The new talisman items in Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids bring more gear choices for your builds. In this article, we'll list the new PoE 2 0.4 animal talisman weapons (base and unique) and select the best talismans for different builds.
New PoE 2 Druid Talisman Weapons (0.4 Fate of the Vaal)
In Path of Exile 2, Animal Talismans are a brand-new category of two-handed melee weapons added in 0.4.0 The Last of the Druids Update. With a core focus on enabling shapeshifting combat, they’re essentially the key to switching between human and animal forms for the Druid class. Unlike regular weapons that only boost attack stats, Talismans directly determine which animal you transform into and grant the unique abilities of that form. They require both Strength and Intelligence to equip; you’ll need to meet these attribute requirements first before using them effectively.
How to Use Talismans in PoE 2 0.4?
The new talisman weapons function as standalone gear rather than socketable runes. Equipping a Talisman in your active weapon set will automatically shapeshift you into its associated form, granting you form-specific Shapeshifting Skills and a basic Attack for that form. You can change the Talisman’s form at any time to switch up your shapeshift abilities on the fly, but note that skills incompatible with shapeshift forms cannot be used while the Talisman is active—Triggered Skills and Persistent Skills will continue to function normally. Each Talisman also provides passive effects tied to its form, such as the Wolf Talisman, which boosts your bleeding damage or your allies’ critical damage.
A key modifier for Talisman builds is Lord of the Wilds, which lets you equip a non-Unique Sceptre alongside a Talisman. This comes with tradeoffs: you’ll have 50% less Spirit, and non-minion skills will suffer from 50% less Reservation Efficiency.
Are Talismans Exclusive to the Druid Class?
Unlike previous games where shapeshifting was mainly tied to the Druid class or an exclusive skill tree, in Path of Exile 2, any class can equip talismans and use shapeshifting skills. This means that shapeshifting is no longer restricted to just Druids. While Druids have their own flavor and starting point related to animal forms, the ability to shapeshift through talisman weapons is open to all classes.
How to Get Talisman Weapons in PoE 2?
This method is a popular speedrunning trick to quickly get the Druid talisman or any gear you want right from the starting area, without having to play the Druid class initially. It uses the mechanic of repeatedly respawning skill gems from the first chest by resetting checkpoints to farm gold, which you then use to buy a Druid Talisman early in the game.
Choose any class and skip tutorials. Start the game with whatever class you prefer and immediately skip the tutorial to save time and get straight into the action. This lets you begin the farming process right away without unnecessary delays.
Find the first chest with the skill gem. In the first zone, locate the chest that contains a skill gem. This chest is key because the skill gem inside can be repeatedly collected and sold for gold.
Use the respawn checkpoint trick to farm skill gems. Each time you respawn at the checkpoint (by dying or manually respawning), the skill gem in the chest will respawn. This allows you to open the chest multiple times and accumulate several skill gems quickly.
Collect enough skill gems to sell for gold. Keep respawning and looting the chest until you have around 10 skill gems. Selling these gems will give you enough gold to afford the talisman and other early useful gear.
Kill the first boss for extra gear. Once you have enough gold, find and defeat the first boss, known as The Bloated Miller. The equipment he drops can be helpful for early gameplay or sold for additional gold to improve your starting gear.
Buy the Druid talisman and other gear from the vendor. Visit the vendor in the Clearfell Encampment to sell your extra skill gems and use the gold to buy a talisman, plus any movement speed boots or weapon upgrades that will help your character start strong.
List of PoE 2 0.4 Base Animal Talismans
| Talisman Name | Physical Damage | Elemental Damage | Critical Hit Chance | Attacks per Second | Weapon Range | Level Req | Str Req | Int Req | Unique Effects |
| Changeling Talisman | 9-15 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | — | — | — | — |
| Nettle Talisman | 12-20 | — | 11% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 5 | 9 | 8 | — |
| Cinderbark Talisman | 12.6-25.2 | Fire: 5.4-10.8 | 8% | 1.2 | 1.2 | 10 | 15 | 11 | (50–80)% increased Flammability Magnitude; 30% base damage is fire (hidden implicit) |
| Familial Talisman | 20-34 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 16 | 21 | 16 | Minions deal (30—50)% increased Damage |
| Frenzied Talisman | 23-38 | — | 8% | 1.4 | 1.2 | 22 | 28 | 20 | — |
| Primal Talisman | 31-46 | — | 9% | 1.3 | 1.2 | 28 | 34 | 25 | +(10—15)% to Block chance |
| Rabid Talisman | 31-58 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 34 | 40 | 29 | +(8—12) to Maximum Rage |
| Vicious Talisman | 43-71 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 40 | 47 | 34 | — |
| Voltfang Talisman | 16.1-91 | Lightning: 6.9-39 | 8% | 1.3 | 1.2 | 46 | 53 | 38 | (15—25)% increased Magnitude of Shock; 30% base damage is lightning (hidden implicit) |
| Lumbering Talisman | 71-107 | — | 5% | 1.1 | 1.2 | 52 | 60 | 43 | — |
| Roaring Talisman | 57-96 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 58 | 66 | 47 | +(8—12) to Maximum Rage |
| Wingbeat Talisman | 45-83 | — | 7% | 1.45 | 1.2 | 65 | 74 | 52 | — |
| Condemned Talisman | 68-113 | — | 9% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 65 | 74 | 52 | (10—20)% increased Effect of your Mark Skills |
| Howling Talisman | 52-78 | — | 9% | 1.3 | 1.2 | 55 | 63 | 45 | +(10—15)% to Block chance |
| Fury Talisman | 49-91 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 59 | 67 | 48 | +(8—12) to Maximum Rage |
| Cruel Talisman | 62-103 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 63 | 72 | 51 | — |
| Spiny Talisman | 60-99 | — | 11% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 67 | 86 | 65 | — |
| Ashbark Talisman | 50.4-105 | Fire: 21.6-45 | 8% | 1.2 | 1.2 | 72 | 94 | 67 | (50–80)% increased Flammability Magnitude; 30% base damage is fire (hidden implicit) |
| Fang Talisman | 70-116 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 77 | 89 | 68 | Minions deal (30—50)% increased Damage |
| Fungal Talisman | 59-98 | — | 8% | 1.4 | 1.2 | 78 | 96 | 70 | — |
| Alpha Talisman | 63-94 | — | 9% | 1.3 | 1.2 | 75 | 98 | 72 | +(10—15)% to Block chance |
| Maji Talisman | 61-114 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 79 | 100 | 67 | +(8—12) to Maximum Rage |
| Wildwood Talisman | 67-112 | — | 8% | 1.25 | 1.2 | 70 | 98 | 72 | — |
| Thunder Talisman | 23.1-130.9 | Lightning: 9.9-56.1 | 8% | 1.3 | 1.2 | 77 | 102 | 72 | (15—25)% increased Magnitude of Shock; 30% base damage is lightning (hidden implicit) |
| Jade Talisman | 101-151 | — | 5% | 1.1 | 1.2 | 78 | 109 | 65 | — |
List of PoE 2 0.4 Unique Talisman Items
| Talisman Name | Level Requirement | Implicit Attributes | Modifiers |
Amor Mandragora Changeling Talisman | None | None | • Adds 16-20 to 23-27 Physical Damage• +8-15 to Intelligence• 10-15% Increased Skill Effect Duration• Enemies in your Presence are Hindered• Gain 1 Druidic Prowess for Every 20 Total Rage Spent |
Fury of the King Ashbark Talisman | 72 | 50-80% Increased Flammability Magnitude | • Adds 503-589 to 647-713 Fire Damage• 15-20% Reduced Attack Speed• +30-40 to Strength• Bear Skills Convert 80% of Physical Damage to Fire Damage• Skills Which Require Glory Generate 5 Glory Every 2 Seconds• Enemies in your Presence have Exposure |
Hysseg's Claw Familial Talisman | None | Minions Deal 30-50% Increased Damage | • 70-100% Increased Physical Damage• 5% Increased Movement Speed• +8-15 to Strength• +8-15 to Intelligence• 5-8% Increased Damage per Minion |
The Flesh Poppet Vicious Talisman | None | None | • 90-120% Increased Physical Damage• 7-13% Increased Attack Speed• +7-13 to All Attributes• 30-40% Reduced Presence Area of Effect• Copy a Random Modifier from Each Enemy in your Presence when you Shapeshift to an Animal Form. Modifiers Gained this way are Lost after 30 Seconds or When you Next Shapeshift |
Best PoE 2 Talisman Weapons for Different Builds
1. Bear Builds (Tanky/Area Control)
For defensive or fire-focused builds, the Fury of the King Ashbark Talisman is ideal. This unique talisman converts 80% of physical damage to fire, deals massive fire damage (503–713), and applies Exposure to reduce enemy resistances. Its synergy with strength-based classes like Juggernauts or Sorcerers makes it perfect for frontline combat or builds leveraging fire DoT effects like Ignite.
2. Wolf Builds (Bleed/Crit)
Optimize bleed or critical strike builds with Rabid Talisman, Roaring Talisman, or Fury Talisman. These grant +8–12 Maximum Rage, enhancing attack speed and damage output. Pair them with Wolf Form’s innate bleed/crit bonuses for skills like Lacerate. You can also pair with the Tactician ascendancy to maximize DPS.
3. Minion Builds (Summoners)
Hysseg’s Claw Familial Talisman is essential for minion armies. Its implicit 30–50% increased minion damage and explicit 5–8% damage per minion modifier scale exponentially with summon counts. The added physical damage and movement speed also support hybrid playstyles, making it a top choice commanding zombies, specters, or summoned beasts.
4. Elemental Conversion Builds
Leverage Voltfang/Thunder Talismans (lightning) or Cinderbark/Ashbark Talismans (fire) for conversion builds. These convert 30% of damage to their element and amplify shock/ignite effects. Use them with skills like Sunder and support gems for elemental scaling.
5. Ice Druid Builds (Hybrid Warrior)
For Ice Druids, combine Amor Mandragora Changeling Talisman with cold-conversion gear. Its Hindered Enemies effect synergizes with chill/freeze, while 10–15% increased skill duration extends icy zones. Prioritize high-physical talismans (e.g., Vicious Talisman) and convert damage via skills like Cold Steel or unique items to freeze foes while maintaining melee pressure.