PoE 2 Guide: Toxic Domain & Ice-Tipped Arrows

So, you just found Toxic Domain and Ice-Tipped Arrows in Path of Exile 2 and you're wondering: Are these skills worth using, and how do I actually make them strong?
I've been testing them in-game, and this guide will walk you through how they work, how to set them up, and where they shine.

Quick Summary (The Hook)

• Toxic Domain: A Poison/Chaos gem that creates a zone, attaches toxic pustules to enemies, then pops them for AoE poison explosions. Great for Poison bow builds.
• Ice-Tipped Arrows: A Cold gem that empowers your next Bow or Spear Projectile attack, making it shoot out Ice Fragments. Cooldown can be skipped with Frenzy Charges. Perfect for Frenzy/Barrage builds.

If you love DoTs (damage over time), go Toxic Domain. If you prefer freezing packs and spamming arrows, go Ice-Tipped Arrows.

Toxic Domain Guide

How It Works

Cast Toxic Domain → a Toxic Bloom zone appears around you.

While inside the Bloom:

• Your skills cost more mana/life.
• You regenerate life steadily.
• Your projectile attacks attach Toxic Pustules to enemies.

Pustules can be poisoned, and after enough stacks (or time), they detonate, dealing AoE Chaos/Poison damage.

Step-by-Step Setup

Grab the Gem Early

• Toxic Domain drops from Act 2 side quests or can be bought from Siosa in Act 3.

Link It with Supports

• Best early combo: Multiple Projectiles + Vile Toxins.

Position Smart

• Stay inside your Bloom zone—don't cast and run.
• Drop Bloom in choke points where enemies group.

Scale Poison Damage

• Prioritize gear with +Chaos DoT Multiplier and Poison Duration.

Best Ascendancies

• Pathfinder → Flask sustain + chaos scaling.
• Assassin → Poison crit multiplier is insane.

Pro Tips

• Server hop farming: Toxic Bloom helps on dense maps like The Toxic Conduits.
• Pustule detonation timing → aim for stacking 5+ poisons before kiting away.

If you’re just starting out or don’t feel like grinding through the acts to unlock gems like Toxic Domain quickly, another option is to buy PoE 2 account that already has progress and gear set up. It saves a ton of time and lets you jump straight into experimenting with endgame builds instead of slogging through the early levels.

Ice-Tipped Arrows Guide

How It Works

• Use Ice-Tipped Arrows → your next Bow or Spear projectile attack gets empowered.
• On hit, it creates Ice Fragments that deal Cold damage.
• Cooldown can be skipped by spending a Frenzy Charge.

Step-by-Step Setup

Use Frenzy Generators

• Skills like Frenzy or ascendancy nodes (Raider) will keep your Frenzy charges flowing.

Link It with Supports

• Top links: Barrage Support + Hypothermia + Chain.

Pick Your Weapon

• Bows with Added Cold or Spears with Projectile Speed work best.

Spam with Frenzy Charges

• If you don't use Frenzy, the skill feels clunky. With Frenzy, it's smooth and constant.

Best Ascendancies

• Raider → Free Frenzy Charges = nonstop Ice-Tipped spam.
• Deadeye → Projectiles everywhere, fragments spread across the screen.

Pro Tips

• Ice Fragments shotgun bosses if you stand close.
• Chain support makes fragments bounce around packs = free clearspeed.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Next Steps

• Toxic Domain → Think “Poison Grenades.” Perfect for DoT enjoyers.
• Ice-Tipped Arrows → Think “Frenzy-Fueled Ice Shotgun.” Amazing for cold projectile builds.

I'd say Toxic Domain shines in map clearing and boss DoT stacking, while Ice-Tipped Arrows is your crit DPS burst machine.