How to get and use Essences in Path of Exile 2

As you may know, in the endgame of Path of Exile 2, one of the most coveted types of loot is the so-called currency. These are items for which players are willing to challenge the toughest bosses, complete the most difficult maps, and spend hours monitoring the auction. Currency comes in several types, and among them are Essences, which are divided into three types: Regular, Greater, and Corrupted (added in 0.2.0).

In this article, we’ll explain all about them, how to obtain them, and how to use them.

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Where to Find Essences in Path of Exile 2

They can be found during the campaign while encountering frozen bosses. They appear as chunks of colored ice with monsters inside. Take a closer look, and you’ll see the promised reward beneath the boss’s name. However, obtaining the coveted currency can be tricky, as it is guarded by no weaklings—usually, the boss is accompanied by minions empowered by its aura. Once you click on the icy shackles a few times, the mobs will immediately charge at you!
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You can also use a Vaal Orb directly on a captured boss to randomly change the Essence that drops from it. You can even turn regular Essences into Corrupted ones. The result is completely unpredictable, so be prepared for anything! Moreover, if you're lucky enough to transform a Regular or Greater item into a Corrupted version, the frozen boss will also gain a power boost.

Essences will begin appearing early in the game, but don’t expect to gather a lot of this currency just from completing the campaign. The main source of the resource is the endgame and the Atlas.

Also, don’t forget that after completing Act 3 on Normal difficulty, you will gain access to currency exchange and unlock a new way to obtain items.

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What Do Essences Do in Path of Exile 2

Like orbs, they transform simple items into rarer ones and grant them modifiers. However, unlike the former, you can predict what type of modifier you will receive. This depends on the type, of which there are 12 varieties. Below, we will list all their types, as well as the characteristics that their modifiers will affect.

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The Greater variant of an essence is divided into the same types and grants the same modifiers, with one difference: it transforms Magical items into Rare ones. However, with Corrupted, the situation is slightly different. Here's a breakdown of their types:

How to Use Essences in Path of Exile 2

Simply right-click on it, then click on the item you want to upgrade. If it's a weapon, the modifier will be offensive. If it's armor, the modifier will be defensive.

For example, take the Flame enhancement: a crossbow will receive additional fire damage, while a helmet will gain fire resistance. Similarly, other modifiers may vary, although Infinite works the same way in all cases.

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Types of Essences in Path of Exile 2

The first improves items to Magical rarity, while the second improves them to Rare. The item must already be Magical for you to apply a Greater Essence. As you can guess, this type is much more valued by players and is harder to obtain. The third type has specific requirements for the items it can modify, which are detailed in the description of the currency.

The Greater variant can be obtained in the same way as the regular one. It drops from the "frozen" bosses, and they can also be found on the Market. The Atlas Skill Tree will also be a great help in searching for this currency in the endgame. Additionally, you can use Reforging! Take three identical Essences and get one random one. Yes, it’s quite wasteful, but you have a small chance of getting a Greater variant by spending just three regular ones.

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Don't forget that crafting is an essential part of Path of Exile 2, and for that, you'll need all available resources. So don’t overlook Essences—collect them from the start of the game and don’t waste them. They will be incredibly useful in the endgame for crafting powerful items.

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