PoE2 Orb of Alteration - New Currency in 0.2.0?

What's the Orb of Alteration Rumor?

In a video uploaded about a month ago showcasing PoE2's map stash tab, eagle-eyed fans spotted an Orb of Alteration in the currency tab—described as “Reforges a magic item with new random modifiers.” This is a classic Path of Exile 1 (PoE1) orb, which has been absent from PoE2's early access so far. GGG quickly pulled the video and re-uploaded it without the orb, fuelling speculation. Was it an accidental leak or a clever fake? The jury's out—some call it Photoshop trickery, others think it's a tease for tomorrow's livestream. Either way, it's got us talking about crafting.

Why PoE2 Dropped the Orb of Alteration (So Far)

In PoE1, Orbs of Alteration were dirt-common and let players reroll all modifiers on magic (blue) items. Spam enough, and you'd hit godly mods—great for early game, but it wrecked economies with power creep. PoE2's Early Access ditched that and relied on a tighter crafting system with Orbs of Transmutation (normal to magic), Augmentation (adds a mod), and Regal Orbs (magic to rare). The result? Less RNG chaos, but also less flexibility—crafting feels rigid, and omens (rare drops that tweak currency effects) haven't filled the gap yet.

How Orb of Alteration Could Shake Up Patch 0.2.0

If real, the Orb of Alteration's return could loosen up PoE2's crafting chokehold:

Early Game Boost: Re-roll magical gear for better mods - perfect for Dawn of the Hunt's solo self-finding launch on 4 April.

Mid-game flexibility: Pair with Augmentation for two-mod magic items before they go rare, avoiding the all-or-nothing gamble of Chaos Orb.

Economy Shift: More common than Exalted Orbs but less wild than PoE1's Flood, it could balance accessibility and value.

Imagine grabbing a decent base in Act 1, hitting it with an Orb of Alteration until you get a juicy prefix, adding a suffix with Augmentation, then regal it to rare. It's not mirror-tier crafting, but it's a smoother ride than praying for RNG mercy.

Balancing Act Required

PoE2's devs skipped Alterations for a reason—uncontrolled rerolls could flood the league with overpowered blues, especially with 0.2.0's armor buffs and nerf tweaks. If it's back, expect a rarity bump (think Regal Orb tier) or a cap (like one reroll per item) to keep it from breaking the game. The video's "random modifiers" tag matches the chaos of PoE1, so GGG may tweak it - perhaps only rerolling one mod at a time, Harvest style.

Real or fake?

The video's fishy—GGG swapped it fast, and older stash tab clips (like Dark Lilith TV's) show no orb. Photoshop is possible; the zoomed screenshot looks sharp, but not flawless. Still, given the vocal crafting complaints since Early Access, this feels like a deliberate hint. Tomorrow's livestream could confirm it - or dash our hopes. I'm sceptical but hopeful - it's too late for a month-old leak to surface now, but PoE2 needs some crafting love.

What It Means for Dawn of the Hunt

If the Orb of Alteration lands in 0.2.0, it's a league starter's dream. Pair it with builds like the Ranger's Lightning Arrow (shock rods galore) or the Monk's Ice Strike (freeze and crit) - cheaply tweak gear to suit your play style without burning rare orbs. Even Warriors could reroll maces for stun mods early on. It won't solve endgame crafting alone - men still need a drop rate buff - but it's a step towards making PoE2 feel less stingy.

Thank you for reading

The return of the Orb of Alteration could mark the beginning of PoE2 forging its own path, rather than simply mimicking PoE1. Whether it's in tomorrow's reveal or wishful thinking, it's a sign that players want more control over crafting. Stay tuned for the livestream on 27 March - we'll soon know if this orb is real or just a ghost in the Stash tab. What do you think - hype or hoax?