If you're confused by the complicated currency system in Path of Exile (PoE), don't worry! This guide is your map to the riches of Wraeclast. Our in-depth guide will take you through the unique currency system. Get to know about orbs, affixes, item rarities and much more to enhance your trading skills and gear augmentation across Wraeclast.

 

• PoE Currency System Introduction
• Understanding Affixes and Item Levels
• Item Rarities Explained
• PoE Currency Orbs
• Special Orbs and Their Uses
• Exotic Currencies
• The Vendors' Trade
• Quick Currency Comparison

 

 

↖ PoE Currency System Introduction

Unlike typical RPGs, PoE has an unusual economy where there is no gold any more than there are calm days at Sarn Encampment. Rather, various orbs are used as the currency to create or modify items. These orbs dictate items with one of four rarities: normal, magic, rare or unique. But before we jump into these rarities let's go over a few basics.

 

↖ Understanding Affixes and Item Levels

Items in PoE have implicit properties that are sort of like built-in bonuses located just below the name of the item. Once past normal (white) items you start encountering explicit properties or affixes that add some spice to your gear. These affixes come in two flavors; prefixes and suffixes. Each rarity has a set number for each it can hold. No double-dipping – you cannot have the same affix twice on an item.

 

These affixes have power based on an item's level (iLvl), which may be glanced at by holding down 'Alt' while hovering over the item. The iLvl determines affix tiers on a better scale as well as more sockets for your apparel.

 

↖ Item Rarities Explained

• Normal (White): These are plain-Jane items that only possess an implicit property.
• Magic (Blue): Just like a sandwich with two fillings, magic items have one prefix and one suffix.
• Rare (Yellow): The subs of PoE are fully packed with a maximum of six affixes; three prefixes and three suffixes.
• Unique (Orange): Unique items are the gourmet meals of Wraeclast and possess special modifiers which are created by the community itself.

 

↖ PoE Currency Orbs

PoE's currency orbs range from the humble Scroll of Wisdom for identifying items to the coveted Mirror of Kalandra for duplicating them. Here is an overview:

• Scroll of Wisdom: This is your standard identifier for items.
• Portal Scroll: It serves as a personal door back to town.
• Quality-Enhancing Orbs: They can increase an item's quality up to 20%, but their efficiency depends on their rarity.
• Orbs for Magic Items: Either elevate normality into magic or re-roll the affixes using Orb of Transmutation or Orb of Alteration respectively.
• Orbs for Rare Items: For crafting rare items having a variety of affixes the orb you will go-to is Orb of Alchemy, Regal Orb, and Chaos Orb.
• Exalted Orb: If allowed an extra affix is added to it, like adding cherry on top a rare item.

 

↖ Special Orbs and Their Uses

• Orb of Scouring: This eraser will take an item back down to a normal rarity level again.
• Blessed Orb: Reforges implicit property on an item
• Divine Orb: Modifies explicit properties within their respective ranges
• Sockets and Links: A Crafter's Delight

 

You use sockets to insert your shiny skill gems for you while links allow the gems to hold hands and work together. The Jeweler's Orb, Orb of Fusing, and Chromatic Orb are what you need to manage sockets and links properly. You have to check an item's iLvl before socket-craziness.

 

↖ Exotic Currencies

The game also has several unique currencies including Silver Coins for prophecies, Essences for targeted crafting, and Divination Cards for collecting specific rewards. Sextants also modify maps in the endgame Atlas.

 

↖ The Vendors' Trade

Depending on what is being traded in, you can get scraps or even whole orbs by selling items to vendors. There are also vendor recipes – certain combinations that give specific currencies or other items when sold together.

 

↖ Quick Currency Comparison

Le's look at some comparisons between PoE's currency and real money:

• 1000 Chaos Orbs = $0.7
• 100 Exalted Orbs = $1
• 10 Divine Orbs = $0.6
• 1 Mirror of Kalandra = $63

 

These figures are not set in stone but give a clue about their values relative to one another. Be aware that PoE economy is as stable as a one-legged zombie hence values can shift.

 

Related: PoE Loot Filters & UI Guide.

 

Conclusion:

In itself, Path of Exile's currency system is another adventure altogether. Whether it is about developing unique gear or getting involved in Wraeclast's vibrant trade market; knowledge about these currencies is vital. So hide your orbs well my fellow exiles for may your loot be forever legendary!