In Path of Exile 2, currency crafting plays a pivotal role in shaping gear, and one of the more specialized tools for item manipulation is the Artificer's Orb. This orb is essential for socket modification, specifically converting sockets on gear to white sockets, making it a valuable POE2 Currency item for both mid-game crafting and high-end optimization. Whether you're gearing up for endgame or flipping valuable bases for profit, understanding how to reliably farm Artificer's Orbs can give you an edge in PoE2's complex economy.

What Does the Artificer's Orb Do?

The Artificer's Orb is a currency item that modifies the sockets on an item. When used, it:

Converts one socket on the item into a white socket (which can accept any color of gem: red, green, or blue).

Only one socket is affected per use.

Can only be applied to items with sockets, typically armor and weapons.

Has a chance to overwrite an existing socket color (meaning you can lose a red/blue/green socket when converting to white).

This makes Artificer's Orbs extremely valuable for custom builds where gem color requirements don't align with natural item stat weighting. White sockets give players build flexibility without the need to recolor endlessly.

How to Get Artificer's Orbs in Path of Exile 2

There are several reliable ways to obtain Artificer's Orbs, though they remain moderately rare due to their powerful effect. Here's a breakdown of the main sources:

1. Drop from Monsters in High-Level Zones

Artificer's Orbs are part of the global drop pool but have a relatively low drop rate, especially in lower-tier maps. The chance increases with:

Monster level: Higher level zones (Act 10 and beyond) have increased currency drop odds.

Increased item rarity and quantity modifiers on maps.

Magic find and party play, which increases drop opportunities.

To farm Artificer's Orbs reliably, aim for level 65+ areas, ideally juiced maps or heavily modified zones with currency-related modifiers.

2. Map Bosses and Currency Chests

Bosses in maps have a higher chance to drop currency items like Artificer's Orbs.

Strongboxes, especially Currency Strongboxes, can contain multiple orbs, including Artificer's Orbs.

Be sure to use a Rusted or Gilded Currency Scarab to increase the appearance of currency chests in maps.

3. Vendor Recipes (Speculative/Leaked in Beta)

While Path of Exile 2 vendor recipes are still evolving during beta and early access phases, some community speculation and leaks suggest a recipe for Artificer's Orbs involving:

Selling a fully linked item with all different colored sockets (1R 1G 1B, etc.).

Or combining Chromatic Orbs with high-level socketed items.

Keep an eye on Reddit and community wikis for confirmed vendor recipes as updates roll out.

4. Delve and Labyrinth Rewards

Delve Fossil nodes and hidden currency areas can drop rare orbs including Artificer's Orbs.

Labyrinth Troves may occasionally drop socket-altering orbs; Enchanted Armament or Jewelry Troves are your best bet.

While these methods are more RNG-heavy, they're worth attempting if you're deep delving or running Uber Lab frequently.

5. Heist Contracts and Blueprints

Some Heist contracts and blueprints reward currency chests, which can drop Artificer's Orbs. Focus on:

Lockpicking, Perception, and Counter-Thaumaturgy rooms.

Level 68+ Blueprints with currency rewards.

In PoE2, Heist mechanics are tweaked for better pacing, and some contracts may now have targeted drops, giving players more control over farming.

6. Trade and Market Flipping

Because Artificer's Orbs are highly sought after, many players purchase them on the trade market. You can:

Trade bulk orbs like Chromatic Orbs, Fusings, and Chaos Orbs for Artificer's Orbs.

Sell items with white sockets or popular builds and request Artificer's Orbs as partial payment.

Be sure to use the in-game trade board or external trading sites for price checking before you commit to bulk exchanges.

Best Farming Strategies for Artificer's Orbs

Here are the top strategies to target Artificer's Orb farming efficiently:

Strategy 1: Currency Map Farming (with Scarabs)

Run T10-T16 maps with +quant and +rarity modifiers.

Use Gilded Currency Scarabs or Sextants that enhance strongbox spawns.

Invest in gear with increased item quantity or magic find.

This method has high sustain, and you'll accumulate many types of currency including a chance at Artificer's Orbs.

Strategy 2: Delve Depth Currency Nodes

Go to depths 300+ for improved drop rates.

Prioritize currency and fossil nodes, especially near fractured walls.

Use resonators and socketable fossils to fuel deeper runs.

This method also lets you find socketed rare items to potentially resell or use for recipes.

Strategy 3: White Socket Flipping

Buy valuable unique or rare items with 5–6 sockets.

Use an Artificer's Orb to convert a socket to white.

If successful, sell for markup (many builds pay premium for white sockets).

This strategy is risky but profitable if your orb application succeeds on in-demand items like corrupted six-links.

Tips for Using Artificer's Orbs Efficiently

Only use on gear with sockets that are valuable and difficult to recolor (e.g., STR gear needing green gems).

Prioritize corrupted items, where traditional socket color changing isn't possible.

Avoid overusing on random rares—focus on high-end or meta items.

Test usage on 4-links before applying to expensive 6-links.

Trading and Market Value

Artificer's Orbs typically trade for:

1–3 Chaos Orbs in early game depending on league inflation.

5–15 Chaos Orbs in late game, especially in SSF or hardcore.

Value increases significantly during league start when everyone is gearing and colors are mismatched. Crafting-focused players always want a supply for perfecting builds.

Conclusion

The Artificer's Orb is a powerful currency item in Path of Exile 2 that allows you to add build-defining flexibility to your gear via white sockets. While not as common as Chromatic orbs or POE 2 Orbs, it's obtainable through smart farming of high-level content, chests, bosses, and trade routes.

As the PoE2 meta evolves, new vendor recipes and crafting loops may also emerge. Until then, stack your Artificer's Orbs for when you really need that perfect socket setup—or flip them to profit off the crafters who do.