Currency and Crafting

Crafting plays a huge role in your character’s progression and is one of the core systems in the game. The system in Path of Exile 2 is designed to balance being accessible for beginners while also providing enough complexity for advanced or veteran players.

At its core, crafting is all about getting better items. To do so, the system relies heavily on in-game currency, each with unique effects, typically modifying item affixes. However, once an item has been modified, the changes cannot be reverted. This means that you have to remain careful when deciding if you want to modify an item, no matter its base rarity.

In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about PoE2‘s crafting system, the various currencies, and how they fit into your progression journey.

Crafting Overview

Crafting in PoE2 revolves around improving items, either through changing modifiers, adding sockets, or upgrading item rarity. Each piece of gear starts as a “base item,” which you can build upon by using currency items. However, crafting is not as forgiving as it was in the first game (Path of Exile 1). For example, there are no Orbs of Scouring in PoE 2, so you cannot just erase unwanted modifiers and try again. Every crafting decision matters!

Crafting lets you:

• Upgrade rarity: Turn a Normal item into Magic or Rare.
• Modify modifiers: Add, remove, or reroll item modifiers (depending on the currency used).
• Add sockets: Slot runes into gear so that you can make use of their powerful effects.
• Adjust quality: Improve an item’s base stats.

Be smart with your resources! Many currencies are harder to find or better saved for endgame, so do not burn through them on low-level gear unless absolutely necessary!

Currency Overview: Orbs

Orbs are the most common type of crafting currency, and each one has a specific purpose:

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Orb of Transmutation	Upgrades a Normal item to Magic (1 modifier).
	Orb of Augmentation	Adds a random modifier to a Magic item.
	Orb of Alchemy	Upgrades a Normal item to Rare (4 modifiers).
	Regal Orb	Upgrades a Magic item to Rare, keeping its existing modifiers.
	Orb of Chance	Has a chance to upgrade a Normal item to Unique or destroy it.
	Chaos Orb	Replaces a random modifier on a Rare item with a new one.
	Exalted Orb	Adds a new random modifier to a Rare item.
	Divine Orb	Randomizes numeric values of existing modifiers.
	Orb of Annulment	Removes a random modifier from an item.
	Artificer’s Orb	Adds a socket to a Martial Weapon or Armour.
	Vaal Orb	Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictably.
	Lesser Jeweller’s Orb	Sets a skill gem to have 2 support gem sockets. It will overwrite the previous number of sockets if the gem had more or fewer before.
	Greater Jeweller’s Orb	Sets a skill gem to have 3 support gem sockets, replacing the current number if different.
	Perfect Jeweller’s Orb	Sets a skill gem to have 5 support gem sockets. Use this when you want the maximum number of sockets. It does not add sockets — it replaces the current amount.
	Fracturing Orb	Fractures a random modifier on a Rare item with at least 4 modifiers, locking it in place.

Some Orbs have the possibility to drop as a Greater or Perfect Orb as well. The Greater and perfect Orbs do the same thing as their predecessor, but with their own minimum modifier levels.

• Greater Orb of Transmutation
• Perfect Orb of Transmutation
• Greater Orb of Augmentation
• Perfect Orb of Augmentation
• Greater Chaos Orb
• Perfect Chaos Orb
• Greater Regal Orb
• Perfect Regal Orb
• Greater Exalted Orb
• Perfect Exalted Orb

The fractured modifier of the Fracturing Orb cannot be changed or removed by further crafting. These orbs drop from Cleansed Maps and are a powerful tool for targeted item crafting. Furthermore, the Fracturing Orb is only usable on rare items with 4+ modifiers and is part of the Corruption and Cleansed Nexus endgame system.

In addition to the Orbs, there are a few other items that can be used in the same way, such as:

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Scroll of Wisdom	Identifies an item.
	Arcanist’s Etcher	Improves the quality of a Wand, Staff, or Sceptre
	Armourer’s Scrap	Improves the quality of armor.
	Blacksmith’s Whetstone	Improves the quality of a Martial Weapon
	Gemcutter’s Prism	Improves the quality of a Skill Gem.
	Glassblower’s Bauble	Improves the quality of a flask.
	Mirror of Kalandra	Creates a mirrored copy of an item.
	Hinekora’s Lock	Allows an item to foresee the result of the next Currency item used on it. Modifying the item in any way removes the ability to foresee.

Lastly, collecting 10 of the following Shards will create a respective Orb (you can Shift-click to unstack):

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Artificer’s Shard	A stack of 10 Shards becomes an Artificer’s Orb.
	Chance Shard	A stack of 10 shards becomes an Orb of Chance.
	Regal Shard	A stack of 10 shards becomes a Regal Orb.
	Transmutation Shard	A stack of 10 shards becomes an Orb of Transmutation.

Recombination Crafting

Introduced with the Expedition system, Recombination allows you to combine two items of the same type and select which modifiers you want to keep. If successful, the new item keeps the selected mods from both items. However, the more mods you select, the lower your chance of success, and failure destroys both items. You will need special artifacts from Expeditions to use this crafting method.

Essences

Essences allow you to add specific modifiers to items. They are perfect for when you want a guaranteed outcome rather than rolling the dice with other orbs. You will find them during respective encounters in the Atlas of Worlds.

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Essence of Battle	Adds an Attack modifier.
	Essence of Sorcery	Adds a Caster modifier.
	Essence of Flames	Adds a Fire modifier.
	Essence of Ice	Adds a Cold modifier.
	Essence of Ruin	Adds a Chaos modifier.
	Essence of Enhancement	Adds a Defence modifier.
	Essence of Torment	Adds a Physical modifier.
	Essence of Electricity	Adds a Lightning modifier.
	Essence of Haste	Adds a Speed modifier.
	Essence of the Body	Adds a Life modifier.
	Essence of the Mind	Adds a Mana modifier.
	Essence of the Infinite	Adds an Attribute modifier.

Essences are a special type of crafting currency in Path of Exile 2 that allow you to force a specific modifier onto an item. Unlike Chaos Orbs or rerolls that add randomness, Essences guarantee that their mod will appear, making them powerful tools for targeted crafting.

How to Obtain Essences

• Rare Essence Monsters: Found in maps, encased in crystalline prisons. Defeat them to claim their Essence.
• Trading: Many players sell Essences in bulk, making trade a reliable source.
• Campaign vs. Endgame:
  • Lesser Essences: Appear only during campaign leveling and lose value quickly.
  • Normal/Greater/Perfect: Used in mapping and endgame crafting.

Essence Tiers

• Lesser – Campaign only; useful while leveling, but not valuable later.
• Normal – Core versions that add guaranteed modifiers; good for mid-game crafting.
• Greater – Stronger effects; often reserved for endgame gear.
• Perfect – Special type: instead of adding, they replace an existing modifier on a Rare item with their guaranteed Perfect version.
• Mark of the Abyssal Lord (Essence of the Abyss) – Grants a unique Mark of the Abyssal Lord modifier.
  • Interacts with Desecrate (new Abyss crafting currency):
    • Desecrate removes the Mark.
    • Replaces it with a stronger, hidden modifier revealed later.
• This creates a two-step crafting system where the Essence sets up an item for future Abyss-specific upgrades.

Crafting Tip: Perfect Essences respect prefix/suffix slots. If you are aiming for a Prefix (like Life), make sure you leave a Prefix slot open. Otherwise, the Essence will overwrite one of your existing Prefixes at random.

Essences are the go-to currency for targeted early and mid-game crafting, and Perfect Essences open up late-game precision upgrades. Combined with the new Abyss mechanic and Desecrate, they have a larger role than ever in Path of Exile 2’s item crafting ecosystem.

Gems and Sockets

Skill Gems and Support Gems define how your character fights, defends, and interacts with the world.

Type of Gems

• 
  • Uncut Skill Gems: These are your active skills and abilities.
• 
  • Uncut Spirit Gems: Spirit-based abilities that drain your Spirit pool.
• 
  • Uncut Support Gems: These can improve or modify the effects of Skill Gems.

The spirit pool, or spirit bar, is visible on the left outside of your mana globe. Similar to how the energy shield is displayed next to your health orb/globe, the spirit pool is attached to your mana globe.

Sockets and Runes

To add a socket, you need the previously mentioned Artificer’s Orbs. These can randomly drop from any type of enemy. Runes are items that can be inserted into a socket, but each item has a fixed number of maximum sockets it can have:

• 2 Sockets for Weapons (Note: Only martial weapons can have sockets. So, no Scepters or Staffs.)
• 2 Sockets for Body Armor
• 1 Socket for Gloves
• 1 Socket for Boots
• 1 Socket for Helmets

Runes have 3 tiers: Lesser, Regular, and Greater. You can combine 3 Lesser Runes into 1 Regular Rune, and 3 Regular Runes into 1 Greater Rune.

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Body Rune	Weapon: Leeches 3% of Physical Damage as Life Armor: +25 to maximum Life
	Desert Rune	Weapon: Gain 6/8/10% of Damage as Extra Fire Damage Armor: +12% to Fire Resistance
	Glacial Rune	Weapon: Gain 6/8/10% of Damage as Extra Cold Damage Armor: +12% Cold Resistance
	Inspiration Rune	Weapon: Gain 10 Mana per Enemy Killed Armor: 15% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
	Iron Rune	Weapon: 14/16/18% increased Physical Damage Armor: 20% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield
	Mind Rune	Weapon: +30/40/50 to maximum Mana Armor: 14/16/18% increased Armor, Evasion, and Energy Shield
	Rebirth Rune	Weapon: Gain 20 Life per Enemy Killed Armor: Regenerate 0.3% of Life per second
	Stone Rune	Weapon: +40/60/80 to Stun Threshold on Armor Armor: +40 to Stun Threshold
	Storm Rune	Weapon: Gain 6/8/10% of Damage as Extra Lightning Damage Armor: +12% to Lightning Resistance
	Vision Rune	Weapon: +100 to Accuracy Rating Armor: 10% increased Life and Mana recovery from Flasks

Endgame Runes

Endgame runes can drop in different places, but you cannot upgrade other runes (combine three) to get them. Some runes only appear as rewards from certain maps or bosses. Each rune is meant for specific gear, like Countess Seske’s Rune of Archery, that only fits in a bow. You can also get them by trading with other players. They are typically more powerful than normal Runes.

List of all available endgame Runes (click to open)

• Countess Seske’s Rune of Archery – Bows: Bow Attacks fire an additional Arrow
• Courtesan Mannan’s Rune of Cruelty – Gloves: 15% increased Magnitude of Damaging Ailments you inflict
• Craiceann’s Rune of Recovery – Body Armours: 50% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate
• Craiceann’s Rune of Warding – Body Armours: 40% reduced effect of Curses on you
• Farrul’s Rune of Grace – Boots: 6% reduced Movement Speed Penalty from using Skills while moving
• Farrul’s Rune of the Chase – Boots: 5% increased Movement Speed
• Farrul’s Rune of the Hunt – Martial Weapon: 50% increased Attack Damage against Rare or Unique Enemies
• Fenumus’ Rune of Agony – Martial Weapon: Gain 13% of Damage as Extra Chaos Damage; Wand or Staff: Gain 13% of Damage as Extra Chaos Damage
• Fenumus’ Rune of Draining – Gloves: 20% increased Withered Magnitude
• Fenumus’ Rune of Spinning – Gloves: 8% increased Cast Speed
• Hedgewitch Assandra’s Rune of Wisdom – Wand or Staff: +1 to Level of all Spell Skills
• Lady Hestra’s Rune of Winter – Martial Weapon: Adds 19 to 28 Cold Damage
• Saqawal’s Rune of Erosion – Helmets: 20% increased Exposure Effect
• Saqawal’s Rune of Memory – Helmets: 2% increased Experience gain
• Saqawal’s Rune of the Sky – Martial Weapon: Gain 5% of Damage as Extra Damage of all Elements; Wand or Staff: Gain 5% of Damage as Extra Damage of all Elements
• Thane Girt’s Rune of Wildness – Wand or Staff: 25% chance for Spell Skills to fire 2 additional Projectiles
• Thane Grannell’s Rune of Mastery – Gloves: 20% increased Magnitude of Non-Damaging Ailments you inflict
• Thane Leld’s Rune of Spring – Martial Weapon: Adds 1 to 60 Lightning Damage
• Thane Myrk’s Rune of Summer – Martial Weapon: Adds 23 to 34 Fire Damage
• The Greatwolf’s Rune of Claws – Gloves: Adds 5 to 12 Physical Damage to Attacks

Omens

Omens let you control the outcome of certain currency items as long as you have the respective Omen in your inventory; therefore, they reduce randomness during crafting. Found in Ritual encounters, they are especially important for perfecting gear.

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Omen of Amelioration	Prevents 75% of experience loss upon death.
	Omen of Corruption	Makes your next Vaal Orb outcome more unpredictable.
	Omen of Dextral Annulment	Ensures your next Orb of Annulment removes only suffix modifiers.
	Omen of Dextral Erasure	Ensures your next Chaos Orb removes only suffix modifiers.
	Omen of Dextral Exaltation	Ensures your next Exalted Orb adds only suffix modifiers.
	Omen of Greater Exaltation	Ensures your next Exalted Orb adds two random modifiers.
	Omen of Refreshment	Fully recovers Flask and Charm charges when reaching Low Life.
	Omen of Resurgence	Fully recovers Life, Mana, and Energy Shield when reaching Low Life.
	Omen of Sinistral Annulment	Ensures your next Orb of Annulment removes only prefix modifiers.
	Omen of Sinistral Erasure	Ensures your next Chaos Orb removes only prefix modifiers.
	Omen of Sinistral Exaltation	Ensures your next Exalted Orb adds only prefix modifiers.
	Omen of Whittling	Ensures your next Chaos Orb removes the lowest-level modifier.
	Omen of Chaotic Rarity	Ensures that your next Chaos Orb replaces all modifiers on a Waystone with modifiers that grant Item Rarity.
	Omen of Chaotic Quantity	Ensures that your next Chaos Orb will replace all modifiers on a Waystone with modifiers that grant Pack Size.
	Omen of Chaotic Monsters	Ensures that your next Chaos Orb will replace all modifiers on a Waystone with modifiers that grant Rare and Magic Monsters.
	Omen of the Ancients	Ensures that your next Orb of Chance will upgrade the item to a random Unique of the same item class.
	Omen of Homogenising Exaltation	Ensures that your next Exalted Orb will add a modifier of the same type as an existing modifier on the item.
	Omen of Catalysing Exaltation	Ensures that your next Exalted Orb will consume all Catalyst quality to increase the chance of the corresponding type of modifier.
	Omen of Chance	Ensures that your next Orb of Chance will not destroy the item.
	Omen of Sinistral Crystallisation	Ensures that your next Perfect or Corrupted Essence will remove only Prefix modifiers.
	Omen of Dextral Crystallisation	Ensures that your next Perfect or Corrupted Essence will remove only Suffix modifiers.
	Omen of Homogenising Coronation	Ensures that the next Regal Orb will add a modifier of the same type as an existing modifier on the item.
	Omen of Sanctification	Ensures that your next Divine Orb used on a Rare item will Sanctify it.
	Omen of the Blessed	Ensures that your next Divine Orb will only reroll Implicit Modifiers.
	Omen of Answered Prayers	Ensures that your next Shrine you click will grant an additional effect.
	Omen of Bartering	Ensures that the next item you sell will have its gold value incorrectly assessed by the vendor.
	Omen of Gambling	Ensures that your next gamble purchase has a 50% chance of costing no Gold and not consuming this Omen.
	Omen of Recombination	Ensures that your next Predictable Recombination is Lucky.
	Omen of Reinforcements	Ensures that your next Rogue Exile you encounter will summon an ally.
	Omen of Secret Compartments	Ensures that the next Strongbox you click can be reopened.
	Omen of the Hunt	Ensures that the next Possessed monster you kill will release its Azmeri Spirit.

Omens are great for reducing risk and giving you more control over your next craft, especially in late-game item creation.

Abyss Omens

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Omen of Abyssal Echoes	Ensures that the next time you reveal Desecrated modifiers, you can reroll the options once.
	Omen of Dextral Necromancy	Ensures that your next Desecration attempt will add only suffix modifiers.
	Omen of Light	Ensures that your next Orb of Annulment will remove only Desecrated modifiers.
	Omen of Putrefaction	Ensures that your next Desecration attempt will replace all modifiers on the item, creating up to 6 Desecrated modifiers and Corrupting the item.
	Omen of Sinistral Necromancy	Ensures that your next Desecration attempt will add only prefix modifiers.
	Omen of the Blackblooded	Ensures that your next Desecration attempt guarantees a random Kurgal modifier.
	Omen of the Liege	Ensures that your next Desecration attempt guarantees a random Amanamu modifier.
	Omen of the Sovereign	Ensures that your next Desecration attempt guarantees a random Ulaman modifier.

Soul Cores

Soul Cores are unique modifiers that can be slotted into gear. They come from completing Trials of Chaos and offer effects not found on other crafting items. Here is a complete list of Soul Cores:

Icon	Item Name	Weapon Effect	Armor Effect
	Soul Core of Atmohua	Converts 20% requirements to Strength	Converts 20% requirements to Strength
	Soul Core of Azcapa	+15 to Spirit	10% increased rarity of items found
	Soul Core of Cholotl	Converts 20% requirements to Dexterity	Converts 20% requirements to Dexterity
	Soul Core of Citaqualotl	30% increased elemental damage with attacks	+5% to all elemental resistances
	Soul Core of Jiquani	Recover 2% life on kill	+2% maximum life
	Soul Core of Opiloti	15% chance to cause bleeding on hit	10% increased charm charges gained
	Soul Core of Puhuarte	30% increased chance to ignite	+1% to maximum fire resistance
	Soul Core of Quipolatl	5% increased attack speed	10% reduced slowing debuff potency
	Soul Core of Tacati	15% chance to poison on hit	+7% to chaos resistance
	Soul Core of Ticaba	+12% to critical damage bonus	10% reduced critical hit damage taken
	Soul Core of Topotante	Penetrates 15% elemental resistances	15% increased elemental ailment threshold
	Soul Core of Tzamoto	20% increased freeze buildup	+1% to maximum cold resistance
	Soul Core of Xopec	30% increased chance to shock	+1% to maximum lightning resistance
	Soul Core of Zalatl	Recover 2% mana on kill	+2% maximum mana
	Soul Core of Zantipi	Converts 20% requirements to Intelligence	Converts 20% requirements to Intelligence

Soul Cores offer rare, build-defining effects and are ideal for players pushing Trials of Chaos content!

Catalysts

Catalysts are rewards from Breach encounters. They let you add quality to rings and amulets, improving specific types of modifiers. For example, a Flesh Catalyst will add quality that improves life modifiers on a ring or amulet.

Examples:

• Adaptive Catalyst: Boosts Attribute modifiers.
• Neural Catalyst: Improves Mana modifiers.
• Flesh Catalyst: Improves Life modifiers.
• Carapace Catalyst: Improves Defense modifiers.
• Reaver Catalyst: Improves Attack modifiers.

Catalysts are great for perfecting rings and amulets once you have found solid base items.

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Adaptive Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Attribute modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Carapace Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Defence modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Chayula’s Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Chaos modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Esh’s Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Lightning modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Flesh Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Life modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Neural Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Mana modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Reaver Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Attack modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Sibilant Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Caster modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Skittering Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Speed modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Tul’s Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Cold modifiers on a ring or amulet. Replaces other quality types
	Uul-Netol’s Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Physical modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.
	Xoph’s Catalyst	Adds quality that enhances Fire modifiers on a Ring or Amulet. Replaces other quality types.

Liquid Emotions

Liquid Emotions (previously known as Distilled Emotions) drop in Delirium encounters and allow you to add unreachable passive skills from the tree to your amulet. For example, If there is a passive on the opposite side of the passive skill tree that you want, you can combine different Liquid Emotions to add that passive to your amulet. This opens up new build possibilities and allows for even more customization.

Icon	Item Name	Effect
	Concentrated Liquid Isolation	Players in Area are 50% Delirious
	Diluted Liquid Ire	Players in Area are 7% Delirious 20% Increased Magic Monsters
	Diluted Liquid Guilt	Players in Area are 9% Delirious 8% Increased Pack Size
	Diluted Liquid Greed	Players in Area are 10% Delirious 8% Increased Rarity of Items found in this Area
	Liquid Paranoia	Players in Area are 12% Delirious 15% Increased number of Rare Monsters
	Liquid Envy	Players in Area are 15% Delirious 30% Increased Waystones found in Area
	Liquid Disgust	Players in Area are 18% Delirious 30% Increased Precursor Tablets found in Area
	Liquid Despair	Players in Area are 20% Delirious 30% Increased Stack size of Simulacrum Splinters found in Area
	Concentrated Liquid Fear	Players in Area are 22% Delirious Rare Monsters have a 25% chance to have an additional Modifier
	Concentrated Liquid Suffering	Players in Area are 25% Delirious Unique Monsters have 1 additional Modifier

These modifiers let your amulet act like a mini passive tree extension: Powerful, but limited to Delirium content.

Corruption

Corrupting items can provide massive power spikes, but only if you are lucky. Corrupting an item is very risky. So make sure you are certain of your decision! You can use Vaal Orbs or Corruption Altars to modify items permanently.

Possible outcomes of Corruption:

• Add implicit modifiers.
• Modify the numerical rolls of existing modifiers (can exceed normal limits for Unique items).
• Apply a Chaos Orb-like effect to Rare items, rerolling all modifiers.
• Add or remove sockets.
• Leave the item unchanged – or ruin it entirely.

Corruption is high-risk, high-reward, so only use it on items you are willing to lose!

Lastly, Corruption mechanics also apply to Essences as well. Using a Vaal Orb on an Essence can transform it into a Corrupted Essence with unpredictable effects.

Disenchanting & Salvaging

• Disenchanting: Break down unwanted Magic or Rare items for currency shards.
• Salvaging: Use the Salvage Bench to dismantle quality-enhanced gear (e.g. items that have modifiers or sockets on them) for crafting resources.

Both systems are great for recycling gear into usable materials. You should always salvage or disenchant your gear first, before selling it. Sell only items that you can neither salvage nor disenchant.