Complete Guide to Currency in Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) is known for its intricate mechanics, vast world, and depth of content. One of the key aspects that make the game so engaging is its currency system—a complex and player-driven economy that affects everything from crafting to trading and even character progression. As players explore Wraeclast, understanding the value, usage, and acquisition of the various Currency Items in the game is essential to mastering the crafting system and maximizing your potential in both the short and long term.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the core aspects of Path of Exile 2's currency system, from the basic items you'll need early on to the rare and specialized currencies that dominate endgame crafting. By the end of this article, you'll have a clearer understanding of how to use, trade, and acquire currency in Path of Exile 2, which will help you build better gear, progress faster, and ultimately dominate Wraeclast.

1. The Basics of Currency in PoE 2

In Path of Exile 2, Currency Items are more than just a means of trading or acquiring goods—they are the backbone of the crafting system. Instead of a traditional gold system, PoE relies on a wide variety of Currency Items that serve different purposes. Some are used to modify items, some are used for crafting, while others act as a form of Poe 2 trade and pricing for in-game items.

At its core, there are several different categories of Currency Items:

Crafting Currencies: Used to modify and craft items.

Trading Currencies: Used to facilitate player-to-player trades.

Vendor Currencies: These can be exchanged with NPC vendors for specific items.

Value-based Currencies: These serve as the main form of trade within the player-driven economy.

The most important thing to understand is that Currency Items are not disposable. Many items, like Orbs and Scrolls, will be used regularly and need to be carefully managed as you progress through the game.

2. Common Currency Items

These Currency Items are used early on and throughout Path of Exile 2. They're crucial to crafting, upgrading gear, and trading.

1. Orb of Transmutation

The Orb of Transmutation is one of the first crafting currencies you'll encounter. It transforms a Normal Item into a Magic Item (i.e., an item with one or two affixes). It's commonly used early in the game to upgrade low-level gear before starting to add more powerful affixes later.

Use: Transforms normal items into magic items.

Trading Value: Low-value, often used in bulk.

2. Orb of Alteration

The Orb of Alteration re-rolls the modifiers on a Magic Item (an item with one or two affixes). This orb is important for trying to craft items with desirable affixes, particularly when experimenting with combinations of stats for your gear.

Use: Re-rolls the affixes of a magic item.

Trading Value: Low to moderate, useful for general crafting.

3. Orb of Regret

The Orb of Regret is another important crafting item that allows you to remove Passive Skill Points you've spent on your Passive Skill Tree. This is useful if you want to respec and reallocate your points as your build evolves.

Use: Respecs passive skill points.

Trading Value: Relatively low, but valuable for build experimentation.

4. Chaos Orb

The Chaos Orb is one of the most important tradeable currencies in PoE 2. It re-rolls a Rare Item's affixes randomly and is considered the standard currency for general trading in the game. Many players use Chaos Orbs as a form of currency for item trades, crafting, and enhancing gear.

Use: Rerolls the affixes of rare items.

Trading Value: Standard currency for trading, highly liquid in the market.

5. Chromatic Orb

The Chromatic Orb allows players to change the color of the sockets on an item. This can be crucial for building a specific gem setup, as different colored sockets allow you to link different Skill Gems and Support Gems together.

Use: Changes the socket colors of an item.

Trading Value: Medium, especially useful for gem-linked setups.

3. Advanced Currency Items

As you progress into higher levels, you'll begin to encounter more specialized and rare currency items. These items are used for more powerful crafting options or to engage in high-end trading.

1. Exalted Orb

The Exalted Orb is one of the most valuable currencies in PoE. It is used to add an additional Affix to a Rare Item. This is particularly important for endgame crafting, as it allows players to complete their gear with the perfect affix combination. Exalted Orbs are typically more valuable than Chaos Orbs, and they are used in high-tier item crafting.

Use: Adds a new affix to a rare item.

Trading Value: High-value item for trading and crafting.

2. Divine Orb

The Divine Orb is used to re-roll the numerical values of affixes on an item, making it perfect for fine-tuning gear that's already been crafted. If you're trying to get the best possible stats on your armor or weapons, Divine Orbs are essential.

Use: Re-rolls the numerical values of an item's affixes.

Trading Value: High-value item, especially in endgame crafting.

3. Blessed Orb

The Blessed Orb is used to re-roll the implicit modifiers on an item, such as those found on Unique Items or Corruption. This orb can be useful for specific builds or when crafting high-end gear that needs precise implicit modifiers.

Use: Re-rolls the implicit modifiers on items.

Trading Value: Relatively high, especially useful for Unique Items.

4. Vaal Orb

The Vaal Orb is a unique crafting currency that can corrupt an item, potentially adding powerful properties or transforming an item into something new. Vaal Orbs can add extra sockets, change the item's quality, or even make the item unmodifiable. The corruption process can yield both positive and negative outcomes, making it a risky yet rewarding currency.

Use: Corrupts items, adding unpredictable bonuses or drawbacks.

Trading Value: Varies widely based on the outcome of the corruption.

4. How to Acquire Currency

Now that you know what the primary Currency Items are, it's important to understand how to acquire them effectively. There are several ways to farm, earn, and trade for currency in PoE 2:

1. Farming Maps and Bosses

Endgame content, like Maps and Boss Encounters, often drops Currency Items as part of the loot pool. As you increase the difficulty of your maps and progress through Bosses, the likelihood of receiving valuable currency items such as Exalted Orbs, Divine Orbs, and Vaal Orbs increases.

Recommendation: Focus on high-level content, such as Tier 15+ maps and Uber Bosses, to maximize your chances of valuable currency drops.

2. Trading with Other Players

PoE's economy is highly player-driven, so trading is one of the most common methods to acquire currency. By trading items with other players, you can exchange loot you don't need for valuable Currency Items. Popular trade currencies include Chaos Orbs and Exalted Orbs.

Recommendation: Check trade sites, Global Trade Chat, or Discord Communities to find fair deals for specific items.

3. Vendors and Divination Cards

Some Vendors offer Currency Items in exchange for specific Divination Cards or other rare items. Collecting complete sets of certain Divination Cards can reward you with items like Chaos Orbs, Divine Orbs, or even Exalted Orbs.

Recommendation: Focus on collecting Divination Card sets that provide valuable currency rewards.

5. Currency Management Tips

Save Your Currency: Don't spend your Orbs impulsively. Keep a stash of Chaos Orbs and Exalted Orbs for crafting and trading high-value items. Use lower-value orbs (like Orb of Transmutation) for basic crafting.

Use the Trade Market: Trading with other players can net you huge amounts of cheap POE 2 Currency. Look for deals in the Trade Market, and keep an eye on currency fluctuations to maximize your profit.

Plan Your Crafting: When crafting endgame gear, ensure you understand the value of the currency you're using. Don't waste Exalted Orbs on low-tier items, and instead, focus on high-value items with great potential.

Conclusion

Mastering the currency system in Path of Exile 2 is an essential part of becoming an effective player. By understanding how to use and acquire currency items, you'll be able to craft powerful gear, trade with other players, and improve your chances of success as you progress through the game. The complexity of the economy is one of the many aspects that make PoE 2 unique, so take the time to learn and experiment with the different types of currency to get the most out of your Wraeclast journey.