Unlocking Power: A Comprehensive Guide to Cluster Jewels in Path of Exile
Cluster Jewels are a unique class of jewels in Path of Exile (PoE) that dramatically alter the way you build your character. Unlike standard jewels, which provide simple stat boosts, Cluster Jewels function as mini-skill trees that are socketed into the outermost sockets of your main passive skill tree. These jewels essentially extend your passive skill tree, creating entirely new clusters of nodes, and with them, new possibilities. This extension can contain basic stat nodes, powerful notable passives, and even keystone passives, offering a significant degree of customization and power to any build.
In short, Cluster Jewels provide a secondary, highly customizable, skill tree accessible within your primary skill tree, dramatically increasing the potential of a build by providing unique and potent passives that are usually difficult or impossible to obtain.
Understanding Cluster Jewel Mechanics
How Cluster Jewels Expand Your Skill Tree
At their core, Cluster Jewels allow players to craft specialized passive skill pathways. They are not just simple stat boosts but provide a whole new cluster of nodes that are only available through using them. You can socket a Large Cluster Jewel into one of the outer sockets of the passive tree, which will then make new sockets available for other, usually medium, cluster jewels. These, in turn, may create additional sockets for small cluster jewels. It’s a tiered system of skill tree expansion. The added passives do not interact with jewel radiuses from other jewels.
Types of Cluster Jewels
There are three main types of Cluster Jewels, each with specific roles:
- Large Cluster Jewels: These are the starting point for cluster jewel builds. They grant the most passives, usually between 8 and 12, and have two medium jewel sockets. Large Cluster Jewels can contain up to three notable passive skills, with two of them being prefixes and one being a suffix.
- Medium Cluster Jewels: These jewels attach to the sockets created by a Large Cluster Jewel. They add a moderate number of passives, typically 4-6, and include one small jewel socket. Medium Cluster Jewels can have up to two notable passive skills, both of which are prefixes.
- Small Cluster Jewels: These can be placed in any socket created by other cluster jewels, as well as directly on the main skill tree (if the sockets are small). They offer a few nodes each, generally without notables, designed to improve specific stats or add functionality.
Notable Passives and Customization
The real power of Cluster Jewels lies in their notable passives. These are unique, powerful abilities that are not normally available on the regular passive skill tree. Notably, Cluster Jewel notables can stack— meaning that if you acquire multiple instances of the same notable from different cluster jewels, the effects will combine. This is unlike almost all other forms of passives in the game. This enables an incredible amount of customization for min-maxing specific builds.
The Crafting and Item Level of Cluster Jewels
Item Level Importance
The item level (ilvl) of a Cluster Jewel determines the types of modifiers it can roll. For Large Cluster Jewels, an ilvl of 75 is crucial as this is the minimum level needed to roll a secondary jewel socket. While higher ilvl does not offer any other benefits in terms of maximum number of notables or sockets, it does open up more crafting possibilities by allowing for a wider range of modifiers. For this reason, many players target ilvl 75 or higher for Large Cluster Jewels they intend to craft.
Crafting Considerations
Crafting Cluster Jewels is a complex process due to the vast amount of possible modifiers they can roll. However, strategic crafting can allow for potent and very valuable outcomes. Some players may choose to just purchase pre-made cluster jewels from other players, but crafting them can save a great deal of currency and allow players to target specific nodes, and a high notable or passive effect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where do Cluster Jewels go on the Passive Skill Tree?
Cluster Jewels are socketed into the outermost sockets of your passive skill tree. These sockets are specifically designed for Cluster Jewels and are located at the edges of the tree.
2. Can you socket multiple Cluster Jewels?
Yes, you can socket multiple Cluster Jewels. A Large Cluster Jewel can socket two Medium Cluster Jewels, which in turn can socket Small Cluster Jewels.
3. Do Cluster Jewel passives stack?
Yes, the notable passives from Cluster Jewels can stack. This means that if you have multiple Cluster Jewels with the same notable passive, their effects will combine, allowing for powerful synergies and very specific min-maxing.
4. What’s the difference between a Large, Medium, and Small Cluster Jewel?
Large Cluster Jewels provide the most passive skills (8-12) and two sockets for Medium Jewels. Medium Cluster Jewels provide 4-6 passives and one socket for a Small Jewel. Small Cluster Jewels provide a few passives without notables, meant to add specific stats or functionality.
5. How do I know which notables are on a Cluster Jewel?
You can use third-party websites such as poedb. There are usually online resources that show the order of the notables around each cluster jewel. Knowing the order is key to crafting or buying a very specific jewel you are targeting.
6. Can Cluster Jewels have Keystones?
Yes, certain Cluster Jewels can have Keystone passives, which dramatically alter your character’s mechanics.
7. Does item level matter on Cluster Jewels?
Yes, item level (ilvl) matters, particularly for Large Cluster Jewels. An ilvl of 75 is required for them to roll a secondary jewel socket. Higher ilvls open up access to a wider range of crafting modifiers, but no other benefits.
8. Can I place a Small Cluster Jewel anywhere?
Small Cluster Jewels can be placed in any small, medium, or large jewel socket on the passive tree.
9. What are the limitations on the number of notables?
Large Cluster Jewels can have up to three notable passives (two prefixes and one suffix). Medium Cluster Jewels can have two notable passives (both prefixes).
10. Can you use Orbs to modify Cluster Jewels?
Yes, like other items, you can use orbs to modify Cluster Jewels. This allows for crafting more specific and potent jewels by modifying the item level or the passive skills.
11. Can you remove a Cluster Jewel once placed?
Yes, you can remove a Cluster Jewel by right-clicking it while it is socketed in the passive skill tree.
12. Is there a limit to how many passive skills you can get from a Cluster Jewel?
Yes, the number of passive skills on a cluster is based on the base type and the ilvl. Large Cluster Jewels have 8-12 passive skills; Medium Cluster Jewels have 4-6; and Small Jewels can have between 2-3 depending on the jewel.
13. Are all Cluster Jewels the same?
No, Cluster Jewels come in a variety of base types, each having different notable skills. This allows for a huge amount of build customization.
14. How do you farm Cluster Jewels?
Cluster Jewels drop as loot like any other item, especially from maps and other endgame activities.
15. What are some popular Cluster Jewel builds?
Popular Cluster Jewel builds are very varied, based on the player’s specific character and playstyle. Specific combinations of Notable Passives create very potent effects.
Conclusion
Cluster Jewels are a cornerstone of character customization in Path of Exile. They offer an unparalleled degree of flexibility, power, and synergy that significantly alters how the game is played. By understanding their mechanics, crafting process, and the vast array of possible modifiers, players can unlock unique character builds, tailored to their specific styles. They are vital to endgame min-maxing and can take your character to new levels of power and specialization. Mastering Cluster Jewels is a key component in becoming a proficient Exile.