Essence

This page is about the currency item. For the league, see Essence league.

An essence is part of a complex group of currency items used for crafting equipment. All essences can be used to upgrade a piece of normal rarity equipment to rare and apply one guaranteed affix. Some essences can also be used to reforge the affixes of rare equipment.

Taxonomy

Visual guide to essences

The name of an essence consists of 3 parts: the level of the essence as a prefix, the word 'Essence', and the type of the essence as a suffix. For example, Whispering Essence of WoeWhispering Essence of WoeStack Size: 9
Essence Tier: 1Upgrades a normal item to rare with one guaranteed property
Properties restricted to level 35 and below

One Handed Weapon: (10-19)% increased Spell Damage
Two Handed Weapon: (15-29)% increased Spell Damage
Armour: +(3-5) to maximum Energy Shield
Quiver: (5-10)% increased Damage with Bow Skills
Amulet: (2-4)% increased maximum Energy Shield
Ring: +(1-3) to maximum Energy Shield
Belt: +(1-3) to maximum Energy ShieldRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. has the prefix 'Whispering' and the suffix 'of Woe'.

The essence type determines the modifiers that an essence can imbue, while the essence level determines the magnitude of bonuses granted by those modifiers.

Essence levels

There are seven essence levels distinguished by a prefix word. The level of an essence can also be recognized by counting the lines in its 2D art icon.

Level	Prefix	Obtainable through	Crafting max. level	Item reforge
1	Whispering	Lv. 1+ drop	35	✗
2	Muttering	Lv. 12+ drop	45	✗
3	Weeping	Lv. 30+ drop	60	✗
4	Wailing	Lv. 48+ drop	75	✗
5	Screaming	Lv. 68+ drop	N/A	✗
6	Shrieking	Upgrading or corrupting level 5 essences	N/A	✓
7	Deafening	Upgrading level 6 essences	N/A	✓

Essence types

The type of the essence can be recognized by the suffix in the name.

There are 25 different types of essences; not all types of essences are available at lower levels, and the 4 corrupted essences do not have any levels.

Lowest Level	Essences	Notes
1	Hatred, Woe, Greed, Contempt
2	Sorrow, Anger, Torment, Fear
3	Suffering, Rage, Wrath, Doubt
4	Anguish, Loathing, Spite, Zeal
5	Misery, Dread, Scorn, Envy
N/A	Essence of HysteriaEssence of HysteriaStack Size: 9 Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property Weapon: Cast Level 20 Fire Burst on Hit Gloves: Socketed Gems deal 175 to 225 Added Fire Damage Boots: Drops Burning Ground while moving, dealing 2500 Fire Damage per second for 4 seconds Body Armour: 25% increased Area of Effect Helmet: Socketed Gems deal 30% more Damage while on Low Life Shield: Adds 60 to 100 Fire Damage if you've Blocked Recently Quiver: Gain 15% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage Amulet: 150% increased total Recovery per second from Life Leech Ring: Gain 10% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage Belt: Damage Penetrates 5% Elemental Resistances during any Flask EffectRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it. Essence of InsanityEssence of InsanityStack Size: 9 Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property Weapon: Triggers Level 20 Spectral Spirits when Equipped +3 to maximum number of Spectral Spirits Gloves: Socketed Gems have 16% more Attack and Cast Speed Boots: 70% increased Mana Regeneration Rate while Shocked Body Armour: You gain Onslaught for 6 seconds when Hit Helmet: Socketed Gems gain 50% of Physical Damage as extra Lightning Damage Shield: 25% chance to gain a Power Charge when you Block Quiver: Projectiles Pierce 2 additional Targets Amulet: 10% chance to Recover 10% of Mana when you use a Skill Ring: You and your Minions take 40% reduced Reflected Damage Belt: 10% increased Movement Speed during any Flask EffectRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it. Essence of HorrorEssence of HorrorStack Size: 9 Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property Weapon: 16% chance to gain a Power, Frenzy or Endurance Charge on Kill Gloves: Socketed Gems have +3.5% Critical Strike Chance Boots: 5% reduced Elemental Damage Taken while stationary Body Armour: 15% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage Helmet: Socketed Gems deal 30% more Elemental Damage Shield: Chill Nearby Enemies when you Block Quiver: 8 to 12 Added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge Amulet: (15-25)% chance to Crush on Hit Ring: 4 to 7 Added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge Belt: Gain Alchemist's Genius when you use a FlaskRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it. Essence of DeliriumEssence of DeliriumStack Size: 9 Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property Weapon: Your Hits inflict Decay, dealing 700 Chaos Damage per second for 8 seconds Gloves: Socketed Gems deal 30% more Damage over Time Boots: Cannot be Poisoned Body Armour: 25% reduced Chaos Damage taken over time Helmet: +2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems Shield: +15% Chance to Block Spell Damage while on Low Life Quiver: 25% increased Effect of your Marks Amulet: (6-7)% Chance to Block Spell Damage Ring: +(12-15)% to Damage over Time Multiplier Belt: +50% to Chaos Resistance during any Flask EffectRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it.	Obtained through corruption of Scorn, Envy, Misery, Dread
N/A	Remnant of CorruptionRemnant of CorruptionStack Size: 9Corrupts the Essences trapping a monster, modifying them unpredictably Right click this item then left click a monster trapped by Essences to corrupt them. Corrupted Essences cannot be modified again.	rare spawn in place of essence

Mechanics

Obtaining essences

Monsters trapped in essence crystals can occasionally be encountered in most areas. Activating the center essence crystal three times will break the crystals, freeing the trapped monsters. The essence item can be obtained by killing these monsters, which are also enhanced by special monster modifiers on the essence.

Some essence types only occur at higher essence levels. This forms a tiered progression in which more essence types become available in areas with higher monster level.

Level 6, 'Shrieking' essences can be obtained only by corrupting level 5 essences using a Remnant of CorruptionRemnant of CorruptionStack Size: 9Corrupts the Essences trapping a monster, modifying them unpredictably
Right click this item then left click a monster trapped by Essences to corrupt them. Corrupted Essences cannot be modified again. or upgrading lower level essences through the vendor recipe system. Level 7, 'Deafening' essences can be obtained only by upgrading lower level essences through the vendor recipe system.

Corruption

Corruption of essences can be achieved by using a Remnant of CorruptionRemnant of CorruptionStack Size: 9Corrupts the Essences trapping a monster, modifying them unpredictably
Right click this item then left click a monster trapped by Essences to corrupt them. Corrupted Essences cannot be modified again. on an essence monster before releasing it. Essence of HysteriaEssence of HysteriaStack Size: 9
Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property
Weapon: Cast Level 20 Fire Burst on Hit
Gloves: Socketed Gems deal 175 to 225 Added Fire Damage
Boots: Drops Burning Ground while moving, dealing 2500 Fire Damage per second for 4 seconds
Body Armour: 25% increased Area of Effect
Helmet: Socketed Gems deal 30% more Damage while on Low Life
Shield: Adds 60 to 100 Fire Damage if you've Blocked Recently
Quiver: Gain 15% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage
Amulet: 150% increased total Recovery per second from Life Leech
Ring: Gain 10% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage
Belt: Damage Penetrates 5% Elemental Resistances during any Flask EffectRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it., Essence of InsanityEssence of InsanityStack Size: 9
Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property
Weapon: Triggers Level 20 Spectral Spirits when Equipped
+3 to maximum number of Spectral Spirits
Gloves: Socketed Gems have 16% more Attack and Cast Speed
Boots: 70% increased Mana Regeneration Rate while Shocked
Body Armour: You gain Onslaught for 6 seconds when Hit
Helmet: Socketed Gems gain 50% of Physical Damage as extra Lightning Damage
Shield: 25% chance to gain a Power Charge when you Block
Quiver: Projectiles Pierce 2 additional Targets
Amulet: 10% chance to Recover 10% of Mana when you use a Skill
Ring: You and your Minions take 40% reduced Reflected Damage
Belt: 10% increased Movement Speed during any Flask EffectRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it., Essence of HorrorEssence of HorrorStack Size: 9
Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property
Weapon: 16% chance to gain a Power, Frenzy or Endurance Charge on Kill
Gloves: Socketed Gems have +3.5% Critical Strike Chance
Boots: 5% reduced Elemental Damage Taken while stationary
Body Armour: 15% of Physical Damage from Hits taken as Cold Damage
Helmet: Socketed Gems deal 30% more Elemental Damage
Shield: Chill Nearby Enemies when you Block
Quiver: 8 to 12 Added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge
Amulet: (15-25)% chance to Crush on Hit
Ring: 4 to 7 Added Cold Damage per Frenzy Charge
Belt: Gain Alchemist's Genius when you use a FlaskRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it., and Essence of DeliriumEssence of DeliriumStack Size: 9
Essence Tier: 8Upgrades a normal item to rare or reforges a rare item, guaranteeing one property
Weapon: Your Hits inflict Decay, dealing 700 Chaos Damage per second for 8 seconds
Gloves: Socketed Gems deal 30% more Damage over Time
Boots: Cannot be Poisoned
Body Armour: 25% reduced Chaos Damage taken over time
Helmet: +2 to Level of Socketed Aura Gems
Shield: +15% Chance to Block Spell Damage while on Low Life
Quiver: 25% increased Effect of your Marks
Amulet: (6-7)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
Ring: +(12-15)% to Damage over Time Multiplier
Belt: +50% to Chaos Resistance during any Flask EffectRight click this item then left click a normal or rare item to apply it. can only be obtained by corrupting monsters with an Essence of Dread, Scorn, Envy, or Misery.

Upon corrupting an essence monster, one of the following will occur:

• Mobs are broken free with empowered stats.
• All contained essences will have their level increased by 1 (e.g. "Screaming" upgraded to "Shrieking"). Note that the base essence type won't change, and this can't occur with "Deafening" essences.
• Monster may gain one additional essence.
• Upgrade the essence type to a higher essence type in the tiered progression. Note that this can also increase the level of the essence if the original is at a lower level than the minimum for the next tier.

Using essences

All essences can be used to upgrade a piece of normal rarity equipment to rare—similar to an Orb of AlchemyOrb of AlchemyStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it.—and apply one guaranteed affix. Level 6 and 7 essences and corruption-only essences can also be used to reforge the affixes of rare equipment, which is similar to a Chaos OrbChaos OrbStack Size: 20Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it.; however, in addition to applying one guaranteed affix, using an essence this way will ignore and override any Master's meta-crafting modifiers.

Essence possession effects

Essences are encountered in the wild as a monster 'possessed' by an Essence, mechanically similar to possession by a talisman or tormented spirit. Essence can only appear on a rare monster and the monster can have more than one essences possessed . When the monster is killed, the essences will drop as an item.

Essences	Possession effect
Hatred	Shoot out a nova of projectiles.
Woe	Summon Energy Locus that cast .
Greed	Create a red bubble around the enemy and it explode into 3 projectile that does Corrupted Blood on hit, similarly to Malachai's TriBomb.
Contempt	Periodically cast an ice version of . At 'Screaming', it summon 3 spirits that looks like ice version of but without the totem chasing toward player, apparently they are invulnerable to get hit.
Sorrow	Summon Totems that cast at player's location.
Anger	Shoot out a nova of fire version projectiles.
Torment	Periodically cast at the player's location.
Fear	Summon 3 Charging Corsair, which is a unique Spectral Corsair.
Suffering	Periodically cast , then summon Arctic Golem when died.
Rage	Create fire runes that trigger when stepped on, dealing fire damage, similar to Malachai's Fire Traps.
Wrath	Shoot out a nova of lightning projectiles that behave like Molten Strike's projectiles.
Doubt	Summon Essence Tarantula that does and Viper Strike.
Anguish	Summon Fiery Rubble that fracture into smaller size when died, which is a unique Cinder Elemental.
Loathing
Spite	Summon Totems that cast and leave patches of Shocking Ground
Zeal
Misery	Shoot out pulses that inflict a chaos damage over time debuff on the player.
Dread	Cast a chaos version of . Summon Guardian Golem, which is a unique Chaos Golem.
Scorn
Envy	Summon a grasping hand(looks like Cold SnapCold Grasp EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Cold Snap becomes a grasping hand of frost), that teleports the player to the monster's location. This can be evaded by moving.
Hysteria
Insanity	Cast Storm CallStorm CallSpell, AoE, Duration, Lightning Level: (1-20) Cost: (6-16) Mana Cast Time: 0.50 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 250%Requires Level 12Sets a marker at a location. After a short duration, lightning strikes the marker, dealing damage around it and causing lightning strikes at any other markers you've cast.Deals (21-949) to (39-1762) Lightning Damage Base duration is 1.50 seconds +(0-0.6) metres to radius Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (0.75-15)% chance for Lightning to Strike the Marker when CastPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. and summon invulnerable Spectral Spirits that attack the player.
Horror	Monster cast a chain reaction of ice explosion, similar to one of the Mutewind Leader Warband skill.
Delirium	Summon monsters that looks like Carrion Minion, it casts chaos version of that uses Caustic ArrowTentacle Caustic Arrow EffectSkill Gem EffectYour Caustic Arrow becomes an area of ethereal purple tentacles. MTX's.
Remnant of Corruption	Enemy has a physical damage over time, cannot be leeched from. Summons 2 Fleshmonster when killed.

Vendor recipes

Result	Recipe
1x essence of the same type one level higher	3x essences of the same type and level

List of essences

The wording on some of these essences regarding the stat text appears to be outdated and shows incorrect information - so take these with a grain of salt. This will be fixed as soon. A list of stats that shows the difference between values and descriptions can be found here

Version history

Version	Changes
2.4.0g	All corruption only Essence mods (of Delirium, Horror, Hysteria and Insanity) now have a minimum level of 50.
2.4.0e	The Essence upgrade recipe now returns surplus Essences when you vendor four or more essences.
2.4.0c	The Essence of Hysteria boots mod now has a level 60 requirement. Fixed some prison rooms where Essences could spawn in bad locations. Fixed a bug where the Energy Locus summoned by Essence of Woe could be hit by skills such as Arc.
2.4.0	Introduced to the game in Essence leagues.