If you’ve been diving into Path of Exile 2, especially as a Witch experimenting with the Lich Ascendancy, chances are you’ve come across a passive called Unholy Might. And if you’re like many of us theorycrafters and veteran players, you probably saw that sweet tooltip—“30% of all damage as extra Chaos Damage”—and thought, “This is busted!”
But then you actually used it. And it didn’t feel busted at all.
So what gives?
In this deep-dive, we’re going to break down Unholy Might in Path of Exile 2: how it really works, when it shines, and when it doesn’t. We'll also cover the "Presence" mechanic tied to it, how to get Unholy Might, and whether it’s worth building around. Whether you're fine-tuning your Chaos DPS or just starting to map out your Lich, this guide's for you.
Before we jump in, let’s be real—PoE 2’s crafting and economy are a grind. If you’re looking to save time, sites like PVPBank offer cheap PoE 2 currency that can really speed things up. Now, back to the chaos.
What Is Unholy Might in Path of Exile 2?
In Path of Exile 2, Unholy Might is a temporary buff that grants 30% of all damage as extra Chaos Damage. This sounds huge on paper, and for some builds, it can be—but understanding the way this mechanic functions under the hood is key to maximizing its potential.
First things first: when you deal 100 base damage (say, Lightning or Physical), Unholy Might doesn’t convert any of that damage. It simply adds 30 Chaos Damage on top of it. That extra Chaos is calculated based on your original damage before any modifiers.
So in numbers:
You deal 100 base Lightning damage.
With Unholy Might active, you now deal 100 Lightning + 30 Chaos = 130 total damage.
If you have “+80% increased Lightning Damage,” that affects only the Lightning portion. The Chaos portion remains untouched unless you also scale Chaos separately.
And that’s where things get interesting.
How Damage Scaling Interacts With Unholy Might
This is where many new players trip up. Let’s say you’re running Earthbound, a hypothetical unique that gives you 80% increased Lightning Damage. With 100 base Lightning, you’d be doing:
180 Lightning (100 + 80%)
30 Chaos (from Unholy Might, based only on base Lightning)
Total: 210
But your Chaos still sits at the unmodified 30 unless you specifically scale Chaos Damage.
If you throw in “+50% increased Chaos Damage” on top, you now have:
180 Lightning
30 + 15 Chaos (50% of 30)
Total: 225
The takeaway? Unholy Might’s Chaos damage only scales with Chaos damage modifiers. It’s not affected by Elemental, Physical, Spell, or Attack damage increases unless those increases also affect Chaos.
So if you’re playing a mixed-element build, the value of Unholy Might goes down significantly. But if you’re building a pure Chaos-hit build, the synergy can be massive.
Does Unholy Might Work With Damage Over Time (DoT)?
Nope. That’s a hard no.
Unholy Might only applies to hit-based damage, not damage over time. That means it’s no good for builds relying on:
Chaos DoTs (like Poison, Wither, or Caustic Arrow)
Ignite or Bleed effects
Damage from Auras or traps that apply DoT
So if you’re planning a DoT-heavy build, Unholy Might won’t add any value. You’re better off focusing on direct Chaos scaling, skill gems that scale over time, or traditional elemental routes.
How Presence Works With Unholy Might
Now here’s where Path of Exile 2 adds a new layer of complexity: Presence.
Presence refers to the area around your character in which certain effects (like Unholy Might) are applied to yourself and allies. By default, this range is around 4 meters. It’s affected only by Presence Area Modifiers—not general “Area of Effect” mods.
So, how can you scale Presence?
Look for:
Sceptres with “Increased Presence Area of Effect”
Time-Lost Jewels
Notables like Enveloping Essence, Profane Commander, and Long Distance Relationship
This becomes important in group play, summoner builds, or ally-focused setups where you want to share Unholy Might with others.
How to Get Unholy Might in Path of Exile 2
There are currently two primary ways to obtain Unholy Might in PoE 2:
1. Lich Ascendancy – Necromantic Conduit & Blackened Heart
If you’re playing as a Witch, you can choose the Lich Ascendancy, which offers the following passives:
Necromantic Conduit: While not on Low Mana, you and nearby allies in your Presence gain Unholy Might. Costs 5% of max Mana per second.
Blackened Heart: Provides deeper synergy with Chaos-based builds, though its exact stats vary.
This is the go-to method for most Unholy Might builds focused on Chaos hits and minion synergy. It’s consistent, scalable, and self-contained.
2. Vis Mortis – Unique Body Armor
This unique chest piece grants Unholy Might to Minions only. Its full stats include:
Increased Energy Shield
Extra Mana
Minions have 50% reduced Life
Minions gain Unholy Might
It’s perfect for summoners focused on Chaos-damage minions. Just keep in mind, your character won’t benefit from Unholy Might—only your summons will.
When Is Unholy Might Worth Building Around?
So let’s get practical—when does Unholy Might shine?
Best-Use Scenarios:
Mono-Chaos hit builds: Especially with skills like Essence Drain (hit portion), Contagion (on-hit burst), or Chaos versions of projectile spells.
Summoner builds: If your minions scale Chaos damage, Vis Mortis is a solid enabler.
Party buffers: If you’re playing a support build, Presence + Necromantic Conduit can make you a serious Chaos-enabling aura bot.
Avoid If:
You’re relying on DoT damage
Your build mixes multiple damage types with no Chaos scaling
You can’t afford to drain 5% mana per second (a deal-breaker for mana-intensive builds)
Pro Tips for Maximizing Unholy Might
Here’s where the veteran mindset kicks in. Want to truly leverage Unholy Might? Here are a few real-world-tested pointers:
Pair with Profane Bloom (if available): Exploding enemies with Chaos damage turns Unholy Might into chaos popcorn.
Use Essence Drain only for the hit portion if you're relying on Unholy Might. Focus on hybridizing burst with longer DoT rotations.
Watch your Presence scaling—group buffs are wasted if your allies keep moving out of range.
Combine with Wither stacks to amplify Chaos resistance shred.
Run “Increased Chaos Damage” on gear—rings, gloves, jewels—anything that directly buffs that added Chaos from Unholy Might.
Final Thoughts: Is Unholy Might Overhyped?
Honestly, Unholy Might is a very specific tool. When you see “30% of all damage as extra Chaos,” it’s easy to assume it’s a raw power boost for any build. But PoE is PoE—nothing is that simple.
If you’re not directly scaling Chaos or hitting hard and often with Chaos-based skills, you probably won’t get the value you think you are.
But if you build around it properly, and you know what you’re doing? Unholy Might absolutely slaps.
And if you want to make testing these builds faster—remember, grabbing cheap PoE 2 currency from places like PVPBank can let you experiment freely without the grind. Build smarter, not harder.
Path of Exile 2: Unholy Might Explained
