In Path of Exile (PoE), players face countless modifiers that affect not only monsters but also areas, items, and even players themselves. Among these, one of the most impactful and challenging is the Union of Souls modifier. Found in both monsters and maps, this modifier significantly increases the difficulty of encounters, adding layers of complexity to your gameplay. If you're struggling to deal with Union of Souls or want to understand how to manage this mod more effectively, this guide will provide an in-depth explanation of its mechanics and strategies to overcome it.
Union of Souls Monster Modifier in Path of Exile
The Union of Souls monster modifier belongs to the Bloodline group of mods in Path of Exile. Bloodline mods can randomly appear on packs of magic (blue) monsters, granting them unique properties and making them more challenging to defeat. Union of Souls is particularly dangerous because it buffs the remaining monsters in the group as you kill their allies, making each subsequent enemy in the pack more difficult to handle.
Effects of Union of Souls Monster Modifier:
10-15% increased Character Size: This makes the monsters appear larger, which can often lead to an increase in their hitbox or attack range.
30% increased Maximum Life: The monsters become significantly tougher to kill, requiring more damage to take them down.
20% increased Area of Effect: Any area-based attacks or abilities the monsters possess will now have a wider range, posing a greater threat to players who rely on mobility or range to avoid damage.
The key to handling the Union of Souls modifier on monsters is understanding that each kill will make the rest of the pack stronger. Therefore, it's essential to plan your approach, especially if you're not running a high-damage build capable of eliminating enemies in one blow.
How to Approach Union of Souls Monsters
When encountering Union of Souls-modified monster packs, prioritize grouping them up and dealing with them as quickly as possible. If you fail to eliminate them in rapid succession, you'll end up with a few powerful monsters that can easily overwhelm you. Focus on using high-damage abilities that can hit multiple targets at once, or prioritize enemies in the pack that might pose the greatest threat to you if they receive the Union of Souls buffs.
You can also use defensive skills or equipment with damage mitigation properties to minimize the increased danger that the buffed monsters present. If you're low on high-quality gear, consider using Path of Exile Currency to purchase or craft upgrades that will help you handle these buffed monsters with greater ease.
Union of Souls Map Modifier in Path of Exile
The Union of Souls modifier can also appear on maps, which adds a unique twist to your gameplay. Unlike the monster modifier, the Union of Souls map modifier affects rare (yellow) monsters and significantly increases the difficulty of entire map areas.
Union of Souls Map Modifier Effects:
Rare monsters gain a permanent "Allies Cannot Die" aura: This aura prevents nearby monsters from dying until the rare monster is eliminated.
The aura covers roughly the distance of a full screen, meaning it will protect any monster within its radius, even if they're not visible on your screen.
Allies Cannot Die takes precedence over any other similar effects from unique items or Sentinels, making it one of the most powerful defensive auras in the game.
The Union of Souls map mod is especially troublesome for builds that rely on fast, single-target kills. Since all monsters protected by the aura are immune to death, you'll need to quickly locate and defeat the rare monster carrying the aura before you can kill anything else.
Strategies for Union of Souls Maps
When dealing with the Union of Souls modifier on maps, the most important strategy is to focus on the rare monster carrying the aura. Once this enemy is eliminated, the aura will disappear, making the rest of the monsters vulnerable. If you're running a high-speed build, use your mobility to dash through the pack, locate the rare monster, and bring it down as fast as possible.
If you're struggling to deal with the added difficulty of Union of Souls on maps, improving your gear can make a big difference. Use Path of Exile Currency like Chaos Orbs and Exalted Orbs to craft better equipment, boost your resistances, or enhance your damage output. It's essential to maximize your efficiency, as poorly equipped characters will have a much harder time taking down the aura-protected enemies.
Recommended Builds for Union of Souls Maps:
AoE Damage Builds: Builds that deal large amounts of area-of-effect damage, such as those using Firestorm or Cyclone, can help take down monsters quickly and mitigate the buffing effects of Union of Souls.
High Mobility Builds: Speed-focused builds like Flicker Strike or Dash can make it easier to close the distance on the rare monster and eliminate it before the rest of the pack becomes too powerful.
Defensive Tank Builds: If you're more of a tank player, use your high defenses and sustain to survive the initial buffed monster onslaught while you work on eliminating the aura-carrying rare monster.
Preparing for Union of Souls
To maximize your chances of surviving Union of Souls encounters, use Path of Exile Currency to enhance your gear and improve your build. Whether you're buying items from other players or crafting your own, currency is essential for obtaining the necessary upgrades to handle these challenging modifiers. Keep an eye on currency trading markets and invest in quality armor, weapons, and jewels that complement your build.
By understanding the mechanics of Union of Souls and making strategic use of your PoE Currency, you can conquer even the toughest encounters in the game. With careful preparation, these challenging mods will become manageable, allowing you to progress through maps and unlock even greater rewards.
MMOexp POE Team