Chromatic Orb is an important part of your PoE toolbox for personalizing your gear to suit your build. They may not convert directly into high value currency but their usefulness through the early game and endgame makes them priceless. Also, remember that, in spite of the randomness, knowing how the underlying mechanics work can significantly increase your chances of getting the desired socket colors.

• Primary Function: Change weapon and armor socket colors.
• Importance: They are essential for obtaining the desired color combinations on your gear especially in late game stages

How to Acquire Chromatic Orb in PoE?

• Monster Drops: This is the main source of Chromatic Orb; it drops from destroyed monsters, chests, destructible containers, and Arcanist's Strongboxes.
• Vendor Recipes:
  • From Yeena in Act 2 using 3 Jeweller's Orbs.
  • Higher-level Masters offer exchanges, like 48 Jeweller's Orbs for 20 Chromatic Orbs.
• Vendor Recipes: Sell any equipment with linked RGB (Red, Green, Blue) sockets to any NPC.
• Trading: Exchange items or currency for Chromatic Orb via PoE trade websites. The rates differ between Standard and League play.

Chromatic Orb Recipes

• Basic RGB Recipe: An item with linked RGB sockets equals one Chromatic Orb.
• Bulk Exchange: Trade 48 Jeweller's Orbs for 20 Chromatic Orbs.

Chromatic Orb Market Value

• Exchange Rate: Approximately two hundred chromes are equal to an exalted orb. 
• Vendor Prices: Vendors sell a chroma orb at no more than three jewelers orbs

Chromatic Orb Divination Card

• Emperor's Luck: A set of 5 can be exchanged for five Chromatic Orbs
• The Heroic Shot: A set of 1 can be exchanged for 17 Chromatic Orbs
• The Void: A set of 1 can be a random divination card set exchange

How to Use Chromatic Orb Wisely in PoE?

Basic Usage:

• Modifying Sockets: Mainly used to change socket colors of gear. 
• Color Bias:Sockets are more likely to roll a color corresponding to the gear's attribute requirements (Strength = Red, Dexterity = Green, Intelligence = Blue). 
• Limitation: Only red, green, or blue sockets can be obtained; white sockets require a Vaal Orb. 

Advanced Usage:

• Targeted Coloring: It is more cost-effective to use Vorici's bench for a particular color combination especially on items that are biased against it than manually applying Chromatic Orbs.
• Pricing:
  • 1 socket of a specific color costs 4 Chromatic Orbs
  • 2 sockets cost 25 Chromatic Orbs.
  • 3 sockets cost 120 Chromatic Orbs.
• Corrupted Items: By the help of level eight Vorici, it is possible to alter the colors of corrupted socketed items at a price of one Vaal Orb per every Chromatic Orb that was needed. 

Gear Bias

• First Layer: Different types of gear have their own color bias based on attributes they demand.
• Second Layer: Higher level base types have stronger biases towards their respective color.

Chances & Combinations

• Probability Mechanics: Each socket has equal chances for each color and this remains unaffected by its position and previous colors. 
• Example Calculation: This is when you perform an individual probability calculation for a combination like RRGGG and consider all possible orders in which these colors can come up. 

Vaal Orb vs. Chromatic Orb

• Vaal Orb: They corrupt items making them unchangeable by other PoE currencies. 
• Chromatic Orb: They only change socket colors without affecting item corruption status. 

Handling Corrupted Equipment

Crafting Bench: Use Assassin Master's crafting bench to modify socket colors on corrupted items at the additional cost of Vaal Orbs.