Using Vaal Orbs on your gear in Path of Exile 2 is a high-stakes decision that can either elevate your items to extraordinary power or leave them significantly weakened. To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks, it’s essential to follow best practices and understand when and how to use these orbs effectively.

1. Only Vaal Items You Can Afford to Lose
The first and most important rule is to never corrupt an item you cannot replace or afford to lose. Vaal Orbs permanently lock an item from further modifications, so if the corruption rolls poorly, you cannot fix or improve it afterward. It’s wise to have a backup item—often a similar weapon or piece of gear with close stats—so you can afford to take the gamble on the less valuable one. This way, if the corruption fails, you still retain a solid alternative.

2. Fully Optimize Before Corruption
Before using a Vaal Orb, make sure the item is fully crafted and optimized. This means applying quality, filling all available modifier slots with Exalted Orbs or other crafting currency, and adding all desired sockets and links. Since corruption locks the item’s state permanently, any missed upgrades before corruption are lost opportunities. For example, if you haven’t added quality or maxed out affixes, you won’t be able to do so after Vaaling.

3. Prioritize Unique Items and Waystones
Vaal Orbs tend to have more powerful and beneficial outcomes on unique items and Waystones compared to most rare items. Unique gear can gain new corrupted implicit mods or enhanced stats that make them significantly stronger. Waystones, which are special crafting items, also respond well to corruption, sometimes unlocking rare and valuable modifiers. Rare items generally have weaker or more volatile corruption outcomes, so use caution there.

4. Use Vaal Orbs on Skill Gems Strategically
Skill gems are another excellent target for Vaal Orbs. Corrupting a gem can increase its level beyond the normal cap or add extra support gem slots, which can dramatically boost your build’s power. However, this is risky, as a failed corruption can lower the gem’s level or quality, reducing its effectiveness. It’s best to corrupt gems that are already at level 20 and high quality to maximize the chance of a positive outcome. If you need more tries, securing cheap poe 2 currency can help you stock up on extra gems to experiment with.

5. Experiment on Duplicates or Less Valuable Gear
Because corruption outcomes are random, it’s smart to experiment on duplicate items or gear you don’t rely on heavily. For example, if you have two weapons with similar damage, Vaal one of them. If the corruption rolls well, you gain a stronger weapon; if not, you still have the other. This approach reduces the impact of bad luck and allows you to learn how corruption behaves on different item types.

6. Understand the Omen of Corruption Mechanic
The Omen of Corruption is a special mechanic that can influence corruption results, sometimes improving the odds of favorable outcomes. However, it can also backfire if used improperly. Learning when and how to apply Omens in conjunction with Vaal Orbs can give you an edge, especially on skill gems and unique items.

7. Avoid Corrupting Items with Valuable Implicit Mods You Want to Keep
Some items, like certain jewelry, have powerful implicit mods that corruption can replace or remove. If you rely on these implicit stats, it’s best to avoid corrupting such items unless you are willing to risk losing those benefits.

The best practice for using Vaal Orbs is to treat them as a final, high-risk step after all other crafting is complete. Use them on items you can replace, prioritize uniques and skill gems, and experiment cautiously. This strategic approach helps you harness the immense power of corruption while protecting your valuable gear from irreversible damage. Many veteran players invest poe 2 currency to fund these endgame risks, turning them into consistent crafting victories. Mastering when to Vaal is key to turning the gamble into a rewarding crafting experience.