Mastering Breach Catalysts in PoE 2

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

Welcome, Exiles! Today we're taking a deep dive into the world of Catalysts in Path of Exile 2, exploring their uses, types and how they can significantly boost the performance of your equipment. Whether you're an experienced player or just entering the endgame, understanding Catalysts can be a game changer.

What are Catalysts and how do they work?

Catalysts in Path of Exile 2 are special currency items that increase the quality of rings and amulets by boosting certain modifiers. While most equipment is capped at 20% quality, there's an exciting exception - the Breach Ring, which can reach up to 50% quality. This unique feature makes Breach Rings particularly interesting for our discussion.

Types of catalysts

Catalysts come in several different types, each focusing on different modifiers:

Speed modifier Catalyst: Increase movement speed, attack speed or casting speed.

Physical modifier Catalyst: Boost physical damage stats.

Defence modifier Catalyst: Improve defensive attributes such as armour or evasion.

Attribute modifier Catalyst: Improve stats such as Strength, Dexterity or Intelligence.

For example, if you apply a Catalyst that boosts speed modifiers to a ring that already has a +22% speed modifier, it could increase it to +24%, as I've demonstrated with my own equipment. Similarly, applying a physical damage catalyst can incrementally increase your physical attack stats, which is crucial for damage-oriented builds.

How to use Catalysts

Using Catalysts is simple, but requires strategy. Here's how to do it:

Use Catalysts: Right-click on a Catalyst, then left-click on your ring or amulet. If the item already has a quality, the existing modifier will be replaced with the new one from the catalyst. For example, if I added a physical damage catalyst to a ring with a speed modifier, the speed modifier was replaced.

Quality increase: Each time a Catalyst is used, it increases the quality of the item, affecting the modifier. On a Breach ring, you can see the quality increase from the standard 20% to 50%, significantly altering the stats.

Resetting quality: If you want to change the modifier or reset the quality, you can use methods such as chaos orbs or other crafting techniques to reroll the gear. This gives you more flexibility when tweaking your gear.

Buying more catalysts

If you're looking to stock up on Catalysts, here are your options:

Reforging Bench: You can smelt down Catalysts you don't need into new ones. For example, if you have a surplus of physical damage Catalysts, you can convert them into something more useful, such as fire damage Catalysts.

Exchange currency market: You can buy Catalysts from Alva in your hideout or on the trade website. Currently, an Exalted Orb can buy you around 9 Xoph's Catalysts, but remember that prices can fluctuate.

Farm through Breaches: Keep an eye out for Breach encounters on endgame maps. Completing these can reward you with Catalysts, making them a natural part of your farming routine.

Why Catalysts are valuable

Catalysts aren't just another currency; they're a tool for fine-tuning your equipment. They allow you to make precise improvements that not only make your gear better, but also tailor it to the needs of your build. For late-game players, this can mean the difference between surviving a tough boss fight or getting wiped.

Thanks for reading

By now you should have a solid understanding of how Catalysts work in Path of Exile 2, from how to use them to how to acquire them. They're a powerful resource for any Exile looking to push their equipment to the limit, especially with the unique 50% quality potential of Breach Rings. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more insights and strategies on how to dominate Wraeclast. Happy crafting, Exiles!