Essence DrainBarrageable, Spell, Projectile, Chaos, Duration Tier: 3 Level: (1-20) Cast Time: 0.80 sec Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%Fire a Projectile that applies a powerful Chaos damage over time debuff to enemies it hits.Projectile Deals (5-129) to (9-240) Chaos Damage
Damage over Time Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to Debuff's Damage over Time Debuff duration is 4 seconds Deals (9.2–409.4) Base Chaos Damage per second
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: +(0–1) second to Debuff durationSkills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
Acquisition Drop restricted It can be obtained by engraving an Uncut Skill Gem.Metadata Item class: Skill Gem Metadata ID: Metadata/Items/Gems/SkillGemEssenceDrain
Enemies that are affected by the Damage over timeDebuff of Essence Drain seem to be prioritized targets when casting ContagionContagionSpell, AoE, Chaos, Duration Tier: 1 Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-83) Mana Cast Time: 1.00 secAfflict a single enemy with a Debuff that deals Chaos damage over time. If the enemy dies while affected by Contagion, it and all other Chaos damage over time Debuffs spread to nearby enemies and refresh their durations. Reanimating or detonating a corpse affected by Contagion will cause the Minion or explosion to spread Contagion on hit.Deals (1.9-93.9) Base Chaos Damage per second Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to Debuff's Damage over Time Debuff deals 100% more Damage for each time it has spread, up to 300% Spread radius is 1.7 metres Debuff duration is 5 seconds
Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: Contagion targets (0.1-2) additional Enemies when CastSkills can be managed in the Skills Panel..
Gem level progression
Level
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14
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58
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18
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84
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90
Recommended support gems
The following support gems are recommendations by GGG as listed in-game, and do not necessarily reflect optimal combinations or the views of the wiki.
Gem tier
Support gems
I
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II
AcrimonyAcrimonySupport Category: Acrimony Tier: 2 Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 110%Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Skills which can Damage Enemies. Enemies affected by Damage over time from Supported Skills which was not caused by a Damaging Ailment have reduced Life regeneration rate. Only the strongest instance of this Debuff will apply. Does not Support Skills used by Minions.Enemies affected by non-Ailment Damage over time from Supported Skills have 50% reduced Life regeneration ratePlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill.
HinderHinderSupport, Spell, Chaos Category: HinderSupport Requirements: +5 IntSupports Spells that deal non-AilmentChaos damage over time, causing damage over time they inflict to also Hinder enemies. Does not Support Skills used by Minions.Chaos damage over time inflicted by Supported Skills also Hinders enemiesPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill.
Intense AgonyIntense AgonySupport, Spell, Duration Category: Intense Agony Tier: 2Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Spells that deal non-Ailment damage over time, causing them to have a shorter duration but deal substantially more damage over time with Debuffs inflicted against enemies on full life.Damage over time with non-AilmentDebuffs inflicted on full-life enemies by Supported Skills deal 50% more damage Supported Skills have 25% less Skill Effect DurationPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill.
III
Chaos MasteryChaos MasterySupport, Chaos Category: Mastery Tier: 5Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Chaos skills, granting them an additional level. Does not support skills which do not have levels.+1 to Level of Supported Chaos SkillsPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill.
Chaotic FreezeChaotic FreezeSupport, Spell, Chaos Category: Chaotic Freeze Tier: 3Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Spells that deal non-AilmentChaos damage over time. Enemies taking damage over time from Debuffs caused by supported skills will suffer Freeze build up from Chaos damage Hits from any source. Does not Support Skills used by Minions.Chaos damage Contributes to Freeze buildup for Hits against targets taking damage over time from Supported SkillsPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill.
Drain AilmentsDrain AilmentsSupport, Spell Category: Drain Ailments Tier: 3Support Requirements: +5 IntSupports Spells that deal non-Ailment damage over time, causing them to consume Ailments on enemies it applies damage over time Debuffs to in order to deal substantially more damage over time.Supported Skills Consume all Ailments of a random type on the target when inflicting damage over time Debuffs, causing the Debuff to deal 35% more damage if any Ailments were consumedPlace into a Skill's Support Gem socket in the Skills Panel to apply its effects to that Skill. You cannot have multiple Support Gems of the same Category socketed within one Skill.
IV
V
Item acquisition
Essence Drain has restrictions on where or how it can drop.
Many Skills have had their base damage and/or damage growth per level rebalanced. Most of these changes are not specifically mentioned below as the changes are too widespread.
Increased the damage growth per level on Essence Drain, Contagion, Profane Ritual and Chaos Bolt (Wand Skill). Results in approximately 33% more damage at Gem Level 25.