In Path of Exile 2, Herald of Ice is a persistent skill that triggers an icy explosion when you shatter an enemy with a non-Herald Attack Hit. The current database listing identifies it as a Tier 4 gem and says the explosion deals Attack damage to nearby enemies; PlayFunc lists its reservation as 30 Spirit. These details are specific to PoE 2 and the database’s patch 0.5.5 listing, not to the similarly named Path of Exile skill.
How Herald of Ice works in Path of Exile 2
With Herald of Ice active, shattering an enemy with a non-Herald Attack Hit triggers an icy explosion that deals Attack damage to surrounding enemies, according to the PoE2 Database entry labeled patch 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites. The key condition is the shatter: simply hitting or killing an enemy is not the stated trigger.
The database classifies the Tier 4 skill gem with the tags Buff, Attack, Persistent, AoE, Cold, Herald, and Payoff. The explosion is described as Attack damage; do not assume that the Cold tag alone means the explosion deals cold damage. The listing also reports 169 compatible support gems, but that count does not identify which supports are best for a given build.
Herald of Ice’s Spirit reservation
PlayFunc’s item library lists a 30 Spirit reservation. That is the listed cost to account for when allocating Spirit among persistent skills. Because PlayFunc’s entry does not state a patch date, check the skill in your current client or consult current patch notes before treating 30 as a permanent value.
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How to obtain Herald of Ice
GamesRecon’s guide, updated July 19, 2026, says you can engrave Herald of Ice from a Level 4 or higher Uncut Spirit Gem after reaching level 10 and meeting requirements of 15 Intelligence and 15 Dexterity. The current PoE2 Database excerpt does not confirm those requirements, so treat them as guide-reported and verify the gem’s requirements and engraving options in your client.
Build considerations and Herald pairings
Herald of Ice is most relevant to a build that can reliably create its stated trigger: shattering enemies with non-Herald Attack Hits. If your setup does not produce shatters consistently, the skill’s explosion will trigger less often. Its 30 Spirit reservation also competes with other persistent skills for your available Spirit.
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GamesRecon recommends cold-focused support choices and discusses pairing Herald of Ice with Herald of Thunder for chained effects. This is guide-reported advice, not a verified outcome for every build or patch. The available sources do not establish a best support setup, damage result, or guaranteed chain interaction; check compatibility and behavior in your current game version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse the Path of Exile versions
Herald of Ice also exists in Path of Exile (the first game), but its mechanics are different. The PoEDB Path of Exile reference describes a 25% mana reservation, an added-cold-damage buff, and an area cold-damage shatter explosion. Those figures and effects are not the PoE 2 Spirit reservation or trigger description covered here.
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