Mastering Essences in Path of Exile 2

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

Hello Exiles! Today we're going to delve into the world of Essence crafting in Path of Exile 2, exploring how to acquire these powerful crafting tools, how to use them, and some advanced strategies for taking your equipment to the next level. Let's get started!

Acquiring Essences

Essences in Path of Exile 2 can be found as you explore the game world. You may come across essence nodes which, when unlocked, can drop both basic and more powerful essences. Alternatively, if you have three of the same type of Basic Essence, you can use the Reforging Bench to potentially upgrade or change them to a different type or even a Greater Essence. Although the chance of an upgrade is low, around 1-2%, the potential payoff is significant. For example, trading in three Infinite Essences could give you a Greater Flame Essence, which is very valuable for crafting.

Basic use of essences

Let's start with a simple example: using an Essence of Battle to turn a plain white iron ring into a magic item. This process guarantees an attack modifier, such as Accuracy, and provides more control over randomness than using an Orb of Transmutation. Each type of base essence has a specific modifier it can add, giving players a choice in their crafting path.

For example: Using an Essence of Chaos on a Chaos ring may not always give you Chaos resistance, but it will guarantee a Chaos-related modifier such as increased Chaos damage.

Utilizing Greater Essences

Greater Essences take things to the next level by transforming magic items into rare items with a specific modifier. For example, applying an Essence of Ice to a Sapphire Ring could give you Cold Resistance, although the level of the modifier may still be subject to RNG.

Example: I applied an Essence of Flame to a Prismatic Ring, which fortunately gave me 22% Fire resistance. This shows how Essences can be used to tailor equipment to specific resistances or stats.

Advanced Crafting with Essences

For those who want to delve deeper, combining essences with other crafting tools such as Catalysts and Omens can yield impressive results. Here's a handy tip:

Combine with Omens: By using an Omen such as Dextral Exaltation, which guarantees a suffix modifier, you can ensure that your next use of Exalted Orb will add a suffix. This is crucial when going for specific combinations such as triple resist on rings.

Enhance with Catalysts: Catalysts can increase the quality of your gear by affecting modifiers. For example, using a Tul's catalyst on a ring with cold resistance modifiers can further increase those stats, although the increase may be marginal until you stack more quality.

Tips for effective use of essences

Plan strategically: When using Greater Essences, consider the existing modifiers on your item. If you find an item with desirable stats, using a Greater Essence can lock in another beneficial modifier, potentially leading to powerful combinations such as double or triple resistances.

Consider the cost: Keep in mind that Greater Essences are not cheap, often costing around seven Exalted Orbs. It's important to weigh the potential outcome against the cost, especially in late-game scenarios where every decision counts.

Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with Essences early on. They provide a controlled way to understand how different modifiers interact with your equipment, which is invaluable knowledge for late-game crafting.

Thanks for reading

Essences in Path of Exile 2 are not just another currency; they're a cornerstone of effective gear customisation. With the right strategy, they allow for precise crafting that can significantly boost your character's performance. Stay tuned for more content on how to maximise your crafting potential in Path of Exile 2. Happy crafting, Exiles!