In Path of Exile 3.26, Ashes of the Stars remains one of the most impactful unique amulets, though the way it fits into the current meta has shifted with new item introductions, balance updates, and build evolutions. This Onyx amulet, which requires level 60, continues to be sought after for the unique way it empowers skill gems, aura stacking, and attribute coverage, but its applications now reflect the latest changes in mechanics and playstyle trends.
The strength of Ashes of the Stars lies in its dual benefits of increasing both the level and quality of all skill gems, alongside solid attribute bonuses and extra experience gain. These traits make it highly versatile and allow it to slot naturally into builds that rely on scaling skill gem power. The attribute boosts smooth out requirements for otherwise restrictive gems, while the universal gem bonuses push damage, utility, and survivability further than most other amulets can manage.
The 3.26 expansion in particular gave new life to this item by strengthening archetypes that scale with gem levels and quality. Elementalist builds, especially those built around Energy Blade, gained significant value from recent ascendancy buffs to golems and elemental scaling. With Ashes of the Stars enhancing gem quality, these setups achieve higher damage, stronger defenses, and faster casting speed, allowing them to excel in both mapping and endgame encounters.
Players leaning into aura stacking also find the amulet useful thanks to its interaction with mana reservation, letting multiple auras be sustained without collapsing the character’s mana pool. This opens doors to high-damage hybrid setups that keep defensive layers intact.
Outside of Energy Blade-focused characters, the amulet finds relevance in a wide variety of spellcaster and skill-heavy builds. Channeling skills, rapid-fire spells, and even certain minion builds benefit greatly from its flat gem scaling, which cannot be replicated by most rare amulets. The consistency it provides to gem-driven strategies ensures that characters can remain competitive as the meta shifts.
Ashes of the Stars continues to hold a valuable place in the 3.26 environment. The synergy between gem enhancement, mana reservation efficiency, and attribute flexibility makes it a premium choice for players aiming to push skill gem power to its limits. With the latest round of buffs and balance adjustments, it remains a defining item for caster and aura-based builds, and one that can shape an entire strategy around its strengths.
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