How to Get Any Skill Gem to 5-Link Super Cheap (or Even Free if You’re Lucky!) – POE2 / Path of Exile 2
If you’re playing POE2 (Path of Exile 2) and looking for a cost-effective way to upgrade your skill gems to 5-link, this guide will show you a simple trick that can save you tons of currency. With this method, you can get 5-link skill gems for less than 4-6 Exalted Orbs, and if you’re lucky, you might even make a profit! Here’s everything you need to know.
Overview of the Trick
- This method allows you to upgrade skill gems to 5-link for a fraction of the usual cost.
- Even if you fail, you can resell failed gems to recover most of your investment.
- The trick involves using Val Orbs and Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs, both of which are currently cheap in the market.
- It’s fast, effective, and potentially profitable if you hit multiple 5-links.
What You Need
- Val Orbs: Used to corrupt skill gems.
- Current price: ~0.2 Exalted Orbs each (5 Val Orbs for 1 Exalted Orb).
- Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs: Used to add sockets to skill gems.
- Current price: ~5 Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs for 2 Exalted Orbs.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Buy the Required Materials
- Use the trade system in Path of Exile 2 to purchase Val Orbs and Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs.
- Example: Spend ~6 Exalted Orbs to buy enough materials for multiple attempts.
Step 2: Prepare Your Skill Gems
- Remove the skill gem you want to upgrade from its socket (you can’t modify a gem while it’s equipped).
- Choose a skill gem you want to upgrade to 5-link (e.g., Raging Spirit, Skeleton Arsenal).
Step 3: Add Sockets
- Use Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs to add sockets to your skill gem.
- Keep adding sockets until you have at least 4-link or 5-link.
Step 4: Corrupt the Gem
- Use a Val Orb to corrupt the gem. The corruption can result in:
- No change.
- Add one socket.
- Remove one socket.
- Add or remove a gem level.
Step 5: Repeat Until Success
- The success rate for getting a 5-link gem is roughly 1 in 5 attempts.
- If you fail, resell the failed gems for ~0.5 Exalted Orbs each to recover some currency.
Why This Works in Path of Exile 2
- The current POE2 market undervalues Lesser Jeweller’s Orbs and Val Orbs, making this method extremely cheap.
- Even with a 1-in-5 success rate, the resale value of failed gems offsets most of the cost.
- You can use this method to create powerful 5-link skill gems that will carry you through the early and mid-game.
Key Tips
- Check Market Prices: Always compare the cost of materials with the cost of buying a pre-made 5-link gem. If the market shifts, this method may no longer be cost-effective.
- Sell Extra Gems: If you succeed multiple times, you can sell extra 5-link gems for a significant profit (e.g., 7-12 Exalted Orbs each).
- Act Quickly: As more players learn about this trick, the prices of materials may rise, and the market for 5-link gems may drop.
Warnings
- Corruption Is Permanent: Once a gem is corrupted, you can’t modify it further (e.g., no quality upgrades or additional crafting).
- Early Game Focus: This method is best for early game progression. For endgame builds, you may want to invest in higher-quality gems.
- Market Volatility: Prices for materials and 5-link gems may change as more players adopt this method.
Final Thoughts
This trick is a game-changer for early game progression in Path of Exile 2 (POE2). With minimal investment, you can create powerful 5-link skill gems and even profit if you’re lucky. However, act quickly—once this method becomes widely known, the market will adjust, and the prices of materials may skyrocket.
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