Path of Exile 2 Currency Changes and Impact

Path of Exile 2 is introducing significant changes to its currency and crafting systems, and these adjustments have become a point of heated discussion among players. With some familiar currency items disappearing and others undergoing a fundamental overhaul, players are anticipating a shift in how gear is acquired, modified, and valued. Let's explore the details of these changes, the reasons behind them, and how they may affect gameplay.

In Path of Exile 2, some essential currency items, like the Alteration Orb and Scouring Orb, are being removed entirely. Traditionally, these orbs played a major role in giving players control over item properties. The Scouring Orb, for example, allowed players to remove all existing mods from an item, essentially giving them a “blank slate” to work from. Without this option, any dropped item with poor modifiers becomes more difficult to optimize, potentially lowering its value. The absence of these orbs introduces a more rigid framework for crafting and makes dropped items more static in their characteristics.

For example, if a player finds a good item base with weak mods, they no longer have the option to reset it back to zero and build it up with other currency, as they might have in the original Path of Exile. This change suggests a push towards making item drops more meaningful and encourages players to work with what they find rather than tailoring items to their needs.

Chaos Orbs, a staple for item modification in Path of Exile, are also getting a significant rework. Currently, a Chaos Orb completely re-rolls all modifiers on an item, effectively starting fresh. In Path of Exile 2, however, Chaos Orbs will no longer reset an item's stats entirely; instead, they will remove one modifier and replace it with a new one. This revised function makes Chaos Orbs act as a combination of an Annulment Orb (which removes one modifier) and an Exalted Orb (which adds a new modifier), thereby offering a single-target modification.

This adjustment is expected to increase the impact of each item drop, as the new Chaos Orb mechanics mean that players will need to rely more heavily on the original mods of their item drops. Though this change can enhance the significance of item discovery, it does come with potential downsides. For example, players using item filters, which typically highlight item bases and mod rolls, may find themselves overlooking items with great potential since the filters may not accurately reflect the new mod mechanics. The change could make item management more complex and lead to unexpected drops being missed or discarded due to reliance on traditional filters.

The overhaul in currency mechanics also extends to map sustain, an essential element for endgame content. Previously, players encountering maps with mods like “physical reflect” or “cannot leech” could reroll these mods using a combination of Scouring Orbs and orb of Alchemy, or even Chaos Orbs. With these orbs being removed or altered, rerolling undesirable maps could become costly, especially for players seeking specific map modifiers or running on limited resources.

Another major change is the elimination of the crafting bench in Path of Exile 2, which has historically allowed players to fine-tune their items by adding and removing specific modifiers. This removal signals a stark departure from the current system and suggests a larger emphasis on drops rather than player-crafted perfection. To compensate, Path of Exile 2 is expected to enhance the vendor system in towns, allowing for adjustments to stats like resistances and other minor traits. However, this shift from crafting bench to vendors may leave players feeling limited control over item customization, especially for those accustomed to fine-tuning items in the endgame.

These changes could present challenges for Solo Self-Found (SSF) players, who rely exclusively on self-obtained gear. SSF players may find it harder to progress without access to a crafting bench, as they'll lack the means to optimize their gear outside of drops and basic vendor fixes. Even players in Trade League with an SSF mentality—who prefer trading minimally and rely on self-crafted items—could find the new system restrictive and less flexible for fine-tuning their builds.

This increased dependency on item drops aligns with Path of Exile 2's design philosophy of making loot more impactful, but it may feel limiting to players who value crafting freedom.

The response from the community has been mixed, with some players expressing concern over the extent to which these changes could affect their gameplay experience. For long-time players, the crafting bench and traditional currency options represented a substantial part of Path of Exile's appeal, enabling a level of item customization that could make each character's gear feel unique and tailored to individual play styles. While Path of Exile 2's new system emphasizes impactful item drops, there is some worry that the changes may reduce overall player agency in crafting and limit the versatility that many have come to enjoy.

For now, Grinding Gear Games, the developers of Path of Exile, have reassured players that the enhanced vendor system will provide alternate methods for handling early-game requirements like resistances. Nevertheless, the community is divided. Some eagerly awaiting the increased focus on loot, while others fear that these changes could limit their crafting options and enjoyment of the game.

The currency and crafting changes in Path of Exile 2 mark a substantial shift in gameplay philosophy, prioritizing meaningful item drops over customization. While this may encourage players to find value in their loot and adapt their strategies based on item drops, it's clear that the absence of familiar currencies and crafting methods will require significant adjustments in approach. It's a waiting game for the community to see how these changes will impact the overall experience in the highly anticipated sequel.

For players apprehensive about these changes, Path of Exile 1 will continue to be available with its original mechanics. Whether Path of Exile 2's currency system ultimately resonates with players remains to be seen, but it's certain that the game will offer a different experience, with new challenges and opportunities for exploration.

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