The Bone Cage is a highly effective skill for the Disciple of Varashta in Path of Exile 2. Based on our latest ladder analysis of 11 top players in the 90-plus bracket, this build frequently maximizes damage by utilizing support gems such as Efficiency II, Astral Projection, Spell Cascade. To optimize survivability and DPS, players commonly allocate key passives like Insightfulness, Pure Energy, Melding on the skill tree.

Bone Cage
(Disciple of Varashta) Builds
Sample size: 11 characters analyzed.
Last updated: 2026-07-28 19:43:54 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 Explicit Mods
# to Level of all [Physical|Physical] [Spell|Spell] Skills
72.7%
# to maximum Mana
45.5%
#% increased [Spell] [Physical] Damage
45.5%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
36.4%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Fire] Damage
36.4%
#% increased [CriticalDamageBonus|Critical Spell Damage Bonus]
27.3%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Cold] Damage
27.3%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Lightning] Damage
27.3%
#% increased Cast Speed
18.2%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
18.2%
Offhand (Set I)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
63.6%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
63.6%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
54.5%
# to maximum Mana
36.4%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
27.3%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
18.2%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
18.2%
#% increased [Spell] [Physical] Damage
18.2%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
18.2%
[Critical|Critical Hits] with [Spell|Spells] apply # Stacks of [CriticalWeakness|Critical Weakness]
18.2%
Helmet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
54.5%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
54.5%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
45.5%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
45.5%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
27.3%
# to maximum Life
27.3%
# to maximum Mana
27.3%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] Chance
27.3%
#% increased [ESRechargeRate|Energy Shield Recharge Rate]
27.3%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
18.2%
Body Armour
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
63.6%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
63.6%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
54.5%
#% increased [ESRechargeRate|Energy Shield Recharge Rate]
45.5%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
36.4%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
27.3%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
27.3%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
18.2%
# Life Regeneration per second
9.1%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
9.1%
Gloves
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
100%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
100%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
90.9%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate if you've dealt a [Critical|Critical Hit] [Recently]
90.9%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit] Chance
90.9%
Cannot Regenerate Mana if you haven't dealt a [Critical|Critical Hit] [Recently]
90.9%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
9.1%
#% increased [CriticalDamageBonus|Critical Damage Bonus]
9.1%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
9.1%
Boots
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Movement Speed
90.9%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
81.8%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
63.6%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
54.5%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
45.5%
# to [StunThreshold|Stun Threshold]
36.4%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
27.3%
# Life Regeneration per second
9.1%
# to maximum Life
9.1%
#% increased [ESRechargeRate|Energy Shield Recharge Rate]
9.1%
Amulet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
81.8%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
63.6%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
63.6%
#% increased Cast Speed
63.6%
# to [Strength|Strength]
27.3%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
27.3%
#% increased maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
27.3%
# Prefix Modifier allowed
18.2%
# Suffix Modifier allowed
18.2%
# to maximum Life
18.2%
Ring 1
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
45.5%
# to maximum Mana
36.4%
Reflects opposite Ring
36.4%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
27.3%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
27.3%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
27.3%
Adds # to # [Cold] damage to [Attack|Attacks]
27.3%
#% increased Mana Cost [Efficiency] of [Spell|Spells]
18.2%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
18.2%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
18.2%
Ring 2
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Cast Speed
81.8%
# to maximum Mana
72.7%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
63.6%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
54.5%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
45.5%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
36.4%
#% increased Mana Cost [Efficiency] of [Spell|Spells]
27.3%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
27.3%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
18.2%
#% increased [BuffEffect|effect] of [ArcaneSurge|Arcane Surge] on you
18.2%
Belt
Top Explicit Mods
Has # [Charm] Slots
81.8%
# to maximum Life
45.5%
#% of [Flask|Flask] Recovery applied Instantly
45.5%
# to [Armour]
36.4%
# to [Strength|Strength]
36.4%
# to maximum Mana
36.4%
#% increased [StunThreshold|Stun Threshold]
36.4%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
36.4%
# to [Dexterity|Dexterity]
27.3%
#% reduced [Charm] Charges used
27.3%
Main Hand (Set II)
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [Spell] Damage
45.5%
# to Level of all [Lightning|Lightning] [Spell|Spell] Skills
36.4%
# to maximum Mana
36.4%
#% increased [Critical|Critical Hit Chance] for [Spell|Spells]
36.4%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Fire] Damage
36.4%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Lightning] Damage
36.4%
#% increased Cast Speed
27.3%
#% increased chance to [Shock]
27.3%
#% increased [Freeze|Freeze] Buildup
18.2%
# to Level of all [Physical|Physical] [Spell|Spell] Skills
9.1%
Offhand (Set II)
Top Explicit Mods
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
72.7%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
72.7%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
72.7%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
72.7%
[Critical|Critical Hits] with [Spell|Spells] apply # Stacks of [CriticalWeakness|Critical Weakness]
72.7%
Interactive Meta Heatmap
No Node Selected
Key Notables & Keystones
Insightfulness
(11)100%✕ Remove
Pure Energy
(11)100%✕ Remove
Melding
(11)100%✕ Remove
Critical Overload
(11)100%✕ Remove
Dangerous Blossom
(11)100%✕ Remove
Dampening Shield
(11)100%✕ Remove
Controlling Magic
(11)100%✕ Remove
Efficient Casting
(11)100%✕ Remove
Instruments of Power
(11)100%✕ Remove
The Fourth Teaching
(11)100%✕ Remove
Wildsurge Incantation
(11)100%✕ Remove
Chaos Inoculation
(11)100%✕ Remove
Sacred Rituals
(11)100%✕ Remove
Patient Barrier
(11)100%✕ Remove
Alternating Current
(10)90.9%✕ Remove
Aspiring Genius
(10)90.9%✕ Remove
Desensitisation
(10)90.9%✕ Remove
Critical Exploit
(10)90.9%✕ Remove
Illuminated Crown
(9)81.8%✕ Remove
Deadly Force
(9)81.8%✕ Remove
For the Jugular
(9)81.8%✕ Remove
Barya of Navira
(9)81.8%✕ Remove
General Electric
(8)72.7%✕ Remove
Cut to the Bone
(8)72.7%✕ Remove
Harmonic Generator
(8)72.7%✕ Remove
Navira's Well
(8)72.7%✕ Remove
Sudden Escalation
(7)63.6%✕ Remove
Mind Eraser
(7)63.6%✕ Remove
Careful Assassin
(7)63.6%✕ Remove
Breaking Point
(6)54.5%✕ Remove
Tempered Mind
(6)54.5%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Forward
(5)45.5%✕ Remove
Erraticism
(5)45.5%✕ Remove
Touch the Arcane
(5)45.5%✕ Remove
Hallowed
(5)45.5%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Back
(5)45.5%✕ Remove
True Strike
(5)45.5%✕ Remove
Reverberation
(4)36.4%✕ Remove
Bone Chains
(4)36.4%✕ Remove
Essence of the Storm
(4)36.4%✕ Remove
Storm Driven
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Dreamcatcher
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Mental Alacrity
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Brain Freeze
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Practiced Signs
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Invigorating Archon
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Hastening Barrier
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Brain Storm
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Raw Power
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Roil
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Chakra of Elements
(3)27.3%✕ Remove
Abasement
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Return to Nature
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Barya of Kelari
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Arcane Intensity
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Dominion
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Invocated Efficiency
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Constricting
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Thaumaturgic Generator
(2)18.2%✕ Remove
Remnant Attraction
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Sanguine Tolerance
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Shimmering Mirage
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Rupturing Pins
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Power Conduction
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Boundless Growth
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Ether Flow
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Potent Incantation
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Inner Faith
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Preservation
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Barya of Ruzhan
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Baryanic Leylines
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Drenched
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Energising Archon
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Proliferating Weeds
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Affliction Enforcer
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Cooked
(1)9.1%✕ Remove
Morgana, the Storm Seer
(1)9.1%✕ Remove