Exalted Orbs are among the most coveted currency items in Path of Exile, primarily because of their powerful crafting potential and their role as a universal currency in trading. Understanding how to use Exalted Orbs efficiently to upgrade your gear can significantly enhance your character’s power and your overall gameplay experience.

What Does an Exalted Orb Do?

An Exalted Orb adds a new random explicit modifier to a rare item, provided the item has at least one open affix slot. Rare items can have up to six modifiers, and the Exalted Orb will add one new one without replacing any existing ones. This makes it an essential tool for upgrading gear, as it can add valuable stats or effects that improve your build’s effectiveness. However, the modifier added is random and cannot duplicate a modifier already present on the item. If you're looking to buy poe 2 currency for sale, crafting with Exalted Orbs can be a great way to increase the value of your items and wealth.

When to Use Exalted Orbs in Crafting

The best time to use an Exalted Orb is when your rare item already has desirable modifiers and at least one empty affix slot. This way, you minimize the risk of losing valuable stats. For example, if you have a chest piece with two prefixes, two suffixes, and one crafted suffix that you want to keep, and one open prefix slot, using an Exalted Orb to fill that slot is a strategic move.

To increase the odds of getting a good modifier, many players use crafting bench options to “block” unwanted mods by crafting the worst possible affix in a slot before using an Exalted Orb. This technique prevents the orb from rolling that blocked mod and improves the chance of rolling a desirable one. If you’re trading or looking to purchase more poe 2 currency, you can also consider using Exalted Orbs to increase the value of your crafted gear.

Advanced Crafting Techniques

High-end crafting often involves combining Exalted Orbs with other crafting methods. For instance, using crafted Metamods can force particular outcomes. An example is crafting “Cannot roll Attack Modifiers” on a bow before using an Exalted Orb to add a +1 to Level of Socketed Gems modifier, which is otherwise difficult to obtain.

In more complex crafting scenarios, especially with influenced items, players may use Eldritch Exalted Orbs that add modifiers from specific influence pools. When Exalted Orbs are cheaper than Eldritch Exalted Orbs, they are used to add mods from the non-dominant mod group, optimizing crafting costs.

Risks and Costs

Using Exalted Orbs is expensive and carries risk because the added modifier is random and may not be desirable. High-end crafting often involves cycles of crafting, annulling unwanted mods, and reapplying Exalted Orbs, which can be costly. For example, if an Exalted Orb adds an unwanted mod like +35 to maximum Mana, players may remove it with an Orb of Annulment, then try again. This process is repeated until the desired combination is achieved.

Obtaining Exalted Orbs

Exalted Orbs drop rarely from monsters, chests, and strongboxes, and can also be obtained through vendor recipes and divination cards. They can be crafted by combining 20 Exalted Shards. Because of their rarity and value, they are often saved for critical crafting moments or traded as a currency. If you’re looking to boost your inventory quickly, you might consider buy poe 2 currency to invest in crafting resources more efficiently.

To upgrade your gear efficiently with Exalted Orbs:

  • Use them on rare items with at least one open affix slot and desirable existing mods.

  • Employ crafting bench “blocking” to prevent unwanted mods before using an Exalted Orb.

  • Combine with other crafting methods like Metamods and influenced crafting for targeted results.

  • Be prepared for costly trial-and-error cycles when aiming for perfect rolls.

  • Acquire Exalted Orbs through farming, vendor recipes, or trading to maintain a steady supply.

Mastering the use of Exalted Orbs is key to crafting powerful, endgame-ready gear in Path of Exile, enabling players to tailor their equipment to their build’s specific needs while maximizing their investment in crafting resources.