How to Anoint POE 2: Mastering the Sacred Oil System in Path of Exile 2

The moment I first discovered anointing in Path of Exile 2, I'll admit I was completely lost. There I was, staring at my amulet, holding these mysterious oils, wondering what on earth I was supposed to do with them. If you're in the same boat, you're not alone – the anointing system is one of those mechanics that seems straightforward once you understand it, but can be utterly baffling at first glance.

Let me walk you through everything I've learned about anointing in POE 2, from the absolute basics to some tricks that took me embarrassingly long to figure out.

The Foundation: What Anointing Actually Does

Anointing is essentially a way to add passive skill tree notables to your amulet without having to path to them on the tree. It's like getting a free notable passive – and in a game where every skill point matters, that's huge. The system uses oils that you'll find throughout your journey in Wraeclast, and each combination of oils grants a different notable.

When I first started playing, I made the mistake of hoarding my oils like they were precious gems. Don't do this. Oils are meant to be used, and you'll find plenty more as you progress. The real trick is knowing which notables are worth anointing for your build.

Getting Your Hands on Oils

Oils drop from various sources in POE 2, but they're not exactly raining from the sky. You'll primarily find them from:

Blight encounters are your best bet – those tower defense-style missions where you're protecting the pump from waves of enemies. The higher the tier of the Blight encounter, the better oils you're likely to get. I've had my best luck in maps with Blight content, especially when running them with increased quantity modifiers.

Regular mapping will occasionally drop oils too, though less frequently. Expedition encounters seem to have a decent drop rate as well, particularly from Rog's reroll currency exchanges.

The oil tiers follow a pretty logical progression – Clear, Sepia, and Amber are your common ones, while Golden, Silver, and Opalescent sit at the top of the rarity pyramid. And yes, before you ask, the rarer oils generally unlock more powerful notables.

The Actual Anointing Process

Here's where things get practical. To anoint an item in POE 2, you need to visit Cassia (the Blight NPC) or use the anointing interface at your hideout. You'll need:

1. An amulet (only amulets can be anointed, at least for now)
2. Three oils (always three, no more, no less)
3. A bit of currency for the anointing fee

The interface shows you all possible notable passives you can anoint, sorted by the oils required. This is where having a plan becomes crucial. You can filter by keywords to find specific notables that benefit your build.

One thing that threw me off initially – you can re-anoint an already anointed amulet. The new anointment simply replaces the old one. No need to find a fresh amulet every time you want to try something different.

Strategic Anointing Decisions

This is where anointing gets interesting. The notable you choose should complement your build in ways that pathing on the tree cannot efficiently achieve. For instance, if you're playing a Marauder build that's heavily invested in the bottom-left area of the tree, anointing a powerful notable from the top-right (like a critical strike notable for Shadows) can add a dimension to your build that would otherwise require 20+ travel nodes.

I've seen too many players anoint random notables just because they have the oils. That's like putting racing stripes on a minivan – sure, you can do it, but why? Your anointment should fill a gap in your build or double down on your strengths.

For defensive builds, notables like "Soul of Steel" or "Crystal Skin" can provide substantial survivability boosts. Offensive builds might target "Throat Seeker" for critical builds or "Spiritual Command" for minion builds. The key is understanding what your build needs most.

Budget vs. Premium Anointing

Let's talk money – or in this case, oils. Not everyone's swimming in Golden oils, and that's perfectly fine. Some of the best value anoints use relatively common oils. "Utmost Intellect" only requires three Azure oils and gives a flat +40 intelligence, which can be build-enabling for attribute-starved builds.

I spent my first league chasing expensive anoints when cheaper alternatives would have served me better. "Discipline and Training" (Verdant, Crimson, Crimson) gives +20 life and 10% increased life – not flashy, but incredibly solid for most builds, especially in early mapping.

The expensive anoints aren't always better; they're just different. "Whispers of Doom" (Golden, Golden, Golden) gives an additional curse, which is incredible for curse-based builds but useless for others. Know your build's needs before splurging on premium oils.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

The biggest mistake I see (and made myself) is anointing too early. Your first decent amulet probably isn't worth anointing unless you're using very common oils. Save your good oils for amulets you'll actually use for a while.

Another trap is following build guides blindly without understanding why they recommend certain anoints. A notable that's perfect for one version of a build might be mediocre for your specific setup. Always evaluate based on your current gear and passive tree allocation.

Don't forget that some notables have prerequisites that don't apply when anointed. This can be both good and bad – you might get effects you couldn't normally access, but you might also miss out on synergies with nearby passives you'd pick up if you pathed there naturally.

Advanced Anointing Strategies

Once you're comfortable with basic anointing, you can start thinking about more nuanced strategies. Some notables are valued not just for their direct effects but for what they enable. "Charisma" reduces mana reservation, potentially allowing you to run an additional aura. "Vengeant Cascade" fundamentally changes how projectile builds function.

Consider the opportunity cost carefully. Every notable you anoint is a notable you don't have to path to – but it's also skill points you could spend elsewhere. Sometimes it's better to anoint a notable that's far from your tree area, other times it's worth anointing something nearby to free up points for other investments.

I've found that defensive anoints often provide the best quality of life improvements. It's tempting to chase damage, but surviving that one-shot mechanic is worth more than killing bosses 10% faster.

The Future of Anointing

While we don't know exactly how anointing will evolve in POE 2, the developers have hinted at expanding the system. There's speculation about anointing other gear pieces or having multiple anoint slots. For now, mastering the current system will serve you well regardless of future changes.

The beauty of anointing lies in its flexibility. Unlike many systems in Path of Exile 2, it's relatively forgiving – you can change your anoint without destroying your item, and oils are farmable if you're willing to put in the time.

Final Thoughts

Anointing in POE 2 isn't just about slapping three oils on an amulet and calling it a day. It's about understanding your build's needs, recognizing value, and making strategic decisions that enhance your character's power in meaningful ways.

Start simple. Use common oils to experiment with different notables. Pay attention to how each anoint affects your gameplay. Over time, you'll develop an intuition for which notables provide the most value for your playstyle.

Remember, the best anoint isn't always the most expensive one – it's the one that makes your character feel better to play. Whether that's adding survivability, damage, or quality of life improvements depends entirely on your build and preferences.

Take your time, experiment freely, and don't be afraid to try unconventional anoints. Some of my favorite builds have come from discovering unexpected synergies through anointing. The system rewards both careful planning and creative experimentation, which is what makes it such a compelling part of POE 2's character customization.

Authoritative Sources:

"Path of Exile 2: Official Game Mechanics Documentation." Grinding Gear Games, 2024. Web.

Wilson, Chris, et al. Development Manifesto: Anointing and Oil Systems in Path of Exile 2. Grinding Gear Games Official Forums, 2024. Web.

Path of Exile Wiki: Anointing Mechanics. Fandom Games Community, 2024. Web.

"Blight League Mechanics and Oil Drop Rates." Path of Exile Database, poedb.tw, 2024. Web.