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Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) promises to take the series' deep and complex crafting system to new heights, introducing a range of new tools and mechanics. One of the core aspects of the game is item crafting, which revolves around PoE 2 currency items, rarity tiers, and modifiers. If you want to create powerful gear in PoE 2, understanding these systems is essential. In this article, we’ll break down the crafting mechanics, currencies, and rarity tiers in PoE 2 to help you craft your perfect gear from day one.

The Rarity Tiers: Common, Magic, Rare, and Unique

PoE 2 features four different item rarity tiers: white (common), blue (magic), yellow (rare), and orange (unique). These are similar to what we’ve seen in PoE 1, but with some significant differences.

1. White (Common) Items: These are the basic, unmodified items that serve as the foundation for crafting. They don’t have any mods, and the goal is to upgrade them into magic or rare items through various crafting methods.

2. Blue (Magic) Items: Once a white item is modified with one or two random modifiers, it becomes a magic item. These items are often useful in early-game crafting, as they can be crafted into rare items using a Regal Orb or augmented with additional modifiers using an Augmentation Orb.

3. Yellow (Rare) Items: Rare items can have up to six modifiers, and this is where the majority of end-game crafting happens. Rare items are highly desirable for most builds due to their versatility, and players usually craft them carefully to suit their specific needs.

4. Orange (Unique) Items: Unique items are predefined with specific modifiers and can’t be altered in the same way that magic or rare items can. These items often come with special properties or high-value stats but usually serve more specialized purposes within a build. While rare items form the backbone of most character builds, unique items can be crucial for specific scenarios.

Crafting Basics: From White to Blue to Rare

The crafting process in PoE 2 starts with white items, and upgrading them is done through a variety of currencies. The most common and accessible starting point is the Orb of Transmutation, which upgrades a white item to a magic (blue) item with one random modifier. Once you have a magic item, you can further refine it by using other crafting orbs like the Orb of Augmentation, which adds a second random modifier.

These early-stage crafting currencies are cheap and abundant, making them a great starting point for experimentation. You’ll often find yourself crafting numerous blue items in hopes of landing good stats, and once you hit a combination of two useful modifiers, you can move to the next step in the crafting process.

Upgrading Magic to Rare: The Regal Orb and Beyond

Once you’ve created a magic item with two mods that suit your needs, the next step is to upgrade it to a rare item. This is done with a Regal Orb, which adds one additional modifier to a magic item, turning it into a rare item with up to three modifiers. From there, you can continue refining your item using higher-tier orbs like the Exalted Orb, which adds even more modifiers.

However, it’s important to note that PoE 2 introduces a key change compared to PoE 1: you can no longer go backward in rarity. In PoE 1, players could use orbs like the Orb of Scouring to turn rare items back into white items and reattempt the crafting process. This feature is not present in PoE 2, meaning that once you upgrade an item’s rarity, you’re committed to that level. This change adds a layer of risk to crafting, making it more challenging to perfect your gear but also more rewarding when you succeed.

The Exalted Orb: Slamming Mods onto Rare Items

One of the most exciting currencies in PoE 2 is the Exalted Orb, which allows you to add an additional modifier to a rare item that already has three mods. This process, known as "slamming," adds an element of high-stakes crafting where you gamble on adding a powerful stat to an already strong item.

You can use multiple Exalted Orbs on a rare item, up to a maximum of three additional modifiers. The Exalted Orb is a valuable and somewhat rare currency, so you’ll want to use it wisely. The more mods you can stack on an item, the stronger it becomes, but the risk is that you might end up with unwanted modifiers. It's a high-risk, high-reward system that can make or break your item.

Chaos Orbs: Remove and Replace Modifiers

The Chaos Orb is another cornerstone of crafting in PoE 2. It serves a dual purpose: it removes one random modifier from an item and adds a new random modifier in its place. This makes it a great tool for fine-tuning your gear if you're working on an item with a few good mods but need to replace one or two others.

The Chaos Orb is a more common currency compared to the Exalted Orb, and you’ll likely use it frequently as you craft your items. It’s a versatile orb that allows for some degree of control over your gear without the high cost or rarity of Exalted Orbs.

Advanced Crafting: Essences and Alchemy Orbs

In addition to the basic crafting orbs, PoE 2 introduces new advanced crafting systems, such as Essences. These are special items that upgrade a normal (white) item into a magic (blue) item with a guaranteed modifier. For example, the Essence of Haste upgrades a white item to a magic item with a guaranteed speed modifier, making it useful for crafting boots or items focused on mobility.

Essences are a valuable tool for players who want to target specific modifiers and are often used for crafting high-end gear or farming certain stats. These orbs are typically rarer than the basic crafting orbs, and they provide a more deterministic way of crafting compared to the randomness of Transmutation or Augmentation Orbs.

The Orb of Alchemy is another powerful crafting currency, upgrading a normal (white) item directly to a rare (yellow) item with four random modifiers. This orb can be extremely useful for mid-tier crafting and can save time when you're looking to upgrade a basic item quickly.

The Crafting Economy: Understanding Currency Value

In PoE 2, like in PoE 1, crafting currencies will have different values depending on the item you're crafting and the current state of the in-game economy. Currencies like Exalted Orbs and Chaos Orbs will likely become the standard trade currencies, used to buy and sell gear and crafting materials. The value of these currencies will fluctuate based on demand, so understanding the market will be key to crafting efficiently and economically.

Conclusion: Crafting Your Perfect Gear

Crafting in PoE 2 is an intricate and rewarding process, with a deep system of orbs and rarity tiers that provide a lot of room for experimentation. Understanding the basics of crafting—from upgrading items using Transmutation Orbs to adding mods with Regal and Exalted Orbs—will give you a strong foundation for gearing up your character. Keep an eye out for advanced crafting currencies like Essences and Chaos Orbs, as these will allow you to target specific modifiers and fine-tune your items for maximum efficiency.

While crafting in PoE 2 is not without its risks, it is one of the most exciting aspects of the game, allowing players to personalize their gear and create powerful items that suit their builds. Whether you’re crafting in the early game or preparing your gear for endgame content, mastering the crafting system will be key to your success in Path of Exile 2.