Path of Exile 2：How to Get and Use Corpsewade (Iron Greaves)
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) is a game known for its depth, build diversity, and compelling loot. Among the many unique items introduced or reworked in this sequel, Corpsewade (Iron Greaves) stands out as a must-have for niche but incredibly powerful summoner and corpse-manipulation builds. If you're new to the game or looking to optimize your character, this guide will cover everything you need to know about how to obtain Corpsewade, its stats, mechanics, best builds, and tactical uses.
What is Corpsewade (Iron Greaves)?
Corpsewade is a unique pair of boots based on the Iron Greaves base type. While the Iron Greaves base itself is a low-level item offering basic armor, Corpsewade's unique modifiers turn it into an engine for corpse-based skill mechanics—a popular and often devastating type of gameplay in PoE 2.
Basic Item Description:
Name: Corpsewade
Base Type: Iron Greaves
Required Level: Varies by drop tier, typically around level 12–20
Item Class: Armor (Boots)
Unique Modifiers (Example stats – exact values may vary):
+X% to Movement Speed
+X to Maximum Life
Corpses you create have increased Health
You create a Corpse when you use a Movement Skill
+X% to Minion Damage if you've created a corpse recently
(Optional corruptions or influence mods may appear)
Why is Corpsewade Good?
Corpsewade isn't just another pair of early-game boots. It's a keystone item for builds that revolve around corpses, such as:
Summoners (Skeletons, Zombies, Spectres)
Corpse Explosion or Volatile Dead builds
Necromancer and Witch classes
Deathmark and Offering skill chains
Key Strengths:
Auto-Corpse Generation: Movement skills like Flame Dash, Leap Slam, or Blink now leave behind a corpse. This turns utility skills into damage and synergy triggers.
Corpse Health Scaling: If you use abilities like Detonate Dead or Corpse-based minions, having high-HP corpses significantly improves damage and survivability.
Minion Buffing: The passive minion damage boost synergizes perfectly with fast-paced summoner builds.
How to Get Corpsewade
There are several ways to acquire Corpsewade, depending on your progression in the game.
1. World Drops
Corpsewade can drop from rare monsters and bosses starting from Act 2 or 3, especially in areas with corpse-themed zones (like catacombs, haunted ruins, etc.).
Drop Level: ~12+
Best Areas to Farm:
The Crypts (Act 2)
Graveyard tilesets
Corpse-laden zones with Necromancer-type monsters
2. Vendor Recipe (Random Uniques)
Once you reach Act 4 or 5, you can:
Sell a full rare set (helmet, body armor, gloves, boots, weapon, shield) + 1 Chaos Orb → Receive a random unique, which might be Corpsewade if you're lucky.
3. Corruption and Drop Modifiers
Using mechanics like:
Essence of Greed or Horror (to boost life mods)
Vaal Orbs (to corrupt Iron Greaves into Corpsewade)
Corrupted Strongboxes (have higher chances for corrupted uniques)
4. Trading
In trade leagues, you can often find Corpsewade for sale via NPC traders or other players. Expect to pay:
~1–3 Chaos Orbs in early leagues
More if it has good rolls or a corruption modifier
How to Use Corpsewade Effectively
Once you have Corpsewade, here's how to make the most of its unique properties.
Trigger Corpse Generation via Movement Skills
Equip one or more of the following:
Flame Dash
Frostblink
Leap Slam
Dash
Whirling Blades
Using these movement skills not only aids in mobility but leaves a corpse behind each time, which fuels your main damage and utility mechanics.
Synergize with Corpse-Based Skills
Best Skills to Pair With Corpsewade:
Skill and Why It Works
Volatile Dead：Explodes generated corpses for burst fireballs
Detonate Dead：High damage that scales with corpse HP
Unearth：Can combo with movement for instant corpse spam
Raise Zombie/Spectre：Corpses = fuel for raising minions
Flesh Offering/Bone Offering：Consume nearby corpses for minion bonuses
Passive and Tree Synergies
Look for these nodes and supports:
Minion Life nodes
Minion Damage and Corpse-based clusters
Spiritual Command, Grave Intentions, Lord of the Dead
Ascendancy Synergy: Necromancer's "Corpse Pact" or "Flesh Binder"
Build Examples Featuring Corpsewade
Build 1: Corpse Explosion Necromancer (Beginner Friendly)
Main Skill: Detonate Dead / Volatile Dead
Support Gems: Elemental Focus, Spell Echo, Controlled Destruction
Core Mechanic: Dash to generate corpses → explode with spells
Why It Works: You're never out of corpses, and they scale damage with health thanks to Corpsewade.
Build 2: Minion Swarm General
Main Skill: Raise Zombie + Spectre + Summon Skeletons
Support Gems: Minion Damage, Minion Speed, Feeding Frenzy
Core Mechanic: Use Flame Dash constantly to generate corpses, then raise an army.
Why It Works: Boosted minion damage, guaranteed corpse supply, great for leveling.
Build 3: Physical Offering Assassin Hybrid
Main Skill: Blade Vortex + Offering
Use: Corpsewade gives corpses for offering boosts, allowing attack/cast speed gains.
Why It Works: Combines mobility and corpse generation for fast-paced action.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Infinite Corpse Loops
With fast cooldown movement skills (and enough mana regen), you can chain cast Dash or Flame Dash to leave multiple corpses per second, creating:
Corpse walls for body-blocking
Continuous damage loops with Explode mechanics
Defensive Layering
Corpses generated via movement can also:
Act as shields against corpse-targeting enemies
Be consumed instantly for regen or healing effects
Gear Synergy Ideas:
Aukuna's Will: Grants Raise Zombie without corpses—combines well with Corpsewade for on-demand summoning.
Midnight Bargain: High minion synergy.
Vaal Summon Skeletons: Can be activated more often thanks to abundant corpses.
What NOT to Do with Corpsewade
Even though it's a strong item, Corpsewade isn't ideal in every scenario:
Don't Use for Non-Corpse Builds
If your build doesn't:
Use minions,
Detonate corpses,
Or offer corpse-based utility (like Necromancer ascendancy), ... then Corpsewade is just wasted inventory space.
Avoid Freezing Ground or Burn Maps
Corpses can be destroyed or burned in certain environments, which negates the item's effects. Watch out for:
Burning Ground affixes
"No corpse creation" modifiers
Upgrading and Transitioning from Corpsewade
Eventually, you may want to upgrade to better gear. Here's when to swap out Corpsewade:
You're no longer corpse-reliant
You need higher resistances or armor
You're in endgame maps with demanding affixes
However, some players keep Corpsewade in their inventory and swap it in for specific boss fights or corpse-heavy maps.
Final Thoughts: Should You Use Corpsewade?
Corpsewade is one of the most powerful leveling and mid-tier unique boots for summoners and corpse casters in Path of Exile 2. Whether you're blowing up the screen with Volatile Dead or raising a legion of undead, the synergy, utility, and gameplay flow it offers is unmatched for corpse-based builds.
It helps solve one of the most frustrating early-game problems—how to consistently generate corpses—while offering meaningful stat bonuses and movement enhancements.
If you plan to explore any necromantic playstyle in PoE 2, Corpsewade is a cornerstone item that deserves a slot in your stash tab—and possibly on your feet.
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