Are Minions Considered Allies in Path of Exile 2?
Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile 2 (POE2)
In Path of Exile 2, minion builds remain a popular choice, giving players a cool option where summoned creatures fight for you. However, one of the most common misconceptions among players is whether minions count as allies and if ally-related bonuses apply to minions.
If you’re trying to boost your minions using "ally" modifiers, you may have noticed that it doesn’t work as expected. This guide will explain exactly how minions interact with ally mechanics and what you need to know when building a minion-focused character.
Do Minions Count as Allies?
The short answer is no—minions do not count as allies in Path of Exile 2.
This means that any modifiers that apply to "allies" will not affect your minions. While this may seem unintuitive, minions are classified as a separate entity type that does not fall under the "ally" category.
Why Don’t Minions Count as Allies?
Minions have their own unique set of mechanics, separate from standard allies. Here’s why they are treated differently:
Minions Are Controlled Independently – Unlike normal allies (such as party members or specific skills that buff teammates), minions function as autonomous summons with their own AI and behavior.
Minions Scale Differently – Minion builds are designed to scale through minion-specific modifiers, such as minion damage, minion life, and minion resistances.
Preventing Infinite Loops and Overlapping Buffs – If minions counted as allies, it could create game-breaking interactions where minion stats could stack endlessly with player stats.
For example, if an amulet gives +50% increased damage to allies and minions counted as allies, then a minion-based character could theoretically double-dip by applying the bonus to both themselves and their minions. This would lead to extreme damage scaling, which is likely why Grinding Gear Games (GGG) made the distinction.
What Bonuses Apply to Minions?
Since allies and minions are treated separately, you need to focus on minion-specific modifiers if you want to boost their power.
Modifiers That Affect Minions
+% Increased Minion Damage – Directly increases minion attack and spell damage.
+% Increased Minion Life – Boosts the survivability of your summoned creatures.
+% Increased Minion Resistances – Helps protect minions against elemental and chaos damage.
"Minions Deal Additional Physical/Elemental Damage" – Applies to both attack and spell-based minions.
Support Gems Designed for Minions – Gems like Minion Speed, Minion Damage, and Feeding Frenzy enhance minion abilities.
Modifiers That Do NOT Apply to Minions
Anything that says "Allies" – Since minions are not allies, any bonuses that apply to "allies" will not affect them.
Global Player Buffs – Buffs that apply to you as a player do not transfer to your minions unless they specifically mention minions.
Leech Effects – Minions do not inherit life or mana leech from their summoner.
Common Misconceptions About Minions and Allies
1. "If my minions don’t count as allies, do they count as party members?"
No, minions are not considered party members either. This means that party-wide buffs like auras will not benefit from "party" bonuses unless explicitly stated.
2. "Does this mean my own character isn’t considered an ally?"
Correct—your own character is not considered an ally to yourself. Some players assume that bonuses to "allies" should apply to their character, but in Path of Exile 2, allies are strictly other players and non-minion NPCs.
3. "Can I make an amulet that buffs both me and my minions?"
No, because the game separates ally and minion scaling. Auras and minion-specific bonuses are the best way to buff both you and your minions.
How Should You Build Around Minions in Path of Exile 2?
Since ally bonuses do not work on minions, the best way to scale a minion build is by focusing on minion-exclusive stats. Here’s what you should prioritize:
Best Stats for Minion Builds
Minion Damage and Attack/Cast Speed – Directly improves their output.
Minion Life and Resistances – Helps them survive harder content.
Increased Minion Duration (for Temporary Summons) – Ensures summons last longer.
Auras that Affect Minions – Skills like Hatred, Wrath, and Haste can boost minion effectiveness.
Support Gems That Directly Enhance Minions – Gems like Minion Damage, Feeding Frenzy, and Predator Support will give the best results.
Best Ways to Buff Both Minions and Yourself
If you want to play a hybrid build where both your character and minions are strong, you need to focus on auras and passives that benefit both.
Auras Like Hatred and Wrath – These provide global damage buffs that apply to you and your minions.
Keystones That Apply Global Effects – Some keystones in the passive tree boost both you and your minions if built correctly.
Minion-Specific Equipment – Unique items that provide both minion and personal bonuses can be an effective way to improve both aspects of your build.
Summary
Minions do not count as allies in Path of Exile 2, meaning that "ally" modifiers will not apply to them. This is an intentional design choice to separate minion mechanics from standard ally interactions, preventing overpowered scaling.
If you are building around minions, focus on minion-specific stats like Minion Damage, Minion Life, and Minion Resistances instead of trying to apply "ally" bonuses to them. Auras and minion-focused support gems are the best way to increase their effectiveness.
While this system may feel restrictive at first, it ensures that minion builds are balanced within their own mechanics, rather than benefiting from unintended interactions with "ally" effects. If you want to optimize a minion build, stick to minion-focused bonuses and avoid relying on ally-related mechanics.
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