In Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), Banners have undergone a complete mechanical overhaul, moving away from the passive "set and forget" aura style seen in the first game. They are now dynamic, high-impact tactical tools that rely on a unique resource system called Glory. Understanding how to manage Spirit reservation and maximize Glory generation is essential for any player looking to optimize their character's offensive and defensive capabilities.

What Are Banners in Path of Exile 2

Banners are Spirit-based skills that provide a persistent visual effect while active and grant a massive localized aura when placed on the ground. Unlike traditional auras that provide a constant benefit, Banners require players to actively engage in combat to "charge" them. Once a Banner reaches its maximum Glory requirement, it can be deployed (slammed) to create a zone of influence that grants powerful buffs to the player and their allies.

The current system relies on two primary resources:

  1. Spirit: A new reservation resource in PoE 2 that limits how many persistent buffs (like Banners, Auras, and Minions) a player can have active simultaneously.
  2. Glory: A dynamic charge resource generated by attacking enemies. This was formerly known as Valour in earlier development builds but has been consolidated into the Glory system as of recent patches.

The Core Mechanics of the Banner System

To use a Banner effectively, a player must go through a three-stage process: Activation, Generation, and Placement.

Spirit Reservation and Activation

Every Banner gem requires a fixed amount of Spirit to be active. By default, most Banners require 30 Spirit. Unlike Mana, which is used for casting active skills, Spirit is a dedicated pool for persistent effects. If you do not have enough free Spirit, you cannot toggle the Banner skill on. Once activated through the skills menu, the Banner icon will appear on your hotbar with a swirling animation, indicating it is ready to collect Glory.

Generating Glory Through Combat

While a Banner is active, attacking enemies generates Glory. The amount of Glory gained is directly tied to the "Monster Power" of the enemy hit.

  • Common Monsters: Provide low Glory (base Power of 1).
  • Magic Monsters: Provide moderate Glory (Power multiplier of 2).
  • Rare Monsters: Provide high Glory (Power multiplier of 5).
  • Unique Monsters (Bosses): Provide the most significant Glory (fixed Power of 20).

In the current game state, Banners typically require 200 Glory to reach full capacity. It is important to note that Glory generation usually has a short internal cooldown (approximately 0.5 seconds per monster) to prevent certain high-frequency hit builds from charging Banners instantly.

Placement and the Zone of Influence

When Glory reaches its cap, the skill icon becomes highlighted. Pressing the skill key "slams" the Banner into the ground at your current location. This creates an area of effect (AoE) that lasts for a base duration (usually around 6 to 10 seconds).

In previous versions of PoE 2, leaving the Banner's radius would immediately end the buff. However, following the latest balance updates, the Banner remains placed for its full duration even if you step outside the circle, though you must stay within the area to receive the aura's specific bonuses.

Detailed Breakdown of Banner Skill Gems

There are three primary Banner gems available in Path of Exile 2, each catering to different combat archetypes.

War Banner

The War Banner is the quintessential offensive tool, primarily used by Strength and Dexterity-based characters like the Warrior or Mercenary.

  • Requirements: Level 10, Strength 15, Dexterity 15.
  • Reservation: 30 Spirit.
  • Aura Effects: Grants significantly more Attack Damage, increased Attack Speed, and a massive boost to Accuracy Rating.
  • Scaling: As the gem levels up, the "More Attack Damage" multiplier scales aggressively, making it one of the best sources of flat multiplicative damage for melee and ranged attack builds.

Defiance Banner

Focused on survivability, the Defiance Banner is a staple for hardcore players or those tackling high-tier boss encounters.

  • Reservation: 30 Spirit.
  • Aura Effects: Grants more Armour and Evasion Rating, along with increased Movement Speed.
  • Strategic Use: This Banner is best saved for "scary" pack encounters or specific boss phases where you need to stand your ground. The movement speed bonus also helps in repositioning during a frantic fight.

Dread Banner

The Dread Banner provides utility and survival stats that are often harder to find on the passive tree.

  • Reservation: 30 Spirit.
  • Aura Effects: Increases the Elemental Ailment Threshold (making it harder for enemies to Freeze, Shock, or Ignite you), increases Maximum Elemental Resistances, and generates Flask Charges over time.
  • Utility: This is highly valued in the endgame where elemental damage becomes the primary killer of players. The passive flask charge generation is also a life-saver during long boss fights with limited "adds."

How to Optimize Glory Generation

Since Banners provide no benefit until they are placed, the speed at which you generate Glory is the most important metric for Banner efficiency.

Monster Power and Hit Counts

Because Glory is generated per hit based on monster power, builds that hit multiple enemies simultaneously or have high attack speeds will naturally feel better with the Banner system. However, the 0.5-second cooldown per monster means you cannot simply "multistrike" your way to instant Glory on a single target.

When fighting a boss (Unique enemy), you generate 20 Glory per hit (100% of monster power). This means a standard Banner requiring 200 Glory needs roughly 10 hits on a boss to be ready for deployment. In a clearing scenario, hitting a pack of 20 normal monsters once will provide 20 Glory.

Passive Tree Investment

There are specific nodes on the passive skill tree designed to improve the Banner "economy":

  • Banner Glory Generated: Look for nodes that provide "% increased Glory generation." This reduces the number of hits required to charge the skill.
  • Banner Area of Effect: Increasing the radius makes the "slam" more effective in large arenas, ensuring you don't accidentally step out of your buff zone.
  • Banner Duration: Nodes like Symbol of Defiance provide 30% increased duration, allowing the high-impact buffs to stay active longer during a fight.

Advanced Strategies: Support Gems and Ascendancies

To truly unlock the potential of Banners, you must look at how they interact with the broader skill system.

The Tactician Ascendancy (Mercenary)

The Tactician is currently the premier Ascendancy for Banner users. The notable passive "Whoever Pays Best" is a game-changer:

  • It allows the character to gain 5 Glory per second passively.
  • More importantly, it removes the limit on the number of Banners you can have placed at once. This allows a Tactician to have a War Banner, a Defiance Banner, and a Dread Banner all active in the same zone, creating a "fortress" of buffs that makes the character nearly unstoppable.

Synergistic Support Gems

Banners can be linked to support gems to alter their behavior or efficiency:

  • Daresso's Passion (Support): Significantly reduces the Glory requirement. If a Banner usually needs 200 Glory, this support might drop it to 140, drastically increasing your "slam" frequency.
  • Refraction III: A high-tier support that causes the Banner to apply a debuff called Refractive Dissolution to enemies within its area. This debuff lowers enemy Elemental Resistances based on the player's Armour, providing a massive indirect damage boost for elemental attack builds.
  • Prolonged Duration: Simple but effective. It ensures that once you find the perfect spot to drop your Banner, it stays there for the duration of the encounter.

Unique Items

Certain unique items can bypass the Glory mechanic entirely. The Fallen Formation (Lamellar Mail) is a prime example. It carries the modifier "Banners always have maximum Glory/Valour." While it reduces your maximum Glory pool, the ability to instantly drop a Banner at the start of every fight without hitting a single enemy is incredibly powerful for speed-clearing.

Practical Tips for Managing Banners

Based on extensive playtesting in the current PoE 2 environment, here are some practical tips for incorporating Banners into your gameplay loop:

Don't Ignore Spirit Efficiency

While it's tempting to run three different Banners, the 90 Spirit cost (30 each) might prevent you from running essential defensive auras or utility skills. Use items with "Increased Reservation Efficiency" to fit more Spirit gems into your build.

Strategic Placement vs. Maximum Uptime

In PoE 1, players used Banners primarily for the passive accuracy. In PoE 2, you must think of them as "Cooldowns."

  • During Mapping: Drop your Banner at the center of a large pack or a Breach-like encounter.
  • During Bossing: Do not drop the Banner immediately. Wait until you have a clear opening to deal damage, then slam the Banner to maximize the "More Damage" window of the War Banner.

Troubleshooting Glory Generation

If you find that your Banner icon never lights up, check your Accuracy Rating. Glory is only generated on hits. If you are missing your attacks, you aren't generating Glory. Similarly, Banners are not compatible with spells; they require attacks to function.

What is the Limit on Placed Banners?

By default, a player can only have one Banner placed on the ground at any given time. If you place a second Banner while the first is still active, the first one will disappear. The only way to bypass this limit is through specific Ascendancy passives, such as those found in the Tactician tree, or unique items that explicitly state they increase the maximum number of placed Banners.

Comparison: PoE 1 Banners vs. PoE 2 Banners

The transition from PoE 1 to PoE 2 has made Banners more "active."

Feature Path of Exile 1 Path of Exile 2
Reservation Mana (Usually 10%) Spirit (Flat amount, e.g., 30)
Passive Benefit Constant small aura while carried None (Must be active to build Glory)
Glory/Valour Built by kills while carried Built by hits while active
Placement Consumes stages for burst buff Creates a persistent aura zone
Duration Short (based on stages) Long (fixed duration)

The PoE 2 version rewards aggressive playstyles. If you are constantly attacking, you can maintain a very high uptime on these powerful buffs.

Conclusion

Banners in Path of Exile 2 are a masterclass in tactical ARPG design. They move away from the passive stat-stick nature of the original game and require players to think about their Spirit management and combat flow. By choosing the right Banner—whether it’s the offensive War Banner, the defensive Defiance Banner, or the utility-focused Dread Banner—and supporting it with the right passives and gems, you can significantly elevate your character's power level.

Remember that the key to Banners is Glory. Focus on high-hit-rate attacks and target high-power enemies to ensure your Banners are always ready when the fight gets tough.

FAQ

Q: Do Banners affect my minions? A: Yes. Any ally within the Banner's aura radius, including minions and party members, receives the full benefits of the aura.

Q: Can I use Banners with a Spellcaster build? A: Banners generate Glory via attacks. While a spellcaster can reserve Spirit to activate a Banner, they will find it nearly impossible to generate the Glory required to place it unless they use specific unique items or passives that provide passive Glory generation.

Q: What happens to my Glory if I untoggle the Banner? A: If you deactivate the Banner skill, you typically lose all accumulated Glory for that specific skill. It is best to keep it active throughout a zone.

Q: Is there a limit to how many Banners I can carry? A: You can have multiple Banner gems equipped, but each will reserve Spirit. Most players find that running one or two Banners is the "sweet spot" for Spirit efficiency unless they are specifically playing a Tactician build.

Q: Does "Area of Effect" on the passive tree increase the Banner's aura? A: Yes, generic "Area of Effect" and specific "Banner Area of Effect" modifiers will increase the radius of the aura once the Banner is placed.