The Grim Pillars is a highly effective skill for the Blood Mage in Path of Exile 2. Based on our latest ladder analysis of 24 top players in the 90-plus bracket, this build frequently maximizes damage by utilizing support gems such as Urgent Totems III, Cold Mastery, Zenith II. To optimize survivability and DPS, players commonly allocate key passives like Sanguimancy, Sunder the Flesh, Grasping Wounds on the skill tree.

Grim Pillars
(Blood Mage) Builds
Sample size: 24 characters analyzed.
Last updated: 2026-09-04 12:01:30 UTC
Below data represents gem links within this cohort. Selected main skills are strictly isolated.
★ Selected Main Skills
Other Active Skills & Auras
Flasks Distribution
Main Hand (Set I)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Cold] Damage
37.5%
# to Level of all [Cold|Cold] [Spell|Spell] Skills
33.3%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
33.3%
# to maximum Mana
33.3%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
29.2%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Lightning] Damage
29.2%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit Chance] for [Spell|Spells]
20.8%
#% increased Cast Speed
16.7%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
16.7%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Fire] Damage
16.7%
Offhand (Set I)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum Mana
54.2%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
41.7%
#% increased [Spirit|Spirit]
37.5%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
16.7%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
16.7%
Enemies in your [Presence|Presence] Resist [ElementalDamage|Elemental Damage] based on their Lowest [Resistances|Resistance]
16.7%
[Allies] in your [Presence] Regenerate #% of their Maximum Life per second
16.7%
[Allies|Allies] in your [Presence|Presence] [Gain|Gain] #% of Damage as Extra Fire Damage
16.7%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Fire] Damage
16.7%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
12.5%
Helmet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
70.8%
# to maximum Mana
50%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
50%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
41.7%
# to maximum Life
37.5%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
33.3%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] Chance
29.2%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
29.2%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
29.2%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
29.2%
Body Armour
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
66.7%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
41.7%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
33.3%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
33.3%
# to Level of all [Corrupted] Skill Gems
25%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
25%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
25%
Only [SoulCore|Soul Cores] can be Socketed in this item
25%
# Life Regeneration per second
20.8%
Has no [Attributes|Attribute] Requirements
20.8%
Gloves
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
58.3%
# to maximum Life
41.7%
# to maximum Mana
33.3%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
33.3%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
25%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
16.7%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
16.7%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] Chance
16.7%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
16.7%
Adds # to # [Cold] damage to [Attack|Attacks]
16.7%
Boots
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Movement Speed
70.8%
# to maximum Mana
58.3%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
50%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
45.8%
# to maximum Life
33.3%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
33.3%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
33.3%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
29.2%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
29.2%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
20.8%
Amulet
Top Explicit Mods
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
70.8%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
58.3%
# Suffix Modifier allowed
54.2%
# Prefix Modifier allowed
50%
# to maximum Mana
29.2%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
25%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
25%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
20.8%
# to all [Attributes|Attributes]
12.5%
# to maximum Life
12.5%
Ring 1
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
58.3%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
58.3%
# to maximum Mana
41.7%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
41.7%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
33.3%
#% increased [Cold] Damage
29.2%
# to maximum Life
25%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
25%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
25%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
25%
Ring 2
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
37.5%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
37.5%
Reflects opposite Ring
33.3%
# to maximum Mana
25%
#% increased [Lightning] Damage
25%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
25%
#% increased [Cold] Damage
20.8%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
20.8%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
16.7%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
12.5%
Belt
Top Explicit Mods
Has # [Charm] Slots
87.5%
# to maximum Life
45.8%
#% of [Flask|Flask] Recovery applied Instantly
45.8%
#% increased [StunThreshold|Stun Threshold]
41.7%
All [MagesLegacy|Mage's Legacies] have #% increased effect per duplicate [MagesLegacy|Mage's Legacy] you have
41.7%
Legacy of [LegacyOfBismuth|Bismuth]
41.7%
# to [Strength|Strength]
37.5%
# to [Dexterity|Dexterity]
33.3%
Legacy of [LegacyOfQuicksilver|Quicksilver]
33.3%
When you kill a [Rarity|Rare] monster, you gain its [MonsterModifiers|Modifiers] for # seconds
33.3%
Main Hand (Set II)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
33.3%
# to maximum Mana
29.2%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
25%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
20.8%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances] per [Charges|Power Charge]
16.7%
# to Maximum [Charges|Power Charges]
12.5%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
12.5%
Gain # Mana per enemy killed
12.5%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Lightning] Damage
12.5%
#% increased [Cold] Damage
8.3%
Offhand (Set II)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum Mana
16.7%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
12.5%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
12.5%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
8.3%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
8.3%
#% increased [Armour|Armour] and [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
8.3%
[Allies|Allies] in your [Presence|Presence] deal # to # added [Attack|Attack] [Fire|Fire] Damage
8.3%
[Allies|Allies] in your [Presence|Presence] have #% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] Chance
8.3%
[Minion|Minions] have #% increased maximum Life
8.3%
Interactive Meta Heatmap
No Node Selected
Key Notables & Keystones
Sanguimancy
(24)100%✕ Remove
Sunder the Flesh
(24)100%✕ Remove
Grasping Wounds
(23)95.8%✕ Remove
Arcane Intensity
(21)87.5%✕ Remove
Eldritch Battery
(21)87.5%✕ Remove
Raw Mana
(20)83.3%✕ Remove
Vitality Siphon
(19)79.2%✕ Remove
Crimson Power
(19)79.2%✕ Remove
Critical Overload
(18)75%✕ Remove
For the Jugular
(17)70.8%✕ Remove
Throatseeker
(17)70.8%✕ Remove
True Strike
(17)70.8%✕ Remove
Controlling Magic
(16)66.7%✕ Remove
Endless Blizzard
(16)66.7%✕ Remove
Heartstopping
(16)66.7%✕ Remove
Careful Assassin
(16)66.7%✕ Remove
Sudden Escalation
(15)62.5%✕ Remove
Heartbreaking
(15)62.5%✕ Remove
Raw Power
(15)62.5%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Forward
(14)58.3%✕ Remove
Practiced Signs
(14)58.3%✕ Remove
Ancestral Bond
(14)58.3%✕ Remove
Mind Over Matter
(12)50%✕ Remove
Desensitisation
(11)45.8%✕ Remove
Glaciation
(11)45.8%✕ Remove
Arcane Remnants
(11)45.8%✕ Remove
Deadly Force
(10)41.7%✕ Remove
Vigorous Remnants
(10)41.7%✕ Remove
Heavy Frost
(9)37.5%✕ Remove
Potent Incantation
(9)37.5%✕ Remove
Thin Ice
(9)37.5%✕ Remove
Inescapable Cold
(9)37.5%✕ Remove
Evocational Practitioner
(8)33.3%✕ Remove
Efficient Inscriptions
(8)33.3%✕ Remove
Invocated Efficiency
(8)33.3%✕ Remove
Critical Exploit
(8)33.3%✕ Remove
Remnant Attraction
(7)29.2%✕ Remove
Mental Alacrity
(7)29.2%✕ Remove
Brain Freeze
(7)29.2%✕ Remove
Brain Storm
(7)29.2%✕ Remove
Lucidity
(7)29.2%✕ Remove
Cooked
(7)29.2%✕ Remove
Temporal Mastery
(6)25%✕ Remove
Efficient Casting
(6)25%✕ Remove
Barbaric Strength
(6)25%✕ Remove
Spirit Bond
(6)25%✕ Remove
All Natural
(6)25%✕ Remove
Tempered Mind
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Ether Flow
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Energise
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Empowering Remnants
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Gore Spike
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Infusion of Power
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Chakra of Elements
(5)20.8%✕ Remove
Pure Energy
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Climate Change
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Mental Perseverance
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Preservation
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Conservative Casting
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Back
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Invigorating Archon
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Energising Archon
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Blood Transfusion
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Frozen Limit
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Ancestral Conduits
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Overflowing Power
(4)16.7%✕ Remove
Lust for Power
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Overzealous
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Dreamcatcher
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Dominion
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
The Power Within
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Touch the Arcane
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Ingenuity
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Ancestral Reach
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Elemental Equilibrium
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Thaumaturgic Generator
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Roil
(3)12.5%✕ Remove
Ancestral Alacrity
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Dynamism
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Sanguine Tolerance
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Echoing Frost
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Rupturing Pins
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Reverberation
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Sacrificial Blood
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Supportive Ancestors
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Chilled to the Bone
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Bone Chains
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Aspiring Genius
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Whispers of the Flesh
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Chakra of Thought
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Stripped Defences
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Stormcharged
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Enhanced Barrier
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Blessing of the Moon
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Pain Attunement
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Well of Power
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Open Mind
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Patient Barrier
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Sanguine Tides
(2)8.3%✕ Remove
Efficient Killing
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Insightfulness
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Melding
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Left Ventricle
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Shredding Force
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Shimmering Mirage
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Echoing Thunder
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Abasement
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Empowering Infusions
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Multitasking
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Dampening Shield
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Price of Freedom
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Volatile Catalyst
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Ritual Cadence
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Arcane Blossom
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Deterioration
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Cruel Fate
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Erraticism
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Explosive Impact
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Glazed Flesh
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Immortal Infamy
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Everlasting Infusions
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Infusing Power
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Blood Barbs
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Harsh Winter
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Pure Power
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Controlled Chaos
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Flurry
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Saqawal's Hide
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Heart Tissue
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Full Recovery
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Stupefy
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Thirst for Power
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Infused Limits
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Chronomancy
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Master of Hexes
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Exposed to the Storm
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Tides of Change
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Emboldened Avatar
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Melting Flames
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Mind Eraser
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Goring
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Dizzying Hits
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Whispers of Doom
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Invigorating Grandeur
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Zone of Control
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Blood Magic
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Overexposure
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Secrets of the Orb
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Carved Earth
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Profane Commander
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Pure Chaos
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Forthcoming
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Ice Walls
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Lingering Horror
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Lasting Incantations
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Embodiment of Death
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Against the Elements
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Echoing Flames
(1)4.2%✕ Remove
Wasting Casts
(1)4.2%✕ Remove