The Orb of Alchemy is a key crafting currency in Path of Exile 2, primarily used to upgrade normal (white) items into rare (yellow) items. When applied, it transforms the base item by adding random affixes—typically four modifiers—that significantly enhance the item’s power and usefulness. This upgrade is essential for players who want to improve their gear early and mid-game, as rare items offer much better stats than normal or magic items.

To use an Orb of Alchemy, simply right-click the orb and then left-click on a normal item in your inventory. The item will then become rare with randomly chosen affixes, which can include increased damage, resistances, life, or other beneficial stats depending on the item type. However, the affixes are random, so the outcome may not always be ideal, which adds an element of chance and strategy to its use.

Obtaining Orbs of Alchemy can be done in several ways. They drop from monsters, chests, and destructible containers throughout the game world. Players can also acquire them through vendor recipes, such as selling three identified rare items of the same name or combining normal, magic, and rare items of the same base type with 20% quality. Additionally, Orbs of Alchemy can be traded with other players, making them a common and valuable poe 2 currency.

Strategically, it’s best to use Orbs of Alchemy on high-level base items or those with favorable socket setups to maximize the potential benefits from the random affixes. Some players use an Orb of Scouring first to reset an item’s modifiers before applying an Orb of Alchemy, ensuring that the affixes roll fresh and potentially more desirable mods. Understanding the affix pools for specific item types and using crafting benches to influence these pools can also help guide the outcome toward more powerful results.

Beyond upgrading gear, Orbs of Alchemy can be used on maps to increase their rarity and difficulty, which in turn boosts the rewards and experience gained from completing them. They also improve the quality of strongboxes, increasing the chances of valuable loot inside. Because of their versatility, Orbs of Alchemy hold a crucial place in crafting and progression. Many players looking to streamline their progress even choose to buy poe 2 currency through in-game trading hubs or community markets.

The Orb of Alchemy is an indispensable item for upgrading normal items to rare ones, providing a significant boost in power through random affixes. Players gather them through drops, vendor recipes, and trading, then use them strategically to enhance gear, maps, and other game elements. Mastering when and how to use Orbs of Alchemy is a fundamental part of crafting and progression in Path of Exile 2.