The Contagion is a highly effective skill for the Druid in Path of Exile 2. Based on our latest ladder analysis of 52 top players in the 90-plus bracket, this build frequently maximizes damage by utilizing support gems such as Magnified Area II, Chaotic Freeze, Unleash. To optimize survivability and DPS, players commonly allocate key passives like Whispers of Doom, Dampening Shield, Dark Entries on the skill tree.

Contagion
(Druid) Builds
Sample size: 52 characters analyzed.
Last updated: 2026-07-29 19:45:52 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
# to Level of all [Chaos|Chaos] [Spell|Spell] Skills
55.8%
# to maximum Mana
38.5%
#% increased [Chaos] Damage
38.5%
#% increased [Spell] Damage
38.5%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
28.8%
#% increased Cast Speed
23.1%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
19.2%
Gain # Mana per enemy killed
15.4%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Fire] Damage
15.4%
#% increased [Physical] Damage
11.5%
Offhand (Set I)
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
42.3%
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
40.4%
#% increased [Chaos] Damage
28.8%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
28.8%
# to maximum Mana
19.2%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
17.3%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
17.3%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
15.4%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
13.5%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
13.5%
Helmet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum Mana
53.8%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
44.2%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
40.4%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
38.5%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
26.9%
#% of Damage taken bypasses [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
26.9%
[StatGain|Gain] #% of maximum Life as Extra maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
26.9%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
21.2%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
15.4%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
15.4%
Body Armour
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
51.9%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
46.2%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
36.5%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
30.8%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
26.9%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
21.2%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
17.3%
# to [Accuracy|Accuracy] Rating
15.4%
# to maximum Mana
15.4%
#% to [Quality] of all Skills
15.4%
Gloves
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
50%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
46.2%
# to maximum Life
40.4%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
38.5%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
38.5%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
25%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
23.1%
# to maximum Mana
19.2%
# to [Dexterity|Dexterity]
15.4%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
15.4%
Boots
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased Movement Speed
73.1%
#% increased [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
53.8%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
36.5%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
30.8%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
28.8%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
26.9%
# to [StunThreshold|Stun Threshold]
25%
# to maximum Life
23.1%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
13.5%
# to maximum Mana
11.5%
Amulet
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
# to Level of all [Spell|Spell] Skills
57.7%
# to [Spirit|Spirit]
51.9%
# to maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
36.5%
#% increased maximum [EnergyShield|Energy Shield]
30.8%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
26.9%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
26.9%
# to maximum Life
25%
# to [Dexterity|Dexterity]
19.2%
# to maximum Mana
17.3%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
17.3%
Ring 1
Top Bases / Uniques
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [Chaos] Damage
51.9%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
48.1%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
46.2%
#% increased Cast Speed
42.3%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
40.4%
# to maximum Mana
30.8%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
28.8%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
28.8%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
23.1%
# to maximum Life
19.2%
Ring 2
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [Chaos] Damage
50%
#% to all [ElementalDamage|Elemental] [Resistances]
46.2%
#% increased [ItemRarity|Rarity of Items] found
44.2%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
44.2%
#% to [Resistances|Lightning Resistance]
42.3%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
36.5%
# to maximum Mana
34.6%
#% increased Cast Speed
30.8%
#% to [Resistances|Chaos Resistance]
21.2%
# to maximum Life
19.2%
Belt
Top Explicit Mods
Has # [Charm] Slots
82.7%
#% of [Flask|Flask] Recovery applied Instantly
42.3%
# to maximum Life
32.7%
[Flask|Flasks] gain # charges per Second
23.1%
#% to [Resistances|Cold Resistance]
19.2%
All [MagesLegacy|Mage's Legacies] have #% increased effect per duplicate [MagesLegacy|Mage's Legacy] you have
19.2%
# to [Armour]
17.3%
#% increased effect of Socketed [Augment] Items
17.3%
#% to [Resistances|Fire Resistance]
17.3%
Has # [Charm] Slot
17.3%
Main Hand (Set II)
Top Explicit Mods
#% increased [Spell] Damage
30.8%
# to maximum Mana
21.2%
#% increased [LightRadius|Light Radius]
19.2%
#% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
17.3%
# to [Intelligence|Intelligence]
15.4%
#% increased Cast Speed
13.5%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Cold] Damage
13.5%
[Gain] #% of Damage as Extra [Fire] Damage
11.5%
# to Level of all [Chaos|Chaos] [Spell|Spell] Skills
7.7%
#% increased [Cold] Damage
7.7%
Interactive Meta Heatmap
No Node Selected
Key Notables & Keystones
Whispers of Doom
(36)69.2%✕ Remove
Dampening Shield
(35)67.3%✕ Remove
Dark Entries
(35)67.3%✕ Remove
Pure Energy
(34)65.4%✕ Remove
Melding
(34)65.4%✕ Remove
Void
(34)65.4%✕ Remove
Wither Away
(34)65.4%✕ Remove
Pure Chaos
(34)65.4%✕ Remove
Insightfulness
(33)63.5%✕ Remove
Lingering Horror
(33)63.5%✕ Remove
Patient Barrier
(33)63.5%✕ Remove
Enhanced Barrier
(32)61.5%✕ Remove
Raw Power
(31)59.6%✕ Remove
Efficient Casting
(30)57.7%✕ Remove
Zone of Control
(30)57.7%✕ Remove
Spiral into Insanity
(26)50%✕ Remove
Potent Incantation
(26)50%✕ Remove
Master of Hexes
(25)48.1%✕ Remove
Heavy Buffer
(24)46.2%✕ Remove
Principal Infusion
(24)46.2%✕ Remove
Practiced Signs
(23)44.2%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Forward
(22)42.3%✕ Remove
Soulless Form
(22)42.3%✕ Remove
Crystalline Phylactery
(21)40.4%✕ Remove
Eternal Life
(21)40.4%✕ Remove
Essence of Virtue
(17)32.7%✕ Remove
Advanced Thaumaturgy
(17)32.7%✕ Remove
Gem Studded
(16)30.8%✕ Remove
Ingenuity
(16)30.8%✕ Remove
Implanted Gems
(16)30.8%✕ Remove
Lingering Whispers
(14)26.9%✕ Remove
Paragon
(14)26.9%✕ Remove
Rupture the Soul
(13)25%✕ Remove
Convalescence
(12)23.1%✕ Remove
Chaos Inoculation
(12)23.1%✕ Remove
Illuminated Crown
(11)21.2%✕ Remove
Necromantic Conduit
(11)21.2%✕ Remove
Soul Bloom
(11)21.2%✕ Remove
Impending Doom
(10)19.2%✕ Remove
Arsonist
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Lasting Trauma
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Preservation
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Spaghettification
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Hallowed
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Battle-hardened
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Mana Blessing
(9)17.3%✕ Remove
Tempered Defences
(8)15.4%✕ Remove
Catalysis
(8)15.4%✕ Remove
Gem Enthusiast
(8)15.4%✕ Remove
Hard to Kill
(8)15.4%✕ Remove
Distant Dreamer
(8)15.4%✕ Remove
Roil
(8)15.4%✕ Remove
Fast Acting Toxins
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Arcane Intensity
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Projectile Bulwark
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Iron Reflexes
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Battle Trance
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Searing Heat
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Flamekeeper
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Vengeful Fury
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Prism Guard
(7)13.5%✕ Remove
Final Barrage
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Raw Mana
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Dependable Ward
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Ignore Pain
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Crushing Verdict
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Crystal Elixir
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Blackflame Covenant
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Wasting
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Open Mind
(6)11.5%✕ Remove
Reverberation
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Ether Flow
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Spray and Pray
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Warding Fetish
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Vaal Pact
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Invocated Efficiency
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Firestarter
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Eldritch Battery
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Fated End
(5)9.6%✕ Remove
Incessant Cacophony
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Blackened Heart
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Overzealous
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Quicksand Hourglass
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Lone Warrior
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Arcane Blossom
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Rapid Recharge
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Beef
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Sudden Infuriation
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Slow Burn
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Ichlotl's Inferno
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Conservative Casting
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Spectral Ward
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Turn the Clock Back
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Lay Siege
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Step Like Mist
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Spirit Bond
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Lucidity
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Event Horizon
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
The Soul Meridian
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Shimmering
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Smoke Inhalation
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Mindful Awareness
(4)7.7%✕ Remove
Efficient Killing
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Unbound Encore
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Dynamism
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Adverse Growth
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Decrepifying Curse
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Mental Perseverance
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Spiral into Mania
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Adrenaline Rush
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Immaterial
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Blazing Arms
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Refocus
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Phased Form
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Chakra of Thought
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Pliable Flesh
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Essence Infusion
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Mind Eraser
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Mind Over Matter
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Goring
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
First Principle of the Hollow
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Ancestral Conduits
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Immolation
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Profane Commander
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Ultimate Command
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Eldritch Empowerment
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
First Teachings of the Keeper
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
True Strike
(3)5.8%✕ Remove
Eldritch Will
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Critical Overload
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Reusable Ammunition
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Mending Deflection
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Sudden Escalation
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Necromantic Ward
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Temporal Mastery
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Loose Flesh
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Deadly Force
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Warlord Leader
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Mental Alacrity
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Tactical Retreat
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Prolonged Assault
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Dark Entropy
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
For the Jugular
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Overwhelm
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Sand in the Eyes
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
General Electric
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Desensitisation
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Inner Faith
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Flow of Time
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Burnout
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Blur
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Chronomancy
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Harmonic Generator
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Glaciation
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
The Hollowkeeper
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Feel no Pain
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Arcane Remnants
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Intense Dose
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
The Howling Primate
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Apex of the Moment
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Flow Like Water
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Waking Dream
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Lucid Dreaming
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Adaptive Capability
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Pain Attunement
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Subterfuge Mask
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Beastial Skin
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Chayula's Gift
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Incendiary
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Bolstering Presence
(2)3.8%✕ Remove
Enveloping Presence
(2)3.8%✕ Remove