In Path of Exile 2, the term "tier" when applied to items is crucial to understanding the potential value and utility of gear. Here's a detailed explanation of what item tiers mean and how they can affect your gameplay:
What Are Item Tiers?
Mods and Their Pools: Each item in PoE2 has a pool of possible mods (modifiers) it can have. These are divided into
Prefixes: Mods that add or increase stats (e.g. increased damage).
Suffixes: Mods that usually offer resistances or reductions (e.g., fire resistance).
Explicit Mods: These are the visible stats on an item, which can be
Magic Items: 1 or 2 explicits (1 prefix, 1 suffix max).
Rare Items: 3 to 6 explicits (3 prefixes, 3 suffixes max).
Corrupted Items: Can gain an extra explicit mod through corruption.
Item Exceptions: Some items like jewels or flasks have different mod structures, but the principle of tiers applies similarly.
How Tiers Work
Tier levels: Each mod has several tiers, typically from T5 (lowest) to T1 (best). The tier determines the strength of the mod:
T1: Offers the highest stats within the mod's range.
T5: Offers the lowest stats, making it less desirable.
Range Within Tiers: Each tier has a specific range of values for the mod. For example, "Increased Physical Damage" might have a T1 range of 40-45%, while T5 might be 10-15%.
Updated May 26 2025: As patch 0.2.1 coming soon, GGG announced: A huge request has been that we invert the display of "Tier X" on items when using advanced item display. This is so that you can immediately identify if a modifier is the best it can be on an item. This is more for advanced and Endgame players, but is very important to being able to quickly assess the true power of an item or if it's an appropriate crafting base. We are swapping this back to work the same way as Path of Exile 1.
Tier Impact on Mod Pool:
Higher tiers: Remove lower-tier mods from the potential pool for that item. For instance, if an item is Tier 4, it won't roll with Tiers 1, 2, etc., for that mod, improving the odds of getting higher-value mods.
Why Tiered Items Are Valuable
Quality Over Quantity: Tiered items, especially those with high-tier mods, offer better stats, making them more impactful to your build:
Tier 3 or 4: Often very good, providing significant boosts without being as rare as T1 or T2, making them more accessible yet valuable.
Crafting and Trading: Knowing the tier of an item helps with crafting (deciding whether to invest in rerolling or adding mods) and trading, as higher-tier items generally command higher prices.
Practical Tips
Pick Up and Identify: Don't overlook items just because they're common. Always identify tiered items, as they might hold valuable mods.
Use POEDB or Similar Tools: Sites such as POEDB provide detailed information on mod pools, tiers, and their role weights to help you understand what to look for.
Mod Pool Knowledge: Understanding which mods can roll on which items at which tiers can guide your gear choices and crafting decisions.
Thanks for Reading
Item tiers in PoE2 directly influence how good an item can be. By understanding this system, players can better navigate the game's complex itemization, making informed decisions on what to keep, what to craft, and what to trade.
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