Crafting in Path of Exile 2 is a deep, strategic experience, and choosing the right orb at the right time can make or break your gear progression. Among the array of crafting currencies, the Fracturing Orb stands out as a tool for advanced, deterministic progress. But how does it compare to classics like Chaos, Exalted, and Alchemy Orbs?
What Does Each Orb Do?
Fracturing Orb
Purpose: Permanently locks ("fractures") one random explicit modifier on a rare item with at least four mods.
Effect: The fractured mod cannot be removed, rerolled, or overwritten by further crafting.
Best For: Securing a rare and valuable stat on high-value endgame bases, particularly when you want to continue crafting without risking loss of a key attribute.
Chaos Orb
Purpose: Rerolls all affixes on a rare item, keeping the base intact but creating a completely new set of mods.
Effect: Randomizes an item—great for mass crafting or trying your luck on promising bases.
Best For: Quickly cycling through potential mods, or when you don’t need to secure specific modifiers but want a strong combination.
Exalted Orb
Purpose: Adds one new, random mod to a rare item that isn’t yet at its maximum of six mods.
Effect: Incrementally improves already solid items, giving more chances to hit a valuable suffix or prefix.
Best For: Enhancing a rare item that’s almost perfect—especially after fracturing an important modifier.
Orb of Alchemy
Purpose: Upgrades a normal (white) item directly to a rare with several random mods.
Effect: Quickest way to create a rare item, often used on valuable bases, high-tier maps, or strongboxes.
Best For: Early to mid-stage crafting, quickly turning promising bases or maps into usable rares.
When to Use a Fracturing Orb
Endgame Gear: Reserve Fracturing Orbs for top-level rares with at least one must-have mod you can’t afford to lose.
Crafting with Precision: If your build depends on a unique or high-tier affix, use the Fracturing Orb to secure it before continuing with other modification or upgrade orbs.
Investment Crafting: For players looking to min-max or profit in trade leagues, fracturing a sought-after stat dramatically increases the item’s value. Poe 2 currency can help you acquire additional Fracturing Orbs or crafting tools if you're targeting specific stats.
When to Use Chaos, Exalted, or Alchemy Orbs
General Upgrades: Use Chaos and Alchemy Orbs during regular gear upgrades, map or strongbox preparation, or crafting when randomness is acceptable.
Filling in Mods: Use Exalted Orbs after fracturing or getting a strong combination, to fill in missing or desirable mods once the core of the item is perfect.
Early Crafting: Save Fracturing Orbs for late-game; use Alchemy and Chaos Orbs for most early to mid-game upgrades. You can always buy poe 2 currency to speed up the process if needed.
Synergy: Combining Orbs for Best Results
A classic advanced workflow:
Start with a high-potential base.
Use Alchemy or Chaos Orbs to roll good starting stats.
When you hit a rare, valuable mod along with three others, use a Fracturing Orb to permanently lock the key mod.
After fracturing, use Chaos Orbs to reroll other mods, then Exalted Orbs to add more.
For the ultimate result, leverage rare annulling techniques or unique items to isolate and perfect the final outcome.
The Right Orb Depends On Your Goal
If you want deterministic progress on elite gear or to secure irreplaceable stats: Fracturing Orb is your go-to.
If you need broad upgrades, frequent rerolls, or are just starting out: Chaos Orbs and Alchemy Orbs are flexible and accessible.
For incremental, targeted improvement of already strong items: Exalted Orbs are powerful, especially after fracturing.
Always match your orb to your crafting goal, stage of progression, and the potential value of your base item.
Making the right crafting choice means understanding both the power and timing of each orb. With this knowledge, you can approach PoE 2’s crafting system with confidence—maximizing both the power of your gear and the efficiency of your investments.