PoE crafting is an essential skill every Path of Exile (PoE) player should have, as mastering Path of Exile crafting opens up a wealth of opportunities for progression and trade. As we’ve discussed in other articles, trading plays a vital role in PoE, and crafting is closely connected to it, especially in the long run. Crafting a good item can help you progress more efficiently or even provide opportunities to trade for the currency you need. Treating crafting as a separate system from trading would be a mistake – it’s a fundamental part of the PoE experience.
The Basics of Crafting
Path of Exile crafting relies on your understanding of item mods and the tools used to modify them. Base items, called Bases, come with Implicit Modifiers that cannot be changed. The more important Explicit Modifiers include prefixes and suffixes, which can be added, altered, or removed through crafting.
Items in PoE come in four rarity levels:
- Normal (white): Basic items without mods.
- Magic (blue): Items with up to two mods.
- Rare (yellow): Items with up to six mods.
- Unique (brown): Special items with predetermined mods.
Key Tools:
The following Orbs are your go-to tools for crafting in Path of Exile:
Orb Name | Effect |
---|---|
Orb of Transmutation | Turns normal items into magic items with random mods. |
Orb of Augmentation | Adds one additional mod to a magic item. |
Regal Orb | Upgrades a magic item to a rare item, adding one random mod. |
Orb of Alteration | Re-rolls the mods on a magic item. |
Orb of Annulment | Removes one random explicit mod. |
Orb of Scouring | Removes all explicit mods, reverting the item to its base state. |
Exalted Orb | Adds one random mod to a rare item. |
For example, to turn a normal item into a rare one, you’d start by using an Orb of Transmutation to create a magic item, then use a Regal Orb to add a third mod and upgrade it to rare.
How to Craft an Item
To start crafting:
- Select a base item with the implicit mods or socket layout you want.
- Use an Orb of Transmutation to make it a magic item with one or two mods.
- Apply Orbs of Alteration to reroll the mods until you get what you need.
- Use a Regal Orb to upgrade the item to rare with a third mod.
- Refine the item with Exalted Orbs or remove unwanted mods using an Orb of Annulment.
If the result isn’t ideal, use an Orb of Scouring to start fresh. While this process can be tedious, it’s a core aspect of PoE’s crafting system.
Advanced Crafting Methods
For players seeking greater control over outcomes, advanced crafting methods provide more options but often require significant resources.
Essence Crafting:
Essences guarantee specific mods while rerolling others, providing a predictable approach to PoE craft strategies.. For instance, using a Screaming Essence of Rage ensures a fire-damage modifier on weapons.
Fossil Crafting:
Fossils and Resonators allow targeted crafting by either enhancing certain mods or excluding others. Fossils like:
- Pristine Fossil (boosts life-related mods) or
- Aetheric Fossil (enhances spell mods) …can make crafting highly efficient. However, fossils are scarce and typically found in the Azurite Mine.
Beast Crafting:
In Beast Crafting, you perform rituals in the Menagerie Blood Altar using four beasts. This method offers unique benefits like:
- Imprinting: Save an item’s current state for future use.
- Splitting: Create a copy of an item with separate mods. This method doesn’t work on corrupted items but provides flexibility for standard gear.
Syndicate Crafting:
Using the Syndicate Crafting Bench offers exclusive modifiers:
- Hillock: Adds up to 28% quality.
- Asiling: Adds two Veiled mods to a rare item.
- Vorici: Changes 1-3 sockets to white, enabling broader gem compatibility.
Crafting vs. Trading
Crafting and trading are two interconnected systems in PoE. Your crafted items can become valuable commodities in the Path of Exile trade economy, while trading provides the resources needed for advanced crafting.
Bulk Selling:
Many players, especially advanced ones, prefer to buy items in bulk to save time. Collecting and storing rare items lets you cater to these buyers, ensuring steady profits.
Niche Markets:
Focus on crafting specific, high-demand items, such as unique flasks or high-tier maps. These often sell quickly at premium prices.
Step-Down Pricing:
List items at a higher price and gradually lower it over time to attract buyers. This strategy works well for less-popular items.
For more trading tips, visit the official Path of Exile trade site.
Overcoming Challenges in Crafting
RNG Frustration:
Crafting is heavily RNG-based, which means outcomes can vary widely. Focus on items with fewer possible mods to reduce randomness.
Resource Management:
Advanced crafting can quickly drain your currency, so balancing crafting and trading is crucial to maintain a steady resource supply. Trading PoE items for the materials you need can save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on crafting high-value items efficiently.
Scams:
Double-check trades to avoid scams, especially for high-value items. Scammers exploit hasty players, so patience pays off.
Conclusion
Path of Exile crafting offers endless possibilities for customization, progression, and profit within the trade PoE ecosystem. From basic Orb crafting to advanced Fossil or Beast crafting, the process is both challenging and rewarding. Whether you’re crafting for personal use or trade, mastering this system will enhance your experience and broaden your opportunities in the game.
Not a fan of crafting? No worries. The robust trading system allows you to bypass the grind and get the items you need. In the end, Path of Exile gives you the freedom to choose your approach – whether it’s the methodical grind of crafting or the strategic hustle of trading.