Path of Exile's crafting system is a complex and intricate mechanic that allows players to modify and create powerful items to suit their character builds. Crafting can range from simple vendor recipes to more advanced methods involving various currency items, master crafting, essences, fossils, and more. In this in-depth crafting guide, I'll cover the various crafting methods and provide step-by-step instructions on how to craft in Path of Exile.
Recipe seller are a straightforward form of crafting that involves selling specific combinations of items to vendors in exchange for other items or currency. Some vendor recipes can provide valuable currency items, skill gems, or gear upgrades. Here are a few examples:
Full Rare Set Recipe: Selling a full set of unidentified rare items (one of each equipment slot) to a vendor grants you an unidentified rare item with random modifiers. Identifying this item may result in better gear.
Chromatic Orb Recipe: Selling an item with linked red, green, and blue sockets (in a specific order) to a vendor will grant you a Chromatic Orb.
Gem Upgrade Recipe: Selling a gem with a level of 20 and a Gemcutter's Prism to a vendor will give you a level 1 version of the same gem with 20% quality.
- Divination Card Recipes: Collecting specific sets of divination cards can be turned in for valuable items or currency.
Currency items play a vital role in crafting and can modify items in various ways. Each currency item has its own unique effect on items. Here are some common currency crafting methods:
Orb of Transmutation: Upgrades a normal item to a magic item with random affixes. Useful for obtaining magic items with specific base types.
Orb of Alteration: Rerolls the affixes of a magic item randomly. This is an effective way to obtain desirable magic modifiers.
Orb of Alchemy: Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with random affixes. Useful for creating potential high-quality rares.
Chaos Orb: Rerolls all modifiers on a rare item randomly. This is a way to modify or improve a rare item, but it can also result in undesirable outcomes.
Regal Orb: Adds a new affix to a magic item, turning it into a rare item. This is useful for adding specific modifiers to magic items.
Exalted Orb: Adds a new affix to a rare item, providing a high-tier modifier. This is one of the most valuable and sought-after currency items, mainly used for crafting endgame gear.
Masters are NPCs that players encounter during their adventures in Wraeclast. By completing missions for these masters and leveling them up in your hideout, you unlock powerful crafting options at their crafting benches. Each master has specific crafting abilities, such as adding or removing specific modifiers, crafting sockets or links, and more. Here's how you can use master crafting:
Invite the Masters: As you encounter each master during the main storyline, they will offer you a hideout. By talking to them in your hideout, you can invite them to reside there.
Complete Daily Missions: Each master has a daily mission you can complete for reputation points. Gaining reputation levels up the master, unlocking new crafting options.
Access Crafting Benches: Once you have enough reputation with a master, you can use their crafting bench in your hideout. Open the crafting interface by interacting with the crafting bench, and you'll see the available crafting options.
Crafting Costs: Using crafting benches often requires currency items or other resources, depending on the desired modification. Pay attention to the costs before crafting.
Meta-Crafting Mods: Some masters have "meta-crafting" mods, which enable you to control the outcome of crafting attempts actively. For example, the "Meta-Crafting: Cannot roll Attack Modifiers" mod allows you to remove the possibility of rolling attack-based modifiers on an item, making it easier to target caster-based modifiers.
Essences are special currency items that can be used to guarantee specific affixes when crafting. Each essence corresponds to a particular affix, and when used on an item, it guarantees the addition of that affix. Essences come in different tiers, with higher tiers providing more powerful modifiers. To use essence crafting:
Find and Use Essences: Essences are found in the world as loot or drops. They can be used directly on items, automatically adding their affix to the item.
Essence Crafting Limits: The modifiers added by essences are limited by the item's level. Higher-level items can have access to more powerful essences.
Combine Essences: In some cases, players may use multiple essences on an item to stack multiple modifiers.
Fossils are special crafting materials that can be used with resonators to modify items. Fossil crafting allows players to target specific affixes while blocking others, making it a popular method for crafting high-end gear. Here's how to use fossil crafting:
Acquire Fossils: Fossils are primarily obtained by exploring the Azurite Mine, a separate game area accessible from the mine encampment.
Resonators and Fossils: To use fossils for crafting, you'll need to place them inside a resonator. The resonator determines the number of sockets and how many fossils can be used simultaneously.
Fossil Combinations: Different combinations of fossils provide different outcomes. For example, using a "Fractured" fossil can guarantee the addition of a fractured modifier, while using an "Enchanted" fossil will prevent you from obtaining any fractured modifiers.
Crafting Limits: Keep in mind that some crafting mods and fossil combinations are limited by the item's level and item type.
Vaal Orbs are a unique type of currency that can be used to corrupt items. Corrupted items can gain powerful bonuses or become unusable, turning into "corrupted" items. Here's how to use Vaal Orb crafting:
Use Vaal Orbs: Simply right-click a Vaal Orb while the item you want to corrupt is in your inventory.
Corruption Outcomes: Corrupted items can have unique modifiers, change into a different item, or gain additional gem sockets. However, there's also a risk of detrimental outcomes, such as making the item unusable or applying a random negative modifier.
Corruption Limits: Keep in mind that once an item is corrupted, it can no longer be modified through regular crafting methods. Additionally, corrupted items can't be altered using Eternal Orbs, and they can't be modified by using any crafting method that alters items (e.g., exalted orbs, annulment orbs).
The Harvest league, which was introduced in the past, featured a unique crafting mechanic involving the Sacred Grove. Players could plant seeds, grow powerful monsters, and use their Lifeforce to craft specific modifiers onto items. However, as of my last update in September 2021, the Harvest mechanic has been disabled in the main game and awaits potential integration in the future.
By engaging in content related to the Shaper or the Elder, players can obtain items influenced by these powerful entities. These items can have unique modifiers that can't be found elsewhere, making them valuable for crafting.
1. Understand the Affix System: Crafting success often hinges on understanding the affix system. Items have prefix and suffix slots, and the number of slots depends on the item's base type and item level. Knowing which affixes are possible and how they interact is crucial for successful crafting.
2. Targeted Crafting: Several crafting methods, such as essence and fossil crafting, allow players to target specific affixes. Identify the modifiers you need for your build and use these methods to increase the chances of getting the desired results.
3. Crafting Bench Mods: Utilize the crafting bench mods offered by master NPCs in your hideout to further customize and optimize your items.
4. Be Prepared for Failure: Crafting in Path of Exile can be unpredictable, and many crafting attempts may fail or produce undesirable results. Be prepared to invest time and resources in crafting endeavors.
5. Plan Your Currency Use: Currency items have value, and some methods, such as exalted orb crafting, can be expensive. Plan your currency usage wisely and consider selling valuable items or using currency exchange rates to optimize your investments.
6. Experiment and Learn: Crafting is a skill that improves with experience. Experiment with different methods, read guides, watch videos, and learn from the community to become a better crafter.
Remember, crafting in Path of Exile can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. Understanding the various crafting methods and their implications will give you the tools to create powerful and customized gear for your character builds. Experiment, be patient, and enjoy the journey of crafting your perfect items in the dark and treacherous world of Wraeclast.
Improving your crafting skills in Path of Exile can be a rewarding endeavor that allows you to create powerful and valuable items for your character. Here are some of the best tips to help you become a more proficient crafter:
Take the time to study and understand the various crafting mechanics in Path of Exile. Read guides, watch videos, and experiment with different methods to learn how each crafting item and method works. Understanding how modifiers, essences, fossils, and other crafting components interact with items will help you make better crafting decisions.
Before you start crafting, have clear goals in mind. Decide what specific modifiers or affixes you want to add or remove from an item. Setting crafting goals will help you stay focused and avoid wasting resources on unnecessary crafting attempts.
Familiarize yourself with the value of different item bases, modifiers, and crafted items in the in-game economy. Understanding the value of items will help you identify valuable crafting opportunities and make informed decisions when buying or selling items.
Utilize third-party tools and websites that provide valuable information on item affixes, crafting options, and item pricing. Websites like poedb.tw, poe.ninja, and poetrade can be valuable resources for crafting and trading.
Currency items are essential for crafting, so manage them wisely. Determine a budget for crafting, and avoid overspending on low-value items. Save your valuable currency for high-value crafting attempts.
While high-end crafting methods can yield powerful items, they can also be expensive. When starting, experiment with more budget-friendly crafting methods, such as using Orbs of Alteration or essences, to improve your gear.
Unlock crafting benches from different masters in your hideout and level them up. Master crafting offers useful and targeted modifiers that can enhance your gear. Plan which crafting benches you need based on your character's needs.
If the Harvest mechanic is available, consider utilizing it for deterministic crafting. Harvest crafting allows you to target specific modifiers and plan your crafting outcomes more effectively.
Crafting in Path of Exile can be a trial-and-error process. Be patient and prepared for crafting failures, as it's not uncommon to have multiple unsuccessful attempts before creating a valuable item. Learn from your mistakes and keep improving.
Join the Path of Exile community, participate in forums, and engage with other players. Sharing experiences, asking for advice, and learning from others will help you improve your crafting knowledge and skills.
Remember that crafting in Path of Exile is a skill that improves over time. As you gain experience and knowledge, your crafting abilities will grow, allowing you to create better and more valuable items for your character. Happy crafting!