PoE 3.27 Support Gem Changes Explained
The Path of Exile 3.27 update, Keepers of the Flame, brings a range of adjustments to support gems that change how many builds function in practice. Some gems were lightly tuned, others reworked more noticeably, and the end result is a patch that encourages players to rethink familiar setups. Damage-over-time supports, curse interactions, and leech mechanics all received some kind of attention, which means even established characters may benefit from reviewing their links after the update.
One of the more helpful changes affects Awakened Hextouch Support. Its curse duration penalty has been reduced from 30–26% down to 25–23%, giving curses a bit more staying power during long encounters. The regular Hextouch Support received a similar improvement, with its penalty dropping from 50–31% to 35–26%. These tweaks make it easier to maintain curses without constant reapplication, something players who rely on automated curse setups will appreciate.
Corrupting Cry Support also sees a small but meaningful buff, now dealing 15% more base physical damage over time. This strengthens builds that lean into bleed or other physical DoT stacking. Alongside that, Rupture Support can now stack its debuff up to four times instead of three, giving DoT-focused characters more scaling potential. The combined effect should make bleed-oriented and hybrid DoT builds feel more satisfying, especially in boss fights where every stack counts.
Energy Leech Support received one of the more noticeable reworks. Instead of giving more damage while leeching energy shield, it now grants a damage bonus while the player is at full energy shield. The new value sits at 15–24% more damage depending on gem level, and its quality bonus now provides increased damage while leeching. This change shifts the gem's identity—it now rewards characters that can maintain a high energy shield buffer rather than relying solely on constant leech uptime. It gives the support a slightly more defensive feel, encouraging smoother energy shield management.
Sadism Support, a favorite for ailment builds, was buffed as well. Its main benefit—speeding up the rate at which ailments deal damage—has been increased from 60–79% to 60–98% across gem levels. Faster damage can make poison, ignite, and bleed feel much more explosive, though the ailment duration reduction has been nudged down from 80% to 70%. Players will still need to balance the faster tick rate with the shorter duration, but the overall effect is a clear boost for ailment-heavy builds.
Spellslinger Support also saw tuning. Its damage penalty has been eased, shifting from 37–31% less damage to 30–20% less. While still a downside, it's not as punishing as before, which might encourage players to revisit Spellslinger setups that blend spellcasting with attack triggers. It's a small change, but it opens the door for more comfortable hybrid builds.
Taken together, these adjustments make support gem choices more interesting and less rigid. Many of the changes aim to improve consistency—curses that last longer, ailments that hit harder within a shorter window, energy shield interactions that feel more deliberate. The patch gives players reasons to reconsider old habits and try out new combinations, whether they're planning league starters or refining end-game characters. The update adds a bit more depth and flexibility to how support gems interact with core skills, giving players room to experiment and adapt as the league unfolds. Stay current with PoE 1 guides, details, and exclusive offers at https://www.u4gm.com/poe-currency
