Path of Exile 2: Crafting Currency Explained

Path of Exile 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Path of Exile, is expanding the already deep and intricate world of crafting. Whether you're a veteran of the original game or a newcomer, understanding the various crafting currencies available in PoE 2 will be a crucial step in your journey to creating powerful gear. In this guide, we'll cover the essential crafting currencies, explain their usage, and provide tips on how to maximize your crafting experience in Path of Exile 2.

Introduction to Crafting in Path of Exile 2

Crafting in Path of Exile 2 remains one of the core features of the game, offering players the chance to create their own powerful gear with specific mods, stats, and attributes. Unlike other ARPGs where crafting might be limited to finding random loot, Path of Exile allows players to have full control over item stats with the right materials.

The crafting system is powered by various currencies that can alter items in different ways. Some currencies are used to add or modify affixes (such as damage boosts, resistances, or life), while others change an item's base or roll its values in a specific way.

Understanding Crafting Currencies

There are two main categories of crafting currencies in PoE 2:

Base Crafting Materials: These are used to create or modify items.

Modifiers or Affix Modifiers: These are used to add, reroll, or change the properties of items.

Each currency has specific functions, and players can combine them in various ways to craft powerful and desirable items. Below, we break down the most common and important crafting currencies you'll encounter in Path of Exile 2.

Base Crafting Materials

Orb of Transmutation

The Orb of Transmutation is one of the most basic crafting materials in Path of Exile 2. It is used to turn a normal (white) item into a magical (blue) item, granting it one to two random mods. This POE 2 Orbs is often used at the beginning of your crafting journey to upgrade white base items into items with affixes.

Usage: Converts normal items to magic.

Crafting Tip: Use Transmutation Orbs on high-quality base items that have good potential for useful mods. Don't waste them on low-level items you plan to upgrade further.

Orb of Alchemy

Similar to the Orb of Transmutation, the Orb of Alchemy upgrades a magic item into a rare (yellow) item with three to six random affixes. This orb is an essential tool for those looking to quickly craft powerful endgame items, though the randomness of affix generation can be both a blessing and a curse.

Usage: Upgrades magic items to rare items.

Crafting Tip: If you're looking for high-value rare items, using an Orb of Alchemy on items with good base stats is essential. This orb can also be useful when you need high-tier mods for crafting high-end gear.

Orb of Scouring

The Orb of Scouring is a valuable tool for removing all mods from an item, reverting it back to its base state. While it's a powerful currency, it's often used in combination with other orbs to reroll specific mods after a base item has been upgraded to rare status.

Usage: Removes all affixes from an item.

Crafting Tip: Keep a stockpile of these for when you're crafting endgame gear and need to start over with a clean slate. Scouring Orbs are also essential when trying to remove unwanted mods from an item before adding your own.

Affix Modifiers

Regal Orb

The Regal Orb upgrades a magic item into a rare item. However, unlike the Orb of Alchemy, the Regal Orb adds a single additional affix to a magic item, transforming it into a rare one. This orb is particularly useful when trying to refine an already decent magic item into something truly valuable.

Usage: Upgrades a magic item to a rare item and adds one additional random affix.

Crafting Tip: Use Regal Orbs on items with desirable magic mods to potentially gain an additional powerful affix without wasting a full Alchemy Orb. Consider combining Regal Orbs with other crafting methods to maximize their potential.

Chaos Orb

Arguably one of the most iconic currencies in Path of Exile and continuing into PoE 2, the Chaos Orb is a wildcard for crafting. It rerolls all affixes on a rare item, granting you a completely new set of random stats. The randomness can be both exciting and frustrating, as it's possible to end up with worse stats than before.

Usage: Rerolls the affixes on a rare item.

Crafting Tip: The Chaos Orb is best used when you're comfortable with the randomness and need to hit the jackpot on an item's affixes. It's especially useful for targeting high-value mods like damage boosts or resistances. However, don't waste too many Chaos Orbs unless you're crafting with a high-tier base item that has substantial potential.

Exalted Orb

The Exalted Orb is another coveted currency, and it's used to add a random affix to a rare item. This is a way to increase the power of your rare gear, particularly when you want to push for more mods or aim for specific attributes.

Usage: Adds a random affix to a rare item.

Crafting Tip: Exalted Orbs are typically used when you already have a decent rare item but want to add a specific mod. Be careful not to waste these on items that are close to perfect, as adding the wrong affix can ruin the item.

Divine Orb

The Divine Orb is used to re-roll the numeric values of existing affixes on a rare item. This is useful when you want to fine-tune an item's stats without changing its affixes entirely. Whether you're trying to max out the damage on a weapon or boost the life or resistance on a piece of armor, the Divine Orb is the way to go.

Usage: Re-rolls the numeric values of affixes on a rare item.

Crafting Tip: Use Divine Orbs to fine-tune your gear, especially if you're trying to optimize the performance of a piece of equipment. Divine Orbs are best used on items that already have desirable affixes but need some tweaking.

Specialized Crafting Currencies

In addition to the common crafting materials, PoE 2 also introduces specialized currencies designed for specific crafting tasks:

Fossils and Resonators

Fossils are a set of unique crafting materials that can be used in Resonators to modify how affixes roll on an item. Each Fossil has a specific effect that influences the types of mods that can appear. For example, an "Abyssal Fossil" may increase the chance for socket mods, while a "Hunter's Fossil" could boost specific affixes like damage types.

Usage: Insert Fossils into Resonators to modify affix rolls.

Crafting Tip: Learn how to combine different Fossils for targeted crafting. The specialized properties of Fossils can help you focus on certain affix types, making it easier to craft endgame gear with specific stats.

Catalysts

Catalysts are another crafting item used to boost specific properties of items like flasks or rings. While they are less common than the other currencies mentioned, they are highly valuable for fine-tuning specific aspects of your gear.

Usage: Increases the effectiveness of certain properties of items.

Crafting Tip: Use Catalysts on items that can benefit from boosted properties, like rings with elemental resistances or flasks with better effects.

Crafting Strategy and Tips

Know Your Goals: Are you aiming for high-end gear with perfect stats, or are you content with mid-tier gear? This will determine how much you're willing to invest in crafting.

Farm Efficiently: Collecting crafting currencies takes time, and often the best method is to farm specific maps, engage in crafting events, or purchase specific items from other players.

Be Patient: Crafting in PoE 2 can be a long and expensive process, so don't expect instant results. Sometimes, the right item can take multiple attempts to create.

Conclusion

Crafting in Path of Exile 2 is as intricate and rewarding as ever. By understanding the various crafting currencies and how they interact, you can begin crafting high-quality items that will help you succeed in your adventures. If you want to get these items quickly, you can also get them through poe2 trade in mmoexp. Whether you're upgrading your weapons, armor, or accessories, mastering the crafting economy is crucial to making the most out of your PoE 2 experience. Happy crafting!