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.

Table of essences

See also: List of essences

The name of an essence consists of three parts: the tier of the essence as a prefix, the word 'Essence', and the type of the essence as a suffix. For example, has the prefix 'Whispering' and the suffix 'of Woe', which means that it is a tier 1 essence of the Woe type. An essence's type determines which guaranteed modifiers it can imbue to equipment, while its tier determines the magnitude of bonuses granted by those modifiers.

Natural essences

Groups A–E include all types of essences that can appear naturally with essence monsters. These essences come in seven tiers, each distinguished by a prefix word. An essence's tier can also be recognized by the number of lines in its 2D art icon. Note that not all types of essences exist for every tier. Lower tiers include fewer types of essences.

				Group A				Group B				Group C				Group D				Group E
	Tier	mLvl	Reforge	Greed	Contempt	Hatred	Woe	Fear	Anger	Torment	Sorrow	Rage	Suffering	Wrath	Doubt	Loathing	Zeal	Anguish	Spite	Scorn	Envy	Misery	Dread
Whispering	1	1+						N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Muttering	2	12+										N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Weeping	3	30+														N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wailing	4	48+																		N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Screaming	5	68+
Shrieking	6	N/A
Deafening	7	N/A

Corrupted essences

Group F includes the corrupted essences, which have no prefix word due to the fact that they exist in a tier unto themselves. These do not appear naturally with essence monsters, and can only be obtained by corrupting an essence monster with 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.
Shift click to unstack.. (See § Corrupting essence monsters for details about this process.)

			Group F
Tier	mLvl	Reforge	Insanity	Horror	Delirium	Hysteria
8	N/A

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 types of essences only exist at higher tiers. This forms a progression in which more types of essences become available in areas with higher monster level.

Tier 6, 'Shrieking' essences can be obtained by upgrading lower tier essences through the vendor recipe system or by corrupting tier 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.
Shift click to unstack..

Tier 7, 'Deafening' essences can be obtained by upgrading lower tier essences through the vendor recipe system.

Harvest exchanges

One of the random Harvest crafting options granted by Vivid Watcher upgrades an essence by one tier.

One of the random Harvest crafting options granted by Wild Homunculus changes a stack of essences into a different type of the same tier.

Corrupting essence monsters

Main page: Remnant of Corruption

Essences can be corrupted 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.
Shift click to unstack. on a monster trapped by essence before releasing it.

This will result in one of the following outcomes chosen at random:

• Mobs are broken free with empowered stats.
• All contained essences have their tiers 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.
• Transform essence types to random ones from the next type group. E.g., 'of Fear' transformed to 'of Wrath'.
  • Note that this can also increase the tier of the essence if the original is at a lower tier than the minimum for the next tier.
  • Essence of Hysteria, Insanity, Horror and Delirium can only be obtained by corrupting monsters with an essence of tier 5 (MEDS: Misery, Envy, Dread, Scorn).

The "Remnant of Corruption"-possessed monster has a monster aura that deals physical damage over time as well as slow the player character.

The player character cannot leech life from the "Remnant of Corruption"-possessed monster.

On slaying the "Remnant of Corruption"-possessed monster, the remnant is dropped just like normal Essences. Additionally two Fleshmonsters spawn on the drop location.

These possessing effects were in fact due to the essence adding the mods , to the monster.

Crafting

All essences can be used to upgrade a piece of normal rarity equipment to rare, similar to an Orb of AlchemyOrb of AlchemyStack Size: 10Upgrades a normal item to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack., and apply one guaranteed affix. Essences of tier 5 (Screaming) and above can also be used to reforge the affixes of rare equipment, which is similar to a Chaos OrbChaos OrbStack Size: 10Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack.; however, in addition to applying one guaranteed affix, using an essence this way will ignore and override any meta-crafting modifiers.

WARNING: Despite the similar wording to Chaos OrbsChaos OrbStack Size: 10Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack., using an essence on an item with a meta-crafting mod ( or ) will ignore that mod and overwrite existing prefixes and suffixes ignoring any restrictions.

Tier	Prefix	Obtainable through	max. level of original item	Min. Level of reforged item	Item reforge
1	Whispering	Lv. 1+ zone drop	35	1	✗
2	Muttering	Lv. 12+ zone drop	45	8	✗
3	Weeping	Lv. 30+ zone drop	60	20	✗
4	Wailing	Lv. 48+ zone drop	75	33	✗
5	Screaming	Lv. 68+ zone drop	N/A	46	✓
6	Shrieking	Upgrading or corrupting tier 5 essences	N/A	59	✓
7	Deafening	Upgrading tier 6 essences	N/A	65	✓

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 Creeping FrostCreeping FrostSpell, Projectile, Duration, AoE, Cold Level: (1-20) Cost: (7-20) Mana Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec Cast Time: 0.60 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 80% Projectile Speed: 844 Radius: 12Requires Level 12Fire an icy projectile that bursts on impact or when reaching the targeted area, dealing area damage and creating a chilling area that deals cold damage over time. This area will creep across the ground towards nearby enemies until its duration expires.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect1% increased Skill Effect DurationFires an additional ProjectileChilling Area has 2% increased Movement SpeedBase duration is 5 seconds Deals (11-383) to (16-572) Cold Damage Can have up to 10 Chilling Areas Deals (16.7-1391.2) Base Cold Damage per second Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effectPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. projectiles.
Woe	Summon Energy Locus that cast Lightning TendrilsLightning TendrilsSpell, AoE, Lightning, Channelling Level: (1-20) Cost: (1-5) Mana Cast Time: 0.23 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 65% Radius: 22While you channel this skill, it releases pulses of electrical energy, dealing lightning damage in a semicircular area in front of you.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Lightning Damage0.5% increased Area of Effect0.5% increased Cast SpeedDeals 98% of Damage Stronger Pulses deal 10% more Damage with Hits and AilmentsDeals (1-37) to (4-703) Lightning Damage Stronger Pulses deal 100% more Damage with Hits and Ailments Releases a Stronger Pulse every 4 Pulses +(0-7) to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket..
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 Ancestral WarchiefAncestral WarchiefAttack, Totem, AoE, Slam, Melee Level: (1-20) Cost: 10 Mana Attack Speed: 90% of base Attack Damage: (110-166)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (110-166)%Requires Level 28Summons an Ancestor Totem which attacks enemies with a powerful slam while you're near it. Being near it grants you more melee damage.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Totem Damage2% increased Totem Placement speed2% increased Activation range2% increased Damage with AilmentsDeals (110-166)% of Base Attack Damage Totem lasts 12 seconds 50% increased Totem Placement speed (8-18)% more Melee Damage while Totem is Active +10 to Melee Strike RangePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.. At 'Screaming', it summon 3 spirits that looks like ice version of Ancestral WarchiefAncestral WarchiefAttack, Totem, AoE, Slam, Melee Level: (1-20) Cost: 10 Mana Attack Speed: 90% of base Attack Damage: (110-166)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (110-166)%Requires Level 28Summons an Ancestor Totem which attacks enemies with a powerful slam while you're near it. Being near it grants you more melee damage.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Totem Damage2% increased Totem Placement speed2% increased Activation range2% increased Damage with AilmentsDeals (110-166)% of Base Attack Damage Totem lasts 12 seconds 50% increased Totem Placement speed (8-18)% more Melee Damage while Totem is Active +10 to Melee Strike RangePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. but without the totem chasing toward player, apparently they are invulnerable to get hit.
Sorrow	Summon Totems that cast VortexVortexSpell, AoE, Cold, Duration, Nova Level: (1-20) Cost: (11-20) Mana Cooldown Time: 1.80 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec Cast Time: Instant Critical Strike Chance: 6.50%Requires Level 28An icy blast explodes around the caster, dealing cold damage to enemies, and leaving behind a whirling vortex which deals cold damage over time and chills enemies caught in it. If the caster targets near their Frostbolt projectiles, it will explode from a number of those projectiles instead, destroying them.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect1% increased Cold Damage1% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate 1% less Skill Effect Duration2% increased Damage when Cast on FrostboltDeals (38-524) to (57-787) Cold Damage Base duration is 3 seconds Deals (106.5-1456.9) Base Cold Damage per second Can explode from up to 5 Frostbolt Projectiles 20% less Area of Effect when Cast on Frostbolt Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effect (0-76)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. at player's location.
Anger	Shoot out a nova of fire version Creeping FrostCreeping FrostSpell, Projectile, Duration, AoE, Cold Level: (1-20) Cost: (7-20) Mana Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec Cast Time: 0.60 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 80% Projectile Speed: 844 Radius: 12Requires Level 12Fire an icy projectile that bursts on impact or when reaching the targeted area, dealing area damage and creating a chilling area that deals cold damage over time. This area will creep across the ground towards nearby enemies until its duration expires.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect1% increased Skill Effect DurationFires an additional ProjectileChilling Area has 2% increased Movement SpeedBase duration is 5 seconds Deals (11-383) to (16-572) Cold Damage Can have up to 10 Chilling Areas Deals (16.7-1391.2) Base Cold Damage per second Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effectPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. projectiles.
Torment	Periodically cast Ball LightningBall LightningSpell, Projectile, AoE, Lightning Level: (1-20) Cost: (12-23) Mana Cast Time: 0.70 sec Critical Strike Chance: 5.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 50% Projectile Speed: 400 Radius: 22Requires Level 28Fires a slow-moving projectile that periodically damages enemies in an area around it with bolts of lightning.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent1% increased Lightning Damage0.5% increased Cast SpeedProjectiles have 0.5% chance to be SuperchargedDeals (3-22) to (48-426) Lightning DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. at the player's location.
Fear	Summon 3 Charging Corsair, which is a unique Spectral Corsair.
Suffering	Periodically cast Frost BombFrost BombSpell, AoE, Duration, Cold, Orb Level: (1-20) Cost: (4-16) Mana Cooldown Time: 2.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: 0.50 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 300%Creates a crystal that pulses with cold for a duration. Each pulse applies a debuff to nearby enemies for a secondary duration which reduces life and energy shield regeneration rate, and reduces energy shield recharge rate, and also inflicts Cold Exposure. When the crystal's duration ends, it explodes, dealing heavy cold damage to enemies around it.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Cold Damage0.5% chance to Freeze enemies1% increased Area of Effect1% less Skill Effect Duration 1% increased Cooldown Recovery RateDeals (14-1336) to (21-2003) Cold Damage Base duration is 2 seconds Base secondary duration is 5 seconds Cold Exposure applies -15% to Cold Resistance 75% reduced Life Regeneration rate 75% reduced Energy Shield Regeneration rate 25% reduced Energy Shield Recharge rate +(0-7) to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., 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 StrikeMolten StrikeAttack, Projectile, AoE, Melee, Strike, Fire Level: (1-20) Cost: 6 Mana Attack Damage: (110-148)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (110-148)% Projectile Speed: 750Infuses your melee weapon with molten energies to attack with physical and fire damage. This attack causes balls of molten magma to launch forth from the enemies you hit, divided amongst all enemies hit by the strike. These will explode, causing AoE attack damage to enemies where they land.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Fire Damage1% increased Projectile Speed+0.1 to Melee Strike Range2% increased Damage over TimeDeals (110-148)% of Base Attack Damage 60% of Physical Damage Converted to Fire Damage Fires 3 additional Projectiles Projectiles deal 50% less Damage Damage Over Time caused by Projectiles deals 50% less Damage +(2-6) to Melee Strike Range (2-75) to (3-113) Added Fire DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.'s projectiles.
Doubt	Summon Essence Tarantula that does Flicker StrikeFlicker StrikeAttack, Melee, Strike, Movement, Duration Level: (1-20) Cost: 10 Mana Cooldown Time: 2.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Attack Speed: 120% of base Attack Damage: (142-168)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (142-168)%Requires Level 10Teleports the character to a nearby monster and attacks with a melee weapon. If no specific monster is targeted, one is picked at random. Grants a buff that increases movement speed for a duration. The cooldown can be bypassed by expending a Frenzy Charge.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent0.25% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Hit3% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate1% increased teleport rangeDeals (142.2-168)% of Base Attack Damage 10% increased Attack Speed per Frenzy Charge 15% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Hit Buff grants 20% increased Movement Speed Base duration is 3 secondsPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. and Viper StrikeViper StrikeAttack, Duration, Melee, Strike, Chaos Level: (1-20) Cost: 5 Mana Attack Damage: (90-135)% of base Effectiveness of Added Damage: (90-135)%Hits enemies, adding some of your physical damage as chaos damage and inflicting poison which will be affected by modifiers to skill duration. If dual wielding, will strike with both weapons. Requires a claw, dagger or sword.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Attack Speed 0.5% increased Poison Duration1% of Physical Damage Converted to Chaos Damage1% increased Chaos Damage0.5% chance to also Poison a nearby Enemy when you inflict PoisonDeals (90-135)% of Base Attack Damage 60% of Physical Damage Converted to Chaos Damage 60% chance to Poison on Hit Base duration is 4 seconds (5-169) to (7-254) Added Chaos Damage Each Weapon Hits separately if Dual Wielding, dealing 20% less Damage 30% Less Attack Speed if Dual Wielding +(0-2) to Melee Strike RangePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket..
Anguish	Summon Fiery Rubble that fracture into smaller size on death, which is a unique Cinder Elemental.
Loathing
Spite	Summon Totems that cast ArcArcSpell, Chaining, Lightning Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-23) Mana Cast Time: 0.70 sec Critical Strike Chance: 5.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 80%Requires Level 12An arc of lightning stretches from the caster to a targeted enemy and chains on to other nearby enemies. Each time the main beam chains it will also chain to a second enemy, but that secondary arc cannot chain further.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% chance to Shock enemies1% increased Chaining range0.5% increased Damage for each time this Skill has Chained1% reduced Enemy Stun ThresholdDeals (6-133) to (33-754) Lightning Damage 10% chance to Shock enemies Chains +(4-7) Times (10-29)% increased Effect of Lightning Ailments 15% more Damage for each remaining ChainPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. 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 FirestormFirestormSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire Level: (1-20) Cost: (13-25) Mana Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec Cast Time: 0.75 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Effectiveness of Added Damage: 55%Requires Level 28Flaming bolts rain down over the targeted area. They explode when landing, dealing damage to nearby enemies.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent1% increased DamageFirst Impact deals 3% more Damage with Hits and Ailments Base duration is 0.003 seconds1% reduced Enemy Stun ThresholdBase duration is 1.4 seconds Deals (22-207) to (33-311) Fire Damage One impact every 0.2 seconds First Impact deals 325% more Damage with Hits and Ailments First Impact has 100% more Area of Effect Maximum 3 Firestorms at a timePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.. 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: 130%Requires Level 12Sets a marker at a location. After a short duration, lightning strikes the marker, dealing damage around it. When this happens, it will also set off the lightning at any other markers you've cast.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect2% increased Area of Effect 2% reduced Cast Speed0.5% reduced Skill Effect Duration0.25% chance for Lightning to Strike the Marker when CastDeals (21-510) to (38-947) Lightning Damage Base duration is 1.5 seconds (10-29)% increased Effect of Lightning Ailments +(0-6) to radiusPlace 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 Flame DashFlame DashSpell, Movement, Duration, Fire, Travel, Blink Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-23) Mana Cooldown Time: 3.00 sec Can Store 3 Use(s) Cast Time: 0.70 sec Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%Requires Level 10Teleport to a location, damaging enemies and leaving a trail of burning ground in your wake. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent0.5% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate1% increased travel distance2% chance to Ignite enemies 2% more Burning DamageDeals (7-479) to (11-718) Fire Damage Deals (18.9-1262.7) Base Fire Damage per second Base duration is 4 seconds (0-47)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. 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 and slow aura, cannot be leeched from. Summons 2 Fleshmonster when killed.

Vendor recipes

It is possible to upgrade essences in tier through a vendor recipe.

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

The Essence Stash Tab provides the means to upgrade essences from within the tab itself. This has exactly the same outcome as the vendor recipe, but saves time spent moving items around.

Divination cards

The following divination cards can be exchanged for essences:

Item	Stack Size	Effect(s)
Harmony of SoulsHarmony of Souls99x Shrieking EssenceShrieking souls locked away Hate splits frozen cells asunder The knot of corruption undone at last	N/A	9x Shrieking Essence

Version history

Version	Changes
3.14.0	Screaming Essences can now be used to reforge rare items, in addition to upgrading normal items to rare. This brings them into line with Shrieking and Deafening Essences. Extensive balance changes to essence modifiers. (See Version 3.14.0 § Essence Balance for a complete list of 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.