crafting in Path of Exile 2 might seem like a puzzle at first, but once you understand the core mechanics, you'll be upgrading your gear like a pro. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about item rarities, crafting currencies (Orbs), and how to match gear to your character's needs.
Understanding Item Rarities
Items in PoE 2 come in four different rarity levels, each with its own strengths:
- Normal (White) – Basic items with no special modifiers. These are your starting point for crafting.
- Magic (Blue) – Slightly better, with up to one Prefix and one Suffix (explained below).
- Rare (Yellow) – Powerful items with up to three Prefixes and three Suffixes, offering multiple bonuses.
- Unique (Orange) – Legendary items with fixed, game-changing effects. These can't be crafted normally.
You'll mostly find Normal and Magic items as random drops early on. Rare and Unique items become more common in later stages of the game, especially from tough enemies and bosses.
Affixes: Prefixes vs. Suffixes
Every Magic or Rare item has Affixes—bonuses that improve your gear. These come in two types:
- Prefixes (listed first) – Usually boost offensive stats like damage, attack speed, or spell power.
- Suffixes (listed after) – Typically enhance defenses such as resistances, armor, or evasion.
A Rare item can have up to six Affixes (three of each type), making them highly valuable for strong builds.
Essential Crafting Orbs & How to Use Them
Crafting revolves around Orbs, special currencies that modify your items. Here are the most important ones:
Basic Upgrades
- Transmutation Orb – Turns a Normal item into a Magic one (adds one random Affix).
- Augmentation Orb – Adds one more Affix to a Magic item (if it has space).
- Alchemy Orb – Instantly upgrades a Normal item to Rare (with four random Affixes).
Advanced Crafting
- Regal Orb – Upgrades a Magic item to Rare (adding one extra Affix).
- Exalted Orb – Adds one more random Affix to a Rare item (if it has fewer than six).
- Orb of Annulment – Removes one random Affix (useful for deleting bad modifiers).
- Chaos Orb – Rerolls all Affixes on a Rare item randomly (high risk, high reward).
- Divine Orb – Rerolls the values of existing Affixes (keeping the same modifiers).
- Vaal Orb – Corrupts an item, making powerful but unpredictable changes (and locking further crafting).
How to Craft Step-by-Step
- Start with a Normal (White) item.
- Use a Transmutation Orb to make it Magic (Blue).
- Add another Affix with an Augmentation Orb (if needed).
- Upgrade to Rare (Yellow) using a Regal Orb or skip straight with an Alchemy Orb.
- Improve further with Exalted Orbs or reroll with Chaos Orbs for better stats.
Pro Tip: Transmutation, Augmentation, and Alchemy Orbs are common early on. Save rarer Orbs (Exalted, Divine) for your best gear.
Matching Gear to Your Build
Different classes benefit from different stats:
- Strength-based (Warrior, Mercenary) – Look for +Armor and +Life modifiers.
- Dexterity-based (Ranger, Monk) – Prioritize +Evasion and +Accuracy.
- Intelligence-based (Sorceress, Witch) – Focus on +Energy Shield and +Spell Damage.
Always check an item’s Affixes before equipping it—does it fit your playstyle? Hybrid classes (like the Mercenary) may need a mix of stats.
Final Crafting Tips
✔ Start small – Use common Orbs early and save rare ones for endgame.
✔ Balance offense & defense – A good Rare item has both strong Prefixes and Suffixes.
✔ Experiment wisely – Some of the best gear comes from risky crafting moves!
With this guide, you're ready to dive into Path of Exile 2 crafting with confidence. Happy looting, Exile! 🔨⚡