The Orb of Alchemy is a fundamental currency item in Path of Exile 2, used primarily to upgrade normal (white) items into rare (yellow) items with random affixes. Knowing when to spend Orbs of Alchemy compared to other currency items is critical for effective resource management and character progression. Many players even treat them as an entry point into the broader poe 2 currency economy.

The Orb of Alchemy should be spent when upgrading white items that have strong base types and the potential to be turned into powerful rare gear. This typically happens early or mid-game, where players seek to quickly improve gear quality without investing in more complex crafting processes. It is most efficient to use Orbs of Alchemy on bases suited to the character’s build and with high item levels to maximize the potential affix range.

Compared to a Chaos Orb, which rerolls affixes on an already rare item, the Orb of Alchemy is used earlier in the crafting process to create that rare item from a white base. Players usually avoid spending Orbs of Alchemy on items they intend to further reroll with Chaos Orbs, unless the initial upgrade leads to an item with strong implicit qualities worth enhancing.

When compared to Orbs like Exalted Orbs, which add a new random affix to a rare item, Orbs of Alchemy are more about creating the first rare item rather than improving it. Exalted Orbs are therefore more valuable and often reserved for endgame gear enhancements after basic affixes are reliably obtained.

Orb of Chance, which upgrades normal items to unique items, presents a different use case. Players may choose Orb of Chance over Orb of Alchemy when targeting specific unique bases, but if the goal is to craft rare and more build-specific gear, Orbs of Alchemy are the primary currency.

Regal Orbs upgrade a rare item to a higher rarity tier with an additional affix, so they come into play after Orbs of Alchemy and Chaos Orbs have shaped the item’s basic stats. This means Regal Orbs are spent later in the crafting sequence, whereas Orbs of Alchemy are a starting point for the rare item creation.

Overall, the Orb of Alchemy is best spent early in the crafting process on appropriate white bases, providing a foundation for more advanced crafting and enhancement. It is less about tweaking or finalizing gear and more about enabling the first crucial leap to rare item status. Players should prioritize saving Orbs of Alchemy for bases that offer high affinity with their build and item level to maximize the outcome’s potential, rather than relying too heavily on costly alternatives or trying to buy poe 2 currency without a plan.

Orbs of Alchemy are most useful:

• Early game to quickly get rare gear,

• When upgrading high-potential white bases,

• Before using more expensive currencies like Chaos, Regal, or Exalted Orbs,

• When crafting specifically build-synergistic rare items rather than chasing uniques or fine-tuning existing rares.

By spending Orbs of Alchemy wisely and in the right crafting stages, players can efficiently progress from basic gear upgrades to top-tier endgame item crafting without wasting valuable currency.