U4GM - PoE 2’s Crafting Bench: How to Use It for Maximum Gear Potential
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) introduces numerous changes to the crafting system, one of the most significant being the Crafting Bench. This feature provides players with the opportunity to modify and improve their gear in ways that were not possible in previous iterations of the game. In this guide, we will explore how to maximize the potential of your gear using the Crafting Bench, and why it’s essential for your progression in PoE 2.
Understanding the Crafting Bench
The Crafting Bench is a tool located in your Hideout, which allows you to apply specific modifiers to your gear. Unlike traditional crafting methods, which involve currency items and rare ingredients, the Crafting Bench uses recipes that are unlocked through various game mechanics, such as quests and completing specific challenges.
The Crafting Bench allows you to craft a wide range of affixes on items, providing a lot of customization and flexibility for your gear. Whether you're aiming to enhance a rare item with additional damage, resistances, or even quality, the Crafting Bench offers you the means to do so.
How to Unlock Recipes
In PoE 2, crafting recipes are unlocked in various ways. Some can be obtained by completing certain quests or challenges, while others may require the player to reach certain milestones in the game. As you progress through the story, more recipes become available, allowing for increasingly powerful crafting options.
Once you have unlocked a recipe, it is permanently available in your Crafting Bench, which means that you don’t have to worry about finding it again. This gives you a reliable way to improve your gear without needing to rely solely on RNG (random number generation).
Crafting With Currency
While the Crafting Bench is incredibly useful, crafting still requires the use of PoE 2 currency. Currency items like Orbs of Exaltation, Chaos Orbs, and other specialized orbs are essential for many crafting recipes. The cost of these items can vary based on the recipe being used and the quality of the item you're modifying.
Players will often need to balance the use of their PoE 2 currency for crafting with their other needs, such as acquiring items from vendors, trading, or buying other necessary resources. Managing your PoE 2 currency efficiently can be the difference between crafting a powerful piece of gear and wasting valuable resources on unsuccessful attempts.
Maximize Your Gear Potential
To maximize the potential of your gear, it’s important to understand the best ways to use the Crafting Bench. Here are a few tips to get the most out of this system:
Know Your Build: Different builds require different types of modifiers. Before crafting, make sure you know which stats your character needs most—whether it’s increased critical strike chance, elemental resistances, or life leech.
Use the Bench for Specific Enhancements: The Crafting Bench allows you to target specific stats. For example, if you need more fire resistance, there’s a crafting recipe that applies fire resistance to your gear. Make sure to use these recipes when you need to enhance specific aspects of your build.
Combine with Other Crafting Methods: While the Crafting Bench is incredibly useful, it works best in combination with other crafting methods. Use currency items like Chaos Orbs and Exalted Orbs to roll the initial stats of your items, and then fine-tune them with the Crafting Bench to make them perfect for your needs.
Manage Your PoE 2 Currency: As mentioned, crafting can be expensive. Make sure to carefully manage your PoE 2 currency. Don’t waste it on unnecessary rolls or crafting attempts that might not improve your gear significantly. You can always farm more currency by grinding certain areas, completing challenges, or selling valuable items on the market.
The Crafting Bench in PoE 2 is a powerful tool that allows players to customize their gear and push their builds to the next level. By unlocking recipes, carefully managing your PoE 2 currency, and using the bench to target specific modifiers, you can ensure that your gear is optimized for maximum potential. Whether you're preparing for endgame content or improving your character's power throughout the story, the Crafting Bench is an essential feature that can help you craft your way to victory.