Path of Exile (PoE), developed by Grinding Gear Games, is renowned for its intricate systems of character customization, deep skill trees, and challenging combat. But beyond its action-packed gameplay lies a unique economic and crafting ecosystem, centered around a variety of currency items. Unlike conventional role-playing games where gold serves as the universal medium of trade, PoE uses a plethora of specialized items that double as both currency and crafting tools. Understanding the uses of these Path of exile currency items is essential for any player hoping to progress efficiently in the game, acquire powerful equipment, and navigate the in-game economy.

 

This guide covers the most common currency items in Path of Exile, explaining their uses and importance for both new and veteran players.

 

Chaos Orb

Chaos Orbs are arguably the most iconic currency in Path of Exile. They are used to reforge a rare item with new random modifiers. Essentially, if you have a rare item that doesn't meet your needs, a Chaos Orb can completely reroll its stats, offering a fresh chance to acquire desirable attributes. Chaos Orbs are frequently traded among players, making them a de facto standard currency for mid-tier items. They are crucial in both crafting and trading, allowing players to experiment with rare items until they achieve optimal stats.

 

For instance, a rare sword with moderate stats might become a weapon perfectly suited for a critical strike or elemental damage build after several applications of Chaos Orbs. Their versatility makes them a cornerstone of PoE's crafting and trading ecosystem.

 

Exalted Orb

Exalted Orbs are far rarer and more valuable than Chaos Orbs. Instead of rerolling all modifiers, an Exalted Orb adds a new random affix to a rare item. This makes them ideal for fine-tuning high-end gear. They are commonly used by experienced players to push items to their maximum potential. Exalted Orbs are highly sought-after in trade, and their value reflects their rarity and the significant boost they can provide to an item's power level.

 

For example, a rare helmet may already have defensive stats. Applying an Exalted Orb could add life regeneration, elemental resistances, or other high-impact modifiers, turning it into an extremely valuable piece for endgame content.

 

Orb of Alchemy

Orb of Alchemy is a fundamental currency item that upgrades normal (white) items to rare (yellow) items. This transformation is random, and the resulting rare item can possess a wide variety of modifiers. Orbs of Alchemy are indispensable in the early and mid-game as they provide a means to generate powerful gear from mundane items. Many crafting strategies involve applying Alchemy Orbs in combination with other currencies to maximize the potential of an item.

 

For example, a basic white sword can be upgraded with an Orb of Alchemy into a rare sword that might include modifiers such as increased attack speed, elemental damage, or life leech, offering a significant improvement over its original form.

 

Orb of Fusing

The Orb of Fusing is used to reforge the links between sockets on an item. Linking sockets is critical in PoE, as it allows skill gems to interact with support gems, amplifying their effectiveness. Orbs of Fusing are applied repeatedly until the desired socket configuration is achieved, which can be particularly crucial for six-linked items-considered the pinnacle of power for many skill setups.

 

For example, a chest armor may have six sockets that are not linked optimally. By applying Orbs of Fusing, a player can eventually link all six, allowing for powerful combinations such as a high-damage spell supported by multiple utility gems.

 

Orb of Scouring

The Orb of Scouring completely resets an item to a normal (white) state, removing all modifiers. While seemingly destructive, it is an essential tool in crafting, allowing players to start fresh on an item. This can be particularly useful when a rare item rolls poor stats and the player wants to attempt new crafting methods from scratch.

 

For instance, a rare amulet with undesirable modifiers can be scoured to reset it, allowing for the application of an Orb of Alchemy to try for a more favorable outcome.

 

Chromatic Orb

Chromatic Orbs adjust the color of sockets on an item. In PoE, skills are associated with gem colors-red, green, and blue. The color configuration of sockets on gear determines which skill setups are possible. Chromatic Orbs provide a means to customize socket colors to suit specific builds, though the results are random, sometimes requiring multiple attempts to achieve the desired setup.

 

For example, a three-socket staff with two red sockets and one green socket can be transformed to three blue sockets, enabling a spellcaster to equip a trio of blue skill gems efficiently.

 

Jeweller's Orb

Jeweller's Orbs increase or decrease the number of sockets on an item. This is crucial for gearing, as many builds require multiple linked skill gems. Jeweller's Orbs are applied to gear to reach optimal socket numbers, enhancing the flexibility and potential of an item.

 

For instance, a bow with only two sockets can be expanded to four or five sockets, allowing a player to integrate more skill and support gems for complex builds.

 

Orb of Chance

The Orb of Chance provides a gamble, upgrading normal items to magic, rare, or even unique items based on probability. This currency is often used for experimental upgrades or by players seeking a risk-reward approach to gear enhancement.

 

For example, a normal ring could become a magic ring with two modifiers, or, with great luck, a rare ring with powerful stats. Orbs of Chance are a fun tool for players who enjoy the unpredictability of random crafting.

 

Scroll of Wisdom

Scrolls of Wisdom are one of the most basic yet vital currency items. Unidentified items in PoE cannot be used or traded, and the Scroll of Wisdom reveals their properties. These scrolls are plentiful and often given in large quantities during gameplay, ensuring that players can consistently identify loot as they progress.

 

For instance, a rare sword dropped by a monster will appear as unidentified. Using a Scroll of Wisdom reveals its stats, enabling the player to equip or sell it.

 

Portal Scroll

Portal Scrolls are utility currency items that create a temporary portal to town. While not directly used for crafting, they are essential for convenience, allowing players to sell items, restock consumables, or repair gear without exiting a dungeon manually.

 

For example, after clearing a challenging dungeon, a player can use a Portal Scroll to quickly return to town and resume adventuring with minimal downtime.

 

Blessed Orb

Blessed Orbs are used to reroll the implicit modifiers on items. Implicit modifiers are innate bonuses, such as increased attack speed or resistances. Rerolling them can yield significant improvements, particularly on high-value or endgame gear.

 

For instance, a rare amulet with a weak implicit bonus can be transformed using a Blessed Orb into an item with a more useful and powerful implicit, improving the character's overall effectiveness.

 

Vaal Orb

Vaal Orbs introduce an element of unpredictability, corrupting items with random effects. The result can be highly beneficial, potentially adding modifiers or special Vaal implicit properties, but it can also ruin an item. This high-risk, high-reward mechanic is one of PoE's most intriguing features and is commonly used for unique or valuable gear.

 

For example, a rare helmet might gain a new modifier that significantly enhances its utility, or it could end up with a less desirable effect, adding excitement and tension to crafting.

 

Glassblower's Bauble

Glassblower's Baubles are used to improve the quality of flasks. Quality increases the potency of flasks, making them more effective in healing, mana restoration, or providing utility bonuses. This is crucial for players in the mid-to-late game, where survival often hinges on the efficiency of flasks.

 

For example, enhancing a Life Flask with a Glassblower's Bauble can increase the amount of health restored with each use, providing a measurable improvement in combat survivability.

 

Orb of Regret

Orb of Regret allows players to refund points in the passive skill tree. Since PoE's skill tree is enormous and complex, mistakes are inevitable, and Orbs of Regret provide the flexibility to experiment with builds without starting over entirely.

 

For instance, if a player mistakenly invests in a defensive node instead of a damage node, an Orb of Regret can reclaim the point, allowing for reallocation and optimization of the build.

 

Conclusion

Path of Exile's unique currency system is far more than a method of trade-it is an essential part of the crafting and progression experience. Each common currency item serves a specific purpose, whether it is enhancing equipment, configuring sockets, adjusting skill trees, or facilitating basic gameplay needs like identifying items or creating portals. You can buy POE currency to get them. Mastery of these currencies enables players to craft powerful gear, experiment with builds, and navigate PoE's complex economy effectively.

 

From the ever-versatile Chaos Orb to the high-risk Vaal Orb, understanding each currency's function allows players to make strategic decisions that maximize both efficiency and enjoyment. In a game as intricate as Path of Exile, knowledge of these tools is not just helpful-it is essential for survival and success in the dark, perilous world of Wraeclast.