The Basics of Triggering Malediction
Malediction isn’t automatically applied to enemies—it must be triggered through skills, items, or mechanics. Here’s the core principle:
Malediction amplifies curses already affecting enemies. To trigger it, you need a source that applies the Malediction debuff, after which any curse applied becomes stronger.
Understanding this timing is crucial. If your Malediction expires before your curse hits, you lose the amplified effect.
Skills That Trigger Malediction
Several skill types are key to applying Malediction effectively:
Curse Skills: Some curses inherently apply Malediction when cast. For example, unique curse skills or hex-type curses may come with Malediction modifiers. Pairing these with your regular curses ensures consistent amplification.
Attack or Spell Hits: Certain attack skills or spells can apply Malediction on hit. These skills usually scale with the number of enemies hit, making them ideal for clearing maps efficiently.
Minion Skills: Summoned minions that curse enemies indirectly benefit from Malediction. If your minion hits an enemy already under Malediction, its curses will be stronger, creating a synergistic effect.
Items That Trigger Malediction
Items play a significant role in Malediction activation. Here’s what to look for:
Weapons with Malediction on Hit: Some unique weapons or rare mods allow you to apply Malediction with every strike. This is particularly useful for melee or projectile builds.
Jewelry and Accessories: Rings or amulets may increase curse effectiveness or grant Malediction when certain conditions are met.
Flasks: Occasionally, flasks can provide temporary Malediction effects, which can be timed for boss fights or high-density maps.
Passive Tree and Ascendancy Synergies
The PoE passive tree contains nodes that increase curse effect or provide conditional Malediction triggers. Key strategies include:
Curse Effect Nodes: Maximize the amplified effect by taking nodes that enhance curse potency.
Duration Nodes: Extend Malediction duration, giving you a longer window to apply curses.
Ascendancy Classes: Certain ascendancies, like the Occultist or Trickster, have bonuses that synergize with curses and debuffs. These can indirectly make triggering Malediction more reliable and powerful.
Timing and Strategy
To fully benefit from Malediction, you need to coordinate its application with your offensive skills:
Pre-buffing: Apply Malediction before unleashing high-damage or high-impact curses.
Stacking Curses: Use multiple curses in combination. For example, combining Enfeeble and Projectile Weakness under Malediction can drastically reduce enemy survivability.
Map vs. Boss Usage: In maps, Malediction is excellent for clearing packs efficiently. Against bosses, it’s often better to time it with burst damage phases, ensuring that each attack benefits from amplified curses.
Tips for Reliable Triggering
Watch Duration: Always monitor how long Malediction lasts. Reapply it before it expires to maintain consistent curse amplification.
Pair With AoE Skills: Area-of-effect abilities hit multiple enemies simultaneously. Triggering Malediction on these targets maximizes your damage efficiency.
Team Coordination: In parties, ensure that teammates’ curses hit while Malediction is active. This creates team-wide damage amplification.
Common Mistakes
Many players fail to leverage Malediction due to mis-timing or misunderstanding:
Casting curses before Malediction is applied
Relying solely on one source instead of combining skills, items, and passive bonuses
Ignoring duration or over-relying on short bursts without planning
Avoiding these mistakes ensures you get the maximum advantage from Malediction.
Conclusion
Triggering Malediction in EZNPC POE 2 items is about timing, synergy, and preparation. By understanding which skills, items, and passive nodes interact with this debuff, you can reliably amplify your curses and dominate both map content and bosses. For curse-focused builds, mastering Malediction isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for efficient and powerful gameplay.
