneration, or effects triggered by hits.
• Skill and Weapon Selection: Trauma Support's synergy with strike skills means it's best suited for melee-based builds. Select strike skills that align with your build's theme and synergize well with the gem's mechanics.
• Experiment and Adapt: Path of Exile rewards experimentation. Don't hesitate to try different skill combinations and gem setups to discover the most effective synergy for your playstyle.

 

↖ Conclusion

The Trauma Support Gem introduces a captivating dynamic to strike-based builds, where balancing risk and reward is the name of the game. Its unique mechanics, damage scaling, and self-damage trade-offs offer a fresh approach to crafting powerful characters. By leveraging the potential of the Trauma Support Gem, you'll be well on your way to conquering Path of Exile's Trial of the Ancestors League with style!

 

Feel free to share your thoughts on this innovative gem and your plans to integrate it into your builds. If you found this guide helpful, leave a comment and consider supporting the content creator who brought you this analysis. Stay tuned for more updates and strategies as you explore the exhilarating world of Path of Exile!