U4GM - POE 2 Currency Guide: What to Pick Up, What to Ignore
In Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), currency isn’t just a means to buy gear—it's an integral part of crafting, trading, and progressing through the game. Understanding which items to pick up and which to leave behind can mean the difference between a smooth, profitable run and a cluttered inventory filled with near-worthless scraps. With this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential currencies, highlight which are worth your time, and offer insight from seasoned players to help you make smart decisions—especially when you're in pursuit of Cheap PoE 2 Currency.
Understanding the Importance of Currency in POE 2
In POE 2, there is no traditional gold or coin-based economy. Instead, items known as currencies double as crafting materials and trade units. This unique system gives every player the potential to build wealth through gameplay alone—if they know what they’re doing.
With dozens of different types of POE 2 Currency, it can be overwhelming, especially for new players. Some currencies are vital for character progression and gear upgrades, while others are situational or have minimal value on the trade market.
High-Value Currency Items You Should Always Pick Up
These are the currencies you should never pass up, whether you're early in the campaign or deep into endgame maps:
Chaos Orbs: The backbone of the trade economy, Chaos Orbs are used to re-roll modifiers on rare items. They are also the most common medium of exchange among players, especially when buying or selling Cheap PoE 2 Currency.
Exalted Orbs: Rare and highly sought-after, these are used to add new modifiers to rare items. They hold strong trade value and should always be collected.
Divine Orbs: Another top-tier currency used to re-roll numeric values on modifiers. They often carry higher value than Exalted Orbs depending on the meta.
Orb of Alchemy: Turns a normal item into a rare item. Great for crafting and also useful for certain vendor recipes.
Orb of Fusing: Essential for linking sockets on gear. If you're planning to wear high-quality gear or sell it, these are invaluable.
Orb of Alteration and Regal Orbs: Common but crucial for crafting basic items early on or when creating bases for more complex crafts.
Blessed Orbs, Orb of Annulment, Vaal Orbs: More niche, but they become increasingly important at higher tiers of play or for advanced crafting.
Silver Coins (if they return in PoE 2): Often used to access prophecy or unique events. Their utility can vary depending on league mechanics.
Situational Currency to Pick Up
These currencies are worth collecting under specific circumstances:
Gemcutter's Prisms: Valuable if you’re leveling or selling high-quality skill gems.
Cartographer's Chisels: Vital for endgame mapping; these improve the quality of maps, making them more rewarding.
Chromatic Orbs: Common and handy for re-rolling socket colors. A small stack can save you a lot of trouble when trying to equip specific gear.
Jeweller's Orbs: Needed for socket crafting; useful but can be vendor-farmed, so their pickup priority is moderate.
Engineer’s Orbs: Potentially useful for modifying strongboxes or other league mechanics. Not always essential but worth a look.
Currency Items You Can Often Ignore
Unless you’re just starting out or collecting for vendor recipes, these can be safely ignored in most cases:
Portal Scrolls and Scrolls of Wisdom: Early game essentials, but they drop in abundance. Only pick up if you're running low.
Armourer’s Scraps and Blacksmith's Whetstones: Common, low-value items mostly used to boost quality on gear. Not worth inventory space past Act 3 unless you're crafting.
Glassblower's Baubles: Rarely needed unless you're specifically crafting flasks.
Transmutation Orbs, Augmentation Orbs, Orb of Chance: Very situational. These can be stashed for crafting purposes but are rarely worth prioritizing during mapping or farming.
Efficient Currency Farming Tips
Speed Clear with Purpose: Choose zones or maps with good density and few movement obstacles. The faster you clear, the more chances for currency drops.
Use Loot Filters: Customize or download a loot filter that highlights high-value POE 2 Currency and fades out low-value items. This dramatically improves pickup efficiency.
Play Trade Leagues: If you're aiming to get Cheap PoE 2 Currency, trade leagues provide more active economies and more chances to buy or sell at competitive prices.
Master Daily Missions: These offer consistent currency rewards and can introduce league mechanics that scale well with investment.
Crafting with Value: Instead of using valuable currency right away, study the market and learn crafting metas. Proper use of orbs like Chaos or Exalted can turn average items into high-value gear.
Final Advice from Veteran Players
Understanding POE 2 Currency isn't just about memorizing which items are valuable—it's about recognizing when and why to use them. Whether you're flipping items for profit or slowly building your perfect character, efficient currency management is key.
To stretch your stash or build quickly, many players opt to purchase Cheap PoE 2 Currency from reputable sources. If you go this route, make sure the site is trusted by the community and prioritizes safe trading practices to avoid account issues.
By refining your currency habits early, you'll set yourself up for long-term success in PoE 2’s complex but rewarding economy.