Path of Exile (PoE), the beloved online action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, has long been praised for its deep, intricate crafting system. Whether you're delving into end-game content, exploring the vast world of Wraeclast, or pushing the limits of your build, crafting is a critical component in improving your gear and making your character more powerful.

One of the more advanced crafting items introduced in Path of Exile 2 is the Fracturing Orb, a powerful item that allows players to manipulate their gear in unique ways, specifically for items with unique affixes and modifiers. With PoE 2's introduction of new mechanics and systems, understanding how to acquire and use Fracturing Orbs will be essential for players who want to maximize the potential of their equipment and character builds.

In this article, we will dive deep into Fracturing Orbs, covering everything from what they are, how to obtain them, how they work, and the best ways to incorporate them into your crafting strategy.

What Is a Fracturing Orb?

In Path of Exile 2, Fracturing Orbs are a crafting item that gives players the ability to "fracture" one affix on an item, ensuring that it remains locked while the other affixes are rerolled. This allows players to retain valuable mods on their gear and make changes to other mods, providing greater control over crafting outcomes.

Unlike regular crafting methods that may reroll or alter all affixes on an item, a Fracturing Orb guarantees that one affix—chosen by the player—remains fixed. This is particularly useful for high-end crafting when players want to lock in key mods while leaving others open for improvement.

For example, if you're crafting a powerful piece of armor with a high-value modifier like "+1 to Maximum Life," but the rest of the affixes are not ideal, you can use a Fracturing Orb to lock the "+1 to Maximum Life" and reroll the other affixes. This increases the chances of getting an optimal combination of affixes without losing that key stat.

How Does a Fracturing Orb Work?

When you use a Fracturing Orb on an item, the following process occurs:

Affix Selection: The player can choose which affix they want to lock. This affix will be "fractured," meaning it will not be rerolled, and it will remain fixed on the item.

Item Modification: After fracturing the item, the other affixes will be rerolled, giving players a chance to modify those affixes or improve the overall item's potential.

Unmodifiable Affix: The fractured affix is considered unmodifiable and cannot be altered by subsequent crafting attempts, such as using a Regal Orb, POE 2 Exalted Orbs, or any other crafting materials that would usually change an item's affixes.

Resulting Item: The result of using a Fracturing Orb is a piece of gear that retains a single locked affix while potentially having other affixes upgraded or altered. It also may contain certain risks, such as ending up with an item that doesn't improve much, so a careful balance between affix choices and crafting attempts is key.

Example of Using a Fracturing Orb

Imagine you're crafting a pair of boots with the following modifiers:

+70% to Cold Resistance

+24% to Movement Speed

+48 to Maximum Life

+30% Fire Resistance

Let's say your primary goal is to retain the +48 to Maximum Life while trying to improve the other affixes. You can use a Fracturing Orb on the boots, locking in the +48 to Maximum Life affix and rerolling the rest of the modifiers.

After applying the Fracturing Orb, your boots might end up with something like:

+48 to Maximum Life (locked)

+35% to Fire Resistance

+45% to Cold Resistance

+33% to Movement Speed

The +48 to Maximum Life remains intact, but the other stats have changed, possibly resulting in a better overall item for your build. Of course, it's still a bit of a gamble, but Fracturing Orbs increase the likelihood of getting valuable modifiers without losing your prized affix.

How to Obtain Fracturing Orbs in Path of Exile 2

Fracturing Orbs are a high-value crafting item, and as such, they are relatively rare. Players will need to engage in end-game activities or take part in specific crafting and trade systems to acquire them.

Here are the primary methods for obtaining Fracturing Orbs:

1. Crafting in the Endgame

In PoE 2, the endgame content will feature increasingly difficult challenges, which will often reward players with advanced crafting materials, including Fracturing Orbs. While PoE 2 will introduce new mechanics and systems, players can expect Fracturing Orbs to drop from:

Boss Drops: Fracturing Orbs may be obtained as rare drops from high-level bosses or in specific end-game maps.

Delve & Incursion: These two core mechanics from PoE will likely continue in PoE 2 with similar loot pools, meaning Fracturing Orbs could drop during long Delve expeditions or as part of special Incursion rooms.

Heist: The Heist system from PoE will probably make its return in PoE 2, and players may find Fracturing Orbs as rewards for completing high-level Heist encounters.

2. Vendor Recipes

In some versions of PoE, crafting materials can be obtained through specific vendor recipes. It's not clear if Fracturing Orbs will follow the same pattern in PoE 2, but it's possible that a rare recipe could be used to craft Fracturing Orbs in exchange for specific materials or currency, such as Exalted Orbs or specific currency fragments.

3. Trade Market

The most reliable method of obtaining Fracturing Orbs in PoE 2 may be through the game's player-to-player trading system. PoE has a robust economy, and items like Fracturing Orbs will likely be highly sought after. Players will be able to purchase them directly from other players through the poe2 trade, using in-game currency like Chaos Orbs or Exalted Orbs.

4. Special Event Rewards

Grinding Gear Games frequently runs limited-time events in PoE. Depending on how they structure these events in PoE 2, Fracturing Orbs may be awarded as special rewards for completing event challenges, achievements, or seasonal activities.

Best Uses of Fracturing Orbs

Fracturing Orbs are incredibly valuable, and understanding the best uses for them will allow players to maximize their crafting potential. Here are some of the top uses for Fracturing Orbs:

1. High-End Crafting for Endgame Builds

One of the primary uses of Fracturing Orbs is for creating powerful endgame gear. If you have an item with a critical mod—such as "+1 to Maximum Level of Socketed Gems" or "% Increased Physical Damage"—you can use a Fracturing Orb to lock that mod and then roll for additional, complementary affixes. For example:

Weapons: Fracture a weapon with a high-value modifier, like "% Increased Critical Strike Chance," then reroll other stats like elemental damage, attack speed, or flat damage.

Armor: For a piece of armor, fracturing a mod like "+% Increased Maximum Life" could allow you to reroll for resistances, energy shield, or defensive stats.

This helps you build gear that is perfect for your build while reducing the risk of losing vital stats.

2. Unique Items

Unique items can benefit from Fracturing Orbs as well. Some unique items may have a specific affix you want to preserve, but the rest of the mods may not be ideal. For example, you could fracture a unique chest armor that grants "+1 to Socketed Gems," preserving that bonus while re-rolling the other mods.

3. Crafting for Specific Synergies

Fracturing Orbs are especially useful when you're aiming for specific synergies between items and skills. If you're working on crafting a perfect item for a niche build—say, a Summon Spectre build with specific minion damage bonuses—using a Fracturing Orb could lock in a mod like "Minions have +% Increased Damage" while you reroll other stats to boost your energy shield or resistances.

4. Economical Crafting

While Fracturing Orbs are rare and valuable, they allow for more cost-effective crafting in the long run. Without them, you'd need to use multiple high-tier orbs like Exalted Orbs or use the crafting bench to add additional affixes—often at a great cost. With a Fracturing Orb, you can focus on the most crucial affix while keeping the rest of the mods open for improvements.

Conclusion

Fracturing Orbs in Path of Exile 2 provide players with greater control over their crafting, allowing them to lock in vital affixes while improving or modifying other mods on their gear. With their rare drop rates and high demand, understanding how to use these orbs effectively will be critical for players looking to optimize their equipment for the toughest content in the game.

Whether you're crafting powerful endgame gear, fine-tuning specific affix combinations, or seeking unique synergies for your build, Fracturing Orbs can help you achieve your goals in Path of Exile 2. Their availability will likely depend on endgame activities, crafting systems, and player trading, so be sure to gather these valuable items as you progress through the game.

With careful planning and a bit of luck, Fracturing Orbs can turn an already powerful piece of gear into a perfect asset for your character's journey through the dangerous and ever-evolving world of Wraeclast.