Just like in PoE1, Path of Exile 2 brings back corruption. One of the riskier, but potentially rewarding crafting systems. This system uses two main tools: Vaal Orbs and Altars of Corruption.
While both tools corrupt items, they do so in different ways. This Path of Exile 2 Corruption guide explains everything you need to know about item corruption, including where to find Corruption Altars, how they work, and if the risk is worth the potential reward.
Remember that corrupting an item comes with a high risk – high reward, and if you’re looking at upgrading your gear you should never corrupt your items, however, if you want to just try your luck and make an insane item, then keep reading and we will teach you how.
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What is Corruption?
Item corruption randomly changes an item's properties (weapons, armor, or even skill gems) and permanently locks it from further changes. Corrupting items can lead you to brick an item or make an item insanely powerful. It is high risk, but also high reward.
How to Corrupt Items (2 Ways):
Using the Altar of Corruption:
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Find an Altar of Corruption in the game world (locations are discussed below).
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Interact with the altar to open the corruption menu.
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A triangle will appear in the center of the menu.
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Drag the triangle onto the item you want to corrupt.
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The item will be instantly corrupted, with its properties changing randomly.
You can use the Altar if you’re lacking Vaal Orbs.
Using Vaal Orbs:
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Obtain a Vaal Orb (they become more common starting in Act III).
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Right-click the Vaal Orb.
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Left-click the item you want to corrupt.
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The item will be immediately corrupted, with its properties changing randomly.
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The Altar vs Vaal Orb
Vaal Orbs and Altars of Corruption both corrupt items, but they differ in how you get them:
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Vaal Orbs: You need to find them by playing or trading with other players. They become more common later in the game (Act III and beyond).
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Altar of Corruption: You can find these earlier in the game, such as in Act II's Vaal Ruins.
Whether you use a Vaal Orb or an Altar depends on what you have available.
Where is the Altar?
Altars of Corruption aren't marked on your map, so you'll have to explore to find them. Here are the main locations:
Vaal Ruins (Act II): The first Altar of Corruption is in the Vaal Ruins during Act II. You'll need to search the area thoroughly.
Jiquani’s Sanctum: You will always find an altar in the Sanctum, and to get there:
1. Unlock the Jiquani’s Sanctum Waypoint.
2. Enter the area and explore until you find the Altar.
Outcomes of Corruption
Corrupting items brings unpredictable changes that can greatly affect your gear. Here's a breakdown of what can happen:
Positive Outcomes:
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Extra Modifier: The corrupted item gains an additional affix (modifier).
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Unique Items: If you corrupt a Unique (orange) item, its stats could change, and they could become better.
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Extra Socket: The item gains an extra gem socket.
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No Change: The item becomes Corrupted but keeps its current stats.
Negative Outcomes:
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Modifier Removal: Corruption can remove existing affixes (modifiers).
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Unique Item Downgrade: A Unique item can be downgraded to a Rare item (yellow), significantly reducing its power and value.
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Skill Gem Downgrade: A corrupted skill gem might lose quality or level.
Limits of Corruption
Once an item is corrupted, it's permanently locked. You can no longer:
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Improve Quality: You can't use Blacksmith's Whetstones or Armourer's Scraps.
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Add Modifiers: Exalted Orbs won't work.
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Reroll Modifiers: Chaos Orbs are ineffective.
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Change Sockets: You can't add, remove, or change gem sockets.
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Corrupt Again: An item can only be corrupted one time.
Because of these restrictions, corrupting should be the last thing you do when upgrading your gear.
So, should I corrupt my gear?
Corrupting your equipment presents a significant risk-reward scenario; it has the potential to drastically enhance your gear with incredible benefits, but it also carries the danger of inflicting substantial setbacks. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully evaluate your preferred playstyle and your personal tolerance for risk before engaging in this process.
Great for experienced players:
If you possess a solid understanding of random number generation and the inherent uncertainties involved in such systems, and if you are fully aware of the possible negative consequences, then corruption can serve as a remarkable method for elevating your items to extraordinary levels of power. The opportunity to acquire substantially improved stats and powerful new properties can provide a decisive edge when tackling the most demanding and difficult content the game has to offer.
A Word of Caution for Newer Players:
Because corruption is permanent, it's very easy to accidentally ruin a valuable item. Early in the game, when resources and good gear are harder to come by, it's generally best to avoid corrupting anything you can't afford to lose. You don't want to corrupt your only good weapon and then find yourself struggling!
Conclusion
After reading this Path of Exile 2 Corruption guide, you can learn that item corruption is a high-risk, high-reward crafting system using Vaal Orbs and Altars of Corruption. Corrupting items can randomly alter their properties, potentially making them extremely powerful or rendering them useless. Vaal Orbs are found or traded, becoming more common in later game stages, while Altars are located in specific areas like Act II's Vaal Ruins. Corruption outcomes vary, offering benefits like extra modifiers or sockets, but also risks such as downgrading items. It's crucial to weigh the risks, especially for newer players, before corrupting valuable gear.
To mitigate the risk of corrupting valuable items early in the game, consider investing in additional resources through trusted services like LootBar. This way, you can safely experiment with corruption without jeopardizing your progress. LootBar offers a reliable and cost-effective solution to buy PoE 2 Currency and gear, allowing you to enhance your items and gameplay without the fear of loss.
