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In Path of Exile 2, currency plays a central role in gearing up, crafting, and trading—and Essences are one type of PoE 2 currency that often confuses players. They’re not just loot to pick up and stash; Essences are powerful tools used for item crafting. In this guide, we’ll simplify what they are, how to use them, and why they matter—especially for players looking to optimize their builds or make some currency on the side.
What Are Essences in PoE 2?Essences are crafting items that guarantee a specific affix (modifier) on a piece of gear. Unlike Chaos Orbs or Exalted Orbs, which work randomly, Essences give you control over at least one outcome. For example, Screaming Essence of Greed guarantees a flat Life roll, making it perfect for crafting early-game survivability gear. Some popular Essences include:

• Essence of Wrath: Adds lightning damage.
• Essence of Woe: Increases Energy Shield.
• Essence of Contempt: Adds flat physical damage to attacks.

How to Use Essences EffectivelyEssences are applied to normal (white) items only. When you use one, it upgrades the item to rare and adds a guaranteed mod based on the Essence used, along with a set of random affixes. Here's a smart way to use them:

1. Target base types: Use Essences on good base items relevant to your build. For example, use Essence of Zeal on an axe if you’re a melee build.
2. Stack powerful rolls: Combine Essences with bench crafting or other currency like Exalted Orbs to build top-tier items.
3. Chaos spam alternative: Essences are often more predictable than Chaos Orbs when hunting for specific mods.

Farming and Trading TipsYou can find Essences in special frozen mobs marked on your map. Defeat them, and you’ll get a choice of one or more Essences. Use these tips:

• Focus maps with Essence modifiers for better drops.
• Use Remnant of Corruption (another PoE 2 currency) to corrupt Essences into stronger versions like Essence of Horror or Essence of Delirium, which are highly valuable and can fetch a good price if you decide to trade them.
• If you're short on crafting currency, it's a good idea to buy PoE 2 currency from reliable sites. Personally, I've used u4gm and had a smooth experience with fast delivery.

Profitable Crafting with EssencesOne smart method for profit is to craft gloves with Essence of Insanity to gain the “Socketed gems have 16% more attack speed” mod. This is highly sought after for many builds. Craft these, and you can either use them yourself or flip them for more currency.
Why You Should CareMany players ignore Essences because they don’t understand them—but that’s a huge mistake. Using them correctly can help you gear up faster, save on more expensive orbs, and even make profit. The ability to guarantee a useful modifier is a massive advantage over random rolling.
In conclusion, Essences are an underrated yet powerful PoE 2 currency. Learning to use them properly can dramatically improve your crafting success and overall progression. Whether you’re gearing up for endgame or trying to make a few exalts, mastering Essences is a great step forward. So start experimenting, trade smart, and remember: when used right, even a simple Essence can turn a basic item into something amazing. And if you're ever running low, it never hurts to buy PoE 2 currency to stay ahead of the curve.