Best Currency to Buy First for New PoE 2 Builds

[tobychap]

If you're just getting started in Path of Exile 2, or PoE 2 for short, you’ve probably already seen that the game doesn’t exactly hold your hand when it comes to its economy. You don’t earn gold and spend it like in traditional RPGs. Instead, you’re thrown into the deep end of a bartering system with all kinds of weird-looking orbs, shards, and scrolls. Sound confusing? It is—at first.

As a PoE veteran who’s spent years in Wraeclast, I can tell you this: understanding which PoE 2 currency matters early on is the difference between a smooth ride and hours of frustration. This article is all about helping new players—and returning ones—figure out which currency to focus on first when building a fresh new PoE 2 character.

So grab your flask, load up your skill gems, and let’s dive into the world of currency crafting and smart spending.

What Makes PoE 2's Currency System Different?
Before we get into which currency you should prioritize, it’s worth understanding what makes Path of Exile 2’s economy so different. Unlike other ARPGs where gold is king, PoE 2 uses items as currency. These items can modify your gear, reroll stats, or even craft powerful weapons and armor.

You're not just collecting currency to buy stuff—you’re using that currency to literally build your character’s power.

Whether you're trading with other players or fine-tuning your gear through crafting, knowing what each type of currency does is essential.

Best Currency to Buy First in PoE 2 (And Why It Matters)
Let’s get into the actual currency types that matter most when starting out. If you’re running your first character or trying out a new build in a fresh league, these are the orbs and items you should care about the most.

1. Chaos Orbs – Your Mid-Game MVP
This one’s a no-brainer. Chaos Orbs are the bread and butter of the PoE 2 economy. In fact, they’re so valuable that many players use them as the standard for trade instead of gold.

Use: Rerolls the affixes on rare gear.

Why it matters: You’ll want these to buy decent gear from other players or to gamble on crafting a better rare item yourself.

When to get them: As soon as you hit the mid-game, start hoarding them.

Tip: Even if you don’t use them early on, Chaos Orbs are a universal trade chip. You can always find someone who wants them.

2. Orbs of Alchemy – Early-Game Utility
Orbs of Alchemy are incredibly underrated by new players. These babies take a white (normal) item and make it rare—just like that.

Use: Upgrades a white item into a rare item.

Why it matters: Great for improving leveling gear or preparing endgame maps later.

When to use: Leveling through the acts, especially on weapons with the right base type for your build.

Veteran Tip: Don’t waste these on low-level gear unless you really need the power spike. Save them for base types that’ll last a while.

3. Jeweller’s Orbs – Socket Control FTW
If your build needs multiple linked sockets (and let’s be real—most do), you’ll want a healthy stash of Jeweller’s Orbs.

Use: Changes the number of sockets on an item.

Why it matters: Key for making sure your gear can actually support your main skill gems.

When to stockpile: Basically always.

Pro move: If you find a strong item but it only has 2 sockets, use a few Jeweller’s Orbs instead of tossing it. Sometimes you roll that sweet 5-link and save tons of currency.

4. Chromatic Orbs – Match Those Socket Colors
Running a cold spell build but stuck with red sockets? Yeah, that’s a problem. This is where Chromatic Orbs come in.

Use: Changes socket colors.

Why it matters: Lets you use the skill gems your build needs, not just the ones that fit your current gear.

Easy tip: Sell any gear with a red, green, and blue socket linked together to vendors—you’ll get one Chromatic Orb back every time.

This one’s super important early on. Being able to socket the correct skills makes or breaks most builds in the leveling phase.

5. Orb of Transmutation and Orb of Augmentation – Budget Crafting 101
These are your gateway to basic item crafting.

Transmutation: Turns a white item into a magic item (blue).

Augmentation: Adds a mod to a magic item.

You won’t be crafting any GG endgame gear with these, but they’re super useful for quick upgrades while leveling. For example, need some resistances? Slap a magic mod on a white ring or belt.

Don't sleep on them—they're free power if you know how to use them.

Bonus: Lesser-Known Currency That’s Still Useful
While the ones above are your core starter currency, there are a few more worth mentioning:

Orb of Fusing: Links sockets together. If you want a 4-link setup early, this is what you need.

Scrolls of Wisdom: Used to identify items. Super common, but you’ll burn through them faster than you think.

Portal Scrolls: Teleport back to town. Sounds basic, but if you’re low and surrounded, these are lifesavers.

Currency Priorities Based on Build Types
Your build actually affects which PoE 2 currency is most important.

Summoners & Minion Builds: Focus on gear with proper links—so Jeweller’s and Fusing Orbs are your best friends.

Caster Builds: You’ll burn Chromatic Orbs like crazy to get the right socket colors.

Melee or Attack Builds: You’ll want Alchemy and Chaos Orbs to fine-tune weapons early.

New to build crafting? Stick to starter-friendly archetypes that don’t rely heavily on perfect gear right away. That way, your currency has a bigger impact.

Smart Tips for Managing Currency
Being rich in Wraeclast isn’t about how many orbs you pick up—it’s about how wisely you use them.

1. Don’t Gamble Early
New players often blow through their Chaos Orbs trying to craft “the perfect” rare item. Don’t. Use them for trades or when you understand the crafting system better.

2. Learn Vendor Recipes
For example: Sell a magic wand, a blue support gem, and a fire spell gem? Boom, you get a magic wand with +1 to fire gems. That’s early-game firepower with no Chaos cost.

3. Use Trade Sites
If you're stuck or want to upgrade gear quickly, spending currency smartly through trade sites can boost your build way more efficiently than crafting. Just don’t overpay.

Where to Buy PoE 2 Currency (Safely)
If you’re short on time or just want to skip the grind, sites like SSEGold offer PoE 2 currency for sale. Just make sure you’re using a trusted seller and always prioritize account safety. Buying isn’t for everyone, but if you do, be smart about it.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Smart
The best currency to buy first in PoE 2 really depends on your goals, your build, and how deep you want to get into crafting or trading. But for most new players, focusing on:

Chaos Orbs

Orbs of Alchemy

Jeweller’s and Chromatic Orbs

...is a great place to start.

Learn what each currency does at https://www.ssegold.com/, use it wisely, and your build will grow stronger with every map. And hey, don’t worry if you mess up early—everyone in Wraeclast has bricked a 6-link at some point.

Keep grinding, keep looting, and may your next Orb of Fusing hit that perfect 5-link on the first try.