Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) has been generating waves of excitement in the gaming community, and for good reason. Grinding Gear Games continues to expand the lore, mechanics, and endgame content, ensuring that both veterans and newcomers are constantly engaged. One of the most intriguing additions in POE 2 Currency is the Abyssal Depths content, which introduces a variety of Abyssal Spectres—summonable minions that players can employ in combat. These creatures bring a strategic layer to gameplay, but not all spectres are created equal.

In this article, we delve deeply into the testing and analysis of every Abyssal Spectre currently available in PoE2. I conducted hands-on testing with all the spectres, focusing primarily on their utility for endgame purposes. While some of my assessments are subjective, they are based on thorough experimentation, numerical performance evaluation, and observations of AI behavior in various scenarios. If you’re looking for guidance on which Abyssal Spectres are worth summoning, this comprehensive review will help you make informed choices.

Top-Tier Spectres: The Frozen Mandibles “Cocaine Ants”

Let’s start with the cream of the crop. After extensive testing, one spectre stood out far above all others: the Frozen Mandibles, colloquially referred to as “Cocaine Ants.”

Why are they so exceptional? For starters, their combination of high damage output, respectable health, and rapid movement speed allows them to navigate the battlefield efficiently. Unlike many other spectres plagued by inconsistent AI or underwhelming performance, the Frozen Mandibles consistently deliver in combat. They are fast, aggressive, and deadly, making them the premier choice for endgame encounters.

Following closely behind are two additional candidates: the Vulgars and Powered Cellots. Both of these spectres offer excellent damage and utility, though they don’t quite match the sheer reliability of the Frozen Mandibles. Finally, the Strider of the Pits and Haran spectres round out the top tier. While aesthetically impressive and equipped with solid abilities, they cannot compete with the performance of the top three. Ultimately, the choice between Strider and Haran is largely personal preference.

Abyssal Depths Spectres: Lightless Mor and Early Challenges

Diving into the Abyssal Depths, the Lightless Mor is one of the first spectres players encounter. This unit boasts good overall HP and solid movement speed, allowing it to move efficiently in combat. However, it suffers from a notable issue: inconsistent skill usage. Much like certain problematic spectres in the original Path of Exile, the Lightless Mor tends to prioritize suboptimal abilities over its strongest skill. This inconsistency makes it less effective in sustained endgame encounters. While it has potential, its AI requires refinement before it can be considered a top-tier summon.

The Lightless Venge Wing is another early Abyssal spectre, functioning as a pseudo-ranged unit. Its damage output is surprisingly effective, particularly because its beam attack strikes six times consecutively rather than dealing damage over time. This mechanic makes it more versatile in single-target engagements. Yet, the Venge Wing is hampered by extremely poor movement speed, which significantly limits its clearing potential. To optimize its effectiveness, players need to pair it with AoE-inducing spectres or abilities, such as fiery death effects. Without these combinations, the Venge Wing falls far behind the stronger spectres.

Mid-Tier Spectres: Serpent, Abomination, and Blackblooded Units

The Lightless Serpent, while visually striking, is hindered by slow movement and mediocre damage. Its HP is barely sufficient to function as a melee unit, making it one of the less attractive spectres for high-end play. Similarly, the Lightless Abomination impresses with its aesthetics and skill animations, but its slow cast and movement speed reduce combat efficiency. In comparison with Vulgars and Powered Cellots, these units simply cannot compete.

Blackblooded units form another interesting category of Abyssal Spectres. The Blackblooded Tarhulk and Blister Boil units present various design quirks. While Blister Boil has decent HP, its damage output is underwhelming, and its suicide skill can lead to unintended consequences. This unique mechanic may allow for synergistic interactions with other spectres, but it also introduces inconsistencies that can be frustrating in endgame scenarios.

The Blackblooded Elite is a mixed bag. With dual abilities—a beam and a projectile attack—its performance varies depending on circumstances. The beam is visually striking but loses effectiveness if the target moves, while the projectile skill benefits from splash effects. Unfortunately, the spectre’s AI favors the beam over the more consistently effective projectile, making it unreliable.

The Blackblooded Probite is a pseudo-melee unit with extended attack range thanks to a tongue-like modifier. However, it suffers from sluggish movement and subpar HP and damage, leaving it ineffective despite its unique attack mechanics. Many Blackblooded units share a common problem: slow speed prevents them from keeping pace with the player, reducing their usefulness in dynamic combat.

Low-Tier Spectres: Abyssal Walkers, Strangers, and Larvae

Several spectres in the Abyssal Depths perform poorly despite having visually impressive abilities. The Abyssal Walker, for example, can release exploding souls, creating a flashy AoE effect. However, its slow movement, poor numerical performance, and low durability make it a poor choice for practical play. Similarly, the Abyssal Stranger, Flesh Larvae, and Gargantuan Larvae all fail to meet the performance standards necessary for endgame effectiveness.

Gargantuan Larvae in particular demonstrate a curious mechanic—a mortar-like attack—but their AI behavior prevents effective usage. It almost seems as if these units are “brain-rotted,” unable to function properly in combat despite their theoretical potential. Abyssal Shamblers share a similar fate, being too slow and weak to justify summoning.

The Pit Units: Strider, Haran, and Fungo

The Strider of the Pit introduces an interesting case. Equipped with a slam ability on a 20-second cooldown, it functions similarly to the Haran units from Act Four. Both have comparable attacks per second (APS) and damage numbers, making their effectiveness nearly identical. Choosing between Strider and Haran often comes down to aesthetics and personal preference, though neither can match the Frozen Mandibles or the Vulgars in overall utility.

Other Pit units, such as Fungo to the Pit and Primordium of the Pits, are largely impractical. Fungo is notably slow, making it frustrating to use, while Primordium lacks significant damage or survivability. Even medium-speed spectres like Primordium fail to live up to expectations, further highlighting the ongoing issue of AI and movement speed across many Abyssal Spectres.

Hounds of the Pits: Small vs. Large

The Hounds of the Pits are divided into two categories: small and large. The small Hounds are exceptionally weak, with poor HP and damage numbers. They function similarly to surglings in Starcraft—numerous but practically useless. The large Hounds fare slightly better, boasting stronger damage output. However, their HP remains insufficient for melee units to survive high-damage encounters, severely limiting their practical use in endgame content. Overall, both versions fail to perform reliably, especially when faced with AoE attacks or densely packed enemy formations.

Observations on AI and Movement Speed

Across almost all Abyssal Spectres, a recurring issue is slow movement. Units that cannot keep pace with the player are frustrating to manage, often getting left behind or failing to contribute meaningfully to combat. Even spectres with flashy abilities, impressive visual design, or high theoretical damage often fail in practice if their AI prioritizes ineffective skills or they lack mobility.

Another notable observation is the inconsistency in performance caused by multiple abilities. Units with several attack or spell options often underperform because their AI does not prioritize the most effective skill. This inconsistency affects endgame viability and highlights an area where Grinding Gear Games could refine spectre behavior for better gameplay balance.

Endgame Recommendations

After extensive testing, the recommended Abyssal Spectres for endgame use are:

Frozen Mandibles (“Cocaine Ants”) – Fast, high damage, reliable.

Vulgars and Powered Cellots – Strong contenders, slightly less consistent than Frozen Mandibles.

Strider of the Pit and Haran – Solid but less competitive, mainly personal preference.

Spectres outside this top tier—such as Lightless Venge Wing, Lightless Serpent, Abyssal Walkers, Blackblooded Probite, and various Larvae—struggle due to poor movement speed, low HP, inconsistent skill usage, or insufficient damage. While some units look incredible and offer flashy abilities, performance ultimately dictates usefulness in high-level PoE2 gameplay.

Conclusion

The Abyssal Spectres in Path of Exile 2 offer players a diverse range of summonable units with unique abilities, aesthetics, and mechanics. However, the reality of endgame performance highlights significant disparities in usefulness. Speed, damage, POE 2 Currency for sale, and AI behavior all play crucial roles in determining which spectres are effective.

Frozen Mandibles stand alone as the top-tier choice, with Vulgars and Powered Cellots trailing closely behind. Spectres like Strider of the Pit, Haran, and various Pit units provide interesting alternatives but generally cannot compete at the highest level. Many visually impressive units—Abyssal Walkers, Larvae, Blackblooded Probite, and Shamblers—fail to deliver meaningful performance due to slow movement and inconsistent AI.