Path of Exile's economy is unlike most action RPGs. Instead of gold or coins, it uses a barter-based currency system made up of crafting orbs and other consumable items. These items are not just money - they are also crafting tools that modify, upgrade, or reroll your gear. Understanding how to use them effectively is one of the most important steps toward mastering the game.

 

For new players, crafting Path of exile currency can seem overwhelming. There are dozens of different orbs, each with unique properties, and deciding when to use them can be confusing. This guide will break down what crafting currency is, how it works, and strategies for making the most of it - whether you're a beginner or moving toward more advanced play.

 

The Role of Crafting Currency in Path of Exile

Every piece of gear in Path of Exile can be modified. Weapons, armor, jewelry, and even flasks can be altered with different currencies to improve their stats. Currency in PoE serves three main purposes:

 

Crafting and Item Modification

Many orbs change an item's properties - rerolling its modifiers, improving quality, changing sockets, or adding new affixes.

 

Trading

Currency is the backbone of PoE's trade economy. Items like Chaos Orbs, Exalted Orbs, and Divine Orbs are commonly used as trade standards.

 

Progression

Certain currencies help you prepare for endgame maps or improve flasks and gems, contributing directly to your build's strength.

 

While you can hoard every currency item you find, the real power comes from knowing when to use them and when to save them for trading.

 

Common Crafting Currencies and Their Uses

Some currencies are rare and valuable, while others drop often and are great for quick upgrades during leveling. Here are the most important types and their general uses.

 

Orb of Transmutation

Function: Upgrades a normal (white) item to a magic (blue) item.

 

Use: Good for early game when you want a small power boost without spending more valuable currency. Later, used mostly in recipes or vendor interactions.

 

Orb of Alteration

Function: Rerolls the modifiers on a magic item.

 

Use: Used heavily in early and mid-tier crafting. Also important for certain vendor recipes. Not valuable for trade, but essential for self-crafting.

 

Orb of Augmentation

Function: Adds a new modifier to a magic item that has only one.

 

Use: Great for finishing a magic item when leveling. Later becomes a crafting bench component.

 

Orb of Alchemy

Function: Upgrades a normal item to a rare item.

 

Use: Commonly used to prepare endgame maps, giving them modifiers and increased rewards. Also used for quick gearing upgrades.

 

Chaos Orb

Function: Rerolls all modifiers on a rare item.

 

Use: The primary trade currency for mid-value transactions. Also used for randomizing gear stats, though this is often inefficient without a target strategy.

 

Regal Orb

Function: Upgrades a magic item to rare, adding one new modifier.

 

Use: Mostly used in more controlled crafting methods, often combined with bench crafting to build strong rares.

 

Orb of Scouring

Function: Removes all modifiers from an item, turning it back into a normal item.

 

Use: Used in high-end crafting to reset an item before starting again, or in vendor recipes.

 

Exalted Orb

Function: Adds a new random modifier to a rare item.

 

Use: Extremely valuable, usually traded rather than spent directly, except in precise meta-crafting scenarios.

 

Divine Orb

Function: Rerolls the numerical values of modifiers on an item.

 

Use: Adjusts rolls on powerful uniques or high-tier rares. In the current trade economy, Divine Orbs are often more valuable than Exalted Orbs.

 

Jeweller's Orb

Function: Rerolls the number of sockets on an item.

 

Use: Essential for socket management when setting up skill gems.

 

Orb of Fusing

Function: Rerolls links between sockets.

 

Use: Used heavily for creating 5-link and 6-link items for skill setups.

 

Chromatic Orb

Function: Changes the colors of sockets on an item.

 

Use: Vital for matching gem color requirements, especially on off-color builds.

 

Gemcutter's Prism

Function: Increases the quality of a skill gem.

 

Use: Used to enhance gem effectiveness. Valuable and often traded.

 

Blessed Orb

Function: Rerolls the values of implicit modifiers on an item.

 

Use: Mostly used on items with powerful implicit stats, such as certain belts, amulets, or weapons.

 

Vaal Orb

Function: Corrupts an item, adding a random powerful effect or damaging the item.

 

Use: Used for high-risk, high-reward crafting, often at the end of a gear upgrade process.

 

When to Use vs. When to Save Currency

As a beginner, it's tempting to spend every currency item you find on your current gear. While this can make early leveling smoother, it's important to recognize when currency should be saved for future use or trade.

 

Use currency during leveling when:

 

The upgrade will significantly boost your damage or survivability.

 

The item base is strong enough to last several acts.

 

You're preparing maps for more loot or experience.

 

Save currency when:

You find high-value currency like Divine Orbs or Exalted Orbs early - these are usually better traded for gear upgrades.

 

You're using a low-level base that will soon be replaced.

 

The cost outweighs the benefit - for example, trying to 6-link a weapon during Act 3 is a waste.

 

Vendor Recipes for Crafting Currency

Path of Exile's vendor recipe system allows you to trade certain items to NPC vendors for currency. This can be a reliable way to generate crafting resources, especially early in a league.

 

Some key recipes:

Chromatic Orb Recipe: Sell an item with linked red, green, and blue sockets.

 

Jeweller's Orb Recipe: Sell an item with six sockets (does not need to be linked).

 

Glassblower's Bauble Recipe: Sell flasks with a total of 40% quality.

 

Gemcutter's Prism Recipe: Sell gems with a total of 40% quality.

 

Knowing these recipes can turn otherwise useless items into valuable crafting tools.

 

Crafting Strategies for Beginners

You don't need advanced meta-crafting knowledge to make good use of currency. Here are beginner-friendly strategies:

 

1. Alch and Go

For endgame maps, use an Orb of Alchemy to make them rare, then run them for better loot.

 

Simple and efficient for progressing without overcomplicating.

 

2. Chaos Spamming

Use Chaos Orbs to reroll a rare item until it has good stats for your build.

 

Best on high-level item bases where the possible mods are strong.

 

3. Essence Crafting

Essences, which drop from special monsters, guarantee a specific mod when used on an item.

 

This can be an affordable way to force important affixes.

 

4. Bench Crafting

Unlocks from the crafting bench in your hideout.

 

Lets you add or replace specific modifiers for a small currency cost.

 

Works best in combination with other crafting methods.

 

Long-Term Currency Management

In the long run, success in Path of Exile often comes down to how you earn and manage currency.

 

Earning Currency:

Run high-value mapping strategies, such as farming specific divination cards or bosses.

 

Learn which league mechanics give the best returns for your build and stick with them.

 

Pick up and sell valuable bases for crafting or trading.

 

Managing Currency:

Keep a dedicated stash tab for high-value orbs.

 

Don't liquidate everything at once - save for a big buy Path of exile currency.

 

Reinvest profits into better gear to increase farming efficiency.

 

Final Thoughts

Crafting currency in Path of Exile is more than just a set of shiny trinkets - it's the lifeblood of the game's crafting and trading systems. By understanding what each orb does, when to use it, and when to save it, you set yourself up for long-term success. Beginners should focus on using common orbs for leveling and maps, while saving rare ones for trade or targeted crafting later.

 

The key is balance - spending enough to keep your character strong for progression, but holding back enough to afford the powerful upgrades you'll need in the late game. Once you develop a feel for currency value and crafting potential, the possibilities in Path of Exile's item system truly open up, letting you shape your gear and your playstyle exactly the way you want.

Aug-15-2025 PST