The Artificer’s Orb is a vital crafting currency in Path of Exile 2 that allows you to add rune sockets to your weapons and armor, unlocking powerful customization options through the use of runes and soul cores. Understanding how to obtain and efficiently apply Artificer’s Orbs can enhance your build’s strength significantly, especially in the early game when socket availability is limited.
How to Obtain Artificer’s Orbs
Artificer’s Orbs are primarily crafted by collecting Artificer’s Shards, which you acquire by salvaging socketed gear at the Salvage Bench. The Salvage Bench becomes available early in the game after completing the “Finding the Forge” side quest in Act One. To create one Artificer’s Orb, you need to gather 10 Artificer’s Shards. Because the shards drop in proportion to the number of sockets on the salvaged item, targeting gear with sockets maximizes shard acquisition. Additionally, Artificer’s Orbs can occasionally drop from enemies, chests, and destructible objects, but salvaging remains the most reliable source. If you want to speed up the process, some players choose to buy poe 2 currency to invest in more efficient farming or crafting strategies.
Where to Salvage for Shards
Focus on finding gear with sockets—the items clearly display small white squares near their names indicating socket counts. This includes weapons, armor, and off-hand items that support sockets. Farming special bosses, unique enemies, and treasure caches increases your odds of finding socketed gear to salvage. Regularly revisit previously cleared areas or create new map instances to farm socketed equipment efficiently. You can also explore ways to buy
poe 2 currency for sale, which can assist in obtaining rare socketed gear from other players.
Applying Artificer’s Orbs to Your Gear
Once you have Artificer’s Orbs, right-click the orb in your inventory, then left-click the weapon or piece of armor you want to upgrade. Each orb adds one rune socket to the item as long as it hasn’t reached its maximum socket limit. The socket limits differ by item type:
Two-handed weapons and body armor: Can hold up to two sockets, allowing the use of two Artificer’s Orbs.
One-handed weapons and other armor pieces: Generally support one socket each.
Adding these rune sockets is crucial because runes enhance your gear with unique bonuses—such as increased resistances, elemental damage, or spirit gain—while soul cores provide powerful attributes like increased item rarity or chaos resistance.
Strategic Tips for Using Artificer’s Orbs
Prioritize High-Impact Gear: Use Artificer’s Orbs on weapons and armor that form the backbone of your build to maximize benefit.
Plan Socket Usage: Since the number of sockets per item is limited, carefully choose which items to invest in to optimize your rune loadout.
Save Early for Endgame: Because runes and soul cores substantially boost powered builds, stock up on Artificer’s Orbs as you approach endgame content.
Combine With Other Crafting: Integrate adding rune sockets into your broader crafting strategy—complete affix rolls and quality improvements first, then socket for runes last.
Common Runes and Their Benefits
Popular runes used in sockets include the Iron Rune (boosts physical damage), elemental runes like Desert, Storm, and Glacial Runes (which increase fire, lightning, and cold resistances respectively), and various soul cores that synergize with martial weapons or armor. These sockets allow players deep customization, tailoring gear to their unique playstyles and combat needs.
Mastering the Artificer’s Orb system is key to effective gear customization in Path of Exile 2. By salvaging strategically for Artificer’s Shards, adding rune sockets thoughtfully, and choosing the right rune combinations, you can greatly enhance your character’s power and flexibility. This socketing mechanic adds a fresh, strategic layer to crafting, making every orb a valuable investment toward your build’s potential.
Artificer’s Orb 101: How to Add Rune Sockets to Your Gear Effectively
