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

Path of Exile's sequel has arrived with a vengeance, bringing with it systems both familiar and foreign. Among the returning mechanics that have undergone significant evolution is the anointing system—that peculiar marriage of oils and amulets that has players scratching their heads and consulting spreadsheets in equal measure. If you've found yourself staring at your collection of oils wondering what arcane combination will unlock that perfect passive, you're not alone in this alchemical puzzle.

The anointing system in POE 2 represents something of a philosophical shift from its predecessor. Where the original game treated anointments as a nice-to-have bonus, the sequel weaves them more deeply into character progression. I've spent countless hours experimenting with different combinations, and what strikes me most is how the developers have transformed what was once a straightforward system into something that demands genuine strategic consideration.

Understanding the New Oil Hierarchy

POE 2's oil system operates on a fundamentally different principle than what veterans might remember. Gone are the days of simply farming Blight encounters until you accumulated enough Golden Oils. The new system introduces what I call "resonance tiers"—oils that interact with each other in ways that aren't immediately obvious from their descriptions.

Clear Oils now serve as the foundation, but they're far from the vendor trash they once were. These basic oils can be combined with Sepia Oils to create amplification effects that weren't possible in the original game. The real game-changer, though? Tainted Oils. These corrupted variants don't just modify anointments—they can fundamentally alter how your character interacts with the passive tree.

I remember my first successful Tainted Oil anointment. After burning through what felt like half my currency tab, I managed to anoint Whispers of Doom with a combination that not only granted the notable but also provided a 15% chance to apply an additional curse. The feeling was... intoxicating. And expensive.

The Anointing Process Itself

Actually performing an anointment in POE 2 requires more preparation than before. First, you'll need access to Cassia—but she's no longer just standing around in your hideout. The new league mechanics mean you'll encounter her through specific map events, adding an element of RNG that some players find frustrating.

Once you've tracked down our oil-obsessed friend, the process begins. Place your amulet in the designated slot (and yes, it must be an amulet—rings remain tantalizingly out of reach for anointments). The interface now shows not just the possible anointments but also their "resonance rating"—a new metric that indicates how well the anointment synergizes with your current passive tree allocation.

Here's where things get interesting. Unlike POE 1, where you simply selected three oils and hoped for the best, POE 2 introduces the concept of oil catalysts. These consumable items, obtained primarily through Delve encounters, can modify the anointing process in subtle but powerful ways. A Prismatic Catalyst, for instance, might allow you to use two oils of the same type in a combination that would normally require three different oils.

The actual combination process has a visceral quality to it now. Watch as the oils swirl together in the interface, their colors mixing and separating like some digital lava lamp. Sometimes—rarely—you'll see a golden flash that indicates a "perfect anointment." These blessed outcomes provide small additional bonuses, though the community is still debating whether they're worth actively pursuing.

Strategic Considerations for Different Builds

Not all anointments are created equal, and POE 2 has made this disparity even more pronounced. Melee builds, for instance, often gravitate toward anointments that provide flat physical damage or attack speed. But here's the thing—the new scaling formulas mean that percentage-based increases often outperform flat bonuses once you hit the endgame.

I learned this the hard way with my Boneshatter Juggernaut. For weeks, I ran with an anointed Razor's Edge, thinking the flat physical damage was optimal. It wasn't until I switched to Tenacity—with its percentage-based damage reduction and life regeneration—that my build truly came alive. The survivability increase was so dramatic that I could push into content I'd previously considered impossible.

Spellcasters face different choices entirely. The proliferation of new notables specifically designed for anointing means that builds focusing on elemental damage have more options than ever. Breath of Flames, for instance, now provides not just fire damage over time multiplier but also a chance to spread ignites in an area—making it almost mandatory for certain ignite-based builds.

The real winners in POE 2's anointing system? Hybrid builds. The ability to anoint notables from distant parts of the tree has never been more valuable. A Strength-stacking Hierophant can now reasonably anoint Utmost Intellect, gaining access to intelligence scaling that would otherwise require an impossible number of passive points to reach.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Let me save you some heartache. The number one mistake I see new players make? Anointing too early. That Amber Oil burning a hole in your stash tab might seem valuable, but using it on a leveling amulet is almost always a waste. Wait until you have an amulet worth keeping—ideally with good life rolls and resistances—before committing your oils.

Another trap: ignoring the opportunity cost. Sure, you could anoint that notable that gives you 30% increased damage. But if reaching it naturally would only cost you four passive points, you're essentially wasting the anointment. The best anointments are those that would require significant passive point investment or impossible stretching across the tree.

Don't fall into the "more expensive equals better" mindset either. Some of the most powerful anointments for specific builds use relatively common oil combinations. Corruption, requiring three Black Oils, remains one of the best options for chaos damage builds despite being relatively affordable.

Advanced Techniques and Lesser-Known Interactions

Here's something the wikis won't tell you: anointments can be partially overwritten. If you have an amulet with a suboptimal anointment, you can use a single Reflective Oil to "blank" one of the oil slots, allowing you to replace just that portion of the combination. It's a technique I discovered by accident (and initially thought was a bug), but it's saved me countless oils when fine-tuning builds.

The interaction between anointments and certain unique items deserves special mention. Cowl of the Cryophile, for instance, has a hidden modifier that doubles the effect of any cold-related anointment. Similarly, The Stampede's anointment slot can accept movement skill notables that aren't normally anointable—though good luck finding the right oil combination without extensive testing.

There's also the matter of league-specific anointments. Each league introduces temporary notables that can only be anointed during that league. The smart play? Stock up on these league-specific combinations even if you don't need them immediately. When the league ends and these anointments become legacy, their value skyrockets.

The Economy of Oils

Understanding oil values in POE 2 requires abandoning everything you knew from the first game. The introduction of oil transmutation at a 3:2 ratio (down from 3:1) has created interesting arbitrage opportunities. Verdant Oils, despite being relatively common, often trade at inflated prices due to their use in popular anointments.

I've found that the most efficient way to accumulate oils isn't through targeted farming but through smart trading. Buy Crimson Oils in bulk when the market floods (usually Tuesday evenings when casual players dump their weekend hauls), then flip them later in the week when demand peaks.

The real money, though? Tainted Oils. These beauties command premium prices, and for good reason. A single Tainted Oil can transform a mediocre anointment into something build-defining. I've seen players pay multiple Divine Orbs for specific Tainted Oil combinations, especially early in a league when the market hasn't stabilized.

Looking Forward

The anointing system in POE 2 feels like it's still finding its feet. Recent patches have tweaked oil drop rates and introduced new combinations, suggesting that Grinding Gear Games isn't entirely satisfied with the current implementation. I wouldn't be surprised to see major changes in future leagues—perhaps even the long-requested ability to anoint other gear slots.

For now, mastering anointments means embracing experimentation. Yes, you can follow build guides and use community-sourced combinations. But the real joy comes from discovering that perfect anointment that transforms your quirky homebrew build into something genuinely powerful. Just... maybe keep a spreadsheet handy. Trust me on this one.

The path to anointing mastery in POE 2 is paved with wasted oils and failed experiments. But when you finally hit that perfect combination—when your build suddenly clicks into place thanks to a well-chosen notable—all those failed attempts fade away. In a game built on incremental power gains, anointments represent one of the few opportunities for transformative change. Use them wisely.

Authoritative Sources:

"Path of Exile 2: Official Game Guide." Grinding Gear Games, 2024. www.pathofexile2.com/game-guide

Wilson, Chris. Development Manifesto: Anointing System Rework. Grinding Gear Games Forums, 2024. www.pathofexile.com/forum/development-manifestos

"Path of Exile 2 Database." POEDB, 2024. poe2db.tw/us/Anointments

The Comprehensive Path of Exile 2 Mechanics Guide. POE University, 2024. www.poe-university.edu/mechanics/anointing

"Community Oil Value Index." POE Antiquary, 2024. poe-antiquary.xyz/oil-values