Today, we’re diving into an efficient and cost-effective way to generate currency in Path of Exile 2. Whether you’re struggling to make Divine Orbs or just looking for a new moneymaking method, this strategy will help you maximize your profits with minimal investment. We’ll be focusing on utilizing lower-level skill gems and engraving them with meta skills, then optimizing their value through corruption and leveling. Let’s get into it!
The Core Strategy: Engraving and Corrupting Skill Gems
Step 1: Identify the Meta Skills
Before you begin, you need to determine which skill gems are in high demand. The best way to do this is by:
- Checking the current meta for popular builds.
- Browsing ELD.gg trade websites to see which level 21, full-quality, max-socketed gems are selling for the most.
For example, in the current league, skills like Tempest Flurry, Ice Strike, and Spark have been lucrative. However, this will change in future leagues, so always do your research before investing in any gems.
Step 2: Acquire Lower-Level Skill Gems
Instead of purchasing expensive level 20 skill gems, start with lower-level ones. This significantly reduces the upfront investment while allowing you to level them up yourself. Any skill gem can be upgraded to level 20 eventually, so the initial level doesn’t matter much.
Step 3: Engrave the Gems
Once you have your skill gems, engrave them with meta-relevant skills. Engraving allows you to customize skill gems for builds that are in high demand. Be sure to use a character that can equip the skill gem you’re engraving, as this will be crucial for later steps.
Optimizing Your Gems for Maximum Profit
Step 4: Upgrade to Max Quality and Level
To maximize the value of your gems, you need to enhance both their level and quality. Here’s what you need:
- Lesser, Greater, and Perfect Jeweler Orbs to upgrade sockets.
- Gemcutter’s Prisms to boost quality to 20%.
- Regular grinding to level up the gems (or use alternative leveling methods if available).
Step 5: Use an Omen of Corruption
Corrupting skill gems is where this method gets risky, but it’s also where the profits start rolling in. Corruption can yield multiple outcomes, with the most valuable being +1 to skill level. Normally, this happens about 1 in 5 or 1 in 6 times.
However, using an Omen of Corruption reduces the chance of nothing happening, making it a worthwhile investment. While it doesn’t guarantee success, it increases the overall efficiency of this process.
Step 6: Corrupt the Gems
Now that your gems are fully upgraded and prepared, use Vaal Orbs to corrupt them. The ideal result is +1 to the gem’s level, which significantly increases its value.
Step 7: Level Up the Corrupted Gem
If your gem started at a lower level, you can still level it up after corruption by equipping it on your character and using an un-corrupted level 20 gem to upgrade it. This will push it to level 21, making it more valuable.
Risk vs. Reward
This method is relatively consistent, but it does come with risk. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- On average, 1 out of 5 gems will gain +1 level from corruption.
- Sometimes RNG will be against you (for example, it took me 13 tries to hit a +1 once).
- If you’re investing heavily, expect fluctuations in profitability.
That said, a single successful +1 skill gem can sell for multiple Divines, making this strategy worth the effort in the long run.
When to Use This Method
This strategy works throughout the league, but it’s especially effective:
- Early in the league, when high-level gems are scarce.
- Mid-league, when demand for specific builds is at its peak.
- When you’re struggling to farm currency through traditional means (e.g., mapping, trials, etc.).
If you’re sitting on 50-100 Divines but are struggling to make more, this method can be a great way to turn your capital into even higher profits.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a profitable and relatively consistent way to make Path of Exile 2 currency, this gem corruption strategy is one of the best options available. While it carries some risk, the potential profits far outweigh the losses when executed correctly.
I hope this guide helps you make a bank in Path of Exile 2! If you have any other money-making methods or requests for guides, drop them in the comments. Good luck out there, Exiles!