This is a beginner’s guide to gear and gear upgrading in Path of Exile 2. If you’re a veteran player, this guide may not apply to you, but with Path of Exile 2 being free-to-play, we expect a large influx of new players. Many of them, like myself, might not have played Path of Exile 1 or any ARPGs like Diablo. If that’s you, this guide will help you understand how to gear up effectively in Path of Exile 2.
Understanding Gear Rarity
Gear in Path of Exile 2 comes in different rarities, each with varying levels of power:
- White (Normal): Basic gear with no modifiers.
- Blue (Magic): Gear with one or two modifiers.
- Yellow (Rare): Gear with multiple modifiers, offering better stats.
- Unique: Special items with powerful fixed attributes and effects.
Most gear can be identified using Scrolls of Identification, but later in the game, an NPC will identify items for free. There is also a Disenchanting NPC, allowing you to break down gear for crafting materials.
Currency and Crafting Basics
Unlike traditional RPGs, Path of Exile 2 does not use gold as its primary POE 2 Currency. Instead, it uses a vast system of orbs and shards for crafting and trading. Some of the most commonly used currency items include:
- Orb of Transmutation: Turns a normal (white) item into a magic (blue) item.
- Orb of Augmentation: Adds modifier to a magic item.
- Orb of Alchemy: Converts a normal (white) item into a rare (yellow) item.
- Orb of Regal: Upgrades a magic (blue) item into a rare (yellow) item.
- Chaos Orb: Re-rolls the modifiers on a rare item.
- Vaal Orb: Corrupts an item unpredictably, potentially making it stronger but locking further modifications.
- Exalted Orb: Adds random modifier to a rare item or buy POE 2 Exalted Orbs.
- Divine Orb: Re-rolls the numeric values of modifiers on an item.
- Orb of Annulment: Removes a random modifier from an item.
- Orb of Chance: Has a chance to transform a normal item into a unique item (but can also destroy the item).
- Mirror of Kalandra: Duplicates an item exactly (one of the rarest items in the game).
Item Quality and Upgrades
Each piece of gear has quality, which improves its base stats. You can enhance item quality using:
- Armourer’s Scrap: Improves quality of armor.
- Blacksmith’s Whetstone: Improves quality of melee weapons.
- Glassblower’s Bauble: Improves quality on flasks.
- Gemcutter’s Prism: Improves quality on skill gems.
- Artificer’s Orb: Adds sockets to weapons or armor.
Sockets and Runes
Sockets allow you to insert Runes, which provide additional benefits to your gear. Runes come in different types and offer bonuses such as increased damage, resistance, or life regeneration.
You can replace existing runes by inserting a new one over the old one, though this will destroy the previous rune.
Gem Support and Link System
In Path of Exile 2, skills are socketed into gear instead of being tied to your character. Gems can be further enhanced by linking support gems. Some useful items for modifying sockets include:
- Chromatic Orb: Changes socket colors.
- Jeweler’s Orb: Re-rolls the number of sockets.
- Orb of Fusing: Links sockets together.
Trading and Currency Exchange
Trading is an essential part of Path of Exile 2. If you don’t want to farm for specific currency items, you can exchange them with vendors or trade with other players. For example, Exalted Orbs are more valuable than Chaos Orbs, so you can trade multiple Chaos Orbs for a single Exalted Orb.
The game also allows currency exchange without player interaction. For example, if you need Exalted Orbs, you can sell Divine Orbs or Chaos Orbs to NPC vendors at set exchange rates.
Endgame Crafting and Distilled Resources
Endgame crafting involves Distilled Resources, obtained through special encounters like Delirium. These resources allow you to force certain modifiers onto maps or gear, refining your build further.
- Greed Distilled Resource: One of the most valuable options, enhancing item drops.
- Distilled Emotions: Used to imbue amulets with powerful passive skills.
- Attribute Modifiers: Modify rings and amulets to enhance specific attributes like life or elemental resistances.
Amulet Crafting and Passive Nodes
Amulets can inherit passive skill tree nodes by using distilled emotions. If you have an amulet and the required distilled emotions (e.g., Envy, Paranoia, Envy), you can transfer a notable passive onto it. This allows for significant customization and optimization of your character.
Advanced Gear Filtering
Once you’re experienced, you’ll want to use item filters to prevent low-value gear from cluttering your screen. Filters can be customized to highlight valuable gear and currency while ignoring unimportant drops.
Conclusion
Gearing up in Path of Exile 2 is an intricate process, but once you understand how different Path of Exile 2 Currency items, crafting materials, and socket systems work, you’ll be able to optimize your character efficiently. As you progress through the game, you’ll find the best ways to trade, craft, and enhance your gear to push into the endgame content successfully.