Are cosmetics bound to a single character / item?

[Sunbather]

I am planning on buying a weapon effect and a pet. Now I wonder: is the weapon effect bound to one weapon of my choosing or does it apply to all weapons? Does it apply automatically or do I have to activate it manually?
Even more important: the pet. Will the pet be bound to my current character or will every future character also be able to have this pet?

[The_Driver]

Pets can be either placed in the hideout, which is account-wide, will roam there OR be one of up to two pets of a character. Both of these things are reversible for free as often as you want, so you can use them on the next char just as well.

("Skin Transfer"s apply to weapons. This is just the actual transfers, which are consumable and non-refundable. Those are rather cheap for that reason.)

Actual weapon effects can be reclaimed just as those pets. They too bind, although to weapon slot (not weapon, you can switch weapons and it'll still be applied, if applicable) instead of a pet slot. Reclaiming them (which - again - is free and repeatable) allows you to use it on different characters, but switching around often is a bit of a hassle (so e.g. using 2 characters alternating every map, it's not too tedious if you do it a couple of times per league).

Last time I checked most weapon effects only applied to a single weapon slot at a time, with the exception of some league rewards (you can't have multiple of them) and possibly supporter packs.

[Sunbather]

@The_Driver: Thank you very much for your thorough answer! I think what got me confused is that in the Shop there are also purchasable skin transfers. Then again, you already cleared that up for me!
Since I have a dual wielding character, having only one weapon affected by the effect seems a bit dull. But according to the video for the effect I want to buy, it seems to apply to both weapons.
https://youtu.be/cmKZSTZak8Y?t=2

In any case, thank you again for your answer!

[LordOfTheBread]

Originally posted by Sunbather:

@The_Driver: Thank you very much for your thorough answer! I think what got me confused is that in the Shop there are also purchasable skin transfers. Then again, you already cleared that up for me!
Since I have a dual wielding character, having only one weapon affected by the effect seems a bit dull. But according to the video for the effect I want to buy, it seems to apply to both weapons.
https://youtu.be/cmKZSTZak8Y?t=2

In any case, thank you again for your answer!

Sadly you would have to purchase the weapon effect a second time to apply it to a second weapon as there is only 1 effect in the supporter pack.

That said you can get a neat weapon effect for free by completing league challeneges (24 if I am not mistaken).

[Sunbather]

Yeah, that's a bit sad for sure.
Ok, you incentivized me to look up how challenges work in the game (yes, I am a bloody beginner) and that doesn't sound too bad at all. The weapon effect looks really good, as does the portal skin.
Thanks for the suggestion!

[The_Driver]

Originally posted by Sunbather:

Yeah, that's a bit sad for sure.
Ok, you incentivized me to look up how challenges work in the game (yes, I am a bloody beginner) and that doesn't sound too bad at all. The weapon effect looks really good, as does the portal skin.
Thanks for the suggestion!

The portal skin may look good, but getting 36 out of 40 challenges is 1%er material, don't assume to get there in the first attempt(s). 24 should be doable with a bit of dedication though.

You might want to bookmark https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cX-9i2U4rW8hwmrkoj0ZjtzI8N-XZ7dIttihNhK4WOA/edit - it's a compendium of tips and difficulty assessments for the current challenges.

[NixBoxDone]

Several of the challenges this time around seem to heavily favour characters with single target or very small AoE abilities that don't deal a lot of damage.
I've had several failed challenges pop up because some random add or summon of a boss died while I killed the boss.
So yeah, 36 out of 40 probably needs at least a second character, probably some melee build so you can switch to a strike skill for nuking down the bosses in question specifically without having to be afraid that a dumb cultist or orb flies into your AoE and commits sudoku to steal the MTX from ya.

[Sunbather]

@The_Driver: Haha, ok. I also just realized that dying with a HC character in Expedition doesn't degrade me to a standard character in Expedition but a standard character in standard campaign. Oh well, I am only 4 hours in. Time to start a new build ^^
I've bookmarked the bookmark, thanks!

@NixBoxDone: I'll keep that in mind! My character was melee build, my new one (see above) will also be melee focused.

[t3kk3]

Originally posted by LordOfTheBread:

Cosmetics are infinitely reusable, please find examples where other free to play games offer something like that?

Well in guild wars2 you can use any unlocked skin on any character - on all at the same time (yes you can only play one at a time, but you dont need to swap around the skin like in poe).

[LordOfTheBread]

Originally posted by t3kk3:

Originally posted by LordOfTheBread:

Cosmetics are infinitely reusable, please find examples where other free to play games offer something like that?

Well in guild wars2 you can use any unlocked skin on any character - on all at the same time (yes you can only play one at a time, but you dont need to swap around the skin like in poe).

In Guild Wars you need to pay for expansions while theres no paywalled content in PoE so it is not really comparable.

[jamesc70]

Originally posted by NixBoxDone:

Several of the challenges this time around seem to heavily favour characters with single target or very small AoE abilities that don't deal a lot of damage.
I've had several failed challenges pop up because some random add or summon of a boss died while I killed the boss.
So yeah, 36 out of 40 probably needs at least a second character, probably some melee build so you can switch to a strike skill for nuking down the bosses in question specifically without having to be afraid that a dumb cultist or orb flies into your AoE and commits sudoku to steal the MTX from ya.

Players usually *sell* carrying you for some of the challenges that are near impossible with certain builds, and I often take advantage of that. Being cyclone for example, and having to only hit a certain mob is next to impossible when you get swarmed.

[NixBoxDone]

Yeah, that's my build right now too. Ain't no way I'm gonna hack that challenge while impersonating a vengeful blender on a righteous crusade to kill critters for fun and profit.

Reminds me of the *good old days* of Vorici quests.