PoE 2: Aftershocks Explained

Aftershocks are repeated Area Damage Hits in Path of Exile 2.

What are Aftershocks?

An Aftershock is a Hit of Damage in an area that follows an initial Hit that caused the Aftershock. By default the Aftershock deals the same Damage in the same area as the initial Hit, essentially performing a 'repeat' of the initial Hit.

Note: a modifier will specify if the Damage or area of effect of an Aftershock is different from the initial Hit, such as the Split the Earth Notable in regards to Strike Skills.

Aftershocks are most commonly associated with Melee Slam Attack Skills, for example the use of the Aftershock II Support Gem will cause a supported Slam Skill to have a chance to cause an Aftershock. However, there are also rarer applications of Aftershocks for non-Slam Skills, such as the Impact Shockwave Support Gem or the Split the Earth Passive Tree Notable, both of which interact with Strike Skills.

Chance to cause Aftershocks

Aftershocks must be enabled by a modifier that grants a chance to cause an Aftershock such as the Titan's Earthbreaker ascendancy Notable, or by a Skill that creates an Aftershock by default, for example Earthquake.

The chance to cause an Aftershock from multiple sources stacks additively for any Skill that can cause an Aftershock. For example, a Titan with Earthbreaker allocated, that's using Volcanic Fissure with 20% Quality linked to Aftershock II Support will have a total 80% chance to cause an Aftershock on any use of Volcanic Fissure (25 + 20 + 35).

When Seismic Cry is used near an enemy that is currently either Primed for Stun or Heavily Stunned, it will Empower subsequent Slam Attacks to cause an additional Aftershock. Unlike Hrimnor's Hymn, this additional Aftershock is generated in addition to any Aftershock caused from basic chance modifiers.

Note: going beyond 100% chance to cause an Aftershock will not provide a chance to cause an additional Aftershock beyond the first. Modifiers that always cause an additional Aftershock, such as the one on Hrimnor's Hymn, will provide a flat 100% chance to cause an Aftershock in the Skill information screen.

Modifying Aftershocks

As Aftershocks essentially replicate an initial Hit by default, most modifiers will not apply directly to an Aftershock. This is because Aftershocks already inherit those modifiers due to 'repeating' a Hit, causing the same Damage in the same area. However, some rarer modifiers will only apply to Aftershocks specifically, such as the Aftershocks Passive Tree Notable.

Hrimnor's Hymn

The Hrimnor's Hymn Unique Mace grants the modifier 'Slam Skills you use yourself cause an additional Aftershock'. This modifier causes your Slams to have a 100% chance to cause an additional Aftershock, and does not stack with any additional chance.