In Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), fine-tuning your build often comes down to unlocking the right passive skills and customizing your gear for maximum synergy. One of POE2 Currency the most effective passives for elemental builds is Storm Charge—a simple yet powerful node that provides a significant boost to both elemental damage and critical hit potential. Whether you're working on a crit-heavy fire build or a lightning-based spellcaster, Storm Charge can be a game-changer for your overall damage output.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how Storm Charge works, why it’s such a valuable asset to many builds, and how you can obtain and apply it through the unique crafting mechanics in PoE 2.

What is Storm Charge?
Storm Charge is a passive skill that can be obtained in two ways:

Through the passive skill tree, by allocating skill points as you level up.

By applying it to an amulet, using specific in-game crafting components.

The passive offers two core benefits:

+40% increased elemental damage if you’ve dealt a critical hit recently

+20% increased critical chance

This passive is ideal for hybrid builds that balance between dealing critical hits and maximizing elemental damage. It also serves as a valuable bridge for players whose main skills may not rely on critical hits, but who can still trigger crits through secondary effects.

How Storm Charge Works in Combat
The way Storm Charge functions is relatively straightforward, but its effectiveness is tied to your playstyle and build structure. The passive’s main mechanic hinges on dealing a critical hit. Once a critical strike is registered, it activates the Storm Charge effect, boosting all elemental damage by 40% for the next 4 seconds.

In Path of Exile, the term “recently” always refers to the past 4 seconds. During this short window, the bonus is active, even if you don't land another crit immediately after. This makes Storm Charge especially useful for builds that can consistently trigger crits—even if their main elemental damage sources don’t themselves land critical hits.

Here’s an example: imagine a character whose main source of damage is a fire DoT skill like Flame Wall or Burning Ground. These effects generally don’t critically strike. However, if the player also uses a secondary ability like Fireball or Lightning Strike that can crit, those crits will activate Storm Charge. As a result, even the DoT effects will benefit from the 40% elemental damage boost.

The +20% critical chance provided by Storm Charge also feeds back into the system, increasing the likelihood of landing another crit and refreshing the effect. This synergy allows players to keep the buff active more consistently in prolonged combat.

How to Anoint Storm Charge to an Amulet
If you’re not able to easily reach Storm Charge on the passive tree or prefer to save points for other areas, you can infuse the Storm Charge effect into an amulet using a specific crafting process involving Distilled Emotions.

Required Items:
To infuse Storm Charge onto an amulet, you’ll need three unique items known as Distilled Emotions, used in a specific order:

Distilled Fear

Distilled Terror

Distilled Envy

These crafting components can be found through two methods:

As random drops from Delirium enemies in the Ultimate Delirium map

By purchasing Distilled Mood from the Currency Exchange via Alva in your Hideout

Important: Monsters in areas accessed using an Infused Waystone will not drop Distilled Mood, so plan your farming routes accordingly.

How to Infuse the Amulet
Once you've collected the three Distilled Emotions, follow these steps to infuse your amulet with Storm Charge:

Open your inventory and locate the three Distilled Emotions and your chosen amulet.

Right-click on any of the Distilled Mood items to bring up the Infuse window.

Place your Amulet in the top slot of the Infuse interface.

In the row below, insert the three Distilled Emotions in the correct order:

First: Distilled Fear

Second: Distilled Terror

Third: Distilled Envy

If entered correctly, the Infuse interface will display “Storm Charge” at the bottom.

Click Infuse to complete the process.

After infusion, the amulet will permanently carry the Storm Charge passive. Equipping it grants your character the benefits as though you had allocated the passive in your tree.

Why Storm Charge Is Worth Using
Storm Charge fits a wide range of character archetypes and offers flexibility in how it’s used. Here’s why it’s highly recommended:

Excellent synergy with elemental builds (fire, cold, lightning)

Supports DoT-heavy skills that don’t crit often but can still benefit from crit-triggered buffs

Helps low-crit builds maintain competitive damage through the crit chance increase

Can be acquired without spending passive points, preserving your tree flexibility

If your build can consistently trigger crits, even incidentally, Storm Charge provides a noticeable spike in elemental output. It's particularly useful in boss fights or encounters where you need short bursts of high damage.

Storm Charge is a standout passive skill in cheap POE 2 Currency, thanks to its straightforward activation condition and massive payoff in terms of elemental damage. Whether you’re weaving it into your passive skill tree or infusing it into an amulet through Distilled Emotions, it can take your damage to the next level. For elemental-focused or crit-reliant builds, this node is a must-have.