Guide:Currency creation and trading

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This is a guide on the subject of accumulating currency for the purpose of trading.

Last updated on July 10, 2020‎.

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Trading

Trading is a core Path of Exile feature, helping players exchange items. Currency is used as a universal term using in the context of trading. It can be differentiated into two broad categories: Raw currency and items with a trade value. Most popular currencies are Chaos OrbsChaos OrbStack Size: 20Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it. and Divine OrbsDivine OrbStack Size: 20Randomises the values of the random modifiers on an itemRight click this item then left click a magic, rare or unique item to apply it..

For example, a player that uses swords for their build finds a good staff. This item has no direct use for them but might be very good for another player. They can trade the staff in exchange for some currency and then use the currency to buy a better sword for themselves.

Trades that exchange an item for another item are obscenely rare and very risky. Suppose someone offsets you an item in exchange for an item you're selling. In that case, it is unlikely that their offer is worth as much as your item (even if their item seems to be worth as much on trade sites, there is a good chance it is being price-fixed). Be sure to know exactly what every item in the trade is worth before accepting anything other than standard trade currencies.

Most players sell their items through Premium Stash Tabs and trade-index sites like the official Path of Exile Trade website. This microtransaction allows you to set the price you want to sell an item for. This listing will be indexed by the trade sites and then appear as a result when other players search for it.

Do I need to trade?

Path of Exile is a flexible game with a ton of features. Players do not need to trade at all to beat the game. In fact, there is the Solo Self-Found game mode or SSF, where trading items with other players is disabled.

Trading allows you to use items you did not find by yourself and help other players with items they may want. Many players like to buy six-linked items or Orb of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links.s to create them, to better deal with the game's challenge. Most players buy rare and unique items suitable for their builds, which can be hard to craft or find by yourself.

Some players consider trading a fun meta-game by itself. They spend their time looking for bargain deals and list them for the value they expect them to fetch or buy items and improve them, so they are easier found by players looking for a specific item from a guide.

Efficiency

The basic idea of making currency is: money made compared to the time spent. Every action in the game takes time: killing monsters, picking loot, putting items in the stash. So many players try to focus on making more currency in a limited time: hour, evening, weekend. As a new player, you should not worry about this too much. It's more important to have fun than checking how much chaos/hour you are getting by playing.

The most basic ways of improving your “currency per time” rely on increasing the value of the map content you are playing. Here is a rundown of a few simple tricks.

Increasing map value:

  • Crafting maps to increase pack size, item quantity, and item quality with Cartographer's ChiselCartographer's ChiselStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a mapRight click this item then left click a map to apply it. Has greater effect on lower-rarity maps. The maximum quality is 20%., Orb of TransmutationOrb of TransmutationStack Size: 40Upgrades a normal item to a magic itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. or 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..
  • Using Scarabs to add or enhance monsters and Extra Content of maps.
  • Doing Master missions to add monsters to maps and progress their content.
  • Activating an Eldritch Horrors or Maven beacon to add monster and Eldritch Altars or Witnessing bosses.
  • Using Delirium Orbs to add a map-wide Delirium effect to maps.

Improving map clear time:

  • Increasing character AoE and single target damage.
  • Using movement skills.
  • Increasing movement speed.
  • Using an Item Filter to show only valuable items you want to pick up.
  • Reducing the number of teleports and time spent in hideout or town.

Vendor recipes

The Vendor recipe system can be used to make currency. Here are some examples:

  • A set of rare items between iLvL 60 and 74 sells for 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..
  • A set of rare items between iLvL 75 and 100 sells for a Regal OrbRegal OrbStack Size: 20Upgrades a magic item to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a magic item to apply it. Current modifiers are retained and a new one is added..
  • A set of rare items all with the same influence sells for 2x Exalted ShardExalted ShardStack Size: 20A stack of 20 shards becomes an Exalted Orb.
  • Six socketed items for 7x Jeweller's OrbsJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets..
  • Six linked items for 20x Orbs of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links..
  • An item with linked red, green, and blue sockets item for a Chromatic OrbChromatic OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the colour of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it..
  • Any number of gems totaling 40% or more total quality for a Gemcutter's PrismGemcutter's PrismStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a gemRight click this item then left click a gem to apply it. The maximum quality is 20%..

It is personal preference whether collecting and vendor trading items for the currency is worth spending time in terms of efficiency.

Divination cards

A full stack of Divination cards can be traded with Tasuni or Lilly Roth to gain the listed item. Many divination cards have set locations for where they can drop, therefore they can be farmed by running the same maps where the card drops from. Unlocking Favoured Map slots and favouring the same map on multiple spots will increase the number of copies of the map base you can find.

There are several divination cards that give raw currency without needing to trade with other players. See List of divination cards granting currency.

Extremely valuable cards like The ApothecaryThe Apothecary5Mageblood"You seek the power of my strongest potions, but the price will be far higher than you can imagine." can be gambled for more copies using Harvest crafting.

Six-linked items

Six-linked items can be sold to a vendor for 20x Orbs of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links.. Closer to the start of a league regular six-linked items are worth much more than later in a league when they are abundant.

The most famous early six-link item is Tabula Rasa. You can get it as a unique item drop, divination cards like Humility and Vanity. Humility is an uncommon drop in the Act 9 Zone The Blood Aqueduct and endgame maps like Waterways and Channel.

Gems

Players often level extra gems in weapon swap to sell on the market. The most valuable are usually awakened gems but they are hard to find for most beginner players.

Once a support gem reaches level 20, vendor it with one Gemcutter's PrismGemcutter's PrismStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a gemRight click this item then left click a gem to apply it. The maximum quality is 20%. to get a level 1 gem with 20% quality. Level them again to get a level 20 gem with 20% quality. Vendoring for quality does not work with skill gems.

You now have three options:

  • sell the gem as is to other players if you don't feel like gambling.
  • use a Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 20Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again. trying to get a lvl 21 gem or 23% quality, this might work but corrupted 20/20 gems are worth less.
  • use Doryani's Institute to try for a double corruption, a 21/23 gem.

Delve

Delve or delving means exploring the Azurite Mine.

Finding loot in delve requires sulphite. It is a reward from Niko map missions.

How to get more sulphite:

  • Using Sulphite Scarabs adds Niko mission to maps.
  • There is a chance for Niko mission spawn on maps, scaled by nodes on the Atlas passive tree.

Once enough sulphite is accumulated, players can start delving.

There are several ways to get currency from delve, either by direct drop or trading valuable items with other players. The direct method and azurite farming are good for beginners because they can do it on any comfortable depth level and without much skill and risk.

Direct currency

There are currency nodes with currency icons and descriptions. Just travel there and collect the reward. Also, reaching any node has will reward drops for clearing all monsters, just like on maps. Special nodes, like Vaal Outposts, have currency chests. So it might be worth checking them out as well.

Items with Delve mods

Certain nodes in delve drop items that have special delve mods. They can rarely drop fractured, which increases their possible value.

Azurite

Players need to farm azurite to improve their character’s stats in delve, like darkness resistance. However, it is possible to trade azurite for Resonators with Niko. Check resonator prices on the market and pick the one with the most value per azurite. Players may wish to buy them in larger packs for crafting. If it is profitable enough, target farm azurite nodes in delve, convert it to resonators and sell it on market.

Fossils

Players tend to buy fossils on the market in large packs. So it is worth farming them in delve. There are nodes with fossils explicitly visible on delve map, but they are rare. A more common way to find fossils is to explore darkness in side-passages or behind breakable walls. Use flares to avoid the darkness damage on the way and blow up walls with dynamite. Such side passages with fossils behind walls are common in long delve corridors and sometimes visible from the path of the crawler.

This method is a bit more advanced and requires practice with understanding delve layouts. The Azurite mine map is a grid. All grid points contain something, either marked on the map or not. If the map has empty space in place of the supposed node, it means there will be a long corridor next to it, in turn, meaning must be hidden something there behind a wall.

Immortal Syndicate

Players interact with Immortal Syndicate members by doing Jun missions. There are several different approaches to organize Jun’s syndicate “map”. They all have pros and cons. Learning them, understanding, and implementing them requires advanced game experience and separate guides.

Beginner players do not have to involve with all syndicate manipulating details. Here are the basics. Choose several members with good rewards. Try to increase their ranks by executing them and promote them to lead their safehouse. Run safehouse for rewards when they are ready, as this type of encounter will not spawn while the safehouse intel is full. Sell rewards to other players or use them. Choosing members is based on rewards.

Refer to Immortal Syndicate page for details.

Bestiary

Bestiary is Einhars master mission mechanic. It rewards players with beasts in the menagerie. You can itemize them with Bestiary OrbsBestiary OrbStack Size: 10Stores a Beast in an itemRight click on this item then left click on a Beast in your Menagerie to itemise the Beast. and sell to other players.

Einhar’s mission can spawn randomly, and its chance to spawn can be improved with the Atlas passive tree.

Players help Einar to capture beasts by reducing enemy HP to a minimum. Then you can visit Menagerie, buy Bestiary OrbBestiary OrbStack Size: 10Stores a Beast in an itemRight click on this item then left click on a Beast in your Menagerie to itemise the Beast., find your beast in the menu (default H)>Bestiary>Captured Beasts, itemize it, and sell to other players.

Actual market prices are based on popularity and change with time and game updates. Usually, players like to buy beasts for crafting and for opening portals to bestiary bosses. Here are some examples of popular beasts:

Alva temples

The Temple of Atzoatl is a map with many rooms with different rewards depending on how it is build.

Alva will open a portal to it after player completes enough missions for her. Minimum is 4 missions, 3 incursions each, 12 incursions total. The same room can not occur twice in the same map, so some players prefer to delay Alva quests to manipulate room incursion probabilities.

If nothing else, Alva provides a lot of additional monsters on each map. It increased the total quantity of item drops, including currency. Atzoatl itself is a free map after full cycle of incursions is finished.

Direct currency rooms are:

Some players prefer to target farm other room for chance of other valuable rewards:

When a temple is complete you have to option to either open the temple for yourselves, or itemize it into a Chronicle of Atzoatl which can be traded with other players. On the trade site, you can select the major room you have in your chronicle and see how much they are getting sold for.

Legion

Legion is league mechanic. Occasionally players encounter Timeless Monoliths. After activating they start Legion encounter. There are several ways to generate a timeless monolith:

Some legion monsters and chests with Chaos OrbChaos OrbStack Size: 20Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it. icons drop currency directly. A common reward for each legion encounter are timeless splinters. Collect 100 splinters to assemble a timeless emblem. These emblems usually are in high demand on the market.

Legion generals are special mini-bosses at the very edge of the encounter. You know that one of them spawned when a beam indicates their position from the monolith. They drop a bigger stack of splinters when defeated.

Legion encounters can randomly reward players with incubators. Popular incubators are:

Blight

You will find Blight encounters in maps. After successfully completing a blight encounter players are rewarded with chests of items. Common blight rewards are oils and blighted maps. Blighted maps are just a giant blight encounter. You can sell blighted maps and oils to other players. High-tier blighted maps usually have a relatively high value. If the player is capable of doing a blighted map successfully, they are rewarded with many blight chests. Upgrade oils with the 3-to-1 vendor recipe until you get good enough oil, worth spending time trading. Oils are used in anointing amulets, rings, and blighted maps. Check prices of the following oils:

  • Opalescent OilOpalescent OilStack Size: 10
    Oil Tier: 11
    Can be combined with other Oils at Cassia to Enchant Rings or Amulets, or to modify Blighted Maps.
  • Silver OilSilver OilStack Size: 10
    Oil Tier: 12
    Can be combined with other Oils at Cassia to Enchant Rings or Amulets, or to modify Blighted Maps.
  • Golden OilGolden OilStack Size: 10
    Oil Tier: 13
    Can be combined with other Oils at Cassia to Enchant Rings or Amulets, or to modify Blighted Maps.
  • Tainted OilTainted OilStack Size: 10
    Oil Tier: 0
    Can be combined with other oils at Cassia to enchant corrupted rings, amulets or blighted maps.

Delirium

Players can encounter Delirium mirrors after defeating Innocence (High Templar Avarius) in all areas after The Torched Courts (Act 5). After going through the mirror, delirium empowers existing and adds new monsters to the map. Kill as many as possible while in the fog and go further away from the mirror as the fog slowly dissipates. The reward type is shown during the encounter at the bottom of the screen. There is a direct currency reward, looking like 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.. Other league rewards are also found in delirium: oils, incubators, scarabs, fossils.

Harvest

Harvest is a mechanic that allows players to harvest plants in the groves spawning in maps. Groves contain at least three plots of two fields right next to each other. You choose one by clicking on it, causing the other to wilt. Clicking again starts the encounter. Lifeforce dropped by the monsters is easy to sell for currency and is useful for crafting.

Labyrinth

Izaro's Treasure at the end has a chance to give multiple currency items. Also, some assorted chests in the labyrinth itself can drop valuable items as well: Labyrinth Trove, Emperor's Trove, Emperor's Treasury, Emperor's Vault. When farming the Labyrinth end chests, you want to get as many Treasure Keys as possible.

Divine Font also has many valuable crafting options, including creation of transfigured gems.

Endgame bosses

Killing bosses for loot is a natural popular concept of all RPG games, including Path of Exile. This requires some decent gear investment and is not easy for the most part.

Refer to endgame part of List of unique monsters.