How Do Mines Work in Path of Exile? A Comprehensive Guide
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In Path of Exile (PoE), mines are a unique type of active skill that allow players to strategically place explosive devices which can be detonated remotely to unleash powerful effects. These effects can range from delivering spell payloads, launching volleys of arrows, or even teleporting the user to the mine’s location. Unlike traps which trigger upon enemy proximity, mines require a manual detonation, offering a distinct style of gameplay focused on careful planning and tactical execution.
At their core, mines function as placeable, temporary entities. Once thrown, they sit dormant on the ground until the player uses the “Detonate Mines” skill. This manual detonation aspect is what distinguishes mines from traps and allows for more control over their activation, which is a key component in using them effectively. The abilities linked to a mine skill are triggered upon detonation, just like a trap but with player control. These linked abilities could be spells, attacks, or even movement skills depending on the supports used.
Understanding the Mechanics of Mines in PoE
The Throwing and Detonation Process
Using a mine skill, a player essentially throws a device onto the ground that lies inactive, waiting for command. It is not instantaneous and has its own throwing speed influenced by related stats. Once a mine is on the ground, a player can plant more up to their mine limit, after which older mines will be removed. The player must then use the dedicated “Detonate Mines” skill to set off all planted mines within the area. The effect that follows is dictated by the primary skill gem linked to the mine, plus the various support gems impacting it, resulting in the explosion and the associated effects.
Mine Throwing Speed and Cast Speed
One of the reasons players use mines is to bypass the high cast times typically associated with spells. Mines have their own “Mine Throwing Speed”, which completely overrides the cast speed of the linked spell. This allows for the casting of multiple high-impact spells faster than regular casts could.
The Concept of Detonation
Detonation is the key activation trigger for mines. It’s a controlled event initiated by the player rather than a reactive one like traps. When detonated, a mine disappears, having served its purpose by triggering its linked skills. This contrasts with other mechanics such as totems or minions, which persist.
Mine Limits and Mine Management
There is a limit to the number of active mines a character can have at any one time. By default, a player can have 15 mines active. Exceeding this limit will cause the oldest mine to be destroyed. Certain passive skills, unique items, and other modifiers can increase this limit, enabling more complex setups. Players need to carefully manage their mines to ensure that their desired strategy is executed effectively.
Mines and On-Hit Effects
It’s crucial to understand that while the player places the mine, it is the mine that applies any on-hit effects, not the player. This is a critical difference to keep in mind, especially in regards to mechanics like Elemental Equilibrium. The mine, therefore, becomes the point of origin for damage and any associated status effects when detonated.
FAQ About Mines in Path of Exile
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding mines in Path of Exile:
1. Do Mines Hit?
No, mines do not hit as if you hit. They are treated as separate entities. Any “on-hit” effects are applied by the mine itself when it triggers its linked skills upon detonation.
2. Can Spells Be Used as Mines?
Yes. You can turn any spell into a mine skill by supporting it with the High-Impact Mine Support gem. This is a common tactic used to avoid cast time limitations and allows players to throw powerful spells at a much faster rate.
3. Can Mines Leech for the Player?
No, mines cannot leech for the player. They technically leech for themselves (as they are the one applying the hit), but as they self-destruct when detonated, it doesn’t translate to any practical effect for the player.
4. What is the Default Mine Limit?
The default mine limit is 15. This is the number of mines that a player can have active at one time.
5. Can the Mine Limit be Increased?
Yes. There are passive skills, specific items and other unique modifiers that can increase the mine limit. This will allow for more mines on the field, thus a more potent overall attack.
6. Can Mines Miss?
Yes, spells used with mines cannot miss in the traditional sense of attack accuracy. Spells do not require accuracy. However, if the blast radius doesn’t touch your intended targets, you can still miss because you misaimed the placement.
7. Can Spells Cause Bleed With Mines?
No, spells cannot cause bleed directly. Only physical attack hits can inflict bleed. There are no sources that allow spells to inflict bleed. Using an attack skill with a mine setup is necessary if bleed is intended.
8. How Do You Avoid Corrupted Blood With Mines?
Corrupted Blood is avoided the same way, irrespective if you use mines or any other builds: either use a jewel with the corrupted implicit modifier (Corrupted Blood cannot be inflicted on you) or use a staunching health flask that removes any bleed effect.
9. Do Mines Self-Destruct After Detonation?
Yes, mines self-destruct immediately after detonation, as they are designed to be a single-use triggering mechanism for the linked skill.
10. Is There Any Way to Defuse Mines Placed?
No. You cannot defuse your own mines once placed, you can only detonate them. To get rid of a placed mine, you can either exceed your limit which will remove the oldest mine, or simply detonate it without using the linked skill if the location is undesirable.
11. How Do Mines Interact with Elemental Equilibrium?
Mines can apply Elemental Equilibrium. When the mine hits an enemy, it will lower their resistance to the element which they do not possess a prior higher resistance to.
12. Are Mine Placements Random?
The position of the mines is entirely dependent on where you place them. Their placement is not random.
13. How Does Mine Throwing Speed Affect Spell Cast Time?
Mine Throwing Speed overrides the cast speed of the linked spell. The speed at which a mine is thrown, not the speed a spell is cast, is what determines the pace of a mine build.
14. Do Mines Work With Traps?
No, mines and traps are different mechanics. They do not interact with one another, and cannot be set together. They can be used separately in the same build, but there will be no interaction between the two.
15. What is the Best Way to Maximize Mine Damage?
To maximize mine damage, focus on scaling the damage of the linked skill, increasing mine throwing speed, increasing your mine limit, and utilizing supports that enhance detonation power. The support gems impacting the detonating mine, and its linked skill, are what determines the overall damage.
Conclusion
Mines in Path of Exile are a powerful and flexible skill type that enables unique playstyles focused on tactical placement and player-controlled detonations. By understanding how mines work – from their throwing mechanics to their detonation – players can effectively utilize them to achieve potent builds. This article provides a deep dive into the world of mines, offering players a solid base for building and improving their mine play.