Path of Exile: Crafting Guide

Crafting in Path of Exile (PoE) is one of the most rewarding but also one of the most complex systems in any action RPG. Unlike games that rely solely on random drops, PoE gives players countless tools to directly modify and improve items. Crafting is not just about making the “perfect” weapon or armor piece—it’s about learning to interact with the game’s deep economy, using the right resources, and strategically investing your time and Path of exile currency.

This guide covers the essentials of crafting in Path of Exile, breaking down basic concepts, different crafting methods, useful resources, and strategies for both beginners and advanced players. By the end, you’ll have a strong grasp of how to start crafting effectively and when to pursue more ambitious projects.

What is Crafting in Path of Exile?

Crafting refers to any process where you modify an item to change its stats, sockets, links, or quality. Unlike traditional RPGs where crafting might mean combining raw materials to build new gear, PoE’s crafting is about transforming items. This makes every rare item you pick up a potential base for your dream build.

Crafting can be as simple as using an Orb of Transmutation on a white item to make it magic, or as advanced as multi-modding a rare influenced base with high-end currency and bench crafting.

Crafting Currency Basics

Most crafting in PoE is powered by currency items. Instead of gold, PoE’s “money” is made of orbs and scrolls, each with specific crafting functions. Here are the most common ones:

Orb of Transmutation: Upgrades a normal (white) item into a magic (blue) item.

Orb of Alteration: Rerolls modifiers on a magic item.

Orb of Augmentation: Adds a new modifier to a magic item that has room for one.

Orb of Alchemy: Upgrades a normal item into a rare (yellow) item.

Chaos Orb: Rerolls all modifiers on a rare item.

Exalted Orb: Adds a new modifier to a rare item with an open slot.

Divine Orb: Rerolls the values of modifiers on an item.

Jeweller’s Orb: Rerolls the number of sockets on an item.

Orb of Fusing: Rerolls links between sockets.

Chromatic Orb: Changes socket colors.

Orb of Scouring: Removes all modifiers, turning an item into a normal one.

Regal Orb: Upgrades a magic item to rare, keeping its modifiers.

Each of these orbs plays a role in different crafting methods. Learning when to use them is key to efficient crafting.

Crafting Benches and the Crafting Bench

One of the most beginner-friendly ways to craft is through the Crafting Bench, unlocked by recruiting the master NPC Einhar and later others as you progress. The bench allows you to add one crafted modifier to an item.

For example:

Adding +30 to maximum life to a rare chest piece.

Adding increased movement speed to boots.

These modifiers are limited but extremely useful, especially early in a league when you don’t have access to expensive orbs. You unlock new bench recipes by exploring the Atlas, running Delve, or completing certain encounters.

Basic Crafting Methods

1. Chaos Spamming

Method: Take a rare item base and repeatedly use Chaos Orbs to reroll its stats.

Use Case: Quick way to create serviceable gear, especially early league.

Downside: Very random and currency-intensive.

2. Alt-Aug-Regal Crafting

Method: Start with a white base, use an Orb of Transmutation, then spam Orbs of Alteration and Augmentation until you hit desirable prefixes/suffixes. Regal Orb upgrades it to rare, adding one more modifier.

Use Case: Good for targeted early-game crafting when you need a specific mod.

Downside: Time-consuming and still RNG-heavy.

3. Fossil Crafting

Method: Use fossils and resonators from Delve to influence the mod pool. For example, a Pristine Fossil increases the chance of life mods, while a Metallic Fossil boosts lightning-related mods.

Use Case: Semi-targeted crafting for more consistent results.

Downside: Requires Delve farming or trading for fossils.

4. Essence Crafting

Method: Use Essences (dropped by frozen screaming monsters) to guarantee at least one mod. For example, Essence of Greed guarantees a life mod.

Use Case: Great for ensuring useful stats while still rolling random other mods.

Downside: Essences are limited early on unless farmed or bought.

5. Bench + Multimodding

Method: After getting a rare base with strong mods, you can “multi-mod” it using the bench to add multiple crafted mods. For example, adding “Can have multiple crafted modifiers” lets you stack several powerful crafted affixes.

Use Case: High-end custom items.

Downside: Very expensive—requires Exalted Orbs and high-tier recipes.

6. Harvest Crafting

Method: In Harvest encounters, you can use crafting options that allow direct modification, such as “Augment with a Fire modifier” or “Remove a random Cold modifier, add a Lightning modifier.”

Use Case: Extremely powerful for targeted crafting.

Downside: RNG on available crafts, and access depends on Atlas tree investment.

7. Influence Crafting

Method: Influenced bases (Shaper, Elder, Crusader, etc.) allow special modifiers. Using Awakener’s Orbs and Conqueror Exalts, you can combine influence types.

Use Case: Endgame chase crafting for unique mods like “+1 to Maximum Power Charges” or “Socketed Spells have +1 Level.”

Downside: Requires rare bases and high investment.

Crafting by Item Type

Different item types have different crafting priorities.

Weapons: Look for high physical damage rolls, elemental damage, or +gem levels for spellcasters.

Armour: Focus on life, resistances, and influence mods like “Enemies Explode on Death.”

Helmets: In addition to defenses, can roll +gem levels for minion or aura builds.

Boots: Movement speed is mandatory, with life and resists.

Gloves: Attack speed, added damage, or debuff effects like “Enemies have -X to Chaos Resistance.”

Jewelry: Rings and amulets benefit from resistances, life, and damage multipliers. Influenced jewelry can enable build-defining mechanics.

Tips for Efficient Crafting

Start with a Good Base – High item level bases allow higher-tier modifiers. Don’t waste currency on low-level items.

Use the Crafting Bench Wisely – Don’t overlook simple mods like “+life” or “resistance” that can make a huge difference early on.

Plan Your Mods – Know which mods are prefixes and suffixes. A rare item can have up to three of each.

Don’t Be Afraid to Stop – Sometimes an item is “good enough.” Overspending for perfection is a trap.

Sell and Trade – Crafting also fuels PoE’s economy. Even if you don’t need an item, a strong roll might be valuable to another player.

Use PoE Tools – Websites and community tools help simulate crafting and show mod pools. Learning to check these before spending currency saves time and orbs.

Advanced Crafting Strategies

Targeted Annulment: Use an Orb of Annulment to try to remove an unwanted mod, then bench craft a better one. Risky but rewarding.

Beastcrafting: Einhar’s Menagerie allows unique crafting, such as splitting items or adding specific influences.

Fractured Bases: Fractured mods (from certain league mechanics) cannot be changed, making them strong bases for deterministic crafting.

Synthesis Implicits: Synthesized bases allow extremely powerful implicit modifiers, such as “Increased Reservation Efficiency of Skills.”

Mirror-Tier Crafting: The absolute peak of crafting involves combining multiple influence types, Harvest augments, and multi-mod bench crafts to make items so powerful they’re “mirror-worthy.” This is reserved for the wealthiest players.

Crafting for Beginners vs. Veterans

Beginners: Stick to simple methods like using Essences, Chaos spamming, or bench crafting. Focus on survivability stats—life and resistances—before damage.

Intermediate Players: Experiment with fossils, Harvest, and alt-regal crafting. Begin targeting specific builds and mod pools.

Veterans: Chase influenced items, synthesis crafting, and mirror-tier projects. These demand deep currency investment and game knowledge.

Final Thoughts

Crafting in Path of Exile is a journey. At first, it may seem overwhelming, with dozens of currencies and countless possible modifiers. But once you understand the basics—prefixes, suffixes, and the various crafting methods—you begin to see the beauty of the system.

Every orb you pick up has value. Every rare item drop might be the foundation of something incredible. And with each league, Grinding Gear Games introduces new mechanics that expand crafting even further, from Harvest’s deterministic mods to fossils that reshape item pools.

The key is patience: don’t expect to make a mirror-tier weapon in your first league. Instead, use crafting as a tool to steadily improve your gear, enable your builds, and even make profit by selling crafted items to buy Path of exile currency.

At its best, crafting is what makes Path of Exile truly unique—a sandbox where your creativity, economy knowledge, and persistence can turn the most ordinary item into a masterpiece.