Path of Exile 2: How to Profit with Essences, Currency, and Smart Item Rolls (Patch 0.3)
In Path of Exile 2, the Expedition mechanic remains one of the most profitable and versatile systems for crafting and gold-making. While the core system hasn't changed dramatically in Patch 0.3, the meta has shifted due to updates to Essences and Desecrated Currency. Expedition is no longer just about brute-forcing high-tier rares-it's now about balancing gold income and selective item enhancement. This guide explains the best Expedition crafting strategies, how to use your resources efficiently, and how to maximize profit while crafting powerful Path of Exile 2 Items.
Expedition Overview
The Expedition mechanic functions much like it did in earlier patches: you uncover ancient remnants, battle waves of undead explorers, and trade with NPCs afterward. The difference in Patch 0.3 lies in the value of supplemental resources-Essences, Desecrated Currency, and Exotic Coinage.
Traditional Expedition crafting is still viable, but the best players are now using Expedition primarily as a gold engine. Instead of gambling for perfect rares, you can buy Gwennen Currency and Exotic Coinage, purchase valuable base items from Gwennen's stock, and resell them for substantial profit.
Combining these investments with targeted crafting ensures your time spent in Expedition zones always pays off.
Understanding Magic and Rare Items
Before crafting, it's important to know how item tiers and modifiers work:
·Magic items: Up to 2 modifiers (1 Prefix, 1 Suffix)
·Rare items: Up to 6 modifiers (3 Prefixes, 3 Suffixes)
Prefixes and Suffixes are independent, and Expedition crafting allows you to manipulate them through the options provided by NPCs. The key to profitable crafting is knowing when to stop-don't risk rerolling a good base when you can sell it or enhance it further with Essences or Desecrated Currency.
Expedition NPCs and Crafting Options
There are four main NPCs tied to Expedition crafting, each serving a specific role:
1. Dannig - Currency exchange between other NPCs.
2. Gwennen - Specializes in weapons and high-risk, high-reward item rolls.
3. Tujen - Focuses on jewelry, offering reliable returns for steady profits.
4. Rog - Works with armor, allowing you to manipulate and upgrade defensive gear.
Each NPC provides randomized crafting options, such as:
·Add or reroll a Prefix/Suffix
·Upgrade a Magic item to Rare
·Fill all empty modifiers
·Adjust values of existing modifiers
·Remove lowest-level mods
·Remove all Prefixes or all Suffixes
The golden rule: you can skip one option, but not the next, so every choice must be made carefully.
General Expedition Crafting Tips
1. Don't overinvest - If a crafted item looks mediocre after several upgrades, vendor it or sell it cheap instead of wasting materials.
2. Preserve strong mods - Great Prefixes or Suffixes should be built upon, not replaced.
3. Use Magic bases wisely - Magic items with strong rolls make ideal bases for Essence crafting.
4. Maximize value - Improve sockets, quality, and apply Vaal upgrades to raise both usability and resale potential.
Gwennen - Weapon Crafting Strategies
Gwennen remains the king of low-cost, high-reward Expedition crafting. Her focus on weapon bases makes her the best NPC for early profit.
Weapons to prioritize:
1. Bows: Focus on %Physical Damage, hybrid %Physical/Accuracy, or flat Physical rolls.
·Magic bows with solid rolls can be enhanced with Greater Essence of Abrasion for massive flat damage gains.
2. Quarterstaves, 2H Maces, Spears, Crossbows: Prioritize %Physical and Quality.
3. Wands & Staves: Aim for +4 or +5 to all Spell Skill Levels.
4. Scepters: Target +Minion Skills or high Spirit stats; Omen Scepter is the best base.
5. Quivers: Only keep those with +Projectile Skill modifiers.
If you're farming Expeditions specifically for gold, buy POE2 Items from Gwennen using Exotic Coinage, then flip them on the market once you find high-value rolls.
Tujen - Jewelry Crafting for Consistent Returns
Tujen specializes in Amulets, Rings, and Belts, all of which remain high-demand gear types in Path of Exile 2.
Best practices:
·Amulets: Search for +Level modifiers and strong base stats; Crimson, Lunar, and Azure bases are most sought-after.
·Rings: Good implicit stats (Life, Mana, Resists) are essential. Magic Rings with two good mods can be further enhanced with Essences.
·Belts: Prioritize Life, Attributes, or high Resistance rolls.
Tujen's crafting is slower but more stable than Gwennen's. If you have limited currency, target Rings and Amulets with clear resale potential.
Rog - Armor Crafting for Specialized Builds
Rog's crafting is best suited for players chasing perfect defensive gear.
Top tips:
·Evasion/Hybrid ES armor: Focus on Life, Resists, and Attributes.
·Energy Shield armor: Target high ES values and ideal prefixes.
·Shields: Only craft pure Armor shields with high Life, Block, and Strength.
Magic armor with 2 strong mods can be elevated using Desecrated Currency or Essence upgrades, making them viable even without perfect rolls.
When to Use Exalted Orbs
Exalted Orbs are best saved for items that are already exceptional. Use them to add a final, powerful modifier to maximize value:
·Weapons: With 1-2 Physical Damage rolls and open Prefixes.
·Energy Shield Armor: High ES with open suffixes for Resists.
·Jewelry: Strong bases with desirable Life, Mana, or Attribute stats.
With POE 2 Exalted Orbs becoming cheaper compared to Divine Orbs, many crafters are now choosing to buy POE 2 Exalted Orbs in bulk for advanced crafting. This offers a much higher return when upgrading near-perfect bases.
Expedition Crafting Meta and Profitability
As of Patch 0.3, Gwennen remains the top choice for profit due to the market value of weapons. Rog and Tujen require more currency but can yield exceptional results for experienced players.
Conclusion
Expedition crafting in Path of Exile 2 is all about strategy, timing, and smart investments. By combining Expedition currency with Essences and Desecrated Currency, players can balance gold farming with high-value crafting.