Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) continues the franchise’s iconic currency-driven economy, where orbs—not traditional gold—are at the center of trading, crafting, and progression. Among these, the Chaos Orb remains one of the most misunderstood and misused currencies by the majority of the playerbase.
PoE 2 Currency Basics
- Diverse Value: In PoE 2, currency is more than just money—it’s your main tool for gear upgrades, crafting, and trading with other players. Key orbs include Chaos Orbs, Divine Orbs, Exalted Orbs, Mirror of Kalandra, Jeweller’s Orbs, and more.
- No Gold Coins: PoE 2 replaces gold with various orbs as mediums of exchange. These are used for item modification, trading, and purchasing from vendors.
Most Common Currencies in PoE 2
| Currency | Main Use |
|---|---|
| Chaos Orb | Rerolls all modifiers on a rare item |
| Divine Orb | Rerolls values of all modifiers on an item |
| Exalted Orb | Adds a new modifier to a rare item |
| Jeweller’s Orb | Changes the number of sockets on an item |
| Vaal Orb | Corrupts an item, adding unpredictable changes |
| Regal Orb | Upgrades a magic item to rare, adding a new modifier |
| Orb of Annulment | Removes a random modifier from a magic/rare item |
| Orb of Alchemy | Converts a normal item into a rare item |
These currencies have both in-game crafting and trading value, and the prices fluctuate constantly based on league economy and player demand.
Are You Using Chaos Orbs Wrong?
According to U4GM guides and community experts, 90% of players misuse Chaos Orbs because they don’t understand when (and when not) to spend them during crafting or upgrading. Here’s why:
- Don’t waste them on poor bases: Using Chaos Orbs on low-level or poor-quality item bases is almost always a waste. Focus your spending on high item level bases with good implicit stats or influence.
- Targeted Crafting is Rarely Efficient: Using Chaos Orbs, also known as “chaos spamming,” to get specific rare item affixes is extremely inefficient. The odds of rolling optimal stats are astronomically low, potentially costing thousands of orbs and resulting in subpar gear.
- Most Efficient Uses:
- Use Chaos Orbs early to quickly reroll trash rare gear when leveling, but switch to trading them for upgrades as soon as possible.
- For endgame, trade your Chaos Orbs to other players for specific gear or currency. Save chaos for bulk trades or crafting essentials.
- Trade For Power: Many experienced players hoard Chaos Orbs to use as primary trading currency, since almost all valuable items can be purchased from other players more reliably than crafting yourself.
Advanced Tips from U4GM-Style Guides
- Exchange System: In PoE 2, you can trade Chaos Orbs for other currencies via vendors or market boards from Act 4 onwards, often at better rates if you’re patient.
- Profit Strategies: Farm high-tier maps and sell the valuable drops for Chaos Orbs, then use those to buy gear, crafting bases, or services.
- Don’t Chase Perfection: Trying to “chaos spam” your way to the perfect item is generally a trap. Reserve that method for when you have very specific, achievable goals—and remember, even endgame crafters rarely roll exactly what they want with chaos alone.
Quick Takeaways
- Trade over Craft: Use Chaos Orbs primarily as trade currency, not for random crafting.
- Right Target, Right Time: Only use Chaos Orbs to reroll rare items on high-level, valuable bases.
- Stay Current: Keep in mind orb values can fluctuate—monitor the in-game/trade board rates each league.
In summary, most players in Path of Exile 2 use Chaos Orbs inefficiently by “spamming” hoping for rare gear, when trading with other players is far more likely to yield results. Focus on generating currency and then exchanging for power. That’s how the top 10% play the economy—and you can, too.