In Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), forging powerful gear is essential for progressing through the game’s challenging content. One of the key crafting elements in this pursuit is the Artificer's Orb, a currency item that allows players to add rune sockets to martial weapons and armor. This guide aims to introduce beginners to the importance, acquisition, and application of the Artificer's Orb, helping them unlock the potential of their equipment through rune sockets. Many players treat it as one of the most valuable forms of poe 2 currency, especially in the early stages of progression.
The primary function of the Artificer's Orb is to add a single rune socket to a piece of martial weaponry or armor. Rune sockets differ from traditional skill gem sockets as they allow players to insert runes that grant unique enchantments, enhancing the item with specific offensive or defensive properties. For example, placing a Glacial Rune into a socketed weapon can add cold damage, while the same rune in armor increases cold resistance. Once a rune is socketed, the effect is permanent, so using the orb wisely is crucial for optimizing gear builds.
Obtaining Artificer's Orbs can be approached in two ways: through rare drops or crafting. While the orb can drop randomly from enemies or be found in specific campaign locations and quest rewards, these occurrences are infrequent. The most reliable method to acquire Artificer's Orbs is by salvaging gear that already has sockets using the Salvage Bench, a crafting station unlocked early in the campaign. Salvaging these items yields Artificer's Shards, and collecting ten shards can be combined to form one Artificer's Orb. Thus, players are encouraged to hunt for martial weapons or armor pieces with sockets to dismantle, increasing their stock of orbs over time. Many even choose to buy poe 2 currency through trading with other players to speed up this process.
When searching for socketed gear, players can visually identify items with sockets by white square icons next to the item’s name. The quantity of these squares indicates the number of sockets, and more sockets translate to more shards upon salvage. To maximize the chances of obtaining socketed gear for salvage, it is beneficial to target unique enemies, bosses, and treasure caches, especially blue or yellow chests. Revisiting cleared areas on higher difficulty levels where tougher enemies respawn also offers repeated opportunities to acquire these valuable pieces.
Once a player has an Artificer's Orb, applying it to a weapon or armor piece is straightforward. By using the orb on a desired item, a new rune socket is added, which can thereafter be fitted with runes collected throughout the game. Choosing which piece of equipment to socket and which runes to use depends on the player's build and the type of enhancements desired, making strategic planning essential.
The rune socketing system in PoE 2 introduces depth to gear customization, allowing players to tailor their equipment beyond standard modifiers. Runes can enhance damage output, survivability, or utility, making the Artificer's Orb a powerful tool for fine-tuning one’s character. However, since rune sockets can only be added once per application of the orb, and runes are permanently socketed, players must consider their choices carefully to avoid squandered opportunities.
Mastering the Artificer's Orb is a critical step for beginners aiming to unlock the full potential of their gear in Path of Exile 2. By understanding the process of acquiring orbs through salvage, recognizing the signs of socketed items, and strategically applying rune sockets, players can enhance their weapons and armor with customized enchantments that significantly impact gameplay effectiveness. This fundamental crafting skill opens the door to more advanced gear optimization as players delve deeper into PoE 2’s rich itemization and crafting systems.
