How To Prepare For POE 3.23 Affliction League?

Path of Exile 2 is currently in late early access, one of the most crucial stages before officially entering version 1.0. ExileCon 2026 is not only an offline gathering for players, streamers, and the development team, but also plays a vital role in announcing the game's future direction.

However, before ExileCon officially takes place, the developers have arranged multiple rounds of the Path of Exile 2 Race Qualifier, allowing players worldwide to compete for a spot in the on-site Race Finale.

This event, ostensibly a speedrun competition, is actually a concentrated test of Path of Exile 2's current class balance, resource management, and route planning. For ordinary players, the competition among professional players doesn't necessarily mean replicating their builds or completion times, but the game understanding demonstrated is a crucial window into understanding the core mechanics of PoE2.

What is ExileCon Qualifier?

Path of Exile 2 ExileCon Qualifier consists of four rounds, each with the same objective: players must progress through the campaign from scratch in a specific environment - Solo Self-Found, Runes of Aldur, and a fixed map layout - and be the first to defeat Tavakai in Act 4.

While not Hardcore, character death incurs a penalty, rendering the character immobile for two and a half minutes. For professional players vying for first place, this penalty almost guarantees disqualification from the championship with a single serious mistake.

The specific times for the four Qualifier rounds are as follows:

• Qualifier 1: August 6th, 2 PM PDT
• Qualifier 2: August 13th, 2 PM PDT
• Qualifier 3: August 20th, 2 PM PDT
• Qualifier 4: August 27th, 2 PM PDT

That is to say, the first three rounds have concluded, and the final online qualifier will be held on August 27th. The official tournament page confirms that players who have won the Qualifier once cannot win subsequent rounds; therefore, the four finalist spots will ultimately be awarded to different players.

Rewards: More than a Championship Title

The winner of each Qualifier round will receive full qualification to attend ExileCon in New Zealand. The official rewards include:

• Round-trip airfare to Auckland
• ExileCon weekend accommodation
• Path of Exile 2 Race Finale qualification
• Ultra VIP ExileCon ticket
• A Demigod's Virtue Unique Helmet

Therefore, this competition is essentially a direct route for players to ExileCon main stage online.

The tournament also has strict streaming requirements. Participants must connect their Path of Exile 2 accounts to Twitch and stream the entire competition. This means the competition is not just player-versus-player content, but also a complete live esports event. For the developers, this allows them to showcase the game's depth, top player skill, and the entertainment value of PoE2 simultaneously.

What can you learn from the pros?

What ordinary players can learn most is not which build professional players ultimately used, but how they handle game information.

Learn to Accept Imperfection

Gear in competitions is often not ideal. Professional players quickly assess drops based on actual loot, rather than waiting for perfect gear. Ordinary players can learn from this: if a piece of gear is sufficient for a character's progress, there's no need to linger too long on theoretically optimal affixes.

Especially during character development, the rational allocation of PoE 2 currency is equally important. Instead of investing all resources in gear that isn't immediately usable, prioritize addressing the issues that most currently impact map clearing efficiency and survivability.

Reduce Ineffective Actions

Many PoE2 campaigns don't directly help players achieve their current objectives. Because it's a speedrun, professional players constantly ask themselves: Is this area necessary? Is this monster worth killing? Is this chest worth opening? Is this gear worth stopping to compare? This mindset also applies to ordinary players.

Build Your Character Around Your Core Skill

Professional players don't invest all their abilities evenly. Instead, they focus on getting one core damage-dealing mechanic up and running as quickly as possible, then build around it for survivability, resources, and mobility. For average players, this means avoiding frequent build changes based on new skills. A simple build with consistent damage output is usually more effective than a character that's constantly experimenting but never quite reaching its full potential.

Route Knowledge is Power

Many efficiency gains in Path of Exile 2 don't come from damage numbers, but from a familiarity with the map, quests, and bosses. Someone who knows where to go next, even with a less-than-ideal build, is likely to be more efficient than a player with higher damage output but who keeps getting lost.

Risk Management

Because death incurs a two-and-a-half-minute immobility penalty, professional players can't blindly pursue maximum speed. They need to judge when it's worth taking risks and when to reduce them. While average players don't have the same strict time pressure, this mindset still applies to high-difficulty maps and most endgame content: if a failed adventure would result in a significant time loss, then slightly slowing down and improving survivability is often more worthwhile.

Overall, ExileCon Qualifier was more than just a speedrun competition for ExileCon qualification; it also showcased the competitive potential of Path of Exile 2 before its official 1.0 release. For average players, the most valuable aspects of the competition were learning from their route selection, resource management, and risk assessment. These details are what truly make speedrun competitions worth paying attention to.

In Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, there are some exceptionally rare items that represent the ultimate goal for many builds and can be worth hundreds of Divine Orbs.

Let's take a look at the endgame Unique items in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0 that require no complicated crafting and can drop directly, with values ranging from dozens to several thousand Divine Orbs. They are still a long way from a Mirror of Kalandra, but they remain highly desirable targets.

Here are 10 items most worth chasing in the endgame:

1. Bursting Decay Unset Ring
2. Choir of the Storm (Level 20 Lightning Bolt)
3. Right of Passage Series
4. Headhunter
5. Palm of the Dreamer
6. Prism of Belief Diamond
7. Mageblood
8. Runeseeker's Call
9. The Last Flame and Temporalis
10. The Gnashing Sash

10. Bursting Decay Unset Ring

Bursting Decay is an entry-level endgame Unique item that can randomly drop during Atlas content when exploring Corrupted Nexus areas. However, it cannot be obtained by gambling with an Orb of Chance.

An Uncorrupted Bursting Decay, regardless of whether it is identified, is currently worth around 40 Divine Orbs.

It is useful for life-stacking physical damage builds, but this playstyle is not particularly mainstream in the current League, so overall demand remains relatively low.

9. Choir of the Storm (Level 20 Lightning Bolt)

Choir of the Storm can randomly drop by defeating Breach Bosses and the additional monsters around them. It also cannot be obtained by using an Orb of Chance on a normal Jade Amulet.

The most important special effect of Choir of the Storm is that Critical Damage can ignore enemy Lightning Resistance, while also allowing Lightning Bolt to trigger.

A standard Choir of the Storm has little value. The real target is a version with Level 20 Lightning Bolt. An Uncorrupted version that naturally has the level 20 Lightning Bolt modifier is worth around 50–60 Divine Orbs.

If the boss drops a corrupted version, or if Lightning Bolt is below Level 20, its value drops significantly.

8. Right of Passage Series

Right of Passage has a chance to drop when Rare Monsters or Unique Bosses possessed by the corresponding Animal Spirit are defeated.

It always provides 15% increased Rarity of Items found and automatically triggers when you kill a Rare or Unique enemy. Once triggered, you become possessed by an Azmeri Spirit for 10–20 seconds and gain the special effect associated with that Spirit.

Right of Passage drops with a fixed Spirit variant, and the actual combat effects vary significantly between versions. Spirit of the Stag is worth around 80 Divine Orbs, while Spirit of the Cat is worth around 255 Divine Orbs.

An Uncorrupted version can have its duration modified to 18–20 seconds with a Divine Orb, and versions with this duration are worth more.

7. Headhunter

Headhunter has a chance to drop directly from monsters in any map content, provided the monsters meet the required level.

The value of an Uncorrupted version has been gradually declining and is currently around 70–80 Divine Orbs.

It can also have a chance to appear when using Remnants during Expedition to craft Rare Belts or Unique items.

Another option is using an Orb of Chance on a Heavy Belt. However, the success rate is extremely low, at roughly 1/2,000 to 1/3,000, so this method is not recommended.

A more efficient approach is combining Ritual with Head of the King. Since Headhunter can appear directly in Ritual Favours shop, this provides a more targeted way to farm it than simply running maps.

6. Palm of the Dreamer

Palm of the Dreamer is an extremely powerful Scepter that causes slain enemies to explode, dealing Chaos Damage equal to 25% of their maximum Life. This can significantly improve clear efficiency while farming maps.

Palm of the Dreamer drops directly in an Uncorrupted state. You need to corrupt one of the following three base Scepters to obtain it:

• Guiding Palm of the Heart
• Guiding Palm of the Eye
• Guiding Palm of the Mind

Corrupting any one of these has approximately a 3% chance of transforming it into Palm of the Dreamer. These three base Scepters are worth around 1.5 Divine Orbs, while Palm of the Dreamer is currently valued at 80–220 Divine Orbs.

5. Prism of Belief Diamond

Prism of Belief can only drop from The Arbiter of Ash. It randomly selects a skill and increases its skill level.

An Unidentified version is worth around 50 Divine Orbs. Once identified, however, its value can vary enormously depending on the resulting modifier.

A +1 modifier for an unpopular skill may bring its value down to less than 1 Divine Orb, while a +3 modifier for a meta skill can potentially push its value above 1,000 Divine Orbs.

4. Mageblood

Mageblood provides effects through Charms equipped on Utility Belt, allowing it to simultaneously provide substantial defensive mechanics, ailment protection, and resistances. Its value is around 280 Divine Orbs.

Like Headhunter, Mageblood can drop from monsters throughout the game, but Expedition and Ritual are the best ways to target it. It is also not recommended to use an Orb of Chance on a Utility Belt, since the odds are far too low.

3. Runeseeker's Call

Runeseeker's Call can enhance socketed Runes, and its value has risen from around 400–600 Divine Orbs early on to approximately 1,300 Divine Orbs.

You first need to obtain a Depleted Mana Rune, then charge it into an Infused Mana Rune. After reaching 10,000 Mana to complete the required objective and finishing the remaining Farrow objective, you can obtain Runeseeker's Call.

Completing the required objectives requires a substantial investment, and each character can only obtain it once. Farming it therefore requires creating multiple alt characters, which makes the item particularly valuable.

Instead of creating the alt and wasting a lot of time, you can directly buy PoE 2 Currency at PoEcurrency.com and trade with other players. Farming the boss and completing the quest yourself could take dozens of hours.

2. The Last Flame and Temporalis

The Last Flame is a Unique Incense Relic. Completing the challenge with it causes Zarokh, the Temporal to drop Temporalis.

Temporalis is dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal in Trial of the Sekhemas, and the chance is extremely low. Its direct value is around 3,500 Divine Orbs.

Obtaining Temporalis is also extremely difficult. In addition to using The Last Flame, you must defeat Zarokh, the Temporal without losing Honor, meaning you need to finish the fight with 1 Honor remaining. Otherwise, The Last Flame will be consumed.

Unless you have a highly specialized build and extensive practice, using The Last Flame yourself is not recommended.

1. The Gnashing Sash

When equipped, The Gnashing Sash allows Flask recovery to exceed your maximum Life, temporarily giving you more recovery than your Max Life and creating an additional Life buffer.

It also increases Flask Charges gained and Flask Life Recovery, making the mechanic easier to sustain.

The Gnashing Sash can only drop from Corrupted Boss in Corrupted Nexus. It is extremely rare, and very few players list it. Its value is around 3,500–4,500 Divine Orbs.

Obtaining these items either requires a substantial amount of currency, an extremely powerful build, or both. However, most of them do not drop consistently, so they are best viewed as additional rewards that can appear while farming.

The currency system in Path of Exile features a vast array of orbs, each with distinct types and functions; if you are a relatively new player, you will frequently encounter orbs you haven't seen before.

While you don't need to master the details of every single currency item, Chromatic Orb is particularly important during PoE 3.29 update. This is due not only to its inherent function but also to the significant changes introduced in this version.

In this guide, we will outline these changes and provide the best strategies for obtaining and using Chromatic Orbs during Curse of the Allflame league.

Functionality and recent changes

As a consumable currency, the primary function of PoE Chromatic Orb is to randomly reroll the colors of an item's gem sockets. The higher the item's quality, the greater the chance of rolling a non-white socket.

Historically, this effect was valuable because socket colors strictly dictated which gems could be slotted, for instance, a red socket could only accept a red gem.

However, in version 3.29, Path of Exile completely overhauled the interaction between sockets and gems: gems can now be slotted into any socket regardless of color, though matching the gem color to the socket color grants a +10% quality bonus to the gem.

This change means that rolling a matching color is no longer a hard requirement for using specific skills; instead, it has become an advanced strategy for maximizing damage or other bonus effects.

Consequently, the effect of Chromatic Orb has been adjusted: it now forces one socket on the item to be non-white, while the remaining sockets are randomized as usual. The influence of item quality on socket colors remains unchanged.

These changes have also made the currency rarer than before. As a result, the option to exchange Jeweller's Orbs for Chromatic Orbs has been removed, and the gold tax required to acquire them via Currency Exchange Market has been increased.

Therefore, if you want to acquire more Chromatic Orbs to enhance your build or expand your crafting options, the best choice is to buy PoE Chromatic Orbs at POECURRENCY.com. Place your order now and use code COA for an 8% discount!

How to maximize the value of Chromatic Orbs in 3.29?

The socket colors resulting from the use of a Chromatic Orb are not purely random; they are strongly correlated with the item's base attribute requirements. For instance, a dexterity-based item is more likely to roll green sockets.

However, if you roll a socket color that differs from the item's primary attribute (e.g., rolling red or blue on a dexterity gear), this is known as an off-color socket.

While off-color sockets have a lower probability of appearing, they are often crucial depending on the specific requirements of your build.

Therefore, for standard socket colors that match the item's attributes, simply using a Chromatic Orb is sufficient. If you wish to increase your chances of obtaining one or two off-color sockets, you can utilize the special mechanics available at Crafting Bench.

If you need to modify the socket colors of a corrupted item, standard Chromatic Orbs will not work; you must use Tainted Chromatic Orbs instead.

The unique feature of this currency is that it ignores the item's attribute requirements, making it easier to roll off-color sockets.

Whether you are rerolling socket colors on standard or corrupted gear, we advise against doing so haphazardly, as Chromatic Orbs are quite valuable.

If you are in the early stages of the league and cannot immediately roll the desired colors, there is no need to worry. Simply socket your gems to keep your skills functional for now, and aim for matching socket colors, which offer quality bonuses, once your overall setup has stabilized.

Before attempting high-level socket recoloring in the mid-to-late game, evaluate whether the skill gems you intend to use will provide satisfactory benefits. If they do, apply the process to the core gear of your chosen build in Path of Exile 3.29.

How to obtain Chromatic Orbs?

Relying on random drops during combat is not the most efficient farming method, as this currency has no specific source and can drop anywhere.

Generally, we recommend using specific recipes to acquire them. Available recipes involve three specific divination cards: The Heroic Shot, Emperor's Luck, and The Void.

The Heroic Shot

Divination cards in Path of Exile are items that can be exchanged for other rewards; for example, The Heroic Shot can be directly exchanged for 17 Chromatic Orbs.

As for obtaining The Heroic Shot itself, you can acquire it by trading in the divination cards The Gambler, Stacked Deck, or The Void, or by finding it in Arcanist's Strongboxes.

Arcanist's Strongboxes are a variant of standard Strongboxes that have a low chance of appearing during mapping or other monster encounters. In addition to The Heroic Shot, they may also contain standard currency items.

Emperor's Luck

Collecting a full set of five of these divination cards allows you to exchange them for five random PoE currency items.

Emperor's Luck can be obtained through trades involving other cards or by farming directly; however, it only drops in four specific maps: Plaza, Residence, The High Gardens, and The Imperial Gardens.

The Void

This is a unique PoE divination card that acts as a special medium, allowing you to exchange it for other cards. In other words, if your primary goal is to farm Chromatic Orbs, it is best to prioritize exchanging The Void for The Heroic Shot.

The Void drops only in Tier 13 or higher maps: Abomination, Citadel, Fortress, Sanctuary, and Ziggurat.

Beyond these three specific divination card methods, you can also obtain Chromatic Orbs through player-to-player trading. However, be sure to research market rates beforehand to minimize your costs.

If you are currently in need of Chromatic Orbs, this guide should prove helpful. Best of luck with your PoE 3.29 journey!

Nearly a month after Path of Exile Curse of the Allflame League began, the in-game economy has undergone significant changes, with the value of some items and currencies that were highly sought after at the start of League declining over time.

The value of Gemcutter's Prism has fallen to almost half of what it was during the early days of the league. However, if you compare this with the situation in Mirage League, you will find that its value is now only around one-fifth of what it was then. Why has this change occurred? Is Gemcutter's Prism still worth farming in the current League?

Gemcutter's Prism in PoE Patch 3.23

Gemcutter's Prism can add 1% Quality to a Skill Gem until the gem reaches the maximum Quality of 20%.

This translates into higher damage, faster casting speed, or stronger utility, making it an essential part of character builds.

Its effect varies depending on the type of gem. For Attack or Spell Skill Gems, Quality typically increases damage, the chance to inflict ailments, or other important stats. For Aura Gems, Quality often increases the radius of the aura's effect.

In Patch 3.23, a major change was made to Gemcutter's Prism. Players could no longer use the vendor recipe of 1 Level 20 Skill Gem + 1 Gemcutter's Prism to obtain a Level 1 Skill Gem with 20% Quality. However, this recipe remained available for non-Awakened Support Gems.

Although this change appeared minor, it directly removed the traditional low-cost method of consistently obtaining 20% Quality on Skill Gems. As a result, the barrier to obtaining Gemcutter's Prisms and high-Quality Skill Gems increased significantly.

After this change, the value of Gemcutter's Prism in the league rose to around 5 to 6 Chaos Orbs.

Gemcutter's Prism in PoE Patch 3.29

However, why has the value of Gemcutter's Prism fallen so sharply in Path of Exile 3.29? GCP itself has not undergone any major changes, but it has been heavily affected by changes to Path of Exile socket system.

In PoE 3.29 Curse of the Allflame league, equipment sockets default to White Sockets. Furthermore, skill gems can be inserted into sockets of any color, and if a skill gem or support gem's color matches the socket color, it gains a +10% Quality.

This effectively reduced players' reliance on traditional Gem Quality optimization. Before PoE 3.29, GCP was one of the primary ways to raise a Gem to 20% Quality.

Now, however, part of the demand for Quality is being handled by the new Socket system, which has reduced demand for Gemcutter's Prism.

Does Gemcutter's Prism Still Have Value?

Although demand for Gemcutter's Prism has declined, it still retains considerable value, as reaching 20% Quality remains extremely important for top-tier builds.

Chasing stronger Level 21 Gems, 20% Quality Gems, or Gems with Vaal versions is a core endgame goal for many players.

Creating these Gems requires large quantities of 20% Quality Gems as materials, which means you may need a substantial number of Gemcutter's Prisms.

Therefore, as many players begin to upgrade their builds, the value of Gemcutter's Prism may rise again, presenting a good investment opportunity. You can buy PoE Gemcutter's Prism at PoE currency.com to position yourself in advance.

How to Farm Gemcutter's Prism?

Once the value of GCP is understood, finding efficient ways to obtain it becomes the key. There are several main methods.

Monster Drops

This is the most basic method, as Gemcutter's Prisms can drop randomly from slain monsters. Increasing monster pack size and modifiers that improve Currency drops can effectively increase the number of GCPs you obtain.

You can combine this with Strongbox farming strategies, particularly Artisan's Strongboxes, which have a chance to drop GCPs. Remember to check your loot filter so that Gemcutter's Prisms are not hidden.

Another method is farming The Union Divination Card in Cemetery Maps. Collecting 7 cards allows you to exchange them for 10 GCPs.

When farming T16 Cemetery Maps, it is recommended to remove all Essence-related passive points. Essence monster modifiers are stronger and deal more damage, so the additional risk does not justify the efficiency. However, you can keep and strengthen passives related to Strongboxes.

Vendor Recipes

Selling 1 Gem with 20% Quality grants 1 GCP. This recipe remains worthwhile for Support Gems, but caution is advised with Skill Gems because a 20% Quality Skill Gem itself can be highly valuable.

Alternatively, you can sell multiple Gems with a combined Quality of 40% to receive 1 GCP. For example, you can sell four Gems with 10% Quality each.

For players looking to conserve Gemcutter's Prisms, you can use a Support Gem together with 1 Gemcutter's Prism in the vendor recipe. The gem's level will be reset to Level 1, while its Quality will be raised to 20%.

You can then level the gem again. Since Support Gems can level relatively quickly, especially in endgame content, this method can save a substantial number of Gemcutter's Prisms. Normally, raising a Gem to 20% Quality directly with GCP requires 20 Prisms, whereas this recipe requires only 1.

Gemcutter's Prism is still worth farming in the current League. You can combine a Stacked Deck farming strategy with Cemetery Maps to focus on this currency, which can provide solid returns. Any excess GCPs or finished Gems can be converted into worthwhile profits while still meeting your own needs.