Earning Divine Orbs via Essence in PoE2

Time: 2024-12-26 by mmojugg Game: Path of Exile 2 Guide

Hello Exiles! As you dive into the economy of Path of Exile 2, you might be interested in a strategy that's been quite lucrative for me lately, and it's all about essences. It's not about crafting, it's about trade arbitrage, using market inefficiencies to make a profit. Here's how you can do the same.

Understanding essences

Let's start by understanding why essences are valuable. They are fundamental to crafting because they allow you to add specific modifiers to items, which is crucial for creating endgame gear. For example, using a Greater Flame Essence on a magical item can guarantee fire resistance when it becomes rare. These customised modifications are in high demand, making essences a hot commodity.

Market dynamics and pricing

Essences vary greatly in price. For example, an Essence of Body might sell for 1:5.5, while an Essence of torment might sell for as little as 1:0.5. This disparity is where arbitrage comes into play. By understanding which essences are undervalued and which are overvalued, you can buy low and sell high.

The Arbitrage Strategy

Here's the core of the strategy:

Identify cheap essences: Look for the cheapest Essences on the market. Currently, Essence of Body is one of the cheapest.

Reforge for profit: Combine three of these cheaper essences at the reforging table. This process may return a random Essence, but the goal is to get a more valuable one. For example, three Body Essences could potentially yield a Greater Torment Essence, which is far more valuable.

Probability and reward: The chance of getting a Greater Essence is low, around 1%, but the return on investment when it happens is substantial. I've done a lot of crafting, spending over two Divine Orbs in the process, and the results have been worthwhile. For example, I've made a profit from getting Greater Essences of Torment and Sorcery.

Mathematical Approach

For those who enjoy numbers, here's how I calculated the profitability of this strategy:

Spreadsheet Analysis: we can created a spreadsheet to track essence prices and calculate expected returns. By entering the market prices and the probability of getting each type of essence back, you can determine if the strategy remains profitable.

Expected return: Currently, with the market prices, my calculations show that each reforge attempt yields an expected profit. Even if we adjust for zero luck in obtaining Greater essences, the strategy still holds up due to the distribution of less valuable but still profitable essences.

Caveats and Market Impact

Remember, this strategy works best when you're early in the game, buying in bulk before others catch on. If you start buying up all the cheapest essences, you'll drive up the price, potentially making the strategy less viable. My other article is updated with current market prices. - Essence Exchange Rate Report

Thanks for Reading

This Essence Arbitrage strategy in Path of Exile 2 can be a gold mine if executed in a timely manner and with an understanding of market dynamics. Keep an eye on the market, adjust your strategy as needed, and you could be earning those Divine Orbs in no time. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more strategies on how to master the economy in Path of Exile 2. Happy trading, Exiles!