Astral Weapons: Concept for Path of Exile 2 [Suggestion]

[Apex-the-Stormclaw]

The problem I see is that POE2 currently locks skills to specific weapon types.
This restricts build creativity, hybrid playstyles, and overall player freedom.
I'm sure many in the community feel this system forces too narrow of an identity on characters.

I present the idea of "Astral Weapons"

Astral Weapons allow you to use any skill gem, even if your currently equipped weapon isn’t the "correct" type for that skill.

If you use a skill that doesn’t match your equipped weapon, a glowing "astral" version of the correct weapon appears during the skill animation.

You still only receive stats and scaling from your equipped weapons.

The astral weapon is visual and functional only — no added damage, no stat bonuses.

This would preserve weapon identity while restoring flexibility.

This system doesn't require new animations or extra dev workload.
The animations and skill motions for all weapon types are already in the game, you're just letting them play temporarily for skills outside the current weapon.

To address a potential concern "Doesn’t this make weapon choices irrelevant?", no it doesn't. You still need to equip the right weapon to scale your damage effectively. Astral weapons provide visuals and access, not stats.

I'm typically a Hybrid/Multiclass type of player and this game makes that very hard for me, this is just my suggestion. I don't mean to attack anyone's playstyle or tell anyone they shouldn't enjoy the game as is, I'm just offering a solution.

[Co-created with Ichiritzu]

[Ichiritzu]

You forgot to give me credit for this idea

[Apex-the-Stormclaw]

Originally posted by Ichiritzu:

You forgot to give me credit for this idea

You're welcome

[moonkehh]

I want a skill tree for gems so you can spec and do more than one thing with skills instead of stats and making things bigger so you clear screens. I miss the play of this. I want huntress to be like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVRADmjzsss

[Drake]

Originally posted by Apex-the-Stormclaw:

The problem I see is that POE2 currently locks skills to specific weapon types.
This restricts build creativity, hybrid playstyles, and overall player freedom.
I'm sure many in the community feel this system forces too narrow of an identity on characters.

I present the idea of "Astral Weapons"

Astral Weapons allow you to use any skill gem, even if your currently equipped weapon isn’t the "correct" type for that skill.

If you use a skill that doesn’t match your equipped weapon, a glowing "astral" version of the correct weapon appears during the skill animation.

You still only receive stats and scaling from your equipped weapons.

The astral weapon is visual and functional only — no added damage, no stat bonuses.

This would preserve weapon identity while restoring flexibility.

This system doesn't require new animations or extra dev workload.
The animations and skill motions for all weapon types are already in the game, you're just letting them play temporarily for skills outside the current weapon.

To address a potential concern "Doesn’t this make weapon choices irrelevant?", no it doesn't. You still need to equip the right weapon to scale your damage effectively. Astral weapons provide visuals and access, not stats.

I'm typically a Hybrid/Multiclass type of player and this game makes that very hard for me, this is just my suggestion. I don't mean to attack anyone's playstyle or tell anyone they shouldn't enjoy the game as is, I'm just offering a solution.

[Co-created with Ichiritzu]

Or, how about do something way more simple...

Just authorise several weapons to use a skill.

Like for example, barrage was bow only in 0.1. Now in 0.2 it's bow and spear.

I'm pretty sure that when more weapon types arrive, we will get several weapons that will share the same skills.

Plus, don't forget that they added the whole set switch system, you're supposed to be using 2 weapon sets now.