In Path of Exile 2, the introduction of Fracturing Orbs represents a significant advancement in gameplay mechanics, particularly following the 0.2.0 update, titled “Dawn of the Hunt.”These intriguing items play a pivotal role in advancing character development and enhancing endgame strategies, offering players unique opportunities to optimize their gear and expand their build options when they are most needed.
Unlike many other valuable currencies and crafting materials in Path of Exile 2, which often appear randomly and can be elusive to farm, Fracturing Orbs have a known acquisition method that can be easily pursued. If you’re eager to collect these essential crafting materials and leverage their benefits, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to obtain Fracturing Orbs in the game.
Acquiring Fracturing Orbs
The Process of Corruption and Cleansing
To start your journey in collecting Fracturing Orbs, players must first unlock the Atlas of Worlds, which signifies the transition to the endgame in Path of Exile 2. This expansive map allows you to explore and uncover various nodes for loot, facilitating continuous character improvement. Your initial priority should be to locate a Corrupted Nexus. Look out for map nodes featuring red icons resembling a veiny pattern, somewhat akin to the familiar Windows 3D pipes screensaver.
Fracturing Orbs usually manifest themselves through cleared corrupted maps. Once you’ve cleansed a Corrupted Nexus, any associated maps around it will also become cleansed. My recommendations would be to tackle the nexus first, as it simplifies the process of accumulating Fracturing Orbs.
Head to any corrupted map node and defeat its final boss. Upon your return to the Atlas, you’ll notice that adjacent nodes are now marked as “cleansed”. This reset of modifiers and respawn of enemies grants you the opportunity to revisit and tackle these maps again, thereby increasing your chances of encountering Fracturing Orbs.
While every enemy you vanquish in these cleansed maps has a chance of dropping a Fracturing Orb, it’s essential to acknowledge that these items remain rare. There’s no certainty that you will secure one with each defeat. For those struggling to find them, players can often acquire Fracturing Orbs through trades on the official Path of Exile 2 Trade marketplace, where they are usually listed for 70-80 Divine Orbs as of this writing.
Utilizing Fracturing Orbs Effectively
Understanding the Mechanism of “Fracturing”
As suggested by their name, Fracturing Orbs allow players to “fracture”and thereby permanently lock particular modifiers on specific gear pieces. This action prevents those modifiers from being altered through any other crafting methods, including Chaos Orbs or Divine Orbs.
It’s crucial to understand that the modifier chosen for fracturing is random, and this method is only applicable to items with four or more modifiers. Consequently, there’s a limited chance—approximately 25%—that your selected modifier will actually be locked in when using a Fracturing Orb. Be prepared for the possibility that you may waste the orb, inadvertently freezing a less-desirable modifier on an item crucial to your Path of Exile 2 build.
For optimal results, using Fracturing Orbs on non-essential gear is advisable. For instance, if you find an armor piece with one desired modifier and three that are less useful, it may be worthwhile to use a Fracturing Orb on it. If the outcome is unsatisfactory, you can always deconstruct it and move forward.
When applied judiciously, Fracturing Orbs can significantly enhance your gameplay experience, particularly when used alongside Orbs of Annulment. This combination allows for strategic customization of gear modifiers, but expect to encounter a fair degree of randomness in the results. Despite this unpredictability, Fracturing Orbs can prove immensely practical for any Path of Exile 2 build.