PoE 2: Ground Surfaces Explained

Ground Surfaces in Path of Exile 2 are areas that apply an effect to entities within.

What is a Ground Surface?

A Ground Surface, also known as a Ground Effect, is an area on the ground that causes an effect to be applied to entities within. Ground Surfaces can specifically apply Buff effects to the creator and their allies, or Debuff effects to enemies of the creator, or rarely both.

Note: environmental Ground Surfaces, such as Chilled Ground from a map modifier affix, do not have a creator but are considered to be an enemy Ground Surface for the purpose of any interacting mechanics.

Types of Ground Surfaces

The most common types of Ground Surfaces are Elemental Ground Surfaces that often appear as part of a Skill effect or on map modifier affixes. Below is a list of all Ground Surface types and their default effect and base Duration.

Ground Surface Effects

When a Ground Surface is created by a source that does not specify a Magnitude, it will be created with default values. Ground Surfaces that originate from Skills can have their effects directly modified by any applicable scaling methods. For example the Oil Ground created by Oil Grenade can have its Slow effect improved by Slow Potency, whilst any Damage caused by Igniting the Oil Ground can be improved with modifiers to the Magnitude of Ignites you inflict, such as Slow Burn.

Ground Surface Duration

If a Ground Surface is created by a source that does not specify a Duration, it will be created with default values. Ground Surfaces that originate from Skills can have their Duration directly modified by any modifiers to Skill Effect Duration. For example the Poison Cloud created by Gas Grenade can have its Duration increased by Persistent Ground III or Tides of Change.

Note: unless otherwise specified, the Duration of any Ailments applied by Ground Surfaces are not affected by modifiers to Skill Effect Duration.

Ground Surface Area of Effect

Ground Surfaces that are created by Skills can be supported by Encroaching Ground to enlarge the area they cover over their Duration. You can also utilise generic improvements to area of effect to modify the area of any created Ground Surfaces.

Tip: be careful for any modifiers that scale Monster area of effect in zones, as this stat will also scale any existing environmental Ground Surfaces.

Ground Surface Destruction

Some Ground Surfaces can be destroyed to create an immediate effect and cause them to expire early. For example the Poison Cloud from Gas Arrow, Gas Grenade or Decompose can be destroyed by exposing it to Ignited Ground, an Ignited enemy or a Detonator Skill, causing an explosion dealing Fire Hit Damage.

Oil Ground from Oil Grenade can be Ignited in the same way, but doing so will not cause the Oil Ground to be destroyed, and it will instead have its Duration refreshed and will take on a new property, no longer Slowing Movement Speed but now Igniting enemies within the Ground Surface area of effect.

The Persistent Ground II and Persistent Ground III Support Gems prevent any Ground Surface from being destroyed other than expiring naturally.

Eye of Winter & Twister

The Eye of Winter and Twister Skills have mechanics that allow Projectiles from these Skills to Gain Damage of a specific Elemental Damage type when passing over a corresponding Ground Surface.