In Path of Exile 2, players gain various types of skills as they progress through the game. However, leveling up your character only grants access to the passive ability skill tree, where you can allocate points to enhance various stats. The actual combat skills you use cannot be acquired through leveling up. Instead, Path of Exile 2 requires you to locate Uncut Skill Gems and craft Skill Gems to unlock different skills based on your character's level.
Naturally, Uncut Skill Gems are highly sought after in Path of Exile 2, as they enable you to harness new and potent combat abilities. Unfortunately, these gems are not easily found across the game's locations. To begin with, you need to understand how Uncut Skill Gems function in Path of Exile 2. When you obtain one, it will have a number indicating its level, which dictates what skills you can socket it into. For instance, if you find a Level 5 Uncut Skill Gem, you can use it to create a Skill Gem for a Level 5 skill on your character.
Alternatively, Uncut Skill Gems can also be used to upgrade existing Skill Gems to the level of the Uncut Skill Gem. For example, if your Sorceress has the Flame Wall skill, you can use a higher-level Uncut Skill Gem to upgrade Flame Wall to a new level, thereby boosting its power and other attributes. The skill you're upgrading must be at a lower level than the Uncut Skill Gem you're using to upgrade it. If all your high-priority skills are at the same level as the Uncut Skill Gem you just received, it's more beneficial to use it to create a Skill Gem for a new skill.
As you advance in levels and the storyline, the Uncut Skill Gems you obtain will be at higher levels. Initially, you'll encounter Level 1 and Level 2 Uncut Skill Gems, but these levels will gradually increase as you progress through Act 1. By the end of Act 1, you should expect to find around Level 5 Uncut Skill Gems. However, higher-level Uncut Skill Gems are always rarer than their lower-level counterparts.
Now that you understand the basics, you might be wondering how to farm Uncut Skill Gems. The short answer is that Uncut Skill Gems are primarily loot drops, similar to other items in Path of Exile 2. Early vendors in the game do not sell Uncut Skill Gems, so you won't be able to purchase them. Higher-tier enemies, such as bosses, have a higher chance of dropping Uncut Skill Gems, especially high-level gems, but the item can drop from any enemy. As you navigate through dungeons, the final enemy in a wave might drop a random Uncut Skill Gem for you to collect. For the most part, you'll need to rely on RNG and defeating bosses to secure most of your Uncut Skill Gems.
The only other method we've discovered to obtain Uncut Skill Gems is by completing quests. Occasionally, quest-givers will reward you with an Uncut Skill Gem upon completing a quest. One of the final quests in Act 1, Trail of Corruption, rewards you with a Level 5 Uncut Skill Gem. However, not every quest offers a gem, so they are relatively scarce.
To maximize your gem collection, focus on defeating as many side bosses as possible. As mentioned, bosses have a higher chance of dropping Uncut Skill Gems than regular enemies. While story bosses can be a reliable source of gems, there are more side bosses to target. On the world map, you can identify areas with available bosses by looking for a skull icon next to the area's fast travel Waypoint. A fully-colored skull indicates an available boss, while a grayed-out skull means you've already defeated that boss.
Currently, in the early access of Path of Exile 2, these are the most effective methods to acquire Uncut Skill Gems for your inventory.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
