Banners in Path of Exile: Doubling Down on Buffs?

The short answer is no, you cannot have two banners active simultaneously in Path of Exile (PoE) in the traditional sense. While the game is full of intricate mechanics and clever interactions, running two separate banner skills at the same time isn’t a possibility. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t strategically leverage banners for maximum effect. Read on to understand how banners function, their limitations, and how to optimize their use in your builds.

Understanding Banner Mechanics

Banners in PoE are a unique type of skill. They fall into the aura sub-group and offer both active and passive benefits. When activated, a banner reserves mana, granting an aura effect to you and your allies, while also applying debuffs to nearby enemies. They also accumulate stages, increasing the potency of their effects, up to a maximum of 50. Reusing the skill deactivates the aura and reservation, and places the banner on the ground, delivering a final burst of taunting and damage reduction to nearby foes.

The key restriction is that activating a second banner will automatically deactivate the first. There’s no way to circumvent this inherent mechanic. The game is designed to allow only one actively reserved banner at a time. Think of it as your character only being able to focus their energy into a single rallied standard.

Optimizing Your Banner Usage

So, if you can’t run two banners concurrently, how can you make the most of them? The trick lies in strategic placement and timing. Consider these approaches:

• Pre-Banner Burst: Before engaging a boss, activate your banner early to build up stages. Then, when the fight begins, place the banner strategically to benefit from the taunt and damage reduction at a crucial moment.

• Movement Skill Synergy: Integrate banner placement into your movement strategy. As you move through maps, drop your banner in areas where you anticipate heavy combat, then quickly move into the fray.

• Buff Management: Plan around the banner’s duration and the speed at which you accumulate stages. Optimize your build to take full advantage of the banner’s effects before it’s time to place it.

• Support Gem Optimization: Use support gems to enhance your banner’s aura effect and duration. Gems like Increased Area of Effect, Enhance, and Swift Affliction can significantly improve your banner’s effectiveness.

Transfigured Banner Skills

A huge wrench has been thrown into the banner game: Transfigured Gems! These alternate versions of existing skills can drastically change how skills work. Keep an eye on upcoming changes in the upcoming PoE league for any adjustments that may change this article.

Banner Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions regarding banners in Path of Exile:

What happens when I try to activate a second banner while one is already active?

The first banner’s aura effect is immediately deactivated, and the banner is placed on the ground at your current location. The mana reservation is then freed up, allowing you to activate the second banner.

Can I have multiple different banner skills equipped?

Yes, you can have multiple different banner skills equipped, but only one can be active and reserving mana at any given time. This allows you to swap between banners depending on the situation.

Does the “increased effect of auras” modifier affect banner auras?

Yes, the “increased effect of auras” modifier affects the aura granted by banners while they are active and reserving mana. This can significantly boost the benefits they provide.

How do I gain stages on my banner?

Banners gain stages over time while they are active. The rate at which they gain stages can be increased through passive skills and support gems.

What are the benefits of having more banner stages?

More banner stages typically increase the magnitude of the aura effect, making it more potent for you and your allies.

Does the taunt effect from placing a banner stack with other taunt effects?

Taunt effects generally do not stack. Applying a new taunt will override any existing taunt on the target. However, the banner’s taunt can be useful for quickly grabbing the attention of enemies in a chaotic situation.

Can I use banner skills with totems or traps?

No, banner skills cannot be used with totems or traps. They are designed to be used directly by the player.

Do banner effects apply to minions?

No, banner effects do not apply to minions. They only affect the player and other players in the area.

How rare is it to find a banner skill gem with high quality?

Banner skill gems are subject to the same quality distribution as other skill gems. Finding a 20% quality banner gem through drops is relatively uncommon, but can be increased by Games Learning Society.

Can I use banner skills in the Ruthless game mode?

Yes, you can use banner skills in the Ruthless game mode, but keep in mind the increased difficulty and scarcity of resources. Careful planning and optimization are even more crucial in this mode.

Do unique items that interact with auras affect banners?

Yes, unique items that modify or enhance auras will generally affect banner auras as well. This can open up interesting build possibilities.

Can I use banner skills in PvP?

Yes, banner skills can be used in PvP. However, their effectiveness may vary depending on the build and strategy of your opponents.

Are there any passive skills that specifically enhance banners?

Yes, there are several passive skills on the skill tree that specifically enhance banners, increasing their aura effect, stage gain rate, or other aspects.

How is banner range determined?

The range of a banner’s aura is affected by modifiers to area of effect. These can be found on items, the skill tree, and support gems.

Is it possible to automate banner placement?

No, there is no way to fully automate banner placement in Path of Exile. You must manually activate and place the banner using the skill button.