How to Trade in PoE2: Beginner's Guide for 0.2.0

With Path of Exile 2's patch 0.2.0 dropping livesteam today, and the Dawn of the Hunt league launching April 4, trading's about to become your best friend—or worst enemy if you're clueless. Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has kept PoE2's trade system old-school: no shiny auction house, just a website and some hustle. Whether you're a newbie in Act 2 or a vet prepping for endgame, this guide's got you covered—buying upgrades, selling loot, and snagging profits, all tailored for the fresh economy reset. Let's dive in and turn those Divine Orbs into gear that slaps.

PoE2's trade market runs on a few key currencies:  

Exalted Orbs: The bread-and-butter for buying gear. You'll snag these from campaign drops or mapping—think 1-2 per act if RNG smiles.  

Divine Orbs: Rarer, pricier (around 100 Exalts each in Early Access), perfect for big-ticket items.  

Chaos Orbs: Cheaper, great for mid-tier trades or crafting gambles.

Patch 0.2.0 might tweak ratios (watch today's livestream!), but Exalts and Divines will rule early Dawn of the Hunt. Stockpile 'em—campaign's your goldmine before the league flood hits.

Need an upgrade? Say your Act 2 boots are still those measly Wanderers from Act 1—time to shop. Here's how:  

Hit the Trade Site: Go to pathofexile.com/trade2 (bookmark it!). Log in, pick your league (PoE2 Standard or Dawn of the Hunt post-April 4).  

Item Category: Type “Boots.”  

Max Level: Match your character (e.g., 52)—no point eyeing level 80 gear you can't wear.  

Stats: Want 25%+ movement speed? Add “Increased Movement Speed,” set min to 25. Toss in “Maximum Life” (min 60) and “Cold Resistance” (min 20) for survival.

Budget Check: Under “Trade Filters,” set “Buyout Price” to Exalted Orbs, max 1-2 (your stash limit).  

Search and Whisper: Sort by price, hit “Direct Whisper” on a deal—e.g., boots with 25% speed, 65 life, 30% cold res for 1 Exalt. In-game, wait for a party invite.  

Trade: Teleport to their hideout, pop your Exalt in the trade window, confirm their item, and accept. Boom—new kicks. Whisper “ty” and roll out.

Patch 0.2.0 Tip: Early league, prices are wild—snipe deals day 1-3 (April 4-6) before the market settles. Need resists for the Huntress? Prioritize chaos res—rarer and clutch.

Got a stash full of drops? Turn 'em into currency:  

Get a Premium Stash Tab: Head to the in-game shop (microtransactions > stash tabs). Upgrade a tab for 15 coins (~$1.50) or grab one on sale (every 3 weekends). Non-premium tabs won't cut it for public sales.  

Set It Up: Right-click your tab, name it “Sales,” set it public, check “Each Item Individually Priced.”  

Price Your Item: Found a crossbow with 70% hybrid phys damage? Drag it in, right-click, set “Exact Price” to 1 Exalted Orb.  

Handle Buyers: Someone whispers? Invite them to your party (right-click their name), head to town/hideout, trade the item for their currency. Check their offer—hover to confirm—then accept.

Dump Tab Trick: Too lazy to price check? Set a premium tab to “Negotiable Price,” slap 2 Exalts on everything, and dump all loot there. Tons of whispers? It's worth more—relist higher. Silent? Drop it to 1 Exalt. Patch 0.2.0's reset means early sales are chaotic—test the waters fast.

Don't guess—know your loot's worth:  

Grab Sidekick: Download Sidekick (Google it—free tool). Set PoE2 to windowed mode (Options > Graphics). Hover an item, press Ctrl+D, and it scans the market.  

Check Mods: For that crossbow, toggle “Physical DPS” and “Attacks per Second.” Search shows similar ones at 1-2 Exalts? List it there.  

Refine It: On the trade site, match level (e.g., 48) and mods. If it's unsold at 2 Exalts after 6 hours, drop to 1.5—sell, don't hoard.

Crafting Boost: Got a magic item with a killer mod (e.g., 70% phys)? Slam a Regal Orb (cheap, 5:1 Exalt ratio) for a rare. Hit a good third mod? Exalt it if you've got spares—could jump from 1 to 20 Exalts. Patch 0.2.0 might tweak crafting (Orb of Alteration rumors!), so save some currency for gambles.

Jewels: Craft rares with life, crit, or meta skills—flip for 5-10 Divines.  

Resist Gear: Boots, rings, belts with 30%+ resists—early league must-haves.  

Weapons: High DPS (500+) crossbows or maces—socketed ones fetch extra.  

Uniques: Leveling staples like Goldrim (all-res) or Other Diamond (jewel buff)—cheap early, pricy later.

Pro Move: Reforge junk rings (3 same rarity at the bench) for a shot at chaos res or rarity—list winners for 1-2 Divines.

Overpricing: That 85-Exalt ring? If it's unsold after a day, it's not worth 85. Check comparables—price to move.  

Ignoring Sockets: A 580 DPS crossbow with 2 iron runes (+40% phys) beats a raw 600 DPS one—factor runes in.  

Panic Selling: Day 1 chaos means lowball offers—hold firm on valuables unless you're desperate.

Patch 0.2.0's economy reset is your playground. Buy cheap upgrades (1-5 Exalts) to blast through Acts 1-6—think 35% speed boots or a 500 DPS weapon. Sell campaign drops (rares with life/resists) for quick Exalts. Mid-league, craft jewels or snipe uniques as builds solidify. Today's reveal might drop new meta items—stay flexible, and you'll bankroll your endgame.

Dawn of the Hunt's a week away, and patch 0.2.0's shaking things up—master trading now, and you'll thrive. Keep an eye on MMOJUGG for more PoE2 tips as the league unfolds.