Path of Exile 2: Let's talk about the loot system

In the fast-paced world of Path of Exile 2, players are diving into maps, slaying monsters, and chasing that sweet loot. But a curious trend has emerged: picking up normal and magic items often feels more rewarding than grabbing those shiny rare items. If you've been scratching your head over what to pick up or how to make the most of your inventory, this guide will break it all down. From the game's crafting system to the frustrations of identifying items, we'll explore why the loot meta has shifted and how you can optimize your gameplay.

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The State of Loot in Path of Exile 2

In Path of Exile 2, the late-game grind revolves around farming maps, where loot drops define your progression. However, players have noticed that rare (yellow) items often end up as vendor fodder, while normal (white) and magic (blue) items hold surprising value. Why? It all comes down to the game's revamped crafting system and the inefficiencies of rare item drops.

Normal and magic items, especially high-level bases like a level 80–82 Gemini or Massive Great Hammer, are highly sought after. These bases can be crafted into powerful gear using the game's robust crafting mechanics, often yielding better results than picking up pre-modified rares. Meanwhile, rare items frequently drop with undesirable affixes, and fixing them is a costly endeavor. This dynamic has flipped the traditional loot hierarchy, making white and blue items the stars of the show.

Why Crafting Outshines Ground Loot

The crafting system in Path of Exile 2 is a game-changer. Unlike its predecessor, where rare items from the ground could occasionally compete with crafted gear, the new system heavily favors player-crafted items. Here's why:

1. Greater Essences and Magic Items: Greater Essences are a crafting powerhouse, allowing players to guarantee specific affixes (like flat damage, resistance, or life) on magic items. However, these essences only work on blue items, not rares. This makes magic items with one or two decent stats prime candidates for crafting, as you can slam a Greater Essence to lock in a high-value affix.

2. Costly Rare Item Fixes: Rare items often come with a mix of good and bad modifiers. Removing unwanted affixes requires expensive Annulment Orbs or targeted annulments, which are prohibitively costly for most players. In contrast, starting with a normal or magic base is cheaper and less risky, as you have more control over the crafting process.

3. Base-Driven Economy: High-level normal bases, like a level 82 Massive Great Hammer, are valuable because they can be crafted into top-tier gear. For example, using a Transmutation Orb or Augmentation on a normal base can yield a valuable mod, such as physical damage, that sells for a premium. Magic items with one desired mod are even better, as they reduce randomness and streamline the crafting process.

4. Trading Efficiency: The in-game auction house makes it easy to buy magic items with specific mods or high-level bases, often for a single Exalted Orb or less. This is far more cost-effective than picking up and identifying dozens of rares, hoping for a lucky roll.

The Identification Problem: A Relic of the Past

One of the biggest gripes among Path of Exile 2 players in 2025 is the identification system. Unidentified items clutter your inventory, forcing you to make tough choices about what to pick up, especially with limited inventory space and long loading screens. Identifying every rare item feels like a chore, especially when most turn out to be vendor trash. As one player put it, “Why are we still identifying items like it's 1999?"

The consensus is clear: identifying items is a time sink that detracts from the dopamine rush of looting. Many players advocate for rares to drop identified, especially at mid-to-high map levels, to make ground loot more exciting. While some argue that unidentified uniques (such as high-level Invictus Chests) add a gambling thrill to the endgame, the community largely agrees that identifying every rare item is outdated and frustrating.

How to Optimize Your Loot Strategy

To make the most of your time in Path of Exile 2, focus on these strategies:

• Prioritize Normal and Magic Items: Pick up high-level normal bases (e.g., level 80+ Gemini or Massive Great Hammer) and magic items with at least one desirable mod. These are your crafting goldmines.

• Use Greater Essences Wisely: Slam magic items with Greater Essences to guarantee valuable affixes. Avoid using them on rares, as Perfect Essences are less effective and more restrictive.

• Leverage the Auction House: Instead of gambling on ground loot, buy magic items with specific mods or high-level bases. This saves time and currency compared to crafting from scratch.

• Skip Most Rares: Unless a rare item is a high-level unique or has a valuable base, it's usually not worth picking up. The cost of fixing bad mods outweighs the potential reward.

• Manage Inventory Efficiently: With limited inventory space and long loading screens, only pick up items you know have value. Avoid filling your inventory with unidentified rares.

Balancing the Loot System: Community Suggestions

The community has proposed several solutions to make rare items more appealing without diminishing the value of normal and magic items:

1. Drop Rares Identified: Allowing rares to drop identified would reduce the time spent sorting through trash and make ground loot more exciting.

2. Improve Rare Item Quality: Increase the quality of rare drops at mid-to-high map levels, ensuring they have a minimum number of decent mods or guaranteed affixes based on item level.

3. Enhance Disenchanting Rewards: Disenchanting rares could yield crafting materials or currency (beyond a single Alteration Orb) to incentivize picking them up.

4. Keep Normal and Magic Relevant: The current base-driven economy is a strength, but rares need a boost to compete without nerfing crafting options like Greater Essences or Transmutation Orbs.

While some players suggest reintroducing Scour Orbs to reset items, others argue this would devalue normal and magic items, disrupting the crafting meta. The challenge for Grinding Gear Games is to find a balance that makes all item rarities rewarding.

FAQs About Path of Exile 2 Loot and Crafting

Why are normal and magic items more valuable than rares in Path of Exile 2?

Normal and magic items are easier to craft with Greater Essences and have fewer bad mods, making them ideal bases for high-value gear. Rares often come with undesirable affixes that are costly to remove.

Should I pick up every rare item I find?

No, focus on high-level bases or uniques. Most rares are vendor trash due to bad mods and the high cost of fixing them.

How do Greater Essences work in crafting?

Greater Essences guarantee specific affixes on magic items, making them ideal for targeting mods like flat damage or resistance. They don't work on rare items, which limits their utility.

Why is identifying items so frustrating?

Identifying every rare item is time-consuming and often yields worthless gear, clogging your inventory and forcing frequent trips to your hideout due to long loading screens.

How can I maximise my use of the auction house?

Buy magic items with one or two desired mods or high-level normal bases. These are cheaper and more reliable than crafting from scratch or gambling on ground loot.

Thanks for Reading

The loot and crafting systems in Path of Exile 2 have sparked heated discussions, and it's clear the game is evolving in exciting ways. By focusing on normal and magic items, leveraging Greater Essences, and using the auction house strategically, you can maximize your efficiency and gear up like a pro. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more guides, tips, and updates to help you conquer Wraeclast!