In a livestream two days ago, developers outlined the basics of Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3.0 and The Third Edict, scheduled to arrive on August 29th. Players clearly understood that this sequel, currently in Early Access, is working diligently to mitigate negative reviews and improve its reputation.
Beyond the usual league mechanics and character balance adjustments, POE 2’s crafting changes have also garnered significant attention, as they have been a frequent target of player criticism since the previous major patch and Dawn of the Hunt League. Developers are working hard to address these changes.
To ensure all players have a clear understanding of this significantly revised crafting system, this guide will provide a specific overview. However, it’s important to note that some item properties and effects are based on the current patch notes and are subject to change by the time The Third Edict officially launches.
By then, some crafting strategies in POE 2 will also change accordingly. So we highly recommend staying tuned to POECURRENCY.com, which has constantly updated in-game guides and a wealth of POE 2 currency for sale for you to choose, which is the most important.
New Crafting Currency & Modifiers
Thanks to the addition of Rise of the Abyssals League, POE 2’s crafting system has introduced a new crafting currency – Ancient Bones, which can be applied to rare items to add the hidden Desecrated modifier. Moreover, the entire production process is very simple and does not involve too many risks.
To do this, you simply drop the desired rare item and a specific number of Ancient Bones into the abyss of Well of Souls in Act 2, and choose a new modifier from three options. Note that these are not set in stone, and you can modify them later in the exploration process through Omen of Abyssal Echoes.
It’s worth remembering that Ancient Bones don’t just work on gear that can be placed in builds. Waystones, which are used to unlock maps, can also gain new affixes this way. Here are the modifiers you can choose for them:
- Gloves: Critical hit chance against Parried enemies is determined by Luck.
- Body Armor: Increases Deflected damage by an additional 3%, increasing your maximum damage reduction to 43%.
- Helmets: Each point of evasion added by your helmet increases your Accuracy Rating.
If you enter Abyssal Pit during your exploration of POE 2 and pass through it into Dark Domain, you have a chance to obtain some new high-rarity Socketables unique to that area, such as Ulaman’s Gaze.
In addition to this crafting currency tied to the latest league mechanics, patch 0.3.0 also adds Hinekora’s Lock, which appears in the newly added Act 4. When you apply it to an item, it grants Hinekora’s foresight, which causes all subsequent POE2 currency for crafting hovering over it to display an accurate prediction of the crafting outcome.
Essences
In Patch 0.3.0, Essences’ functionality has begun to align with Path of Exile 2 Regal Orbs, becoming more predictable. Simply put, even applying the initial Essences you earn early in the campaign to a magic item will increase its rarity and add an additional affix, which will be directly reflected during the process.
Additionally, unlike Dawn of the Hunt league, which directly added new Essences to the game, 0.3.0 introduces more Essence tiers. The main purpose is to allow more players to use this crafting material more frequently to obtain gear that can significantly improve the strength of the build.
In view of this, all Essences in POE 2 endgame have been redesigned into Perfect Essences. They are essentially very similar to POE 2 Chaos Orbs, but with more certainty: they will remove a random affix from the target rare item and add a specific affix. The increase in these affixes is based on percentages rather than fixed values, which makes most players very satisfied.
Existing Crafting Currency Upgrades
As the mapping process progresses in POE 2 The Third Edict, existing crafting currencies are being replaced by higher-tier variants, such as Greater and Perfect versions, which increase the minimum level of modifiers added to magic items.
For example, the minimum modifier level for Greater Orbs of Augmentation/Transmutation has been increased to 55, while the minimum modifier level for Perfect Orbs of Augmentation/Transmutation has been increased to 70.
This is just the tip of the iceberg; POE 2 Regal Orbs, Chaos Orbs, and Exalted Orbs will also have Greater and Perfect variants. The developers stated that this change is primarily intended to allow players to earn more when crafting loot.
That’s all for Path of Exile 2’s significantly revamped crafting system, introduced in patch 0.3.0 for the next The Third Edict. While the sequel has received mostly negative reviews, judging by this patch note and numerous interviews with the developers, it’s likely to offer a very different surprise on August 29th. Stay tuned!
