Minions still suck? Gem system feeling gated?

Currently waiting for a new patch with a wipe but still checking every now and then but like, looks like minions still suck?
I'm not talking about endgame, their garbonzo state is in the acts

They now insta spawn if died our of range - great QoL, but...
melee skeletons still suck
their AI is questionable at best
they are squishy af and you can't give them early on trillions of gems like you could in PoE1

Is everyone really okay with the new gem system? In terms of availability in the first 30 levels?

any1 here bro

Discuss

Hello

The answer to your questions is here

https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=6glUX1f39BMlx8rj

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shadowthedead#5607 wrote:

melee skeletons still suck
their AI is questionable at best
they are squishy af and you can't give them early on trillions of gems like you could in PoE1

Is everyone really okay with the new gem system? In terms of availability in the first 30 levels?

I do prefer the new gem system, but I'm biased because I didn't like gear socket tetris in PoE1. Here you trade for summoner uniques (which I did at level 22-24) before getting gem slots, and you carry your minions with Flame Wall.

I used the same gear from level 23 to about 59 and Cruel wasn't hard at all. I'm now doing T11 (not much, but it's honest work), and minions carry me instead. It'll get better, I promise.

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lusshtgarel#3759 wrote:

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shadowthedead#5607 wrote:

melee skeletons still suck
their AI is questionable at best
they are squishy af and you can't give them early on trillions of gems like you could in PoE1

Is everyone really okay with the new gem system? In terms of availability in the first 30 levels?

I do prefer the new gem system, but I'm biased because I didn't like gear socket tetris in PoE1. Here you trade for summoner uniques (which I did at level 22-24) before getting gem slots, and you carry your minions with Flame Wall.

I used the same gear from level 23 to about 59 and Cruel wasn't hard at all. I'm now doing T11 (not much, but it's honest work), and minions carry me instead. It'll get better, I promise.

Yeah you mean the meta minions who benefit from flamewall right?

Not the type of minion build i want, i don't enjoy giga-meta

Melee skeletons are garbonzo and im not sure if u can do them doable in 1-2-3 acts

have you tried with Unearth ?

The reason why I'm suggesting things that doesn't fill your requirements is, I don't want to spoil your game play. You clearly have your own directions.

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shadowthedead#5607 wrote:

"

lusshtgarel#3759 wrote:

"

shadowthedead#5607 wrote:

melee skeletons still suck
their AI is questionable at best
they are squishy af and you can't give them early on trillions of gems like you could in PoE1

Is everyone really okay with the new gem system? In terms of availability in the first 30 levels?

I do prefer the new gem system, but I'm biased because I didn't like gear socket tetris in PoE1. Here you trade for summoner uniques (which I did at level 22-24) before getting gem slots, and you carry your minions with Flame Wall.

I used the same gear from level 23 to about 59 and Cruel wasn't hard at all. I'm now doing T11 (not much, but it's honest work), and minions carry me instead. It'll get better, I promise.

Yeah you mean the meta minions who benefit from flamewall right?

Not the type of minion build i want, i don't enjoy giga-meta

Melee skeletons are garbonzo and im not sure if u can do them doable in 1-2-3 acts

SrS definitely does not feel like giga-meta. More like giga-fun. I don't follow any guide so that's maybe the reason.

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Sakanabi#6664 wrote:

SrS definitely does not feel like giga-meta. More like giga-fun. I don't follow any guide so that's maybe the reason.

SrS is basically meta for summoner builds, they do more damage than the 1-2 extra minions you'd get by saving on the spirit cost, flame wall adds bonus damage for your arsonists, and it also gives you something worth pressing on boss fights.

As to the OP's complaints, summoner starts off -very- rough but once you have access to arsonists it gets better. Or it did for me. I didn't have any issues once I got to arsonists, and I'm at mid tier maps and have yet to start having them. Well, not counting them getting stuck on one another in narrow spaces, at least.

If you can toss an exalt out for an Oaksworn then you can get over that initial bump all the quicker.