Puppet Master is yet another indirect buff to minions added in Path of Exile 2 with the Return of the Ancients update. It’s a stackable buff that improves minion-related actions, including damage. Ahead of the update, it appeared among the new nodes in the Passive Tree near the minion command nodes, but no one knew what it actually did.
Following the update, we now know what Puppet Master does and how to activate it. Here’s everything you need to know about the buff and if it’s worth speccing into for your minion build in Path of Exile 2.
How to trigger Puppet Master buff in Path of Exile 2
To trigger the Puppet Master buff, you need at least one minion Command Skill. Since you are the master of your puppets (minions), it makes sense that the effect triggers when you ask them to do your bidding. Some of the earliest minion Command Skills you can get are:
- Gas arrow from Skeletal Sniper
- Detonate minions from Skeletal Arsonist
- Ice Shield from Skeletal Frost Mage
Besides that, you also want to improve the chance of getting the buff, which you can get from the Passive Tree and some of the new socketables added in the Runes of Aldur update. There are two Notables in the Passive Tree related to the Puppet Master buff, along with several small nodes surrounding them. Unfortunately, both nodes are called Puppet Master Chance, so we’ll address them along with their locations on the Tree for the time being.
- Puppet Master Chance (upper middle): 35% Surpassing Chance to gain a Puppet Master stack whenever you use a Command Skill
- Puppet Master Chance (upper left): 15% increased Mana Cost Efficiency of Command Skills and +1 to maximum stacks of Puppet Master.
There’s also a hidden Notable called Replenishing Horde that grants you another 25% Surpassing Chance to gain a Puppet Master stack whenever you use a Command Skill. It’s only available as an Anoint on your amulet using Potent Liquid Melancholy, Concentrated Liquid Isolation, and Liquid Disgust.
What does Puppet Master buff do in Path of Exile 2?
The Pupper Master buff effect grants you and your minions a variety of effects, most notably Skill Speed for you and increased damage for your minions. Each stack has an independent duration, meaning you don’t lose the entire stack at once.
Here are all the bonuses you get while Pupper Master is active:
- 10% increased Skill Speed with Command Skills
- 10% reduced Movement Speed Penalty with Command Skills
- Minions deal 10% increased damage with Command Skills
- Minions have 2% increased Movement Speed
- Minions have 3% increased Skill Speed
By default, Puppet Master can be stacked up to 5 times. That’s a 50% increase in damage for your minions if you’re running a full minion build. However, you can increase the maximum number of stacks. The Puppet Master Chance Notable on the upper-left side of the Passive Tree grants you +1, and the Runebinder’s Alloy can grant +4 or +5, bringing the total number up to 11.
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Edited by Mayank Singh Rathour