POE2: How Much Accuracy Do You Need?
In the world of Path of Exile 2 (POE2), accuracy plays a crucial role in determining your combat effectiveness. For many players, especially those new to the game, understanding how much accuracy they need can be a confusing and daunting task. After all, accuracy affects whether your attacks land or not, and too little can lead to frustrating misses, while too much might be a waste of valuable resources. In this article, we’ll break down how much accuracy you really need in POE2, and provide practical tips to help you optimize your build.
Understanding Accuracy in POE2
Accuracy in POE2 determines the chance to hit your enemies. The base chance to hit is based on your weapon type, with melee weapons generally having higher base accuracy than ranged or caster weapons. However, as you progress through the game and face tougher enemies, their evasion rating increases, making it harder to land hits. This is where accuracy becomes critical.
The Accuracy vs. Evasion Balance
Every enemy in POE2 has an evasion rating, which acts as a counter to your accuracy. If your accuracy is higher than the enemy’s evasion, you’ll land more hits. If it’s lower, you’ll miss more often. The key is to strike a balance where you have enough accuracy to reliably hit your targets, but not so much that you’re over-investing in a single stat.
How Much Accuracy Do You Need?
The amount of accuracy you need depends on your build and the content you’re playing. Here are some general guidelines:
For Early Game (Acts 1-3):
You don’t need extremely high accuracy in the early stages of POE2. Around 70-80% hit chance is usually sufficient, as enemies in these acts have relatively low evasion. This allows you to focus on other stats like damage or survivability.
For Mid Game (Acts 4-6):
As you progress, enemies become more evasive, especially in higher difficulty levels. Aiming for 80-90% hit chance is recommended here. This ensures you’re landing a consistent number of hits without sacrificing too much damage potential.
For Endgame Content (High-Level Maps, Bosses):
Endgame enemies, particularly those in high-tier maps, have extremely high evasion ratings. To maintain reliability, you’ll want to aim for 90% hit chance or higher. This is especially true for builds that rely on consistent damage output or trigger effects.
How to Increase Accuracy in POE2
If you find your build is struggling with accuracy, there are several ways to improve it:
Use Accuracy Nodes on Your Passive Skill Tree:
The passive skill tree in POE2 offers several nodes that directly increase accuracy. These are especially useful for builds that don’t naturally have high accuracy.
Equip Gear with Accuracy Mods:
Weapons, armor, and accessories can all roll with accuracy modifiers. Prioritize items with high accuracy rolls, especially in the early game.
Use Accuracy Support Gems:
If you’re using attack skills, consider linking them with an Accuracy Support gem. This gem increases your chance to hit, making it easier to maintain high accuracy without sacrificing damage.
Leverage Ascendancy Classes:
Certain Ascendancy classes, such as the Champion or Gladiator, offer bonuses to accuracy or melee hit chance. If you’re struggling with accuracy, these classes can provide a significant boost.
Case Study: A Crit-Based Build
Let’s take a critical strike (crit)-based build as an example. These builds rely on landing critical hits to deal massive damage. However, crit chance is calculated separately from regular hit chance. If your accuracy is too low, you’ll miss attacks entirely, even if you have a high crit chance. For these builds, maintaining at least 85% hit chance is crucial to ensure your crits land consistently.
Final Thoughts
Accuracy is a fundamental stat in POE2, but it doesn’t need to dominate your build. By understanding your enemies’ evasion ratings and focusing on the right amount of accuracy for your playstyle, you can create a balanced and effective character. Remember, accuracy is a means to an end, not an end in itself. With the right balance of stats, you’ll be well on your way to conquering Wraeclast and beyond.