This is going to be a beginner's guide to gear and gear upgrading in Path of Exile 2. While many of you may already be familiar with the mechanics of gear from Path of Exile 1, there will be an influx of new players when PoE2 officially launches as a free-to-play game. Some of you might not have played Path of Exile 1 or even any action RPGs like Diablo, so this guide will help you understand how gearing and upgrading work.

Gear Identification and Breakdown

When you obtain gear in PoE2, it may be unidentified. To use these items effectively, you need to identify them using Scrolls of Identification. Later in the game, you’ll unlock an NPC who can identify all items for free. Additionally, Path of Exile 2 introduces a disenchanting NPC that allows you to break down higher-tiered gear into various crafting materials.

For example:

• Yellow (Rare) gear can be broken down into Regal Shards.

• Shards collected from dismantling gear can be combined into full Path of Exile 2 Currency items when you gather 10 of them.

Gear Rarity and Item Quality

Gear in PoE2 falls into four main rarity types:

1. White (Normal) – Basic gear with no modifiers.

2. Blue (Magic) – Gear with 1-2 modifiers.

3. Yellow (Rare) – Gear with multiple modifiers.

4. Unique – Special items with fixed, often game-changing properties.

Each item can also have Quality, which affects the base stats of the item. You can enhance item quality using specific crafting items:

• Armor Scraps – Increase armor quality.

• Blacksmith’s Whetstones – Improve weapon quality.

• Artificer Orbs – Add sockets to armor and weapons.

Currency and Crafting System

Path of Exile 2 retains the complex crafting system of PoE1, where cheap POE 2 Currency items serve as crafting tools rather than traditional in-game money. Below are the key crafting orbs and their functions:

Basic Crafting Orbs

• Orb of Transmutation – Turns a normal (white) item into a Magic item.

• Orb of Augmentation – Adds an extra modifier to a Magic item.

• Orb of Alchemy – Upgrades a normal item to a Rare item.

• Orb of Regret – Grants a skill point respec.

• Chaos Orb – Rerolls all modifiers on a Rare item.

Advanced Crafting Orbs

• Exalted Orb – Adds a new modifier to a Rare item.

• Divine Orb – Rerolls the values of all explicit modifiers on an item.

• Orb of Annulment – Removes a random modifier from an item.

• Vaal Orb – Corrupts an item, making future modifications impossible, but may add powerful effects.

Orb of Chance and Mirror of Kalandra

• Orb of Chance – Has a small chance to upgrade a normal item into a Unique item.

• Mirror of Kalandra – Duplicates an item exactly but makes the copy non-tradable.

Sockets and Runes in Path of Exile 2

Sockets play a crucial role in item customization. Unlike PoE1, PoE2 introduces a Rune system that replaces skill gems. Runes have unique effects that can be inserted into sockets.

• Red Runes – Typically enhance melee and fire-related abilities.

• Blue Runes – Improve cold and elemental abilities.

• Green Runes – Boost dexterity-based and evasion mechanics.

If you want to modify your socket layout:

• Artificer Orb – Adds a socket to an item.

• Chromatic Orb – Changes socket colors.

• Jeweller’s Orb – Adjusts the number of sockets.

• Orb of Fusing – Links sockets together.

Trading and Currency Exchange

One of the biggest changes in PoE2 is the streamlined currency exchange system. Players can now exchange most currency items without interacting with other players. If you need Exalted Orbs, for example, and have Chaos Orbs or Divine Orbs, you can use the in-game currency exchange system to trade them.

Advanced Crafting: Distilled Resources and Amulet Notables

Distilled Resources

These new items drop from mechanics like Delirium (mirror dimension zones) and provide powerful crafting effects for waystones, maps, and even gear upgrades. The most valuable distilled resource is Greed, which enhances currency gain and efficiency.

Amulet Crafting with Notables

PoE2 introduces a system where amulets can gain passive skill tree notables. To do this:

1. Gather Distilled Emotions (crafting materials for amulets).

2. Find the Notable Passive Skill you want on the passive tree.

3. Use the correct crafting materials in the correct order to imbue the amulet with that notable.

For example, if a passive node requires Envy → Paranoia → Envy, you need to apply those distilled resources in that order.

Filtering Items for Endgame Loot Efficiency

Once you reach the endgame, managing loot efficiently becomes crucial. Many players use loot filters to automatically highlight valuable drops and hide low-tier items.

If you’re new, consider using a moderate loot filter, which will:

• Highlight valuable currency items and crafting materials.

• Hide low-value gear to reduce screen clutter.

• Show rare or unique items that might be useful for crafting or selling.

Boss-Specific Crafting and Summoning Items

There are also specialized summoning items that allow players to challenge specific bosses. These often require rare crafting materials and provide unique rewards, similar to PoE1’s Shaper and Elder fragments.

Final Thoughts: Mastering the Economy and Crafting in PoE2

Understanding Path of Exile 2’s gear and upgrading mechanics will give you a massive advantage as a new player. While the crafting system is complex, focusing on:

• Identifying and salvaging gear efficiently.

• Utilizing sockets and runes effectively.

• Trading currency through the exchange system.

• Using distilled resources for powerful upgrades.

• Applying endgame loot filters for efficiency.

These fundamentals will help you gear up efficiently, maximize your crafting potential, and optimize your builds for success in Path of Exile 2!

That wraps up this beginner’s guide to Path of Exile 2 Gear and Upgrading! If you’re looking for more advanced strategies, be sure to check out my trading guide and loot filtering video. Good luck, Exiles!