PoE Orbs and Currency System
Jun-28-2024 PST
Path of Exile (PoE) features a unique currency system that differs significantly from traditional games where gold is the primary currency. Instead, PoE uses over 20 different currency orbs and scrolls, each with its specific function and currency value. This guide aims to elucidate the value and usage of each orb, providing tips on how to obtain and utilize them effectively.
Scroll of Wisdom
The Scroll of Wisdom is arguably the most common item in PoE. It is used to identify gear, so it should be reserved for potentially useful items. This scroll can be obtained as a drop from monsters or by combining five Scroll Fragments, which are acquired by selling white items to a vendor. Efficient collection during leveling can result in thousands of Scrolls, which are useful for purchasing good starting gear. In the late game, about 300 Scrolls of Wisdom can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Portal Scroll
Similar to the Scroll of Wisdom, the Portal Scroll is a common item that allows players to create a portal to the town of the current act and back. Portal Scrolls are more valuable than Scrolls of Wisdom; approximately 80 Portal Scrolls can be traded for one Chaos Orb. Collecting them can help fill high-level item slots.
Armorer’s Scrap
Armorer’s Scrap increases the quality of armor, adding 5% quality to normal items, 2% to magic items, and 1% to rare and unique items. It is advisable to save these for late-game enhancements. They can be obtained from drops, trading with vendors, or selling armor pieces with a combined quality of 40% or more. Around 160 Armorer’s Scraps can be exchanged for one Chaos Orb.
Blacksmith’s Whetstone
This orb improves the quality of weapons, enhancing physical and elemental damage (but not affix values). It can be used strategically to boost DPS during leveling. Trading one normal quality hammer upgraded by four Blacksmith’s Whetstones yields a Cartographer’s Chisel. Seventy Blacksmith’s Whetstones can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Orb of Augmentation
The Orb of Augmentation adds an extra affix to a magical artifact, useful for items with one mod and for crafting on magic potions. It is valuable for Meta-Crafting in the late game. About 55-60 Orbs of Augmentation can be traded for one Chaos Orb, or 32 for one Orb of Fusing.
Orb of Transmutation
This orb transforms a normal item into a magic item with one or two mods. It has multiple uses and can potentially increase an item’s value significantly. Orbs of Transmutation can be obtained via drops, selling unidentified magic or rare items to vendors, or by trading seven Portal Scrolls. They can be stored for later trade for Chaos Orbs or Orbs of Fusing.
Orb of Alteration
Similar to the Orb of Transmutation, the Orb of Alteration rerolls a random magic item. It is easily obtainable from drops and useful for late-game gear. However, it is often better to trade 14 Orbs of Alteration for one Chaos Orb or 16 for one Orb of Fusing rather than using them to craft items directly.
Silver Coin
Silver Coins are exchanged with Navali for prophecies, which predict the character's future. While this gamble is often not worthwhile, expensive prophecies can be sold or 11 Silver Coins can be traded for one Chaos Orb. They can be obtained as drops from monsters, chests, and destructible containers.
Chromatic Orb
Chromatic Orbs change the colors of item sockets randomly, which is crucial for achieving the desired socket colors. These orbs are inexpensive and can be found as drops from monsters, chests, and destructible containers. Eleven Chromatic Orbs can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Glassblower’s Bauble
This is used to improve the quality of flasks, adding 5% for normal, 2% for magic, and 1% for unique flasks. It can be purchased from Hargan in The Sarn Encampment (acts 3 and 8) for eight Blacksmith’s Whetstones. Fourteen Glassblower’s Baubles can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Orb of Alchemy
The Orb of Alchemy upgrades a normal item to a rare item with random mods (3-6). It is best used for creating high-tier rare maps and improving strongboxes. It is a valuable currency, with two to four Orbs of Alchemy typically trading for one Chaos Orb.
Orb of Chance
This orb transforms a normal quality item into a random item, making it useful for speedrunners and attempting to create valuable items like Skyforth boots. Six Orbs of Chance can be traded for one Chaos Orb. They can be found as drops from monsters, chests, and destructible containers.
Orb of Regret
The Orb of Regret grants one passive skill refund point, useful for altering build mistakes. It can also be used strategically for certain bosses or events. These orbs can be obtained from drops and certain vendor recipes, with a typical trade ratio of one Orb of Regret to one Chaos Orb.
Jeweller’s Orb
This orb rerolls the number of sockets on an item. It should be saved for late-game use to roll six sockets on items, which usually requires over 100 Jeweller’s Orbs. Six-socket items can be sold to vendors for seven Jeweller’s Orbs, and they can be purchased from vendors for two Orbs of Alteration.
Orb of Fusing
Orbs of Fusing modify the linked sockets on an item, and crafting six links can be a significant gamble requiring 836 to 1244 Orbs of Fusing. These orbs are mainly for late-game use and can be obtained from drops or purchased from vendors in act 3 for four Jeweller’s Orbs. The trade ratio is usually one to two Orbs of Fusing per Chaos Orb.
Chaos Orb
The Chaos Orb is the most commonly traded currency item in PoE, used to reforge rare items and reroll maps with negative effects. They are most beneficial in the late game, where players can buy decent gear for one to ten Chaos Orbs.
Gemcutter’s Prism
Gemcutter’s Prism improves the quality of skill gems. Each prism adds 1% quality, which enhances various gem attributes depending on the gem type. They can be obtained from drops or by selling a skill gem with 20% quality to a vendor. One Gemcutter’s Prism typically costs two to three Chaos Orbs.
Orb of Scouring
The Orb of Scouring removes all mods from an item, reverting it to a normal state while preserving sockets and links. It is useful for restarting failed crafts and can be obtained from drops or trading one rare item with two mods for one Orb of Scouring. Two Orbs of Scouring can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Regal Orb
The Regal Orb adds one mod to a magic item, turning it into a rare item. It is primarily used in Meta-Crafting and is best saved for late-game use.
Vaal Orb
Vaal Orbs corrupt high-tier items or maps, potentially enhancing their properties significantly. They can alter socket colors, change implicit properties, adjust gem levels and quality, and affect maps in various ways. One Vaal Orb typically trades for one Chaos Orb.
Blessed Orb
A Blessed Orb rerolls the implicit modifier of an item, making it useful for maximizing item stats. It is less popular among new players but valuable for endgame item improvement. Five Blessed Orbs can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Cartographer’s Chisel
Used to improve map quality, Cartographer’s Chisels increase the likelihood of better loot from maps. They can be found starting at item level 50 and purchased from Zana, Master Cartographer, for 12 Chaos Orbs (20 Chisels per day).
Divine Orb
Divine Orbs reroll the values of mods on items and are extremely rare. They can be obtained by selling a six-linked item to a vendor and are used only on expensive items. One Divine Orb typically costs 16 Chaos Orbs.
Exalted Orb
An Exalted Orb adds one random mod to a rare item, making it a highly valuable currency item. It should be used sparingly and only on high-value items in the late game. One Exalted Orb generally trades for around 70 Chaos Orbs.
Mirror of Kalandra
The Mirror of Kalandra duplicates any non-unique item or map, making it the rarest and most valuable currency item in PoE. It can be found as a rare drop from monsters, chests, and destructible containers. One Mirror of Kalandra costs more than 150 Exalted Orbs.
Harbinger’s Orb
The Harbinger’s Orb upgrades a map into a higher-tier map and can be obtained from Harbinger drops or Immortal Syndicate Fortification safehouses. One Harbinger’s Orb typically trades for 15 Chaos Orbs.
Scroll of Wisdom
The Scroll of Wisdom is arguably the most common item in PoE. It is used to identify gear, so it should be reserved for potentially useful items. This scroll can be obtained as a drop from monsters or by combining five Scroll Fragments, which are acquired by selling white items to a vendor. Efficient collection during leveling can result in thousands of Scrolls, which are useful for purchasing good starting gear. In the late game, about 300 Scrolls of Wisdom can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Portal Scroll
Similar to the Scroll of Wisdom, the Portal Scroll is a common item that allows players to create a portal to the town of the current act and back. Portal Scrolls are more valuable than Scrolls of Wisdom; approximately 80 Portal Scrolls can be traded for one Chaos Orb. Collecting them can help fill high-level item slots.
Armorer’s Scrap
Armorer’s Scrap increases the quality of armor, adding 5% quality to normal items, 2% to magic items, and 1% to rare and unique items. It is advisable to save these for late-game enhancements. They can be obtained from drops, trading with vendors, or selling armor pieces with a combined quality of 40% or more. Around 160 Armorer’s Scraps can be exchanged for one Chaos Orb.
Blacksmith’s Whetstone
This orb improves the quality of weapons, enhancing physical and elemental damage (but not affix values). It can be used strategically to boost DPS during leveling. Trading one normal quality hammer upgraded by four Blacksmith’s Whetstones yields a Cartographer’s Chisel. Seventy Blacksmith’s Whetstones can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Orb of Augmentation
The Orb of Augmentation adds an extra affix to a magical artifact, useful for items with one mod and for crafting on magic potions. It is valuable for Meta-Crafting in the late game. About 55-60 Orbs of Augmentation can be traded for one Chaos Orb, or 32 for one Orb of Fusing.
Orb of Transmutation
This orb transforms a normal item into a magic item with one or two mods. It has multiple uses and can potentially increase an item’s value significantly. Orbs of Transmutation can be obtained via drops, selling unidentified magic or rare items to vendors, or by trading seven Portal Scrolls. They can be stored for later trade for Chaos Orbs or Orbs of Fusing.
Orb of Alteration
Similar to the Orb of Transmutation, the Orb of Alteration rerolls a random magic item. It is easily obtainable from drops and useful for late-game gear. However, it is often better to trade 14 Orbs of Alteration for one Chaos Orb or 16 for one Orb of Fusing rather than using them to craft items directly.
Silver Coin
Silver Coins are exchanged with Navali for prophecies, which predict the character's future. While this gamble is often not worthwhile, expensive prophecies can be sold or 11 Silver Coins can be traded for one Chaos Orb. They can be obtained as drops from monsters, chests, and destructible containers.
Chromatic Orb
Chromatic Orbs change the colors of item sockets randomly, which is crucial for achieving the desired socket colors. These orbs are inexpensive and can be found as drops from monsters, chests, and destructible containers. Eleven Chromatic Orbs can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Glassblower’s Bauble
This is used to improve the quality of flasks, adding 5% for normal, 2% for magic, and 1% for unique flasks. It can be purchased from Hargan in The Sarn Encampment (acts 3 and 8) for eight Blacksmith’s Whetstones. Fourteen Glassblower’s Baubles can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Orb of Alchemy
The Orb of Alchemy upgrades a normal item to a rare item with random mods (3-6). It is best used for creating high-tier rare maps and improving strongboxes. It is a valuable currency, with two to four Orbs of Alchemy typically trading for one Chaos Orb.
Orb of Chance
This orb transforms a normal quality item into a random item, making it useful for speedrunners and attempting to create valuable items like Skyforth boots. Six Orbs of Chance can be traded for one Chaos Orb. They can be found as drops from monsters, chests, and destructible containers.
Orb of Regret
The Orb of Regret grants one passive skill refund point, useful for altering build mistakes. It can also be used strategically for certain bosses or events. These orbs can be obtained from drops and certain vendor recipes, with a typical trade ratio of one Orb of Regret to one Chaos Orb.
Jeweller’s Orb
This orb rerolls the number of sockets on an item. It should be saved for late-game use to roll six sockets on items, which usually requires over 100 Jeweller’s Orbs. Six-socket items can be sold to vendors for seven Jeweller’s Orbs, and they can be purchased from vendors for two Orbs of Alteration.
Orb of Fusing
Orbs of Fusing modify the linked sockets on an item, and crafting six links can be a significant gamble requiring 836 to 1244 Orbs of Fusing. These orbs are mainly for late-game use and can be obtained from drops or purchased from vendors in act 3 for four Jeweller’s Orbs. The trade ratio is usually one to two Orbs of Fusing per Chaos Orb.
Chaos Orb
The Chaos Orb is the most commonly traded currency item in PoE, used to reforge rare items and reroll maps with negative effects. They are most beneficial in the late game, where players can buy decent gear for one to ten Chaos Orbs.
Gemcutter’s Prism
Gemcutter’s Prism improves the quality of skill gems. Each prism adds 1% quality, which enhances various gem attributes depending on the gem type. They can be obtained from drops or by selling a skill gem with 20% quality to a vendor. One Gemcutter’s Prism typically costs two to three Chaos Orbs.
Orb of Scouring
The Orb of Scouring removes all mods from an item, reverting it to a normal state while preserving sockets and links. It is useful for restarting failed crafts and can be obtained from drops or trading one rare item with two mods for one Orb of Scouring. Two Orbs of Scouring can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Regal Orb
The Regal Orb adds one mod to a magic item, turning it into a rare item. It is primarily used in Meta-Crafting and is best saved for late-game use.
Vaal Orb
Vaal Orbs corrupt high-tier items or maps, potentially enhancing their properties significantly. They can alter socket colors, change implicit properties, adjust gem levels and quality, and affect maps in various ways. One Vaal Orb typically trades for one Chaos Orb.
Blessed Orb
A Blessed Orb rerolls the implicit modifier of an item, making it useful for maximizing item stats. It is less popular among new players but valuable for endgame item improvement. Five Blessed Orbs can be traded for one Chaos Orb.
Cartographer’s Chisel
Used to improve map quality, Cartographer’s Chisels increase the likelihood of better loot from maps. They can be found starting at item level 50 and purchased from Zana, Master Cartographer, for 12 Chaos Orbs (20 Chisels per day).
Divine Orb
Divine Orbs reroll the values of mods on items and are extremely rare. They can be obtained by selling a six-linked item to a vendor and are used only on expensive items. One Divine Orb typically costs 16 Chaos Orbs.
Exalted Orb
An Exalted Orb adds one random mod to a rare item, making it a highly valuable currency item. It should be used sparingly and only on high-value items in the late game. One Exalted Orb generally trades for around 70 Chaos Orbs.
Mirror of Kalandra
The Mirror of Kalandra duplicates any non-unique item or map, making it the rarest and most valuable currency item in PoE. It can be found as a rare drop from monsters, chests, and destructible containers. One Mirror of Kalandra costs more than 150 Exalted Orbs.
Harbinger’s Orb
The Harbinger’s Orb upgrades a map into a higher-tier map and can be obtained from Harbinger drops or Immortal Syndicate Fortification safehouses. One Harbinger’s Orb typically trades for 15 Chaos Orbs.