PoE2 crafting basics — for players starting at 1.0

Path of Exile 2 launches its full release (1.0) on December 11, 2026. This page covers the basics of crafting (adding and removing mods with currency) in the order that helps most when you start. You can try everything here for free in the ExileDesk emulator without spending any in-game currency.

Try it in the emulator (Gold Ring)

1. Rarity and mod slots

• Normal (white): no mods.
• Magic (blue): up to 1 prefix and 1 suffix.
• Rare (yellow): up to 3 prefixes and 3 suffixes (6 in total).
• Unique: special items with fixed effects. You can't add mods to them by crafting.

Mods are either prefixes (mostly damage, life, defences) or suffixes (mostly resistances, attributes, speed). Once a side is full, no more mods can roll there.

2. Mod tiers and item level

• Each mod has tiers (T1, T2, …) and T1 is the strongest. Each tier has a mod level.
• Tiers with a mod level above the item's item level can't roll. Use high item level bases when you want top tiers.
• Each mod has its own weight (how likely it is). The emulator's mod list shows tiers and weights.

3. Basic orbs

• Orb of Transmutation: Normal → Magic (1 mod).
• Orb of Augmentation: adds 1 mod to a Magic item.
• Regal Orb: Magic → Rare (adds 1 mod).
• Exalted Orb: adds 1 mod to a Rare item (up to 6).
• Chaos Orb: removes 1 mod from a Rare item and adds 1 (a swap).
• Orb of Annulment: removes 1 mod.
• Divine Orb: rerolls the numeric values only (tiers stay).
• Orb of Alchemy: Normal → Rare (4 mods).

Which mod is added or removed is random. To get a specific mod, combine them with the essences and omens below.

4. Greater and Perfect currency

Transmutation, Augmentation, Regal, Exalted and Chaos have Greater and Perfect versions. They have a minimum mod level, so low tiers can't roll.

• Transmutation and Augmentation: Greater 44+, Perfect 70+.
• Regal, Exalted and Chaos: Greater 35+, Perfect 50+.

They can't be used on items whose item level is below the minimum.

5. Essences

• Each essence always adds a specific mod.
• Lesser to Greater essences turn a Magic item Rare while adding their mod.
• Perfect essences remove 1 mod from a Rare item, then add their mod.
• Crafted mods (from essences and so on) are normally limited to 1 per item.

6. Omens

An active omen in your inventory changes what your next currency does. For example:

• Omen of Sinistral / Dextral Exaltation: the next Exalted Orb adds a prefix / suffix.
• Omen of Greater Exaltation: the next Exalted Orb adds 2 mods.
• Omen of Whittling: the next Chaos Orb removes the lowest-level mod.
• Omen of Light: the next Orb of Annulment removes only the Desecrated mod.

7. Bones and desecration

• Bones (such as the Preserved Jawbone) add 1 Unrevealed Desecrated mod to a Rare item. An item can have only 1 Desecrated mod.
• At the Well of Souls you pick 1 of 3 options to reveal it. Desecrated-only mods that never roll normally can appear.
• Omens can choose the side (Necromancy) or the faction (Amanamu, Kurgal, Ulaman).

8. Fracturing

• A Fracturing Orb locks 1 mod on a Rare item with 4 or more mods. A fractured mod can no longer be removed.
• Only 1 mod can be fractured, and Desecrated mods can't be.

9. Your first craft

1. Pick a base with a high item level (so top tiers can roll).
2. Lock in the mod you want most with an essence.
3. Fill open slots with Exalted Orbs, using omens to pick the side.
4. Swap unwanted mods with an Orb of Annulment (or a Chaos Orb with omens).
5. Once the item is good, raise the values with Divine Orbs.

Before spending expensive currency, try the same steps as many times as you like in the emulator. "Target next move" shows the chance of getting the mod you want on your next move.

Open the emulatorBases (mods and tiers)

New 1.0 bases (such as swords) will be added to the emulator after the launch. Odds are estimates based on game data, poe2db and Craft of Exile, and are not guaranteed.