Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) introduces a refined approach to item crafting, where crafting bases play a crucial role in shaping the final power of gear. With the right base, players can craft weapons and armor tailored to their builds, but doing so often requires a significant investment of PoE 2 currency. Understanding which bases are worth the time and currency can save players from wasting valuable resources.

What Are Crafting Bases in PoE 2?

In PoE 2, crafting bases are the white (normal) items that serve as the foundation for crafting. These bases differ in item level, implicit stats, and item type, which determine the possible affixes they can roll. For example, a high item level base can roll stronger affixes, making it more desirable for endgame crafting.

Choosing the right base is crucial. For a spellcaster, a wand or staff with a high spell damage implicit is ideal. For melee characters, a two-handed axe or sword with high physical base damage is preferred. The market for these bases varies depending on demand, and some bases can be incredibly expensive due to their potential.

Investing PoE 2 Currency Wisely

Crafting in PoE 2 can be highly rewarding but also very costly. The primary currencies used include:

• Chaos Orbs: Often used to re-roll rare item modifiers.

• Exalted Orbs: Add a new random modifier to a rare item.

• Orb of Alchemy: Upgrades a normal item to a rare item, often used in the first step of crafting.

• Divine Orbs: Used to re-roll values of modifiers on items.

• Orb of Annulment: Removes a random modifier from an item, useful in meta-crafting.

• Essences and Fossils: These offer deterministic crafting options and are ideal for early and mid-tier base upgrades.

The amount of PoE 2 currency needed depends on the crafting method. Meta-crafting, for example, can cost dozens of Exalted Orbs if the goal is to create mirror-tier items. On the other hand, budget crafting with Essences or Harvest crafting may only cost a few Chaos Orbs but will have more modest results.

High-Value Crafting Bases to Target

Some bases consistently provide a high return on investment due to their synergy with popular builds. Examples include:

• Opal Rings: Excellent for elemental builds due to increased elemental damage.

• Spine Bows: High physical damage base, ideal for bleed or crit bow builds.

• Royal Burgonet: Strong armor and useful implicit mods for melee characters.

• Hubris Circlet: High energy shield base for CI (Chaos Inoculation) builds.

Players should monitor the market for trending builds, as demand for certain bases will rise accordingly, making some bases more profitable to invest in.

Crafting in PoE 2 is a complex but rewarding system. Knowing which bases to target and how much PoE 2 currency to invest can make the difference between a mediocre item and a top-tier piece of gear. Whether you're looking to craft for personal use or for profit, understanding base value and smart currency usage is key to succeeding in the ever-evolving PoE 2 economy.